Rise - Issue 27 - June 2014

MINISTRY OF SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT ISSUE 27 – JUNE 2014

“He aha te mea nui o te ao?

Mäku e kï atu. He tangata, he tangata, he tangata!”

“What is the most important thing in the world?

I tell you. It is people, it is people, it is people!”

Partnership A teacher, a dancer and a future – Maureen Brown Make it happen – action for the Far North Homes for those in need – backing community housing

Welcome

Northland Auckland Bay of Plenty Waikato

This issue of Rise is about Partnership Nelson/

Taranaki/ King Country/ Whanganui

East Coast Central

Marlborough/ West Coast

Wellington Canterbury

Southern

Brendan Boyle Chief Executive

ISSN 1178-4709 (Print) ISSN 1178-4717 (Online)

Printed in New Zealand by Blue Star Print Group (NZ) Ltd using FSC mix paper from responsible resources, using mineral oil free, ®

soy-based vegetable inks.

The information provided in this Ministry of Social Development publication is intended to profile initiatives, research and opinions related to the social sector, and all reasonable measures have been taken to ensure that the information set out in this publication is accurate.

However, readers are advised that: »»The Ministry does not implicitly or impliedly endorse the views presented in this publication unless otherwise stated. »»The information provided does not replace or alter the laws of New Zealand or any other official guidelines or requirements. »»The contents of this publication should not be construed as legal advice. Before relying on any information in this publication, users should independently verify its relevance for their purposes.

ii RISE: Issue 27 – June 2014

Welcome to the June 2014 issue of Rise.

incredible support of her caregiver and

“None of us can do this alone.” That is what Te Aupouri Mäori Trust Board chief executive Lee West says about tackling the complex issues facing the Far North (story on page 8).

There is no doubt that he is right.

From individuals to entire communities to social service agencies to industry and employers, we can do more to help people succeed if we work in partnership.

In the Far North, government agencies, Ministers, iwi leaders and communities are creating positive change through partnership, thanks to a new Treaty Accord and a community call to action.

In social housing, the government has recognised that it cannot work alone to meet the needs of our most vulnerable people. That’s why it is supporting and strengthening the work of community social housing organisations, such as Comcare in Christchurch. There’s an article about that on page 6.

Our cover story features a young woman whose own determination, as well as the

others in her life, have set her up for a bright future after a rough start.

In Levin, an iconic kiwi clothing company has teamed with Work and Income to create jobs for local people and to keep its products proudly made in New Zealand.

Working in partnership often means changing the way we do things and the way we think, but it is the way forward across the social sector if we are going to make a bigger difference to the lives of people who need us.

With that in mind, I hope you’ll find the stories in this issue of Rise thought-provoking and inspiring.

Kia kaha

Brendan Boyle Chief Executive, Ministry of Social Development

Contents Cover story

2 I can and I will

A passion for dance, a school teacher who cared, and a scholarship for outstanding young people in care helped 18-year-old Maureen Brown pursue her dreams.

Feature stories

5 Fired up

At-risk young people get a glimpse of life as a fire fighter and other possibilities that the future could hold.

6 Homes for those in need

2

Community housing providers support some of our most vulnerable New Zealanders and that’s one reason why change is afoot to strengthen the work they do.

8 A future in the Far North

A Treaty Accord and a community call to action are building commitment to the Far North.

12 The future starts here

A committed employer is getting behind young Limited Service Volunteer graduates.

14 Off-beat allies

An unlikely new partnership is making a big difference to troubled young people and their families in Christchurch.

16 Made by New Zealanders

8 16 Drop us a line at rise@msd.govt.nz

Subscribe to Rise

Two men get young people into trades, and an adventurer connects youth with their communities.

22 Spotlight on the East Coast

26 Spotlight on Taranaki, King Country and Whanganui

Subscribe to the printed magazine or Rise online via www.msd.govt.nz/subscriptions There is no charge to subscribe.

Kids and parents get to work at Castlecliff School and Nicola beats the odds to become a nurse.

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For up to the minute information about all the work of the Ministry of Social Development follow us on Twitter @msdgovtnz

18 Spotlight on Bay of Plenty

The pipfruit industry grows workers as well as apples, Aunty Sass gets her sass back, and a Gisborne couple provide far more than just accommodation.

Contact Rise

Rise online

Outdoor clothing company Swazi has formed a partnership with Work and Income.

Regular columns

30 Regional round-up 33 Tips, links and news – RealMe , plus making it ®

easier to access Rise

RISE: Issue 27 – June 2014 1

I can and I will

A passion for dance, a school teacher who opened her heart and home, and a scholarship for outstanding young people in care helped a young dancer pursue her dreams.

2 RISE: Issue 27 – June 2014

Eighteen-year-old dancer Maureen Brown has a personal mantra: I can and I will. Just watch me.

But in fact, when Maureen dances it’s not

Primary school was a hard time for

about just watching. It’s more about being

Maureen. She was often angry. Difficult.

unable to take your eyes off her. She may be

Distracted and hard to connect with.

reluctant to speak in public, but as a dancer and choreographer she’s vivid and eloquent.

“I was having problems at home. I didn’t feel as if I was really there,” she says.

After growing up in state care without

However, behind the challenges, Kelly

her own family, one of Maureen’s goals is to

saw there was more to Maureen. At 12,

run her own dance school to give children in

she was helping out as a student librarian.

dysfunctional families a chance to show their

She was a show stopper at kapahaka and a

true selves.

leader in the lunch hour dance battles that

Right now, Maureen is studying dance

the kids organised for themselves.

at the Whitirea Performing Arts Centre in

“She had so much potential,” Kelly says.

Wellington. She’s been supported in part by

“I remember saying to the principal one day,

a Vodafone Vocational Scholarship through

‘She’s such a good kid. I just want to take

the 2012 William Wallace Awards for

care of her.’

outstanding young people in care.

“We all have our demons to deal with,” she says. “I have been in care since I was nine months old. I have eight siblings still in

“But I was 42, single, never had kids, and I’d only just returned from overseas. I thought, what sort of a home would that be?”

Yet

the

connection

remained

after

care. I worry about them and the challenges

Maureen moved on to high school. One

they face.

day a desperate email arrived. Struggling in

“But I’ve been fortunate to have friends

her current home, depressed and suicidal,

and carers who love me and care about me.

Maureen wasn’t opening up to anyone. Kelly

Dance has helped me let go of my issues and

stepped in and suddenly fostering wasn’t

deal with life. Having direction and passion

a dilemma anymore. She asked Maureen if

enabled me to follow a dream.”

she’d consider coming to live with her and

Last year, in front of the Prime Minister,

Maureen said yes.

other Government Ministers and the 2013

“We’ve had some hard issues to sort

William Wallace Award winners, Maureen

out,” says Kelly. “But Maureen has always

presented a movie about her journey as

made incredibly good choices. I’ve never had

a dancer and a young person growing up

to worry about her drinking or sneaking out

in care.

because once she found dance, that’s just

Watching proudly in the audience was Kelly Doran. Kelly has cared for Maureen

what she wanted to do. I’m incredibly proud of her.”

since she was 12 years old. The pair first

Maureen’s first formal dance lesson wasn’t

met at primary school where Maureen

until she was in Year 9. It was a late start, but

was a student; Kelly had just joined the

she was a natural. Hip-hop, contemporary,

teaching staff.

jazz, ballet and tap – she took to them all.

RISE: Issue 27 – June 2014 3

She started to win competitions and people started to notice her.

The dances that she choreographs often have social justice themes – apartheid, human rights. Others are more personal, dealing with loss, healing, fear and resolution.

“But the best thing so far is teaching. I love it. It’s so amazing to see your dances come alive. It’s great to share the passion you have for something. I’ve enjoyed mentoring and being a friend for the students.”

At the 2013 William Wallace Awards, Maureen shared some words of motivation for the latest award winners.

“We have all been given an amazing opportunity here. Don’t waste it. You have to be dedicated. You’ve got to know what you want. Stay focused. Surround yourself with good people you can trust. Talk to them. We are not the only people with issues. It helps to talk.

“Get a mantra – it may sound silly but it works. When you repeat it often enough, something might just happen. It did for me.”

WILLIAM WALLACE AWARDS – 2014 NOMINATIONS Do you know of an outstanding young person in care or who has recently turned 17 and come out of care?

Nominations are open now for the 2014 William Wallace Awards.

The awards help the young person pursue their dreams of tertiary, vocational or leadership training.

Award winners are honoured at a ceremony in Wellington later in the year.

WEB LINK www.cyf.govt.nz/Williamwallace

“I’ve been fortunate to have friends and carers who love me and care about me.”

4 RISE: Issue 27 – June 2014

Fired up There were just 90 frantic seconds

“I’m volunteering next year!”

“We wanted to show at-risk young people

to don full fire fighting kit. Then it was

The day was one of a series of outings

that anyone can be a fire fighter if they stay

all high-pressure hoses, hydrants, knots,

which has also included the Police College,

away from bad choices and put their mind

ladders and building a pool out of

Waiouru Army Base and Sir George Seymour

to it,” says Rachael.

tarpaulin to treat burn victims.

College for flight attendants. The trips are a

“Yes, you need to be fit and strong in the

team effort by the Police, Child, Youth and

Fire Service, but you also need lots of other

Family and other organisations.

attributes such as problem solving, the ability

It was all in a day’s work for the 13 young people spending time with the Taranaki Fire

to work in a team, camaraderie and skills for

Service, the Police and Child, Youth and

Senior Constable Peter Wright says the trips

Family. The group included teenagers who

aim to inspire and challenge the young people

had become involved with crime, were at risk

to think about what they can do in life. “Nobody

Child, Youth and Family youth justice

of doing so, or were struggling with truancy.

is going to hand a good job to them on a plate.

co-ordinator Mana Lawrence says she hopes

many different tasks.”

Under the experienced eyes of fire fighters

“A few of them have dropped out of

the young people find their passion in life.

Rachael Lind and Dave Tomlinson, the group

education, and some of them are saying they

“We want them to see the passion that

spent the day looking at what it takes to

want to go back, because they now know

others have for their jobs, and experience

become a fire fighter.

what they have to achieve.

the hard work, discipline, commitment and

It was an eye-opener for several of the young people: “Fire people do heaps! They are pretty handy eh?”

“Fire fighters are actually quite cool!

They do lots of stuff.”

“We have three young people with specific goals – one wants to be a flight attendant and two want to be police officers.”

fun involved.

“We want to empower young people to think about what they want to be, to set

At the Fire Service, Rachael and Dave used

their sights, and go for it. We also want

the day to encourage the young people to stay

them to know that we support and believe

at school and get some workforce experience.

in them too.”

RISE: Issue 27 – June 2014 5

Community housing providers often do a lot more than provide a roof over people’s heads.

They also support some of our most vulnerable people. That’s one reason why social housing reforms aim to strengthen the sector and create more options for people in need.

Homes for those in need They’re more than just bricks and mortar, the units and houses that belong to the Comcare Trust. They give some of Christchurch’s most vulnerable people a chance to create something many take for granted – a home.

Gordon* is one such person. Prone

those services is long-term social housing

However, there’s a careful and deliberate

Gordon’s

for people who experience mental illness,

separation between Comcare’s housing

health deteriorated badly after the 2011

but are able to live relatively independently

service and its other community support

earthquake. Living in a privately-rented

with the right support.

services. “As a landlord, you are in a power

to

serious

mental

illness,

and badly damaged flat, he isolated himself

“Gordon’s new flat is warm and sunny and

relationship. You can’t have care workers so

from people and services. It was cold,

close to health and community support. We’ve

closely linked to the landlord that people feel

unsafe and squalid. If anyone approached,

seen a huge improvement in his mental and

they can’t confide in them.”

he hid. It wasn’t until a neighbour heard

physical health. He’s also starting to take part

Nonetheless, as a landlord, Comcare

a worrying sound that the police broke in

in community life,” says Annette Sutherland,

Housing Services does a lot more than

and found Gordon. He’d tried to commit

manager of Comcare Housing Services.

inspect properties and collect rent.

suicide, and was admitted to hospital.

“Comcare is very focused on whatever

“We help people find, set up and keep their

When he’d recovered sufficiently, both

people need for quality of life in their homes

housing, and we offer low key support to help

physically and mentally, a Comcare support

and the community – from personal support,

them maintain their tenancies – as individuals

worker visited Gordon to help plan his

life skills, housing, connection with other

or in group flats.

move back into the community, and to offer

people, access to benefits and services, a job,

Gordon a unit owned by the Comcare Trust.

achieving life goals, health and fitness.

“We’re working with people who struggle to get into or maintain other tenancies.

The Comcare Trust is a large not-for-profit

“We leave clinical care to the specialists,

They’re vulnerable to exploitation and have

provider of a wide range of mental health

but we help take care of everything else with

histories of rapid deterioration in their mental

and community support services. One of

practical, one-on-one support.”

health,” says Annette. “We try to make sure

6 RISE: Issue 27 – June 2014

*Names changed to protect privacy; stories published with individual’s consent.

they don’t lose their homes because of a blip in their health.

“Jack*, for example, has been with us for three years now. Before that, frequent mental illness, his unwillingness to accept help, growing debt and arguments with neighbours meant he was often homeless.

“With security of tenure and encouragement to accept help, he’s finally engaged with a community support worker who is helping him with budgeting and relationship skills. And he has voluntarily sought help for his addictions.

“He has autonomy and independence, but he also has the security of ready access to support when he needs it.”

Boosting social housing In her position, Annette is all too aware of the housing challenges facing the vulnerable people in Christchurch. With so many homes destroyed in the earthquake and the rebuild still underway, rents are rising and affordable accommodation is in short supply.

Comcare Housing Services works with around 420 people each year, providing emergency or long-term housing and support. It controls about 85 properties which it either owns or leases. Since the earthquakes, housing referrals to Comcare have risen by 70 per cent. It’s taking a lot longer and it’s a lot harder to find places for people to live.

That’s one reason why Annette was keen to be part of working groups to develop the

Government’s social housing reforms, the latest of which went live in April this year.

The reforms aim to improve housing options for people in need by creating a greater diversity of social providers beyond Housing New Zealand.

Annette says she appreciates that there’s been a significant shift to grow the not-for-profit community housing sector.

“It’s early yet, but if it goes well over time it will be good for the people we work with and it will be good for us as a provider.”

At present, just five per cent of social housing is provided by community housing organisations. The state-owned Housing New Zealand, with about 64,000 tenanted properties, carries the lion’s share. This is mainly because up until April this year, Housing New Zealand was the only housing provider to receive state-funded rent subsidies for tenants on low incomes.

Under the reforms, approved community housing providers are now able to receive the rent subsidies on the same basis as Housing New Zealand.

The reforms have also shifted social housing needs assessment from Housing New Zealand to the Ministry of Social Development, integrating it with the Ministry’s income, employment and social support services. In fact, the Ministry already works with 8 out of 10 Housing New Zealand tenants who are receiving a benefit or superannuation.

“It creates a more level playing field for community housing providers, it makes it

WEB LINKS The Comcare Trust: comcare.org.nz Information for people seeking housing assistance: www.housing.msd.govt.nz Information on social housing and social housing reform: www.msd.govt.nz/social-housing

easier for people to get more support in one place, and it will mean that people in need will gain more options for housing,” says Debbie Power, who leads Work and Income for the Ministry of Social Development.

The Ministry now manages people’s applications for social housing, referring them to approved social housing providers, administering the income-related rent scheme, helping people with options for housing, and reviewing eligibility for social housing.

Since April, more than 32 community housing providers have registered with the Community Housing Regulatory Authority.

The goal is for 20 per cent of the country’s social housing to be provided by non-government organisations by 2017.

RISE: Issue 27 – June 2014 7

A future in the Far North A Treaty Accord and a community call to action are building commitment to make the Far North a place where people thrive now and a long way into the future.

8 RISE: Issue 27 – June 2014

Raewyn Williams

For 18-year-old Raewyn Williams, Te Hiku in the Far North is where she belongs.

A talented singer and songwriter, she’s strongly focused on her community.

“We are blessed to live here,” she says.

“We don’t have the best reputation for some things, but I was born here, I want to bring up a family here, and I want to work for my community.”

As she hunted for a job, however, Raewyn found herself facing the dilemma that most young people encounter in the Far North, where employment rates are among the lowest in the country.

“We want to work, but we don’t want to go to Australia or Auckland.”

Te Hiku Te Hiku is a large area of the very Far North. It extends from Cape Reinga to the north, Hokianga in the west. Its main urban centre is the township of Kaitaia, population 4,887. Nearly half of the people in Te Hiku live in isolated rural areas, some more than two hours drive from Kaitaia.

The contrast is stark as you drive east to west across the top of the north. The yachts, cafes and well-appointed holiday homes of the Bay of Islands disappear suddenly.

The buildings get older and more isolated.

The sense of affluence vanishes.

Compared to most of the country, household incomes are low, numbers of sole parent families are high, access to technology is limited, unemployment is high, more people are receiving some form of income support, and educational achievement is low.

In addition, recent high-profile abuse cases against children and young people in care and in school have hit community morale hard.

A new chapter – the Social Accord It paints an austere future for the high proportion of young people – especially young Mäori – who live in the region. *Ngai Takoto, Te Aupouri, Te Rarawa and Ngati Kuri.

But lately, a wave of commitment from the community, iwi and government is starting to change things for the people of the Far North.

It marks a new chapter in a story which began back in 1986 when the iwi of the Far North came together to lodge the Muriwhenua claim with the Waitangi Tribunal.

In those early hearings, kaumatua and kuia spoke of a day when grievances were resolved and they could focus on re-building strong lives for Te Hiku people.

The final settlement included the Te Hiku Social and Wellbeing Accord, signed by four iwi* of Te Hiku, the Prime Minister and two Cabinet Ministers. The Social Accord places iwi at the decision-making table alongside the government agencies that invest in social services, education, health and justice.

The Te Hiku Iwi Development Trust was created to manage the iwi side of the relationship. Chairman Hugh Karena says the Social Accord means a whole change of mindset for both Treaty partners.

“Iwi have never been part of this process before,” Hugh says. “And government agencies, which have signed their commitment to achieving the goals set out in the Accord, are having to work together in a whole new way as well.

“For the first time, we’ve got local voices supported by connected Crown resources.

We’re identifying and prioritising far-reaching solutions for better education, health, housing, welfare and wellbeing for Far North people.

Te Hiku iwi and the Crown are working together for the long-term betterment of Te Hiku people – to free whänau from deprivation, which is the worst in New Zealand.”

Make it Happen As the Social Accord builds iwi and government relationships and long-term plans, a separate but complementary project has

also galvanised the wider Te Hiku community towards social change.

Last year, Social Development Minister Paula Bennett stood in front of a packed community meeting in Kaitaia to launch Make it Happen Te Hiku. She challenged people to start with a blank page and set out their hopes for their communities, the changes they wanted, the support and services they needed.

In April she returned as community representatives, from children to community leaders, read out their aspirations and goals.

For Sheridan Waitai it was a stand-out moment to cap months of unprecedented community activity. Sheridan is from Te Hiku. She’s also a lead strategic advisor for the Ministry of Social Development and has been co-ordinating Make it Happen Te Hiku in Kaitaia.

“We had an incredible level of engagement.

Fifty people volunteered to train and run discussions – people who never volunteer for anything. More than 1250 people took part, including 600 young people.”

Over two months, adults, young people and children met on marae and in homes, schoolrooms, church halls, workplaces and community halls. One discussion even took place on a school bus.

Their feedback has been used to create a community action plan. The plan talks of more jobs, safe and healthy children, quality education, growing businesses, safe places and activities for young people, less crime, alcohol and drugs, more connection with marae and cultural roots, and better services for remote communities.

“People have realised they are not just stakeholders, but game changers,” says Sheridan.

“While the Social Accord is about long term, sustainable change, Make it Happen Te Hiku has captured hearts and minds and helped us see what we can achieve for ourselves.”

RISE: Issue 27 – June 2014 9

Real change, right now While the Social Accord focuses on profound long-term change, the importance of tangible community momentum is also clear to Eru Lyndon, the Ministry of Social Development’s regional commissioner for Northland.

Alongside Ngai Takato chief executive Rangitane Marsden, Eru co-chairs the Social Accord Secretariat of iwi representatives and senior government officials who meet monthly in Kaitaia.

Charged with driving the Social Accord, the Secretariat is planning far-reaching action to change the lives of the people of Te Hiku.

Behind the scenes in Wellington, a team in the Ministry of Social Development is supporting the Social Accord with a key piece of research, the Te Hiku Wellbeing Report. It’s an in-depth assessment of the social and economic issues facing the iwi of the Far North. (The same team also worked on the shorter-term Make it Happen Te Hiku community action plan launched in April.)

Although the Social Accord is focused on far-reaching issues and relationships, the Secretariat was keen to make it meaningful to the community from the start.

“We wanted to make it dynamic from the beginning,” says Eru, “to show people that the Social Accord means real change now and in the future.”

That led to a series of monthly events which run before each Social Accord meeting. The events bring iwi, employers, local jobseekers, government officials and private sector experts together to discuss experiences and issues. They profile topical subjects such as irrigation, or sectors such as avocado growers, aquaculture and the honey industry, aiming to boost production and work opportunities.

The events have seen jobseekers gaining work and new partnerships forming, including an irrigation project to improve the production of iwi-owned farms.

10 RISE: Issue 27 – June 2014

In March, Kaitaia staged its first ever Te Hiku Careers Expo, supported by more than 50 local and national employers, as well as training and tertiary education providers.

Throughout the day, a rolling powhiri welcomed more than 1,500 children and young people and their families to Te Kura Kaupapa Mäori o Pukemiro.

Young people and kids chatted to local police and fire officers, tried on uniforms, talked to contractors, medical and service staff, clambered though trucks, learned CPR with medics and chatted to army and navy staff.

For Eru, the events are part of a sea change for Kaitaia. “Just seeing different sectors and people connecting – employers, iwi leaders, the people in this community – there’s a new sense of social cohesion and energy.”

Now working in horticulture, the first 10 graduates have become a top producing team, setting all-time picking records. Lee says they are also gaining confidence, learning to how deal with issues and challenges, make good decisions and take responsibility for consequences.

“It’s not lack of skill that hijacks most of these young people. It’s what happens in their lives.”

Lee says he is amazed by the ease and speed with which partnerships have developed, uniting people, funding and support. The Trust is also part of a collective of five iwi social service providers, called Te Kahu Oranga Whanau (CoLab), working together for better results. “That’s a huge change in thinking.”

We can’t do this alone

At work in Te Hiku

Lee West is the chief executive of Te Aupouri Mäori Trust Board, based in Kaitaia. The Trust provides social services, a pre-school programme, numeracy and literacy tuition, and adult education, training and in-work support. It is soon to launch a Social Work certificate and degree courses in partnership with Manukau Institute of Technology.

Lee says that the impetus generated by the Social Accord and Make It Happen Te Hiku is changing the way people and sectors approach problems and each other.

“There’s a genuine sense that none of us can do this alone. We’re getting a deeper understanding of other organisations’ strengths and the need to work together.”

This year, Te Aupouri Mäori Trust Board teamed up with Work and Income to create Project Mahi.

Project Mahi first trains and then employs young people through a purpose-made social enterprise. The core principle is continuous support for the young people in training and in work, especially when life issues threaten to push them off track.

As for Raewyn Williams, early this year she seized an opportunity offered to her and 10 other young women on the inaugural Te Hiku Social Accord Cadetship Programme.

She is now working for the Kaitaia Museum and i-Site, which committed to employing her and another graduate for at least a year following two months of pre-employment training.

“Cara from People Potential, she drove up from Whangarei every day to tutor us. Work and Income found employers who would give us all jobs.”

Ten of the group, some of whom are young mothers, have started work for the local council, hospital, iwi services, the Ministry of Justice, a private contractor, and Dr Lance O’Sullivan (2013’s New Zealander of the Year).

At the graduation, Dr O’Sullivan highlighted the importance of guidance for young people, along with self-belief and commitment to hard work.

Tutor Cara Norman recalls a group that started off shy and nervous.

“At their first meeting, they struggled to speak in front of one another, let alone anyone else. At graduation, they sang

Make it Happen Te Hiku co-ordinator Sheridan Waitai.

and spoke in front of their peers, whänau, Te Hiku and community leaders.”

Raewyn says the cadetship and her new job have changed her life.

“It changed our whole outlook – just the fact that they were giving us all a chance so that we could work here.

“We don’t walk around town in hoodies and trackies anymore. We’re dressed properly. We speak properly. We get together on lunch breaks. It’s so cool.

“I’m going up and up and it’s the best feeling ever.”

“Make it Happen Te Hiku has captured hearts and minds and helped us see what we can achieve for ourselves.”

WEB LINKS Learn more about the Te Hiku Social Accord www.tehiku.iwi.nz/social-accord.html Learn more about Make it Happen Te Hiku and read the Community Action Plan www.msd.govt.nz/makeithappen

Ministry regional commissioner Eru Lyndon and Ngai Takato chief executive Rangitane Marsden.

RISE: Issue 27 – June 2014 11

The future starts here Less than a year ago, 21-year-old Renee’s life consisted of avoiding study, drinking a lot and doing nothing much else.

“I got lazy, started missing classes and got fat. I put on 15 kilograms. I had no job experience. I couldn’t afford to flat anymore so moved home and kept on doing nothing.

I was stuck. I turned 21 and I knew I needed to get my life together.”

Two things helped Renee turn her life around: a six-week Limited Service Volunteer (LSV) programme for unemployed young

people and ALSCO NZ in Palmerston North – an employer who believes in giving LSV graduates a start in the workforce.

LSV is a six-week live-in training programme for young people run by the New Zealand Defence Force on behalf of Work and Income. There’s a strong focus on teamwork and discipline to achieve physical and mental challenges, build confidence, life skills and motivation to gain a job.

Renee says LSV helped her to find her self-confidence, motivate herself and take a

positive outlook on life. She was determined to get a job.

Two days after completing the LSV programme Renee was referred for an interview with the central production hub of ALSCO NZ in Palmerston North – a company that specialises in laundry services for uniforms, linens, mats and towelling, as well as hygiene products and managed first aid systems.

A month later Renee was offered a full-time position. She’s been working for

ALSCO’s regional operations manager Robbie Turnbull with Renee and Losa.

12 RISE: Issue 27 – June 2014

mes:

seven months and she loves it. She’s lost 20 kilograms, made good friends and has plans for the future.

“I like the physical, hands-on part of the job. I can see myself here for a couple more years and with the experience I get from here I want to work toward my long-term goal to work with youth.”

Employer award for ALSCO Giving unemployed young people a start in work after they’ve graduated as Limited Service Volunteers is part of ALSCO’s responsibility to the community, says Robbie Turnbull, the regional operations manager.

It’s also a great way to find disciplined, motivated young workers.

ALSCO’s commitment to employing young LSV graduates won it the 2014 Employer of the Year Award from the Territorial Forces Employer Support Council in the Manawatu-Whanganui-Kapiti region.

It’s the first time such an award has been given to an employer in relation to LSV graduates. ALSCO was selected from 14 employers nominated by Work and Income.

Work and Income’s Regional Commissioner Penny Rounthwaite says employers like ALSCO help to change young people’s lives. “They’re realistic and they know that sometimes it doesn’t work out, but they are still committed to giving youth a chance,” she says. “LSV is a big investment in young people, but committed employers help turn that investment into reality.”

Robbie Turnbull says employing LSV graduates is part of the company’s approach to social responsibility in the communities in which it operates. “These young people are genuinely grateful for the start we offer them and that tends to result in people that give back to our company and to their community.

“It’s also beneficial for us. LSV graduates have learned about time management,

resilience, leadership and integrity. They have great discipline and a good attitude to work and teamwork – that rubs off well on the other staff,” says Robbie.

The partnership between Work and Income and ALSCO’s central production hub in Palmerston North has grown over the past two years. The company uses Work and Income’s work brokerage and free recruitment service as their first port of call to fill vacancies.

“Our work broker Filipo Saua is on the ground with people who are ready to work. He understands our industry, knows the types of people we are looking for and always has someone for the vacancies list,” Robbie says.

Another LSV graduate that ALSCO has employed through Work and Income is Losa. She has been with the company for nearly two years. “Work and Income called me in for a seminar after being on the benefit for four months and I thought LSV looked pretty cooI – but I didn’t know what I was getting myself into!”

For the first three days of LSV all Losa wanted to do was go home. “It was a culture shock. I was used to doing things in my own time with no one shouting at me. It was the hardest thing I have ever done.”

What Losa took from the LSV programme was personal pride in pushing herself to the limit, leadership and time management skills and the satisfaction that comes from achieving tasks under pressure.

“All of these things helped me to get this job. Starting at 0600 every morning and being respectful to my bosses are things that I learned at LSV. ALSCO has given me a start in the workforce and I hope to use my tourism qualification to go on and do something in that industry when the time is right.”

outco e m m a r

rog LSV p e nfidenc o c f l  Se ive outlook sit  Po work am  Te t discipline rea  G gement a n a m me  Ti ience sil  Re rship ade  Le rity teg e  In attitud d o o G 

WEB LINK Find out more about the Limited Service Volunteer programme for young people: www.workandincome.govt.nz/lsv

RISE: Issue 27 – June 2014 13

Off-beat allies On the face of it, they are worlds apart – the well-established Christchurch Methodist Mission and the edgier, streetwise Youth Cultural Development (or YCD). But this unlikely partnership is making a big difference to troubled young people and their families.

“Ten years ago people would have said ‘What! YCD and the Christchurch Methodist Mission are working together?” say the leaders of both, laughing because they’ve just spoken in unison.

It’s a nice snapshot of a partnership where strength comes from differences, underpinned by a common motivation to do better for at-risk teenagers and families.

The Methodist Mission has served families in need for nearly 80 years, working to counter disadvantage in the community.

“We support people from the cradle to the grave, with a range of home and group services,” says Sue van Deurs, manager of the Mission’s social services division.

YCD, on the other hand, emerged in the 1990s along with rising youth crime and violent offences in Christchurch’s inner city.

YCD’s youth and social workers use innovative ways to engage at-risk young people – from under-age sex workers to youth at risk of getting involved in crime to those who are already facing the consequences of it.

“We’ve had to change in response to the ever-changing needs of young people.

Over the years our focus has moved through stages of sport, dance, music, turntablism, DJ-ing and graffiti art,” says Anni Watkin, YCD’s general manager.

Focused on meeting the physical, mental, cultural and spiritual needs of young people, YCD realised that they also needed to engage whänau and families in order to achieve real change.

“Our youth workers were doing whänau work by default,” Anni recalls. “We could see that this work was going to become overwhelming.”

14 RISE: Issue 27 – June 2014

The connection with the Methodist Mission was made in 2013, at a meeting set up by Lynette Ebborn, a Child, Youth and Family funding and contracting manager.

“To be honest, at the beginning we all felt some slight resistance – we were all a little concerned about how this sits ethnically,” says Anni.

Lynette says that once the two organisations began talking about their work and beliefs, they realised that their philosophies were not so far apart.

Both had common values and a drive to support families in need for the benefit of their young people.

For the Methodist Mission, a partnership with YCD offered them broader scope in their work with families. “A lot of our work is with children at risk, children in care and their families,” says Sue. “We really wanted to get in earlier and do the preventative work. So really, this was a perfect fit for us.”

The two organisations worked out where they were involved (or could be involved) with the same families, and how they could connect their work.

Trust, respect and openness between the two organisations is the key to their partnership. “We are each still doing our own work, but we are doing it together,” says Anni. “We don’t feel threatened by it – it is a great example of working collaboratively.”

Methodist Mission team leader Roz Lefay says staff value each others’ areas of expertise. They share information, make plans together and consult each other frequently.

The partnership is particularly effective with families who do not see the need to make changes of their own to support their

young person, or are not keen to get involved with social services.

Roz and fellow Methodist Mission social worker Jeni Ingram speak highly of YCD workers’ ability to engage and build trusting relationships with the most marginalised families, which helps families feel safe to begin working with the Methodist Mission.

YCD social worker Hannah Whittaker says that once she has built a strong relationship with a young person’s family, she talks to them about how the Methodist Mission can help them learn skills to help their young person stay on track.

“The ladies at the Methodist Mission do quality work with families,” says Hannah.

“And it is such a relief; change is so much more likely to occur for young people when there is a whole family approach.”

The leaders of both organisations highlight the importance of a responsive funder to enable a successful, collaborative partnership. “Child, Youth and Family responded to an identified gap, worked collaboratively with us and allowed flexibility within our current contracts,” says Sue. “It enabled both of us to better address the needs of children and families, without the need for additional funding.”

Both organisations are committed to strengthening their partnership. “It’s the way to work into the future,” says Anni.

WEB LINKS YCD (Youth Cultural Development) www.ycd.co.nz Christchurch Methodist Mission www.mmsi.org.nz

RISE: Issue 27 – June 2014 15

Karen Griffen

Made by New Zealanders Iconic outdoor clothing company Swazi is an eye-catching presence on Levin’s main street. It’s also one of the few homegrown clothing manufacturers left in town.

Swazi’s website states that the company is committed to keeping production in New Zealand so that “staff can maintain the self-esteem, self-respect, pride and satisfaction that goes with making a world-class product in their own community”.

This year, with a looming shortage of skilled machinists and plans to grow the company, Swazi teamed up with Work

16 RISE: Issue 27 – June 2014

and Income, creating a sewing school to train unemployed local people to work in its Levin factory.

“I never thought I’d be a machinist,” says Karen Griffen, as she carefully sews a label onto the fleece pants she’s just pieced together. “I preferred woodwork and metal work at school. I only did sewing because I had to!”

Like Karen, Del Mita and Jojo Hepi had little experience with a sewing machine before they started at sewing school earlier this year. All three women are now full-time machinists, confidently doing their bit to make the 47,000 Swazi garments made in New Zealand each year.

Work and Income supported Swazi’s sewing school with its Straight to Work

programme. The programme subsidises employers for the cost of training would-be workers in skills that will lead to a job.

“It means businesses can afford to invest in new employees and bring them up to speed before they employ them,” says Donna Metcalfe, a Work and Income work broker in Levin.

Donna and colleague Kevin Salmons worked with Swazi to get the programme up and running.

“There

are

limited

opportunities

for

employment in Levin,” says Kevin. “There aren’t many opportunities to learn a skilled trade, so it’s getting harder and harder to find good people. That’s why it’s so important to have great relationships with industry and business – such as the relationship with Swazi.”

For Swazi’s general manager, Sharee Harper, Straight to Work was a way to find the right people to replace retiring machinists and to build a workforce for the future.

“I could have advertised, but I knew MSD had a database with people who were the right demographic and who would be motivated to work.”

With Kevin and Donna’s help, Sharee and her trainer Tracey Millard initially ran a seminar at the town’s Community Link centre, attracting nearly 30 interested job seekers. Twelve were shortlisted for Sharee and Tracey’s sewing school, six started, and three – Karen, Jojo and Del – completed the course and walked into full-time work.

Already planning for another round of trainees, Sharee says she knew within two weeks that Karen, Jojo and Del were the right ones. “They had the right attitude and

Over 12 weeks the group learned the basics of being a commercial machinist.

They’re still learning on the job, studying for their National Certificate in sewing.

“Everyone has been really great,” says Jojo, operating a cross over machine which ensures seams are waterproof. “All the women here were really supportive right from the start.”

Jojo, Del and Karen have their own responsibilities, but Sharee says they are likely to change. “At Swazi we look at a person’s whole skill set and where else they could go in the company. Jojo has an eye for detail so that’s good for seam sealing, but I know she also has admin skills so we may use her there.

“Karen is good at plain sewing but she’s very mechanically minded so that could lead to something else here. Del is a creative soul – she’s overlocking now but she could move more into design.”

Del’s new skills have boosted her creativity at home too. “I like taking old clothes and scraps and seeing what I can make out of them. I’ve made dresses for my daughters and tops for my sons.”

Another advantage is the confidence that comes from working.

“I went to get a quote for a new tyre,” says Karen. “The garage assumed it was a Work and Income quote, but nah – I said ‘I work for my money’.”

Jojo likes not being judged. “Beneficiaries are judged all the time. People think if you’re on a benefit, you’re lazy. Working gets rid of the negative stereotype for us.”

Del loves being a positive role model.

“When the kids get asked, ‘What does your mum do?’ they can say ‘She works at Swazi’ and not ‘She doesn’t work’.”

Del Mita

they wanted to work.”

“Too right,” says Del from her overlocker.

WEB LINK

“I really wanted that job. I like my boundaries being pushed. I get bored fast so I need to be active, motivated and challenged.

I’m getting that with this job!”

Their lack of sewing experience was a plus. “People with experience often have habits we need to break,” says Sharee.

Learn more about how Work and Income can help employers develop their workforce: www.workandincome.govt.nz/ workforce Jojo Hepi

RISE: Issue 27 – June 2014 17

Spotlight on Bay of Plenty

“Because we know so many people across the trades, we can match the jobseeker's personality to the employer as well as the trade.”

18 RISE: Issue 27 – June 2014

Bay of Plenty

Spotlight on Bay of Plenty

TradeUp If you're looking for Geoff Christophers or Rick Nicholson, you won't find them behind a desk. These two work from their cars, trail blazing a new way of working with jobseekers.

They’re a mobile team called TradeUp, with a mission to help young jobseekers get a start in the trades. “If we're not working with the young people or talking to employers, it means we're not out there making it happen,” says Geoff.

The two former modern apprenticeship co-ordinators established TradeUp to help young people into trades jobs after they had left school early. The formula worked, so they tailored their approach to suit Work and Income youth jobseekers. The TradeUp and Work and Income pilot started in January with a group of Western Bay of Plenty young people.

Once referred by Work and Income, the young people had in-depth interviews with Geoff and Rick to talk about career options, goals, plans and, where necessary, a reality check.

“Most of the kids who come to us are employable,” Geoff says. “Sure, they may have had some stuff happen, but we look at ways to get around those barriers.”

“They are just young guys growing up,” says Rick. “In some cases they’ve been caught doing something dumb, but they’re not bad kids. A lot of tradesmen we work with weren't too dissimilar when they were young.”

TradeUp is not a training programme.

It involves a lot of pastoral care and pre-employment support. The focus is on working one-on-one with each young person, getting ready for work and matching them with an employer for on-the-job training or an apprenticeship. Often the family becomes involved and that helps a lot.

“Because we know so many people across the trades, and we get to know the jobseeker so well, we can match the jobseeker's personality to the employer as well as the trade,” says Geoff.

Peter Decke of Coatings Plus recruited two workers through TradeUp. “I said to Geoff, ‘Just send me your best fella.’ He sent Luke. I was so impressed that I said, 'Give me another one and we'll be right.' That's how we got Sam.” Luke Townsend and Sam Phillips are learning on the job and are about to start an apprenticeship through the Building and Construction Industry Training Organisation.

Sam likes heading off to a job every morning. He looks forward to becoming a fully qualified tradesman with the financial rewards that will bring. Luke thinks he might like to run his own company one day.

Post-placement support is a strong component of TradeUp. Four months into their employment, Geoff and Rick continue to keep in touch with Peter, Luke and Sam. “It seems to be the pastoral care at the front end that gets them there,” says Rick.

“Employers become part of it.”

Geoff and Rick say they both get a kick out of helping a young person to the point where they've secured a job and are in industry training. “When a mother thanks us for getting her son off the couch and into a job, or a young person tells us it's the first time someone has taken a genuine interest in them, that's when we know we got it right,” Geoff says.

Between January and April 2014, 20 people were placed into the programme, with 14 moving into jobs.

Key facts Bay of Plenty covers Tauranga, Opotiki, Whakatane, Rotorua, Taupo and most of south Waikato.

Key industries include kiwifruit, tourism, forestry and farming. Work and Income works with employers to recruit and train the right staff. Contact a work broker on 0800 778 008.

Te Puke produces most of New Zealand’s kiwifruit. In the 1920s, a local horticulturist developed the Hayward variety, which is now eaten all over the world.

Rotorua is a major tourist destination, known for geothermal activity - culture. and Maori

Between March 2013 and March 2014 the number of working age people on a benefit in the Bay of Plenty region fell by nearly 2,000 – or 5.24 per cent.

RISE: Issue 27 – June 2014 19

Spotlight on Bay of Plenty

Youth connection As a young person Blair Gilbert lived life to the full, sometimes outside the norm. Now the adventurous leader of the Ministry of Youth Development’s central north team is helping young people realise their strengths and life’s opportunities.

Blair Gilbert’s Mum had to look twice when she saw a photo of her dreadlocked, bare footed, hippy son sitting on a Dunedin street corner selling the leather bangles he’d made.

“I thought it was a cool photo,” says the now-short-haired and somewhat older Blair. “But I guess Mum didn’t expect it, considering that when I left home I was heading to university to do a Bachelor in Veterinary Science.”

Back then, Blair did in fact study for a while. But then he dropped out, bought a house bus, grew his hair and stopped wearing shoes.

After a year or so the gloss wore off. He got hungry. With hunger came the realisation that people weren’t just going to give him everything. “I thought I was really hard done by,” he laughs at himself. “I actually had to do stuff, like work, so I could eat, and I realised I was hungry to learn.”

Blair re-enrolled at university, this time at Otago, and knuckled down.

Still living in his house bus, he completed a double major degree in education and psychology, and has since completed a masters and postgraduate studies in management. During his time at Otago, he worked with Wide Horizons, an outdoor education programme for youth, run by Innes McColl. Blair was a researcher bought in to evaluate the programme in order for funding to continue.

“Innes was an inspirational, practical person,” says Blair. “He believed that if we instil in our young people care and respect of the environment, other people and themselves, then we’ve changed the world.”

20 RISE: Issue 27 – June 2014

Blair gained further insight into the value of the outdoors as a tool to work with people when he took an opportunity to be involved with Outward Bound at Anakiwa.

While Blair was at Outward Bound, his partner Julie returned to Rotorua to introduce their new baby son to the family. “She ‘accidentally’ got a great job within her profession, and I came home to be a house husband,” he grins.

“I thought it would be real cruisy, but I had no time to cook or clean because I was so busy looking after the baby!”

After six months, Blair started work with Karldon House, working with people moving from psychiatric care into the community, and with Rotorua’s Te Waiariki Purea Trust, a youth development organisation.

Again, he found the outdoor environment to be a powerful and useful space for people to make an ongoing long-term change. With a leaning towards adventure therapy, Blair went to Waiariki Institute of Technology to lecture in social work. There he was part of a team that wrote a degree in social science; specifically writing the adventure therapy major within the degree programme. “It was a world-first,” he says proudly.

His research and involvement in adventure therapy took him around the world. He was the national leader of the NZ delegation on the Japanese Ship for World Youth, and through his work with mountain adventurer and youth development leader Graeme Dingle, Blair led the Youth on Ice programme to Antarctica in 2006 – “an amazing, life changing time.”

In 2006, Blair joined the Ministry of Youth Development (MYD) as regional team manager for the central north region. “I saw it as an opportunity to influence youth development nationwide, and I was excited about leading people who were inspired by young people and committed to ensuring they develop well.”

It may seem that Blair swapped the outdoors for a desk, but that is not the reality. He’s a long distance runner and a keen mountain climber. In 2007 he was one of a team of three people who successfully climbed the North Island’s four highest peaks in one day.

Blair is particularly interested (and qualified) in mountain safety and ski instructing and is a member of the specialised Ministry of Social Development trained, Emergency Welfare Reserves.

In his spare time, Blair is a volunteer fire fighter with Lake Okareka Rural Fire Force. With a rising demand for their services, the fire force and other volunteer emergency services need all the help they

Spotlight on Bay of Plenty

can get. Blair saw an opportunity to get young people involved with emergency services as well as more connected with their communities.

“It struck me that we could prepare our young people to be on hand in emergencies like floods, storms, earthquakes or civil emergency, while also achieving our MYD strategic goal of increasing youth citizenship.”

Blair and a working group of volunteers developed the Youth in Emergency Services (YES) pilot project which ran for the first time last year in partnership with Rotorua emergency services.

Over four weeks, 15 young people attended Thursday evening sessions

and Saturday morning inspirational introductions to different emergency services. The programme culminated in a weekend camp where the young people responded to a series of emergency scenarios – fighting fires, rescuing people from cliffs, extracting and treating injured victims. They are then supported to become volunteers in a service of their choice.

“Our young people became engaged with the good people in our community who volunteer their time in support of others,” Blair says. “They also learnt new skills, spent time with positive role models and learnt that ‘New Zealand needs them’ while discovering opportunities to

be volunteers themselves.”

The project attracted national interest.

Civil Defence and Youth Affairs Minister Nikki Kay extended the programme to Kaikohe, Mangakino/Turangi, Taupo, Gisborne, Alexandra and Kaikoura, with a second project in Rotorua.

YES was also runner up in the Educational and Child/Development category at the TrustPower Spirit of Rotorua Awards in October 2013.

“Do you know what the coolest thing is? The coolest thing is that every day at the Ministry of Youth Development I’m part of a team that supports the future of New Zealand. I’m privileged to be part of that.”

RISE: Issue 27 – June 2014 21

Spotlight on East Coast

It took time and determination, and the backing of Work and Income, the Defence Force, trainers and employers.

22 RISE: Issue 27 – June 2014

East Coast Grown from SEED The bright young technician in charge of the hi-tech equipment at the Mr Apple packhouse in Hawke's Bay obviously loves his job. He has a flair and a natural enthusiasm for work with technology.

But Devon Whitelegge did not land his job without effort. It took time and determination, and the backing of Work and Income, the Defence Force, trainers and employers.

As a kid, Devon found it hard to thrive at school. “I left at the end of the third form.

I had no qualifications. I did lots of courses and temporary jobs after leaving school, but I couldn’t get a proper job.”

Looking back on those frustrating years, Devon says the game changers were people and organisations who believed in him and backed him to succeed.

The first break came when Work and Income programme co-ordinator Ingrid Matthews encouraged Devon to go on a six-week Limited Service Volunteer (LSV) programme.

LSV is a six-week residential motivational course for 18 to 24 year old jobseekers.

Set in a military environment, young people tackle physical and mental challenges, learning teamwork and discipline, and focus on direction in their lives. Devon returned with a new sense of purpose and a plan to find a long-term job.

When he applied for seasonal work with Mr Apple, his motivation stood out and he was invited to join a programme which develops promising workers for long-term careers in the horticulture industry.

The SEED programme (Seasonal Employee/ Employer Development) offers one-on-one

mentoring along with on-the-job training.

As well as qualifications, it also focuses on life skills such as budgeting, driver licensing and health and fitness.

“My first job at Mr Apple was doing bin repairs, then prep work in the packhouse to get ready for the season.

“Last year I was in the orchards, grafting and planting new trees so there was a lot of variety.”

Devon showed a keen interest in technology and started to spend some days learning the ropes. His flair was soon noticed.

Production manager Robert Sykes says Devon has been one of the stars to emerge from the SEED programme. “He’s young, exuberant and keen to learn and has really demonstrated this. He's doing great.”

Devon was offered a full-time role from 13 October 2013 and is now responsible for cutting-edge technology, such as a scanner that x-rays apples, taking 36 photos of every apple on the conveyor belt to grade fruit quality. It processes 4,000 apples a minute.

“Mr Apple and Ingrid at Work and Income believed in me and have given me this amazing opportunity with SEED,” says Devon. “I wouldn’t have this job without it.”

SEED was first trialled in 2011 by Work and Income with the pip-fruit corporation Crasborn Group, to fill a gap in skilled labour.

Building on that success, Apollo signed up to SEED in 2012 and Mr Apple followed in 2013. This year, SEED has expanded to 50 full-time placements across the three companies.

Spotlight on East Coast

Key facts East Coast region has a youthful and higher - population. than average Maori In Gisborne, 34 per cent of the population are under 20 years of - population age. The region’s Maori of 28 per cent is double the national average.

A sunny climate provides excellent conditions for horticulture, viticulture, forestry and agriculture and tourism.

Cruise ships bring thousands of tourists between November and May with 53 scheduled visits to Napier and 13 visits to Gisborne.

Changes to the welfare system since July 2013 have seen: • 79% increase in work placements for single parents • 150% increase in work placements for supported living clients • 100% increase in work placements for 10-year-plus clients.

Learn more about how Work and Income can help employers develop their workforce: www.workandincome. govt.nz/business/

RISE: Issue 27 – June 2014 23

Spotlight on East Coast

Sass Mahuika and Jane Tureia

Aunty Sass Nine years ago, Ihipera (Sass) Mahuika was out for a walk in the suburb of Kaiti, Gisborne, when a reversing car pinned her against a parked truck.

A popular musician by night, a high-school lab technician by day and at all times a much-loved local character and aunty, Sass was told she was unlikely to walk again.

Multiple operations, long-term rehabilitation and life in a wheelchair became her new reality.

24 RISE: Issue 27 – June 2014

“My only source of comfort was food. It was about all I looked forward to. I put on weight, and eventually ended up weighing 225 kilograms.”

As her weight climbed, Sass plunged into a long depression, until a conversation with her pregnant daughter shocked her into action.

“My daughter asked me whether or not I wanted to see my mokopuna grow up.”

Another moment of truth struck when Sass sought help from Tui Keenan, a fitness instructor at Freedom Health and Fitness in Gisborne.

“Tui looked past the chair, past my disability and believed in me. She smiled and said, ‘Of course I can help’.”

Sass started attending the gym and took on a new diet. Physically and mentally, she went from strength to strength.

Another person who believed in Sass was Work and Income employment co-ordinator Jane Tureia. Jane works with Work and Income clients who face challenges to getting back into work.

She had been working alongside Sass for more than two years. Jane saw Sass’s strengths – her warmth and connection with people, her big personality, her background in school and education.

Sass’s weight dropped to 112 kilograms, and she often found herself encouraging others. Naturally musical with a good sense of rhythm, she’d also gotten a taste for Zumba.

Between the three of them, Sass, Jane and Tui hit upon a plan; Sass set about becoming a Zumba instructor and a health mentor. She attended an accreditation course in Auckland and then cancelled her benefit and took up full-time work.

Among the clients at her first Zumba class were eight Work and Income staff members, inspired to make fitness changes for themselves.

Sass and Tui were invited to share their story at the 2013 Zumba Conference in Orlando, Florida – joining 8,000 other instructors and doing media interviews.

Back in Gisborne, it’s all about getting back into the community Zumba classes after another hip operation. Sass is also applying for education and student support roles.

WEB LINK Watch Aunty Sass on Seven Sharp. tvnz.co.nz/seven-sharp/ losing-112kgs-zumba-video-5477615

Spotlight on East Coast

BJ Waerehu, Kylie Wilson and Dennis Wen

Changing lives In Gisborne, a business couple with a social conscience are helping to change lives and open doors for disadvantaged people.

Among other things, Dennis Wen and his wife Bing Sun run a community hostel, Memorial Ltd. It houses around 120 people who are either jobless or on a low income. It offers emergency housing, short-term and long-term accommodation, and can support people with disabilities or mental health issues.

Whenever he can, Dennis tries to find paid work for his tenants, either in the hostel or in his horticulture and viticulture labouring business – Kaimahi Contracting.

Dennis says most people very much want to work, but often they just need to be given a break. He’ll help his tenants and employees overcome some of the things that are holding them back – supporting them with budgeting and life skills, family difficulties or liaising with IRD or Work and Income.

Sole parent Kylie Wilson had been on the Domestic Purposes Benefit for more than 24 years when she started working for Memorial Ltd. “Kylie was very keen to work,” says Dennis. “She started off doing housekeeping duties. From there I started teaching her the computer so she could start doing some of our administration work. She learnt very quickly and now she’s the office manager.”

Kylie says she loves working for Memorial Ltd. She is responsible for customer services, including signing up new tenancies, general housekeeping, and accommodation inspections.

She says her own life experience is a great advantage. “I know where they are coming from – I’ve been there myself.

Many of the difficulties people have, I’ve been through,” she says.

Kaimahi Contracting employs up to 70 staff at the peak of the horticulture and viticulture season.

Around 80 per cent of Kaimahi’s employees are recruited from Work and Income. They boost the labour force of

big corporates such as Leaderbrand, Harper Gold and Indevin. Dennis says the success of his employees is also due to the commitment of these corporates.

John Waerehu (known as BJ) started full-time work with Kaimahi Contracting in 2013 after being on a Sickness Benefit for three years.

Straight away Dennis was impressed with his attitude.

“He used his initiative. When he first started he cleaned the van out without being asked and I knew he’d work out well. He was a local and knew mates who were looking for work and I hired them as well.”

BJ, aged 48, has since taken on a leadership role with Kaimahi Contracting and helped strengthen Dennis’s contacts with the local community.

BJ says it is very much part of Dennis’s philosophy to watch out for workers’ welfare. “Dennis and his wife really look after us.”

BJ says working with Kaimahi Contracting has changed his life. “They have treated me like family,” he says.

RISE: Issue 27 – June 2014 25

Spotlight on Taranaki, King Country and Whanganui

“Kids love seeing their parents work – it’s so empowering.”

Te Awhina Chase at the Homework Club 26 RISE: Issue 27 – June 2014

Spotlight on Taranaki, King Country and Whanganui

Taranaki, King Country and Whanganui School work for kids and parents Castlecliff School takes good care of its kids and its parents. Just ask Te Awhina Chase, a sole parent who has gained work as a teacher aide running the school's Homework Club.

She is one of several previously unemployed parents who have gained jobs at the school as teacher aides or in administration, thanks to a long-standing partnership between the school and Work and Income.

Te Awhina started in a voluntary role at the school last year. By September, she was a paid teacher aide with her wages subsidised by Work and Income’s Job Streams Flexi-wage programme.

This year, Te Awhina has been a key member of the school’s new initiative to raise student achievement – the Homework Club. Straight after the school day ends, children scamper to Homework Club where they share kai including fresh fruit and milk.

This is followed by play time, then a structured homework session of up to an hour before heading home at 5pm. There is no cost to attend, although a koha – usually food – is gratefully received.

“With something in their tummies and some exercise, they’re ready to think again,” says school principal Katherine Ellery.

“The Homework Club is also teaching parents and families to structure their day.

Kids are no longer sitting in front of the telly for three hours. Parents cannot believe that their kids are coming home and carrying on with their homework.”

Te Awhina is passionate about helping the children learn. “They are all different personalities with some needing one-to-one help. It’s cool when they first get

their spelling words to learn each Monday;

by Friday, they know them all!” she says.

Katherine says she’s proud of Te Awhina’s development. “She has just blossomed and is a different girl to the one who started here last year. She confidently goes around each of the teachers and asks what they want their students to focus on after Homework Club.”

Work and Income employment co-ordinator Mike Weekly says the partnership is particularly successful because of the school’s ongoing commitment to providing opportunities for parents.

Also, the hours suit sole parents. “Not only are the hours sufficient for our clients to become financially independent, these mums do not have to find or pay for childcare for their own children.”

Being a low-decile school, Katherine says Castlecliff can use all the help it can get. The Flexi-wage subsidies have not only helped the school to fund paid work for sole parents, but allowed the school to staff extra projects that improve learning for the kids and the school community.

Another positive is police feedback that there are less children on the streets after school.

There are other advantages too, says Katherine. “Te Awhina’s two sons attend Castlecliff and love having Mum at school.

Kids love seeing their parents work – it’s so empowering.”

Mike Weekly says it shows how well a partnership like this can work for everyone involved.

“We are looking to have more schools come on board offering the same sort of chance to other people.”

Key facts Taranaki, King Country and Whanganui covers a large area from Otorohanga in the north, Ruapehu in the east and Rangitikei in the south.

Around 194,000 people live in the region, with just over half living in the cities of Whanganui and New Plymouth.

- are represented by 18 hapuMaori and iwi.

Key industries include agriculture, dairy/meat processing, forestry, manufacturing and energy production. Work and Income works with employers to recruit and train the right staff. Contact a work broker on 0800 778 008.

In the year to March 2014 the number of working age people on a benefit in the region fell by 4.1 per cent. Most of those people had been unemployed for more than a year.

RISE: Issue 27 – June 2014 27

Spotlight on Taranaki, King Country and Whanganui

Nicola Wellstood – Registered Nurse Late last year, Nicola Wellstood’s mum received a text from her 49-year-old daughter. It read simply: Nicola Wellstood RN. “When I found out I had graduated, I cried,” Nicola says. “My hands were shaking so much I had to get one of my daughters to text Mum for me.”

Now Nicola is working as a graduate nurse with Riverside Care Home and Hospital in New Plymouth, and has cancelled her benefit with Work and Income.

Nicola’s road to success has been a tough 14-year journey. Her marriage ended when the youngest of her three girls was only one year old.

In 2004, Nicola started to study towards a nursing qualification, but complicated health problems led to a heart-breaking decision to pull out.

“I spent 18 months on crutches.

I didn’t want to sit on my butt so I took over from Mum running the Salvation Army shop in Stratford,” says Nicola.

Her recovery involved losing nearly 50kg in weight, a hip operation and a gastric by-pass. During this time she took up her nursing studies again.

“I am lucky because I have had good family support and good friends.”

During the last six months of her training, Nicola helped care for her father who died before she graduated.

“Before he died, he told me he was proud of me,” Nicola says wistfully.

When Nicola’s youngest daughter

28 RISE: Issue 27 – June 2014

turned 14, Nicola moved from a Sole Parent Support benefit to a Job Seeker Support payment with full-time work obligations. Ingrid Self, a Work and Income work-focused case manager in Stratford, has supported Nicola’s transformation and goals over several years.

Ingrid says she is blown away by what Nicola has achieved. “She has overcome such horrible and impossible hurdles and she is now happy and working hard. She’s an inspiration.”

Nicola says her daughters – now 19, 17 and 14 – have grown up to be resilient young women, focused on succeeding in work and used to managing on very little money.

“My oldest, Kimberly, starts uni in July – she wants to be a psychologist working in prisons,” Nicola says proudly.

When she graduated, Nicola’s daughters gave her a bouquet of flowers. The card read: “We’re proud of you, Mum.” When asked what she enjoys the most about her work, Nicola says that she just loves caring for people.

“I was meant to care for elderly people.

I left school in the fifth form but even while at school, nursing was always in the back of my head.”

This year, Nicola will be doing post-graduate studies through Auckland University. “It’s paid for by the Taranaki District Health Board and I will be spending time at the hospital learning and doing essays and presentations. The more I learn, the more I can provide.”

Spotlight on Taranaki, King Country and Whanganui

“I had to think very hard about taking the baby as well, but I have no regrets.

I love him more and more each day.”

Raising grandkids Martha George raised two daughters and didn’t know a lot about boys until seven years ago when her eldest grandson (now 12) came into her care.

Four years later, Martha’s daughter gave birth to another baby boy. With his mother unable to care for the children at all, after much soul-searching, Martha agreed to be the baby’s full-time carer too.

“It would have broken my heart if the children were fostered out,” says Martha.

“I had to think very hard about taking the baby as well, but I have no regrets.

I love him more and more each day.”

It’s a time of life when Martha would have expected to be leading a more relaxed lifestyle, but her days are action-packed caring for a toddler and a boy about to enter his teenage years.

On Sundays it’s baking, ensuring school uniforms are ready, sports gear is in order and then there’s all the pick-up’s and drop-off’s in the week, along with washing and cooking.

Martha receives NZ Superannuation and Unsupported Child Benefits for the children. She’s organised and budgets to the last cent, but things are tight.

Last summer, her grandson helped out by shopping around for the cheapest school stationery to free up more of the budget for the iPad he desperately wants.

This year, new funding has been introduced for carers in Martha’s situation as part of the Children’s Action Plan. It helps with start of school year costs. “It took a lot of stress away.

I usually have to lay-by so it was a good start to the year,” says Martha.

There’s also a new Extraordinary Care Fund for children who show promise or face difficulties that affect their development.

Martha is quick to acknowledge other help she has received. Her grandson’s school makes sure he can take part in activities such as camps and trips.

He shows talent in both sport and music and the school has supported that.

Martha also praises the New Plymouth Big Brothers Big Sisters programme mentors who helped her access services and support. She says they’ve also helped her oldest boy to understand his mother’s situation, grow as a person and have experiences he otherwise might not have.

Friends are also important, including one who has four grandchildren in her care. When Martha gets stressed out, she reaches out to her friend.

“Talking things over helps,” she says.

“Other peoples’ problems make you realise yours are not as big.”

Martha hopes that one day her daughter will be well enough to lead a positive life and have a fuller relationship with her sons. Meanwhile, she says she’ll continue to encourage her grandsons to reach their potential and provide for them.

“Where there’s a way, I will try.”

WEB LINK New help for people caring for someone else’s child People can face extra financial pressure when caring for someone else’s child.

A School Year Start-up Payment, an Establishment Grant and a special fund have been introduced to help with this, as part of the Children’s Action Plan. www.workandincome.govt.nz/carers

RISE: Issue 27 – June 2014 29

Regional round-up Southern Foster care campaign: The Warehouse and local mayors are backing foster care recruitment in Oamaru and Balclutha to raise awareness about foster care, with events, competitions and prizes.

Careers in agriculture: Work and Income and Venture Southland have developed a regional strategy as part of the Southland Futures: Primary Industry Careers for Young People project. The project aims to meet industry demand, reduce the reliance on overseas workers and overcome young people’s barriers to entering primary industry employment.

Assistant herd managers: Work and Income is working with a dairy and wool industry training provider to upskill jobseekers that have experience in the beef and dairy industry. This initiative will be trialled in the Southern region, particularly Southland and South Canterbury, and if successful will be rolled out to other regions.

Canterbury Children’s forums: Child, Youth and Family hosted a series of forums for children and young people to talk about being in care, their social workers, their needs and hopes for the future.

Children’s Day event: This year’s celebrations saw social workers and other MSD staff talking to families about everything from foster care to Work and Income services. Everyone enjoyed the free, fun activities such as bouncy castles, rides and a Teddy Bear's Picnic.

Linwood Youth Festival Experience: Work and Income staff attended the LYFE community event celebrating youth pride, diversity and achievement. Young people from across Christchurch learned about Basebook where people can match to jobs on Facebook, and Youthshop, an initiative run from Christchurch’s Youth Hub to help young people into training, study or employment.

Nelson, Marlborough and West Coast Pruning season: The recruitment drive is in full gear for the busiest time of year for Marlborough winegrowers. Work and Income is holding a series of seminars for jobseekers where they can find out about the work, pay and the skills an employer looks for. Contractors join the seminars to give jobseekers a real world view of the jobs. Employers wanting to link with Work and Income work brokers to find suitable people should call 0800 778 008.

Foster Care Awareness week: Child, Youth and Family Blenheim together with partners Fostering Kids, Open Home Foundation and Care Solutions hosted a pool party for children and young people in care. They also recognised the amazing work that caregivers do every day by treating them to a coffee and cake evening.

30 RISE: Issue 27 – June 2014

Wellington Everyday Theatre: South Wellington Intermediate School recently hosted the Everyday Theatre programme, an interactive theatre workshop funded by Child, Youth and Family. Aimed at young people, it addresses issues of abuse, neglect and family violence, promoting positive family wellbeing.

Employment growth sectors: The regional labour market team is working on a project to better understand the employment growth sectors in the region. The manufacturing sector in particular has undergone real change recently. Work brokers talked to many industrial employers in the Hutt Valley. The results will help Work and Income provide employers with a range of recruitment options and opportunities to address any skill or labour shortages. The project is supported by the Lower Hutt Chamber of Commerce.

Central Wairarapa Youth Action Plan: The Wairarapa Youth Action Plan aims to reduce youth crime, truancy and risky behaviour among young people. It was launched at Masterton Intermediate School in April 2014. The Youth Action Plan is part of a trial led by the Ministry of Social Development and is already in other areas around the country, some of which have seen youth crime drop by more than 40 per cent.

Kapiti Expressway: The road construction industry promises huge potential for jobseekers in the Kapiti area, with the building of the Kapiti Expressway. The $630 million project consists of a four lane expressway, 18 bridges, 45 hectares of landscaping and wetlands, and is estimated to take four years and 500 staff to complete.

East Coast Careers expo: In May Work and Income, StudyLink and Child, Youth and Family took part in the Hawke’s Bay Today Careers expo offering insights into careers including case manager and social work positions. Information was also provided on student loans and allowances.

Positive ageing: Hawke’s Bay Senior Services were at the Positive Ageing expo in May 2014 talking to people about NZ Super, SuperGold Card and the extra help available through the Disability Allowance and Accommodation Supplement.

Community hub: Child, Youth and Family have been given the green light for a former Wairoa foster home to be developed as a community hub where non-government organisations, agencies and social service professionals in Wairoa can work with people from one comfortable, convenient place.

Taranaki, King Country and Whanganui Mountain opportunities: A partnership between Work and Income and Ruapehu Alpine Lifts will see 20 jobseekers complete a six-month cadetship and a National Certificate Sports and Recreation Level 2. The programme is designed to increase people’s knowledge while they gain experience working in a recreation or sport-based organisation. It is expected that approximately eight clients will then be chosen for apprenticeships for on-going permanent employment.

Restorative City: The Whanganui Restorative City conference was held at the end of March 2014.

A wide range of agencies and individuals in the city are committed to doing better for young people by spreading the principles of restorative justice across wider areas such as schools and the community, with organisations working together. International speakers shared experiences from Canada and the UK. RISE: Issue 27 – June 2014 31

Bay of Plenty Youth in Emergency Services: YES programmes were run in Mangakino, Turangi and Rotorua by the Ministry of Youth Development and Ministry of Civil Defence and Emergency Management to engage young people in their communities. Groups of young people took part in weekly sessions, as well as a weekend camp where they put their learning into practice through emergency scenarios.

Lest we forget: Te Maioha o Parekarangi Youth Justice Residence held its annual ANZAC Day dawn service on 24 April 2014. The service was scheduled for the day before ANZAC Day to allow special guests – veterans of the armed forces – to also take part. It was the first time many of the young people at the residence had ever attended a dawn service.

Waikato Wellbeing Waikato: Work and Income and Senior Services staff answered questions about study, work, housing and child welfare at the Wellbeing Show in Hamilton in April 2014.

Fieldays: Work and Income work brokers will be out in force talking to employers about recruitment at the National Fieldays in Mystery Creek in June 2014.

Scaffolding skills shortage: Work and Income recently ran a successful five-week pilot Skills for Industry programme for the scaffolding industry. This programme will now be offered on an ongoing basis.

Working with community partners: In May Child, Youth and Family’s Hauraki site held its 10th Partnered Response hui. The hui was an opportunity for providers, agencies and organisations to learn more about each other’s services and review community relationships.

Auckland Teen parent hui: The annual teen parent hui was held over two days at the Waipuna Lodge in Auckland.

Teen parent service providers from around the country joined with Ministry staff in a programme that included an address by Social Development Minister Paula Bennett, pecha kucha presentations and workshops to help social service providers work together to measure and improve the results they are achieving for young parents and their kids.

Seeking more foster carers: Auckland Child, Youth and Family are looking to recruit more foster carers. Foster carers come from all walks of life. If you are interested in learning more, please call 0508 FAMILY (0508 326 459) or visit our website www.cyf.govt.nz

Northland New care strategy: Child, Youth and Family is developing a new care strategy for children and young people in Te Tai Tokerau. The team is looking at innovative ways of recruiting, training and supporting caregivers. Care services in the region will also be enhanced by the opening of a new Teaching Family Home for boys aged 13 to 17, scheduled for later this year.

Reducing youth offending: Te Tai Tokerau’s Youth Justice team is working closely with agencies in the mid North as part of the Kaikohe Social Sector Trials. Child, Youth and Family is leading the strategy to reduce youth offending as part of the Youth Action Plan which contains a range of initiatives aimed at young people and their families.

32 RISE: Issue 27 – June 2014

Tips, links and news RealMe® – making life easier for people RealMe® lets you access more than 50 online services with a single username and password. It is designed to protect your privacy and security, while saving you from using a lot of different logins for different services. Setting up a RealMe login can all be done online and takes only a few minutes.

Just click on the Get Started Now button at www.realme.govt.nz Plus, an upgrade to a verified RealMe account takes you a step further. A verified RealMe account can be used to securely prove your identity online – it’s a protected online ID, that you can use over and over.

All you have to do is apply online, get your photo taken at a participating PostShop, follow the online instructions and five days later you're ready to go. You’ll have your own secure government-backed online ID to use as an official proof of identity.

The RealMe service is officially backed by the government and was created by the Department of Internal Affairs and New Zealand Post.

The Ministry of Social Development and its service lines use the RealMe login for many of their online services. (For these services, your RealMe login does not need to be upgraded to a verified RealMe account.)

WEB LINK Set up your RealMe login or verified RealMe account at www.realme.govt.nz

Rise in print, online or iPad – it’s your choice Rise for the iPad Rise is available as a digital iBook on your Apple iPad. As well as flicking through the magazine on-screen, you can access extra video and photo galleries, and interactive web links. Plus it will update itself whenever a new issue is available.

Find it on the Apple iTunes App Store by searching for Rise magazine.

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“He aha te mea nui o te ao?

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“He aha te mea nui o te ao?

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Mäku e kı¨ atu. He tangata, he tangata, he tangata!”

“What is the most important thing in the world?

I tell you. It is people, it is people, it is people!”

“What is the most important thing in the world?

I tell you. It is people, it is people, it is people!”

“What is the most important thing in the world?

I tell you. It is people, it is people, it is people!”

“What is the most important thing in the world?

I tell you. It is people, it is people, it is people!”

Courage

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Whakakotahi

Achievement

Please email us at rise@msd.govt.nz

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Tackling family violence – Jude Simpson’s mission

Tanya Black – challenging expectations

Courage to innovate – Levin tests new ways to support young people

A different future – backing people to succeed in work

Speaking out – a voice for disabled children Life-changing choices – teenagers working to succeed

Lifehack – creative answers for youth mental health Tai Tokerau – doing better for Northland’s at-risk kids

Aotearoa Reggae Allstars – singing against child abuse

Home for life – the foster family with a dream home

Between us all – Te Ku-iti unites for young people

It’s Not OK – tackling family violence in the heartland

Never give up – soccer’s Ben Sigmund and Limited Service Volunteers

Onjeurlina Leiataua – our youngest Black Fern From lost to leaders – former refugees make their mark

RISE: Issue 27 – June 2014 33

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Work and Income uses RealMe as a secure way of accessing our online services. Find out more about RealMe on the inside back cover.

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