Friday, 17 May 2019

Mayor praises Ministers for continued faith in region

KAWERAU District Mayor Malcolm Campbell today thanked Ministers Jones and Jackson for their continued faith in the Eastern Bay region.

The Honourable Shane Jones, Minister for Regional Economic Development and Honourable Willie Jackson, Minister for Employment were in Kawerau today to announce the funding of more than $2.2 million to three programmes through the Government’s Provincial Growth Fund (PGF) via the He Poutama Rangatahi and Te Ara Mahi funding initiatives.   

In his address to those attending the breakfast function Mayor Campbell said, “We are pleased to welcome you today and thank you for getting on board with our vision which is a collaborative Eastern Bay approach to invest in our rangatahi and grow our regional economy.”

More than 100 people, including students from Tarawera College, training providers, councillors, business leaders and social service organisations attended the announcement held during a special breakfast at Kawerau Council’s Firmin Lodge.

Mayor Campbell said to the many youth in attendance, “The funding will enable meaningful programmes to be put in place for our rangatahi. It is about you – our young people getting jobs.”

The two Kawerau-based initiatives which received funding are:

• Kawerau Pathways to Work, delivered by Industrial Symbiosis Kawerau and Tūwharetoa Ki Kawerau Health, Education and Social Services - $969,000 combined funding from He Poutama Rangatahi and Te Ara Mahi.

• Eastern Bay of Plenty Driver and Operator Training Centre, delivered by Toi-EDA which receives $598,000 from He Poutama Rangatahi. 

These two programmes have been part of a long-term strategy supported by the Industrial Symbiosis Kawerau group or ISK, an initiative supported by Iwi, a collective of businesses and local government in the Kawerau district.

“An important factor of the success of the funding application and the initiatives was that the support, benefits and strategy were a collaboration that went right across the Eastern Bay region.”

“I would like to thank the many people and organisations who have been working hard to further economic growth in the region and working together to offer these meaningful initiatives to support our people and assist them to be in a position to take up the offers of future employment.”

Both the Kawerau Pathways to Work and Eastern Bay of Plenty Driver and Operator Training Centre, plan to be up and running by 1 July 2019.

On behalf of the Kawerau District Mayor Campbell also congratulated the Putauaki Trust for the opening of Kawerau Dairy or Waiu Dairy today which is offering significant new employment opportunities.

Kawerau is one of the largest industrial centres in New Zealand and Waiu Dairy would be a significant addition to the existing manufacturing and industry.

[ENDS]

For more information please contact:

Tania Humberstone, Kawerau District Council Communications Manager (027) 464 3785.