Pānui Pāpāho | Media Release: Ministry of Social Development

Patching walls, mending fences and marvelling at tattoo art will be part of the action at the upcoming Te Kūiti Mahi Expo on Monday June 26.

The one-day event from 10am-2pm at the town’s Les Munro Centre is the first of its kind in two years.

Flora Tane a community support worker at Ngāti Maniapoto Marae Pact Trust says having a job has empowered her and encouraged her to find a purpose in her life.

“It’s impacted my motivation.  I had low self-esteem and the only way up was to get myself out of a rut and try and get work.”

She says the support of Ministry of Social Development (MSD) was crucial because staff helped her find a job that suited her skills, interest and family commitments. 

Joel Bradley, from the Mayors Taskforce for Jobs is helping organise the event alongside MSD in Te Kūiti.

“Something we wanted to do was to get employers to come up with crafty ideas to make it more interactive.  So young people can see first-hand what employers do and take part.”

Among the 33 employers and providers exhibiting are builders, agricultural contractors, the local fire brigade, a beauty therapist and tattoo artist, infrastructure companies, a power company and the New Zealand Defence Force.

“We know they’ll be doing things like setting up a false wall with a hole in it, where they’ll get people to patch the hole, to show their mending/building skills.  And there will also be a temporary fence so people can have a go at fencing,” says Joel.

MSD Regional Commissioner for King Country, Taranaki and Whanganui Gloria Campbell says employers are keen to recruit and bringing people together in the one place is a win-win for all, if people end up with a job.

As well as employers, MSD staff and providers will be there to talk about the support available to help people get and keep a job – everything from help with CVs, job interviews, training and education to subsidies and in-job help to support the process.

Editors notes:

• The Mayors Taskforce for Jobs Community Resilience Programme is an employment programme, funded by MSD that focuses on supporting young people into meaningful employment pathways across 33 rural and provincial councils across the motu.
• For more see Home | Mayors Taskforce for Jobs (mtfj.co.nz)

For further information contact [email protected]