Little chance of jobs, says M.P.

Press, 12 May 1981, Page 21

Little chance of jobs, says M.P.

PA Wellington The lack of employmentrelated programmes for Maoris and Polynesians in I one of New Zealand's biggest tribal districts is worrying the Labour member of Parliament for Southern Maori, Mrs Whetu Tirikatene-Sulli-van. Maori and Polynesian employment needs 'in the Gisborne to Wellington region,part of her electorate, were being ignored by the Ministers of Maori Affairs and Labour, she said. “Broken promises and neglect line the path of employment opportunities and training programmes among young Maoris and Polynesians in the region,” she said. There were several examples of the Government failing to come to grips with

the needs of this section of the community. "The promised carving school at Takitimu and the horticultural training at Taihoa have been stopped; there has been no young persons’ training programme through the Hawke’s Bay Community College in the last 18 months: no Labour Department programmes have been held in the region this year; there has been a total lack of any kind of skills programme to meet expected needs and job vacancies that will arise in the future.” Mrs Tirikatene-Sullivan said that Government iriaction was crippling initiative and opportunity in the region, especially in the absence of any type of young persons’ training programme for Maoris and Polynesians.