Kaikōura mayor Craig Mackle, left, checks up on apprentice Louis Kennedy, 17, and his employer Luke Chambers. Photo: LDR / North Canterbury News / David Hill
A Kaikōura job programme has made just one sustainable placement since July, as the reality of a government funding cut sets in.
Te Hā o Mātauranga (Learning in Kaikōura) operations lead Vicki Gulleford said her staff were doing their best after the government made changes to the Mayors' Taskforce for Jobs programme.
The programme's funding was slashed from $260,000 to $100,000 for the year from 1 July, as the government focused support on getting people off the benefit rather than helping school leavers.
''We've had a really quiet start because it's specifically working with those on a jobseekers' benefit and there's not a huge number of them,'' Gulleford said.
''We've had one placement so far, but we want people to know we are still available, and we will do whatever we can to make it work.
''We are stretching the funding as far as we can.''
The funding is for 12 sustainable job placements, compared to 30 for the previous 12 months.
The Kaikōura job programme overshot its goal in the last reporting period, placing 46 youth in jobs in the year to 30 June.
Under the funding criteria, the programme can still work with up to five school leavers.
Staffing has been reduced from one full-time co-ordinator and two part-time staff, to just one half-time co-ordinator.
Nicole Witterick has stepped into the co-ordinator role, juggling it around her day job at Clarence River Rafting.
''It's a huge difference, it's changed the whole feel of the place,'' Gulleford said.
Te Hā has been engaging parents and older youth to help fill the void, but it is not the same as having dedicated staff on site, she said.
''Young people when they leave school often need to build some confidence before applying for work,'' Gulleford said.
''It might be as simple as hanging out and making coffee on the coffee machine or going on a trip skiing or rafting.''
Mark Paterson, who has worked part-time for the last two years as youth employment programme facilitator, is continuing to volunteer two days a week.
He had been taking young people fishing, which led to the Rodbenders Youth Fishing Club being formed at the beginning of last year, with young people taking on committee roles.
The club went into recess over the winter, but Gulleford was hoping to reinvigorate the club as there were a few keen fishers at Te Hā.
Te Hā is also continuing to help young people prepare for their driver licence tests, despite the reduced resource.
While some councils, including the Kaikōura and Hurunui District Councils have faced funding cuts, others including the Waimakariri District Council received a funding boost due to the new funding criteria.
LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.
