The latest unemployment figures were nothing short of shocking. In black and white the numbers took some digesting but for 159,000 people, of which, a significant number are Maori and youth – unemployment is a grim reality.
To these people, and their families, it is little comfort to recognise that unemployment numbers in Maori communities have been consistently high since the 1980s and even in the time of plenty, Maori unemployment figures were still high and particularly for those who are under 25 years of age.
Most people want to work and every day thousands of people spend the majority of their day looking for work you only need to look at the recent pictures of a large number of people queuing for 125 jobs at a supermarket in south Auckland to know the enthusiasm and the will that is out there.
It is that spirit of optimism which has driven me onwards, to think of new ways to create work opportunities for our unemployed and it does require some thinking outside the box.
I have been really excited by the momentum built through the Community Max initiative – an initiative which has really taken off across this electorate.
Community Max essentially prepares our young people for work and gives them an opportunity to learn new skills, develop a good work ethic and find a pathway out of unemployment.
The programme has been immensely successful in the short time of its duration. In fact at last count, some 3200 positions have been filled, and of these approximately 1900 were taken up by young Maori.
One of the most uplifting aspects of Community Max, is that it required businesses and employers to step up to the plate and give unemployed people a go the opportunity to work and the opportunity to prove that they are capable of working.
I really commend our community organisations and Maori organisations working with mainstream organisations and businesses to create employment opportunities; to revitalise our economy and build our community strength.
Now is the time to be innovative and entrepreneurial and look for those opportunities instead of waiting for the economic downturn to rectify or for big business to create the opportunities.
I will continue to advocate strongly for programmes that will assist unemployed into work and give them hope that their future is one of stable employment for themselves and their whanau.
The sense of pride that comes from contributing to the future of your family and your community is worth fighting for.