Rise March 2015

“What is the most important thing in the world? I tell you. It is people, it is people, it is people!”

“He aha te mea nui o te ao? Mäku e kï atu. He tangata, he tangata, he tangata!”

Making a difference Home is where the heart is – improving a community’s health

Gaming – super heroes deal to attitudes

YES project – firefighter gives back

MINISTRY OF SOCIAL DEVELOPMENTISSUE 29 – MARCH 2015

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 profi le 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 offi cial 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.

Welcome to the fi rst issue of Rise for 2015.

Making a difference – it’s what we all

want to do.

To help those struggling to have better

lives. To make sure children have enough to

eat. To engage young people with school so

they get the qualifications they need to find

work. To do all we can to help parents feel

hopeful about the future so they, in turn, can

raise their children with a sense of possibility

and excitement about what’s ahead.

Read the stories in this issue and you’ll

find out about people making a profound

difference to the lives of others.

A partnership between Work and Income

and one of the largest vegetable growers in

the South Island has led to employment and

English classes for refugees.

In Porirua, an extraordinary woman has

gathered principals, police, NGOs, iwi leaders,

doctors, dental services, city councillors and

government agencies to give children a ‘well’

start to life and improve the health of the

community. Fewer people are now seen by

hospital emergency departments, hospital

admissions have dropped, and children’s

health is improving.

It’s inspiring to see what can be done

when people come together determined to

change things for the better.

Read about the hairdresser who runs

workshops with salons and hairdressing

students about family violence and how

to help. About a former Work and Income

client who started a cleaning business with a

bottle of Handy Andy and now employs 11

staff – mostly single mothers who value the

supportive, child-friendly work environment

she provides.

These are just a few of the inspiring

stories you’ll find in this issue. I recommend

you read them all.

Kia kaha

Brendan Boyle

Chief Executive, Ministry of Social Development

Brendan BoyleChief Executive

This issue of Rise is about making a diff erence

Southern

Canterbury

Nelson/ Marlborough/West Coast Wellington

East Coast

Northland

Auckland

Taranaki/King Country/Whanganui

Waikato

Bay of Plenty

Central

Welcome

RISE: Issue 29 – March 2015ii

Contents

Cover storyHome is where the heart isRanei Wineera-Parai is proving a formidable force in Porirua.

Feature stories Mangere students take a standStudent champions step up as ‘go to’ people for family violence.

A force to be reckoned withYoung volunteer fi refi ghter gains a life-changing opportunity with the Outward Bound Trust.

Gaming deals to attitudesDunedin ‘super heroes’ put imagination, creativity and love of gaming to good use.

Cut it outHairdressers back ‘It’s Not OK’ campaign.

Bridging the gapTrent Waldron goes full circle.

Spotlight on Nelson, Marlborough and West CoastIndustry partnership gives refugees work; employment project yields results and campaign a family affair.

Spotlight on CanterburyBenefi ciaries embrace 3K to Christchurch; perseverance

pays off for sole parent and Levi gives back.

Spotlight on CentralM2PP project proving successful; meet ‘rescuer’ Anne Reed and Daniel gets a new lease on life.

Regular columnsRegional round-up

Tips, links and news – check out Rise online and iPad.

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Contact Rise Drop us a line at [email protected]

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

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RISE: Issue 29 – March 2015 1

Home is where the heart isRanei Wineera-Parai is proving a formidable force in Porirua.

Born and bred in Porirua, Ranei’s passion to make a difference in the community is obvious. And in her role as Project Manager of the Porirua Social Sector Trial, she’s making inroads.

The initiative began almost two years

ago as one of 16 Social Sector trials that

aim to improve the lives of people in

our communities.

Porirua’s focus differs from the rest of the

trials. It’s the only trial with a total health

focus, one which aims to reduce the number

of Porirua residents (from birth to age 74)

using Wellington Hospital’s emergency

department and being admitted to hospital

for avoidable conditions.

With funding from the Ministries of Social

Development, Education, Justice, Health and

NZ Police, the over-arching goal is to make

Porirua a stronger, more resilient community.

It’s not up to government officials to

dictate how the community is to achieve

those results, and Ranei and her Project

Co-ordinator Cheryl Devadhar know better

than anyone that they can’t do it alone.

Only through effective collaboration will real

change come.

Change is coming via an action plan

created with input from the community,

led by Ranei and overseen by the local

advisory group.

The group includes the Porirua mayor,

iwi leaders – including Ranei’s husband

Taku Parai, representing Ngati Toa and

Or Toa Primary Health Organisation (PHO) –

principals, police, community social services,

training providers, regional public health

nurses, general practitioners, Bee Healthy

Regional Dental Service, Porirua City Council

and other government agencies.

It’s a challenging plan with bold initiatives,

including:

• Giving children a ‘well’ start to life

• Improving access to appropriate primary

care in Porirua East and Titahi Bay

• Aligning government agencies and

sharing data to improve services

• Providing supportive environments to

improve wellbeing.

There are 94 actions in total to complete

by June this year, and in order to achieve

that, Ranei moves between several worlds.

On the one hand, she reports directly to

government ministers and works on high

level strategy with government officials

and local leaders, while on the other hand,

she’s at the coalface.

“That’s where my skill is, identifying

issues and working with the community to

come up with resolutions for those and then

implementing them. I could be chairing a

meeting or I could be helping to pack 9,500

bags of toothbrushes and toothpaste.”

The toothbrush packs distributed to

schools throughout the region is the perfect

example of how one simple action stemming

from better collaboration is making a

difference at grassroots level.

“Children with asthma inhalers were

being told to keep them next to their

toothbrushes, but up to a third of kids

don’t even have toothbrushes,” says Ranei.

“It makes me smile to see children being

given these packs. For some, those things

may seem small, but for those families and

kids, it’s important to have something that is

given just to them, to help them.”

Then there’s the revelation from a

stocktake of handwashing facilities in

primary schools that not all had hot water,

soap, paper towels or tissues.

The Porirua trial has since provided more

than 4,000 bottles of liquid soap, 400 boxes

of tissues and tubes of antiseptic cream

to 30-odd primary schools, supported by

regional public health nurses.

The nurses have also supported the

idea for 1,000 skincare packs to be given

to children and their parents through

medical practices, pharmacies and Work

and Income.

For Caron Watson, Deputy Principal of

decile 1c-rated Holy Family School, having

access to a supply of skin packs, hand

sanitiser, tissues and toothbrush packs is

a big plus. “We’ve given parents packs of

all of these items and everyone’s excited

about them.

“We might have 10 kids in the medical

room that need a scrape or sore cleaned up.

We can now give them skincare packs to take

home. With the tissues, kids can use them

instead of sniffing or using their sleeves!”

Often Caron says health issues are the

result of poor housing, no heating and low

incomes. “A kid at five shouldn’t be excited

about getting a toothbrush, so what does

that tell you? You only have to talk to the

dental nurses to know that teeth might

look nice, but they’re not. It’s hard work,

but schools are a good place to promote

the trial.”

Robyn Kelly is the Regional Public Health

team leader responsible for the public

health nurses who regularly work in local

schools like Holy Family to educate children

and support the trial’s actions.

“Health promotion projects like this are

a key part of our work. It’s heartening to

know that a child with a minor skin infection

can be treated early rather than progress

to needing antibiotics and hospitalisation,”

she says. “Keneperu Hospital has lists of

children needing tooth extractions, including

pre-school children, so getting toothbrush

packs to kids is just fantastic.”

Thanks to the trial, Bee Healthy dental

service is making huge progress in capturing

children under age five by joining forces

with local medical practices. Those children

enrolled in primary health care are now

being automatically enrolled in the free

dental service, too.

“One practice showed 220 of their

400 under five-year-olds weren’t enrolled,

“I could be chairing a meeting or I could be helping to pack 9,500 bags of toothbrushes and toothpaste.”


so letters were sent to the parents advising

them of our service and that their children

would be enrolled unless they opted out,”

says Bee Healthy’s Jackie Mayne.

Another working group that includes

Bee Healthy has established an enrolment

from birth scheme, ensuring newborns are

enrolled in dental services, a medical practice

and child health services before they even

leave hospital.

“Our hardest challenge has been finding

a way of catching these families. We’ve had

to wait for them to engage with us but we

know many don’t. The information sharing

between services through the trial has been

breaking down barriers,” says Jackie.

“Now it’s a matter of coming up with

strategies for us to be able to see the extra

3,000 children that are now enrolled with us

through this programme!”

Help is also at hand for families who can’t

afford to collect their medicines, through

funding given to two pharmacies in Porirua

East and one in Titahi Bay. “Now these

families can go to the pharmacy and pick

up their drugs. It’s really going to make an

impact on people’s lives, knowing infections

will be cleared up early and keep children

out of hospital, and avoid the misery of a

really progressed illness,” says Robyn from

Public Health.

There’s another big push to educate

families that scripts are free for the rest of

the year once they’ve spent $200 at the

same pharmacy. “Loads of scripts were not

picked up at pharmacies. They were just

sitting there,” says Robyn.

Under the trial, Work and Income clients

can have their disability allowance redirected

to medical practices and pharmacies to

pay for their consultation and medication.

Many aren’t aware of their entitlement,

but with 31 clients having already benefited

from this approach, things are changing.

Work and Income Service Centre

Manager Karen Bain has been involved

in the advisory group from the start and

is now executing her part of the plan.

“We’ve moved away from the so-called

health product coming first. Now it’s the

situation that comes first and what products

can fit around that situation.

Karen rattles off a few initiatives, including

the Poirura-specific group email address set

up for medical professionals to ask questions

about Work and Income products and

services, and a direct phone line to her for

health professionals.

“Our biggest fan of our professional

email is Mary Potter Hospice. There can be

multiple things going on with families in a

hospice situation, so once the staff explain

the situation to us, we can go back to them

with products we can fit in around them.”

Wesley Community Action, a partnering

charitable social service provider, is playing

its part. Trial funding has enabled it to

support families through the distribution of

420-odd fruit and vege packs direct from

market gardeners.

“Many of the people that we support are

living on the breadline, with fresh fruit and

vegetables seen as a bit of a luxury,” says

Community Services Operations Manager

Andrea McKenzie. “No family wants to see

their children eat unhealthy food. To be able

to provide these fruit and vege packs along

with conversations and recipes around how

to prepare and cook certain vegetables is

very exciting.”

Wesley is even supporting some

’proactive‘ families who have received the

packs and are keen to set up their own

vegetable gardens as a result. “We’re a

provider in the Porirua community. Our work

is in line with the objectives of the trial and

we want to see families with improved health

and wellbeing outcomes,” says Andrea.

“It’s a very good partnership.”

Whitby doctor Larry Jordan, also chair of

Compass Health Primary Health Organisation

(PHO) that has the contract to lead the trial

and employs Ranei and Cheryl, agrees.

Larry has been a GP in Porirua for 33 years,

and though there are still plenty of issues to

address, he’s optimistic. “We know it’s a really

important piece of work. It’s really the first

serious attempt to get that comprehensive

multi-agency, multidisciplinary work going in

a coherent way. We’re well pleased with the

progress of the action plan that Ranei and

her team have put together.

“We’re seeing it at the coalface. On a

weekly basis we’d see kids here with skin

infections. Children who develop a nasty

abscess might end up going to hospital

to have a general anaesthetic to have it

removed and drained. That’s a big disruption

for the family and a drain on the public

health purse,” says Larry.

“But in the last year we’ve had feedback

from specialists at Wellington Hospital saying

the numbers of children presenting with

abscesses needing operating have diminished

dramatically. We think that’s because of the

work being done in the community.

Both Larry and Sandra Williams, Capital

and Coast DHB advisory group representative,

attribute much of the trial’s success to

Ranei. “We’re all working together to help

Ranei achieve, but her leadership has been

crucial. She’s got a special way of working

with people that brings them on board.

It’s really pragmatic stuff, being able to act as

a bridge,” says Sandra.

“This trial has brought together groups

of people we haven’t been able to work

with before. Everyone’s left their individual

agendas behind to help improve the lives in

the Porirua community,” says Sandra.

“It’s great to work alongside someone

who can actually get other people to come

to the party. It’s a gift, and I really appreciate

the linkages she and Taku have within the

local community,” Sandra adds.

It’s not surprising then that Ranei and

the rest of the Porirua trial were awarded

an early Christmas present in the form of

two Capital and Coast DHB quality awards.

The trial took out the quality improvement

and innovation award from 25 nominations,

and Ranei beat a strong field to the

leadership award.

“The information sharing between services through the trial has been breaking down barriers.”

RISE: Issue 29 – March 20154

As he reflects on progress, Ranei’s husband

Taku says that the skepticism at the start

has long gone. “Once work got under way,

relationships started to become more solid,

everyone began to sing the same song and

we started getting good results. It became

evident that this was going to work.

Both Taku and Ranei, who have six

children between them and grandchildren,

are on the same page, striving to make a

difference for their community.

“My heart is here. Both Taku and I will be

here till we die, and whatever we do that can

make a difference in improving the future

for our children and our grandchildren,

then that’s what we’re about,” says Ranei.

“For me, it’s a privilege to now be able to

lead a project like this, across a community in

which I have these wonderful connections.”

WEB LINK

www.msd.govt.nz/social-sector-trials

Photo top: Public health nurse Annie Highet chats with Holy Family School student Joan Tamala-Mani.

Photo top right: Holy Family School student Lusiana Tamala-Mani.

Photo below right: Wesley Community Action Porirua’s Tim Borrer.

Photo below: Holy Family School Deputy Principal Caron Watson.


Mangere students take a stand

STUDENT CHAMPION

STUDENT CHAMPION STUDENT CHAMPION

STUDENT CHAMPION

When Mangere College student Desaray Williams went to her local supermarket last July, she was given a standing ovation. The night before she’d appeared on TV’s ONE News challenging all New Zealand schools to stand up against family violence.

Desaray is one of 20 student champions

who are part of Mangere College’s ‘It’s not

OK’ campaign.

Mangere is the first secondary school

in New Zealand with student champions

trained as ’go to‘ people for family violence.

The idea was born at a leadership camp in

January last year. Family violence survivor Jude

Simpson spoke to the group and they were

inspired to develop a school-wide campaign.

“I was abused as a child by a stepmother,

and this took me to many abusive

relationships, gangs, prison, children by

four different fathers,” says Jude. “No one

reached out or spoke up. It would have

made a huge difference if they had.”

Back at school after the camp, the first step

for the leadership group was to gain approval

and support from the board of trustees.

Then the group held a brainstorming session

with staff and challenged them to come on

board and bring the message that family

violence is not OK into their subject areas.

School counsellor Kathryn Barclay says

many teachers took up the challenge.

Branding was developed for the

school campaign using student artwork.

The technology department designed and

made a 3D pendant. Art students created

Claymation that was used in a music video for

a rap written and performed by music students

on the topic of preventing family violence.

“Students performed their spoken word

at assembly. We had speakers in to talk

about family violence, what it is and how it

impacts on people,” says Kathryn. “And we

sent newsletters home to parents, many of

whom came along to the ’It's not OK‘ Day

last July to see their teenagers perform.”

Students came up with their own message:

Drop the burden before the next generation.

The campaign’s orange colour was

chosen and billboards were developed,

one for the school campus and one for

Mangere township. Training was provided

for student champions so they would feel

confident and comfortable responding to

students who came to them for help.

All students were involved in the ‘It's

not OK’ Day, rotating round three stations

for different activities. At one, speakers

told their own stories. “At the day a

student got up and shared her story. She

felt safe enough to do that,” says head girl

Carnia-Rose Aupouri.

There were activities and music at another

station. At the third, local service providers

had stalls and students completed a quiz

about family violence and where to go for help.

Principal John Heyes says the school has

a strong culture of respect and responsibility

which provided the perfect foundation for

the ‘It’s not OK’ message. “I believe that

our student champions and the whole

school’s support for the ‘It's not OK’ Day was

because students were already in a position

of heightened awareness of behaviours that

are conducive to healthy living,” he says.

Kathryn says the year-long campaign has

had a tangible impact on the school culture.

“I think all guidance counsellors hear and see

the impact of family violence, so that was a

motivation for me. Even when I worked in

high decile schools I saw what happens

in young people’s relationships.

“We have noticed a change in language.

The kids will say ‘It’s not OK’. We have seen

this across the school, kids will talk about

bullying being not OK, and we’ve seen a

change in the language teachers use as well.”

Kathryn says one strength of the

campaign was all partners working together

– students, staff, the board of trustees,

police, the national ‘It’s not OK’ campaign

team and Presbyterian Support Northern.

Senior Sergeant Chris Barry agrees,

but emphasises the role of the young people.

He grew up here and has a lot of passion

for this community. “There are fantastic

people in this community but there is a lot

of hardship too. It’s hard for families to be

positive role models and give their children

positive messages. It’s been really exciting

for me to see the young people taking

ownership of this issue.

“As police officers we realise we can’t

solve this issue by ourselves. We have had

to deal with a lot of family violence as

the ambulance at the bottom of the cliff.

This is prevention, prevention first in real life.

That’s the exciting part for me.”

Carnia-Rose agrees. “I have seen the

effects of family violence in my extended

family. I have always wanted to do something

but didn’t know what I could do. This is a

way for me to influence other people so they

can get help. It is time for a change where

we ARE the change.”

And it’s obviously working, with these

comments from the champions showing they

are proud to be standing up and speaking out:

“I volunteered because I have experienced family violence. My parents have big issues. It’s been hard for them and for me. I know that people need someone like me, and I feel really big for myself that I can make a difference in people’s lives. It makes me feel really, really proud.”

To keep the momentum going, Mangere

College replaced White Ribbon Day with

Orange Ribbon Day last November.

Oranges and orange ribbons were

distributed, and activities were held across

the day to remind the school community that

family violence is never OK. The campaign

will continue in 2015 and those involved

urge other schools to follow suit.

“I would like to see every school in this

country become an ‘It’s not OK’ school.

If Mangere College can do it then anyone

can,” says Jude.

WEB LINKS

www.areyouok.org.nz/

www.youthline.co.nz/

www.youtube.com/watch?v=a-qyNKUwkEM&noredirect=1

“I am very happy to be one of the champions. I want to show the world that our school is against family violence.”


www.youtube.com/watch?v=a-qyNKUwkEM&noredirect=1

A force to be

reckoned with

A Rise story about young people getting involved with emergency services led to a young volunteer firefighter gaining a life-changing opportunity with the Outward Bound Trust.

Twenty-six-year-old Adam McHugh isn’t

one to sit back and wonder what’s happening

when he hears a fire siren, he gets into

the thick of the action.

Adam has been a volunteer member of

Lake Okareka Rural Fire Force’s 14-strong

crew for two years now. It may be a small

volunteer fire unit but the team is built from

a strong sense of community, generous

hearts and big ideas.

Take the training sessions with other

Rotorua emergency services, fundraising for

the Leukaemia Foundation and CanTeen,

and hosting a community Guy Fawkes event

– the list goes on.

But it was fire chief Phil Muldoon who first

thought of getting young people involved

with local emergency services as way to

connect them with their communities,

and potential career options.

Now, Youth in Emergency Services (YES)

is a national programme run collaboratively

by Ministry of Youth Development and the

Ministry of Civil Defence and Emergency

Management in 20 communities across

the country.

After reading about the YES project in the

June 2014 issue of Rise, the Outward Bound

Trust offered a place for a Lake Okareka

crew member to attend one of its courses.

Located in the Marlborough Sounds,

Outward Bound helps people reach their full

potential through challenge in the outdoors.

It also works closely with Work and Income

to offer a range of training courses for Work

and Income’s young jobseekers.

In the case of the Lake Okareka place on

offer, Adam McHugh, a design engineer

with Rotorua’s BSK Consulting Engineers,

was an obvious choice.

With the approval of his boss, and fuelled

by excitement and curiosity, Adam tried to

research the programme and talk to former

Outward Bound participants.

“The people who’ve been on the course

don’t give too much away – it turns out the

best thing about the course is the unknown.”

Heading off last August, Adam travelled

to Wellington and caught the Cook Straight

ferry across to the Marlborough Sounds,

aware nine others also heading to Outward

Bound were on board.

Soon after arriving at picturesque Anakiwa,

the identity of his new course mates was soon

revealed as they gathered together for a run,

followed by a brisk winter swim.

Over the next week the group would

become bonded together by activities and

through being open and accepting of,

and with, each other. “We became friends

fast. People don’t generally support strangers

in everyday life, we’re consumed in our

own lives, but at Outward Bound you

need to support each other,” says Adam.

“Teamwork is encouraged… empowering

those who are comfortable to step up and

help those who may not be so sure, it teaches

you to take the time to get to know people.”

One of Adam’s highlights was spending

two nights solo in Queen Charlotte Sound.

While he doesn’t want to give too much

away about the actual activity, he says it came

at a time when the whole idea of challenging

himself had become a personal philosophy,

something he’d never really done before.

While everyone’s solo experience is

different, Adam says being dropped off in an

unknown location in the dark of the night,

preparing his own campsite, and waking up

to an amazing view was humbling.

“I spent the night naively trying to animal-

proof my tent, digging channel drains

around the tent and getting the floor right”,

he laughs.

“I was out of my comfort zone and my

mind was going a million miles an hour.

Once the day dawned and I realised how lucky

I was to be part of this beautiful landscape,

I began to accept and appreciate that this was

something I may never get to do again. I had

an inner peace and didn’t want the day

to end.”

Seven days later, the former strangers

re-boarded the ferry destined for the North

Island, bonded by a raft of experiences none

of them will ever forget.

Back in Rotorua, Adam hasn’t slowed

down.

“It’s all about giving back”, he says.

Adam has since expressed an interest in

returning to Outward Bound to help young

people with disabilities complete the course.

He’s also been accepted to work on a

humanitarian project in Nepal this year,

where his engineering skills will be utilised

through construction of community buildings.

Locally, Adam’s attention has turned to

CanTeen where he and his Lake Okareka

team plan on providing unique activities

for young people living with cancer,

their families and supporters.

He’s also looking forward to continuing

his emergency services training both in-house

and with other emergency services, and is

keen to continue with the YES programme.

“A kahikatea tree on its own can only

grow 15 metres, a kahikatea tree in a thicket

of trees can grow up to 47 metres.

“I believe if you surround yourself with

family and friends who support your growth,

you’ll achieve great things.”

WEB LINKS

Youth in Emergency Services (YES) www.myd.govt.nz/young-people/youth-in-emergency-services.html

Outward Boundwww.outwardbound.co.nz

Outward Bound and Work and IncomeThe philosophy of Outward Bound is to challenge people to go outside their comfort

zone and gain opportunities to learn and reflect on their personal and social values.

Outward Bound and Work and Income join forces to offer a range of training

courses for Work and Income’s young jobseekers. These courses are based in Anikiwa,

in the Marlborough Sounds, and aim to improve people’s self-confidence, motivation

and discipline, so that they have a better prospect of finding and staying in work.


www.myd.govt.nz/young-people/youth-in-emergency-services.html

Gaming deals to attitudes

It’s night in the city. A boy sits outside with his computer screen and headphones.


From the screen in his hands comes a tone and then a voice: “Good evening, New Zealand, this is Tiria Kapai and on tonight’s show we’re going to be investigating the strange break-ins at numerous art galleries around New Zealand.”

As the news host interviews

Mr Tamihana, an artist who has lost

not only his paintings but also his eyes,

a huge explosion rocks the art gallery

behind the boy. Glass shatters.

The boy stalks the art thieves. His eyes

flash white. Then a moko flickers like neon

on his face, which morphs into a lion’s

head. He has become Akatere, the Spirit

Tamer. He roars. The bad guys beg for

mercy and flee.

Mana increase. The boy goes up a level

in his computer game. Mana + 1.

“I enjoy gaming,” says Akatere Atariki,

back in the real world, where he is a

14-year-old South Dunedin boy.

“It’s kind of like life. It’s just a really big

game in the end. When you run out of

life, it’s game over.”

Wanting to give their disabled children

the best shot at the game of life drove

families to create a DVD called Making a Difference: Stories of Our People,

funded by Think Differently’s ’Making a

Difference‘ fund.

The parents were aware that people’s

ignorance, left unchallenged, could lead

to discrimination. So they harnessed three

boys’ imagination, creativity and love of

gaming to shoot a video that includes

interviews with families and a fresh look

at what each boy can do.

Akatere’s mother, Donna Matahaere-

Atariki, is also the chair of Ötäkou

Runanga, based on the peninsula in

Dunedin.

“I’m always out there looking for any

barriers. I am a little bit over-protective.

I think that it’s about being really attuned

to any sort of discrimination Akatere

might face. As a mother, you want to

protect them...”

That’s why, when the DVD project

started, Donna wanted to obscure the

three young players’ faces.

“I wanted them to be blurry and

morph into their characters. It’s a balance

between wanting to tell a story and not

exploit our kids.”

But Akatere and the other boys had

other ideas, she says. “The part that the

kids really wanted was visibility.”

Akatere says it was important for

him and the other boys to use their own

faces. “It was more realistic. It was pretty

nice that I was in the film. I thought it

was going to basically be an interview

with me and my mum, but it’s ended up

very unique.”

A big factor was in trusting the

film-makers, recent graduates Madz

Henry-Ryan (Ngai Tahu and Rarotonga)

and Vinnie (Ngä Ruahine) from

Dunedin’s Ixist Design.

“I trusted Madz and Vinnie.

They were of an age that the

kids would relate to as well as

professional, taking so much pride

in their work,” says Donna.

“They just went out and

made a film. They didn’t think

‘Can these kids really give us a

brief?’ They were able to sit

with the kids and listen and

pull their ideas into something

really great.

“It was actually good

having someone who

was not of the disability

sector itself. They recognised their own

limitations and tended to view the

kids as being the experts, as telling

them what to do. They were really

comfortable letting the kids direct and

edit what they wanted.”

Letting go of some control, such

as whether the boys showed their

own faces, is a reminder that parental

protection can limit kids’ development,

says Donna. “I thought it was such good

feedback. It made me realise Akatere

will perceive life and barriers differently

from me.

“I can’t always stop the way I am being

over-protective but I have to do it from

a distance because as Akatere is getting

older, he won’t let me anymore.

“I see my role more as ensuring that

those structures that impact on his life

are more relevant for his circumstances,

and yes, at times that will also mean

change in how I relate with him.

Since doing the DVD, I have more

confidence that he will navigate his own

way in the world.”

“It’s kind of like life. It’s just a really big game in the end.“


In another segment in the graphic

film, Kiringaua, the Powerful Liberator,

breathes in through his ‘mean-as’ gas

mask, swelling the awesome ta moko on

his armour.

Apart from his mech suit, with rocket-

boosted wheels, he also uses a uniquely

Mäori weapon, a mere chainsaw. “We use

the mere a lot,” explains Kiringaua Cassidy,

11. And in movies, you see chainsaws.

I thought, what if we combine them?”

Kiringaua, whose first language is

Te Reo, says one super power he’d love

to borrow from his character is telekinesis.

“I could control people and what they do,

they could do my homework, my chores,

the dishes, tidying up my room, getting my

bed sorted, the washing.”

Apart from the buzz of seeing his ideas

come to life, Kiringaua hopes the DVD

changes people’s attitudes. “I hope it

helps people understand we’re not stupid

and helpless and we can actually think

and do stuff for ourselves.

“Some people come up to me all

sad. They feel sorry for me. It’s really

annoying. That’s the only time I feel sorry

for myself, when I can’t do the stuff that

I can because people are annoying me,”

he laughs.

Kiringaua’s parents say most kids

figure out their son is like any other kid,

but adults can be more of a challenge.

“I can’t overstate how important attitude

is. It’s not about the disability. It’s about

thinking differently about what a child

can achieve. You just build on that,”

says Paulette Tamati Elliffe.

Dad, Komene Cassidy, agrees: “We’re

staunch about him being independent,

doing all the things he needs to do for

him and have as normal an upbringing

as possible. Nothing stops us.”

Kiringaua has packed a lot into

life so far, including skiing, karate,

kapa haka, attending a potlatch

(traditional gift-giving) in Canada,

successfully petitioning his

school to make a forest track

accessible, and making a

submission to the World

Health Organisation on

what would make life better

(his wish: people’s attitudes).

He has already appeared

on posters created by national

Mäori disability provider network

Te Piringa. This year, he’s off to

be an ambassador for Te Piringa at

Te Matatini, the biennial national

kapa haka festival.

In a third segment, Ionatana Kewene-

Masina, 13, morphs into the Spirit Prince

of Peace. In the real world, he loves

US educational TV show Blue’s Clues, swimming and waka ama.

His mum, Fran Kewene, says Ionatana’s

empathy draws people to him. As the Spirit

Prince of Peace, he mediates conflicts just

by being there.

Since its launch last July, the DVD’s

messages of creativity and hope have

rippled out from the families, through

Ötäkou Marae and the wider Dunedin

community.

“Parents and families have been in

touch about their children. It took me

four years to work out the system. I hope

others can make connections with us and

skip some of that hard work.”

If the three super heroes have their way,

their fantasy world – where individuality,

talent and goodness thrash ignorance –

will become reality.

WEB LINKS

Making a Difference: Stories of Our People

www.youtube.com/embed/5SfCWh-Wcto

Think differently – Disability social change campaign

www.thinkdifferently.org.nz

www.facebook.com/ThinkDifferentlyNZ

‘It’s not OK’ campaign

www.areyouok.org.nz

www.facebook.com/ItsNotOK

www.Twitter.com/ItsnotOK_NZ

Are You That Someone?

www.facebook.com/AreYouThatSome1?

www.Twitter.com/AreYouThatSome1

“It’s not about the disability. It’s about thinking diff erently about what a child can achieve.“



“We care about more

than your hair.”

Cut it out

For most hairdressers, lending a listening ear to their clients’ problems is part of good customer service. Over the years this can build into a long-term and trusting relationship. So much so, that a disclosure of family violence may eventually crop up between a wash and a blow wave.

As an abuse survivor, Ohakune salon

owner Kelly Porter recognised that she could

play a role in helping her clients get support.

“I got into a relationship which I thought

wasn’t bad because he didn’t hit me. He did

all the other things, emotional, financial,

psychological abuse, until I had a nervous

breakdown and realised that none of it

was OK.”

With the support of the ‘It’s not OK’

campaign, Kelly is now running workshops

around the country with salon staff and

hairdressing students about family violence

and how to help.

“As hairdressers, we often have a close

relationship with our clients, and we can

notice when things are not quite right.

We are in a position to ask people if they are

OK and to point them in the right direction

if they need someone to talk to.

“Chances are you’re not going to

have a client who walks in and tells you

they are experiencing domestic violence.

But you might be able to pick up on things,

like their partner wants to control her

hairstyles. He doesn’t like her hair colour.

He’s not happy with it.”

Isolation is an issue. Women who live

rurally or on farms might only get into town

once every couple of months. They will

probably come to the hairdressers.

“Every time they come in, I try to unpack

a bit more about what’s going on. If he’s

trying to control her hair, what else is he

trying to control?”

Kelly’s workshops raise awareness that

family violence is not just about people in de

facto relationships or marriages. “It could be

a parent being hurt by their children, or an

elderly person being abused by a caregiver.”

She stresses that the campaign isn’t about

turning hairdressers into social workers.

The workshops help hairdressers with acting

as a helper and not ignoring disclosures.

“It’s about getting to the point where we

can ask ‘are you OK?’ and give them some

phone numbers to get support. “If you get

a gut feeling that something’s not right,

then it probably isn’t.”

Salons that have had the workshops now

display posters with the message that their

staff want to help, and stock ‘It is OK to ask

for help’ cards for clients to take.

Kelly is accompanied at the workshops

by members of the ‘It’s not OK’ team and

family violence network representatives

to provide information on the issues and

support available.

The hairdresser project is an example of

how the ‘It’s not OK’ campaign supports

workplaces and communities to address

family violence.

WEB LINK

www.areyouok.org.nz


“WE CARE ABOUTMORE THAN YOUR HAIR.”

“LET’S CUTOUT FAMILY VIOLENCE.”


Bridging the gapTrent Waldron has returned to his

old primary school – as a staff member.“It has changed since I was here, but the

biggest change is that I’m not in classroom,

I’m outside,” says the 32-year-old.

Outside is where Trent likes it best.

Already this morning the South New

Brighton School’s assistant caretaker

has done his rounds of the toilets and

classrooms topping up paper towels;

he’s put up some birdhouses the kids have

built, and he’s tied up the rubbish bags,

easily the least favourite of his duties.

Rubbish bags aside, Trent loves his

job, which he’s had now for three years.

As well as giving him welcome income

to spend on his hobbies, mostly rugby,

cricket and speedway, working one day a

week at the Christchurch primary school

has given him confi dence and new skills.

“I now can use tools I didn’t know how

to use before, and I’m more helpful,”

he says.

Sharon Vaseos, an employment support

co-ordinator for the non-government

organisation SkillWise, agrees. “You’re

more mature and understanding and

respectful, too.”

Trent began this job with help from

Sharon and her colleague Roger Walker.

Now based in East Christchurch,

pushed from its central city location post-

earthquake, SkillWise provides a hub

where, each day, up to 85 people with

intellectual disabilities gather to learn job

and life skills, study, play sport, do drama

and art, and generally hang out.

SkillWise’s work is also about including

them in the wider community, whether

that’s through activities, sport, the creative

arts or work, voluntary and paid.

“We’re a community organisation,”

says SkillWise’s Operations Manager Gavin

Muir, who manages the employment

support team. “We build the foundations

in partnership with our people to learn

new skills, including job skills, in a safe and

supportive environment before they go out

into the mainstream employment market.”

To do that Roger and Sharon fi rst meet

with someone who’s suggested they’d

like to work and discuss what they think

they’d like to do. “This isn’t just sitting

down and having a formal meeting.

I’ve found out more about people while

out for a bike ride because it was just

more relaxed for them,” says Roger.

The pair then ring around prospective

employers, organising work tasters,

voluntary work or job trials.

Through Ministry of Social Development

funding, for a period of time the employer

can then be eligible for salary subsidies,

training and other support.

South New Brighton School Principal

John Bockett is more than pleased to

have Trent on his staff. “SkillWise came

to me with three job ideas and I thought

an assistant caretaker would best suit

our needs.

“Even now that Trent’s salary is no

longer subsidised, I’m very happy to keep

him on. He’s quite an identity around here

and is very popular with the kids.”

Other employers are happy, too.

Over the past two years SkillWise has

supported 22 people into paid work.

Right now 16 of its people are employed in

the open employment market, but they’re

not out on their own.

“A big part of our job is supporting

our clients as they work,” says Roger.

“I’ve just been washing dishes for a few

weeks alongside a couple of guys we’ve

got working in restaurants. We get right

in there, even after they’ve got the job.”

Nicole Hibbs is well-settled in her

role. She works two days a week as a

gardener at Avonside Girls’ High School.

She laughs, chats and makes jokes about

her overly vocal cat who lives with her and

her boyfriend in their fl at, but she wasn’t

always so outgoing.

“Nicole’s confi dence is through the

roof after being in paid work. It’s been an

amazing transformation,” says Sharon.

“She used to live at home, was

shy and would hide in the shadows,

but now Nicole’s fl atting, she’s far more

independent and confi dent.”

“She’s become a mentor, too,” adds

Gavin.

“If someone else at SkillWise is thinking

about moving into paid work, they will go

and talk to Nicole, asking her what it’s

like. A lot of people now look up to her.”

Nicole spends her non-gardening

weekdays back at SkillWise, working on

her cooking and computing skills, playing

T-ball and cricket and studying.

“Nicole’s aiming to do a horticultural

qualifi cation but at the moment we’re

supporting her through a fi nancial literacy

qualifi cation from Open Wananga,”

says Sharon. That’s on top of the Learning

to Learn qualifi cation she completed earlier.

Trent, too, is studying with SkillWise’s

support, working towards a NCEA Level 2

Certifi cate in Cleaning and Caretaking.

While neither Trent nor Nicole have

plans to move on from their schools,

having qualifi cations will boost their

opportunities if that changes.

For now there’s plenty to do and Trent

needs to get back to work.

“There’s been a water spill in one of

the toilets. I’d better go clean it up.”

WEB LINK

SkillWise www.skillwise.org.nz


South New Brighton

Avonside

Trent Waldron, Sharon Vaseos, Gavin Muir, Nicole Hibbs and Roger Walker

John Bockett and Trent Waldron

Nicole Hibbs


Nelson, Marlborough and West Coast

Spotlight on Nelson, Marlborough and West Coast

“Their enthusiasm to learn the language of their new home is encouraging and empowering for them.”

hh


Spotlight on Nelson, Marlborough and West Coast

A group of refugees are now providing for their families thanks to the formation of an industry partnership between Work and Income and one of the largest vegetable growers in the South Island.

JS Ewers Ltd provides produce for

markets all around the country, including

tomatoes, capsicums, eggplant and a

variety of green vegetables.

The company had already hired a

signifi cant number of former refugees,

about 80 percent, in fact, from the

local community. However, one barrier

identifi ed by new employees was being able

to transition well into the workplace,

where they often began work with very

little English, which in turn made

understanding their tasks more diffi cult.

As a result, the idea to combine refugee

recruitment with English classes arose from

talks about the issue between Work and

Income and JS Ewers Ltd management.

The two organisations agreed that under

the Industry Partnership, staff would receive

an hour-long English tuition class once a

week, on full pay.

In fact, JS Ewers Ltd provided more time in

the fi rst four weeks to make sure its workers

received intensive support during the early

stages of their employment.

The English lessons are largely work-

focused, covering topics such as completing

forms and paperwork, health and safety at

work, employment rights and obligations

and completing timesheets, all of which

form part of their ’work‘ curriculum.

Thirty-two refugees from Nepal applied

for the fi rst Industry Partnership scheme

intake, which began last September.

They attended seminars at Work and Income

to fi nd out what the work entailed and

what the English tuition would involve.

Of those 32, nine people were chosen

and have since spent time working in a 220

hectare market garden on Waimea Plains.

For the former refugees, the six months

of guaranteed work and the possibility of

full-time work in the future is great news,

says business support offi cer Josey Atoa.

Aged between 23 and 40, all are keen to

get to work because they all have families

to provide for, she says. “They are also very

organised as a community and sort any

barriers quickly – for example, they start each

day at 7am and it’s important that everyone

arrives on time.

“Within a day of starting work our

groups of former refugees had already

organised a car pool and made sure

everyone was able to get to and from

work. In many ways their motivation,

their community spirit and their enthusiasm

to learn the language of their new home is

encouraging and empowering for them,”

says Josey.

Following on from the success of the

initial Industry Partnership arrangement,

JS Ewers Ltd has continued to show its

support to hire from the local community

and have since taken on a further 10

employees over summer.

Key factsThe decision

to make Wellington the capital city was made in 1864 by three Australians. The choices were Auckland, Wellington or Nelson.

The earliest evidence

of human settlement in New Zealand is on the Wairau Bar, near Blenheim. Check here for the story of the return of the Tupuna in 2009: wairaubar.wordpress.com

The West Coast and Buller

is known for its outstanding natural beauty, but it also has some great surf beaches! The Cape Classic Surfi ng Contest at Cape Foulwind (no jokes, thanks)near Westport is Stop 1 on the South Island Surfi ng Circuit.

Industry partnership gives refugees work – with English

WEB LINKS

www.redcross.org.nz/what-we-do/in-new-zealand/refugee-services

www.immigration.govt.nz/migrant/general/generalinformation/refugee-protection

Nelson, Marlboroughand West Coast


www.redcross.org.nz/what-we-do/in-new-zealand/refugee-services

www.immigration.govt.nz/migrant/general/generalinformation/refugee-protection

Spotlight on xxxxSpotlight on Nelson, Marlborough and West Coast

Last November, 10 young people packed their bags and left their hometowns in the Horowhenua and Manawatu to take up four months of viticulture training and work in Marlborough.

They are part of an employment

programme with a difference,

an initiative of Focus Labour Solutions’

Craig Mill that’s been almost two years

in the making.

Craig has long been keen to see

New Zealanders get the same wrap

around support enjoyed by the

Recognised Seasonal Employer (RSE)

scheme workers. He believes employers

could do more for New Zealand youth

in getting them on the road to being a

valuable part of our society. “Our youth

are our legacy so let’s give them every

chance possible,” he says.

His concept turned into reality when

he and Nelson’s Labour Market manager

Lynne Williams met last April to develop

a plan, costing in pastoral support and

transport to and from Horowhenua as

part of the initiative.

“We had to do more than provide

a fi xed-term job experience. Teaching

life skills, work ethics, punctuality,

understanding different cultures and

a positive attitude are all as important,”

says Craig.

“We don’t expect them all to love

our industry but it is a great stepping

stone to the working future, wherever

that may be.”

Being from the Horowhenua district,

Craig knew it was an area with large

youth unemployment and it seemed a

good place to choose the 10 participants

for the scheme.

Horowhenua mayor Brendan Duffy

and Marlborough mayor Alistair

Sowman gave their support, adding

signifi cance to the initiative.

Video profi les of potential candidates

were prepared by Horowhenua work

brokers Donna Metcalfe and Kevin

Salmons. The site co-ordinated an

employer seminar for the youth

referred to the project and arranged job

interviews for each applicant.

Having sat in on the interviews,

Craig could see a bit of himself in the

young people. “I can clearly remember

when I was a 15-year-old, a farmer

Murray Moxham gave me a go and

took me on. He made the difference,

teaching me to be a good worker.

“I want to make the difference for

these young people now. Besides, I’m a

taxpayer and getting these guys working

means less of my taxpayer money being

paid on benefi ts,” he laughs.

Craig also wants to show other

employers how putting a bit of time

and effort into this cause can yield

fantastic results. “I knew this group

would produce some good workers,

but I wasn’t expecting to see some real

stars in there, awesome young people

who have really ‘got it’ and are leading

by example.

“One of the group even said to me

the other day that he’s going to have

my job one day. I told him to go for it!”

Forming bonds within the group

through life skills and team building

before work started was key to giving

the programme a strong and united base

from which to work from, noted Craig.

“I guess the proof of the pudding

will be the results at the end of the

four-month programme. There will be

some I take on permanently. There will

be some that I will hopefully profi le to

other Marlborough employers. For those

who want to head home, we will do our

best to get them into employment with

the help of Work and Income and my

contacts in the Horowhenua.”

Meanwhile, Donna and Kevin are

looking forward to working with the

young people again.

“It’s been an amazing project.

The passion and enthusiasm displayed

by Craig and the gratitude and

willingness displayed by the youth are

defi nitely a winning combination,”

says Donna. “It’s an exciting opportunity

for Horowhenua youth and they are

keen to embrace it.”

Teaming up for youth

Devyn, Blaze, Natasha, Te Meera and Hiraka.


Spotlight on xxxxSpotlight on Nelson, Marlborough and West Coast

West Coast campaigna family aff air

Irish nationals Tara and Jackie Adams are thrilled the cause they’re so passionate about is growing in support each and every year.

The November White Ribbon event

that aims to raise awareness about

family violence saw more than 200

locals show their support when 28

motorcyclists rode into Greymouth.

Tara, a local White Ribbon organiser

and Child, Youth and Family supervisor

was happy with the turnout but ecstatic

when she saw husband Jackie ride into

town on Day One of the South Island tour.

The pair, who left Ireland eight

years ago, have been involved with the

South Island ride since it began in 2011;

Jackie, as the local police family violence

manager, and Tara, as a Child, Youth

and Family representative on the local

Te Rito Network.

“Initially the ride did not get much

support on the coast, so we set out to

raise awareness of the ride and the whole

White Ribbon campaign,” says Tara.

Their dedication is obvious. Jackie,

now a White Ribbon ambassador and

member of the Patriots, who organise

the event, has taken part in the West

Coast side of the ride each year.

This is the fi rst year he has completed

the entire tour.

Tara, meanwhile, focuses on raising

awareness locally and money to support

the riders. “The riders have to take time

off work and cover their own costs.

We’re happy to have raised around

$4,000. Every little bit helps take the

pressure off the riders.”

The couple’s motivation for helping

to raise awareness about family violence

in New Zealand stems from the similar

issues they know are facing Ireland.

And Jackie has had fi rst-hand

experience. He grew up in a home

where family violence played a huge

part, and as a child he witnessed some

severe incidents. Now as an adult he

wants to make a positive change for

future generations.

That has led him to career in the police

in the family violence fi eld and into his

role as a White Ribbon Ambassador.

In contrast, Tara grew up with a

social worker for a mum, which meant

she spent much of her childhood

helping with, and participating in, local

community events. It is of no surprise

then that she was attracted to a career

in social work herself.

Her motivation for raising awareness

of family violence comes directly from her

experience working with children taking

part in family violence programmes.

“This work had the most signifi cant

impact upon me, hearing their stories

and the effects directly from a myriad

of children and young people, and

witnessing the ongoing effect it had on

their entire lives. This is what keeps me

motivated to continue doing this work.”

Tara and Jackie encourage their own

children to participate in community

events that help raise awareness

about family violence, making it a real

family affair.

“Our eldest daughter and her friends

set up an anti-bullying awareness

presentation for their class,” says Tara.

“The girls take and distribute white

ribbons at their school, and they always

come along to our events and keep

busy handing out resources to families,

especially children.”

With the White Ribbon ride now one

of the biggest events of its kind on the

West Coast, Jackie and Tara have no

plans to rest on their laurels. They plan

to keep growing the event, ensuring

that the West Coast remains aware of

the issues and what individuals can do

to help.

WEB LINK

www.whiteribbon.org.nz

Tara Adams

“Our eldest daughter and her friends set up an anti-bullying awareness presentation for their class.”


https://wairaubar.wordpress.com/

https://wairaubar.wordpress.com/

CanterburySpotlight on Canterbury

The initiative is open to up to 1,000 benefi ciaries until June this year.


Spotlight on Canterbury

Northland’s Ashton Tairua is the perfect candidate for the 3K to Christchurch investment.

The year-long initiative aims to help Work

and Income jobseekers from other parts of

New Zealand take up job offers to help with

the Christchurch rebuild.

Sustained job growth in Canterbury means

demand for labour is outstripping supply.

Labour market forecasts indicate there could

be 16,000 new jobs in the next two years.

To meet this demand, Canterbury

employers are being connected with skilled,

willing jobseekers from other areas.

In Ashton’s case, he’s moved from Kaikohe

in order to secure good employment in the

rebuild and he’s grateful for the opportunity.

Armed with 14 years’ experience in the

asbestos removal industry, Ashton has

already been promoted to supervisor since

he started work last July. He runs the crew,

co-ordinates staff, manages and enforces

Health and Safety procedures, and gives his

employer suggestions for improvements on

site and within staff management.

Ashton’s employer Hamish Cormack says

his contribution to the business is crucial.

“He has so much knowledge and skill.

The business pays for him to return home

for weekends to see his family, and that’s

important to ensure he can continue working

for us.”

For someone with his qualifi cations,

Ashton says there are no job opportunities

back home. “I’ve had years in this industry

but I couldn’t put my skills to use. It’s a big

sacrifi ce and I miss my family, but the best

thing about coming to Christchurch is the

work and the money.”

Ashton pays tribute to the Kaikohe Work

and Income staff for the 3K to Christchurch

opportunity, and for helping him to update his

qualifi cations to the New Zealand standard.

The initiative is open to up to 1,000

benefi ciaries like Ashton until June this year.

One barrier for benefi ciaries applying for

work in Canterbury is having the fi nancial

reserves to get there and get set up if they

have a job offer. However, this scheme

allows eligible benefi ciaries with the right

skills to access some fi nancial help to

relocate – up to $3,000, in fact.

And the money doesn’t have to be paid

back unless they leave their Christchurch

job within the fi rst three months without

good reason, or reapply for a benefi t within

that same timeframe. 3K applicants may

also qualify for the Transition to Work

and/or Recoverable Assistance Payments

to help with the likes of clothing,

initial childcare and transport costs.

Naturally, Work and Income also works

closely with Canterbury employers to help

them fi nd the right people for their vacancies.

It also promotes the jobs nationwide

to connect employers to the region’s

labour market.

Those who do fi nd work are briefed by

Work and Income about life in Canterbury so

they know what to expect, including potential

accommodation and transport issues.

To support them in settling in, they are

also offered an in-work assistance service,

a general information pack about Canterbury

and access to 3K co-ordinators outside of

the area to ensure they are well-informed

before leaving.

On arrival, Work and Income provides

further help around their eligibility for

Transition to Work and any other assistance

available to benefi ciaries moving into

employment.

Key facts3K to Christchurch

is a way to help Work and Income jobseekers move to Christchurch if they have found ongoing, full-time work there.

Christchurch

is short of skilled workers in a wide range of jobs and Work and Income has many suitable jobseekers looking for work. This is a great opportunity to help both jobseekers and the Christchurch community.

Work and Income

jobseekers who live outside the Christchurch area and have a confi rmed, full-time job offer there can apply for a grant to cover costs such as relocation, transport or gear for the job. Learn more on: www.workandincome.govt.nz/individuals/a-z-benefi ts/3k-to-christchurch.html

Benefi ciaries embrace 3K to Christchurch

WEB LINKS

www.workandincome.govt.nz/individuals/a-z-benefi ts/3k-to-christchurch/general-questions.html

Welfare Reform www.workandincome.govt.nz/individuals/benefi t-changes/welfare-reform-changes-in-2012.html

Canterbury


www.workandincome.govt.nz/individuals/a-z-benefits/3k-to-christchurch/general-questions.html

www.workandincome.govt.nz/individuals/benefit-changes/welfare-reform-changes-in-2012.html

www.workandincome.govt.nz/individuals/a-z-benefits/3k-to-christchurch.html

Spotlight on xxxxSpotlight on Canterbury

An appointment with her case manager has given sole parent Tracey Booth the kickstart she needed to fi nd a job.

The mother of four had been looking

’on and off‘ for some time, but once her

son turned six, Work and Income told

her to actively seek work.

She began applying for jobs every

day. She called about one job she

thought she’d have the skills to do,

only to fi nd that everything wasn’t as

it seemed.

With similar company names,

the position Tracey thought she was

applying for was with a property rental

fi rm, but it turned out to be with a

delivery driving job that required truck

driving licences.

Tracey says she couldn’t even drive a

manual car.

Still, the employer was keen to offer

Tracey a job, and Tracey wanted to

work. After discussing the situation with

her Work and Income case manager,

she attended a short training course

that involved the licences required,

as well as forklift and dangerous

goods licences.

“Now I’ve got more licences than some

guys I know. It’s great!” laughs Tracey.

Armed with her new licences,

Tracey returned to her potential

employer who offered her both a job

and some in-house training in Auckland.

“I have been really supported by

my employer. They introduced me to

everyone within head offi ce in Auckland,

and provided me with training and

support at all times. They’ve made me

feel very welcome.

“I had never been away from my kids

for that long. It required some really

good organisation and systems in place

at home to make it happen, and a lot of

help from my children and friends.”

Tracey is one of many sole parents

who are expected and supported by

Work and Income to actively seek

suitable part-time or full-time work,

depending on the age of their children.

The increased work focus for sole

parents was part of the 2012 changes

introduced to some benefi ts to encourage

and support more people into work.

For parents needing help to prepare

CVs, a referral to attend a programme

to improve their skills or other job-related

training, Work and Income can help

and recommend programmes and

training opportunities.

Work and Income can also refer

sole parents who are ready to work

after completing work experience,

or who have transferable skills,

to current vacancies available.

For parents keen to get back into

work and who are open to rebuild

jobs, Work and Income can help

them to access those. There are

several Christchurch rebuild training

programmes under way that sole

parents can be referred to as well.

For Tracey, the type of work she does

has never been a concern. She simply

wanted a job.

“The hardest thing about being on a

benefi t is the fi nancial stress. If you’ve

got kids you have to support them.

I’m prepared to do what I have to do to

look after them.”

Tracey says her lowest point was

when her family was homeless.

An unexpected fi nancial shock,

and her rental home deemed

uninhabitable from the Christchurch

earthquake, meant that Tracey and

her children had nowhere to go.

They wound up living in tents behind a

family member’s house.

With help from social service

agencies, she secured a house. Tracey

says that without a home for security,

she couldn’t have considered working.

Asked what she would tell others

in the position she was in, Tracey says,

“Get a job, earn your own money,

and go even further than you thought

you could!”

WEB LINK

www.workandincome.govt.nz/individuals/benefi t-changes/welfare-reform-changes-in-2012.html

Perseverance pays off


www.workandincome.govt.nz/individuals/benefit-changes/welfare-reform-changes-in-2012.html

Spotlight on xxxxSpotlight on Canterbury

Levi* has been riding the wave of success lately, helping to set up and manage a business that raises money for charity and winning a national award in the process.

As a resident at Child, Youth and

Family’s Youth Justice Residence Te Puna

Wai ö Tuhinapo at the time, Levi saw

the creation of the aptly named business

Giving Back as a chance for him to do

just that, give back to the community.

It was all part of the Young Enterprise

Programme, a secondary school annual

start-up initiative that sees young people

from schools nationwide compete for

the winning spot.

Competition, however, was never

a motivating factor for Levi; in fact he

didn’t even know it was a competition.

“I had already decided that I wanted

to start my own business when I was

in Te Puna Wai...When [I was asked]

I thought, what better way to do it than

[be involved in the programme] and

learn from the mistakes for when I go to

start my own.”

On-site Kingslea school art teacher

Andy Dickinson came up with the idea

of entering a team in the 2014 Young

Enterprise Programme, the fi rst ever

residential school to participate.

“It sounds simple, but I thought the

practical learning only added to the

value of the programme, and it seemed

like a great idea,” says Andy.

Due to Levi’s maturity and leadership

skills, Andy considered him as a leader

and a mentor to the younger ones.

They worked hard to design and produce

high quality Pollock-inspired artwork,

jewellery and other handmade crafts to

be sold at local community market days,

the fi rst of which was a huge success.

“The young people sold $1,000 worth

of products and managed themselves

as a professional business all day,”

says Andy.

“They were so proud of their success

and the decision to donate their profi t

to the community organisation Home

and Family.”

On the back of that success came the

establishment of a ‘Giving Back’ logo and

brand driven by the motivation of social

responsibility, not commercial gain.

“I was in there [Te Puna Wai

ö Tuhinapo] for taking from the

community, so I was just helping give

back, it was awesome,” says Levi.

The success of that fi rst market led

to another held on-site at Te Puna Wai

ö Tuhinapo, which was well-supported

by fi eld social workers, lawyers and

community groups.

“In addition to selling artwork the

young people sold coffee and cake,

putting skills learnt from our barista and

food technology courses to great use,”

says Andy.

The second market day raised a further

$1,400, which the group chose to donate

to the Christchurch residential home

for mothers and babies, Holly House.

Then came a ’nervewracking‘

presentation to the Young Enterprise

judging panel, which ranked Giving

Back in the top three secondary

school start-up businesses nationally.

Their outstanding achievements

were recognised with an award for

commitment and perseverance.

“The award acknowledges the

extraordinary circumstances and

constraints related to them starting up

and running such a successful business

from a residential school setting,” says

Andy proudly.

As for Levi, he’s completely upbeat

about the experience too, saying

the “benefi ts outweigh the risks”.

His long-term goal now is to own a

landscaping business, a goal that is

helping him on his journey toward

rehabilitation and the reason why he

no longer wishes to offend.

“To me, change happens in a matter

of seconds – I knew I wanted to change,

and I knew I had to do something.”

WEB LINK

www.kingslea.school.nz/te-puna-wai

Giving back

“I knew I wanted to change, and I knew I had to do something.”

*Name changed to protect privacy. RISE: Issue 29 – March 2015 25

CentralSpotlight on Central

“They’ve really come up to the mark or over.”

Abbey James-Gibbons


Spotlight on Central

In late 2013 work began on the ‘MacKays to Peka Peka route’ (M2PP), a $630m project to develop about 18km of four-lane expressway through Paraparaumu and Waikanae.

Expected to take about four years,

the project is part of the ‘Wellington Northern

Corridor’ which runs from Wellington Airport

to Levin.

The M2PP project and increased

construction activity in other parts of

New Zealand has led to a shortage of skilled

labour for the civil construction industry in

Horowhenua and Kapiti.

Work and Income’s Central Region

investigated the potential to train jobseekers

clients in the Manawatu, Horowhenua and

Kapiti, ready for upcoming job opportunities.

ATD Services’ Greg Lumsden was

contracted to deliver an intensive

four-week training package to provide

‘hands-on’ industry experience and training.

The course provides industry-based skills,

including setting up boxing for the pouring

of concrete.

Trainees also operate surveying lasers

and levels, compaction equipment, tracked

excavators and wheeled loaders, the loading

of trucks, truck driving and hoist operation.

Graduates leave the programme equipped

with the Level One Traffi c Control certifi cate,

a full class two, or in some cases class four,

driver’s licence, ‘wheels, tracks and rollers’

endorsements, and their own equipment.

By the end of the fi rst four ATD Services

courses, 29 of the fi rst 32 trainees had

successfully completed training and 21 went

into employment within four weeks.

Neville Williams “loved everything”

about the course and now a future in civil

construction is his ambition.

Industry feedback has been positive too,

a direct refl ection of trainer Greg’s passion

for his work. “I was born and bred into the

contracting industry, my dad was on the

digger and that’s where I wanted to be.

I fi nally got a machine and the rest is history.”

Former trainee Abbey James-Gibbons, 23,

was made redundant from her job riding and

caring for horses. A Work and Income case

manager told her about a truck driving course

and, having always wanted a truck licence,

she enrolled.

After another job fell through she

contacted local company Goodmans and

within two days was employed.

Solo dad Steve Cockburn and Percy Te

Rangi, made redundant after 20 years in

the meat bi-products processing industry,

were employed by Goodmans on the M2PP

development after their training too.

Percy now feels he is following a passion,

saying “I haven’t had a day off yet!”

A happy mistake made just weeks after

visiting a Work and Income offi ce has meant

Trinett Whitburn is now in a job she loves

as well. She’d gone to attend a seminar

about a local temping company but instead

found herself at a ’construction seminar‘.

She saw it as a chance to get work driving

heavy on-road vehicles, something that had

been “in the back of my head to do”.

After the course ended Trinett started out

as a site labourer, but quickly moved up to a

machine operator role.

The Goodman family, who have been

contracting since the 1960s, now employ

150 staff. Their values are described by

director Marianne Archer (née Goodman) as

strongly family and community oriented.

However, fi nding staff can present

challenges and a relationship between

the course and Goodmans has quickly

been established.

HR manager Ruth Surrey has since had

complimentary calls from supervisors about

the graduates. “They’ve really come up to

the mark or over.”

Key factsThe MacKays

to Peka Peka route (M2PP) is a $630m project to develop around 18km of four-lane expressway through Paraparaumu and Waikanae. It began in late 2013 and is expected to take four years.

When the expressway opens,

journeys will be faster and safer, with more reliable journey times. The Käpiti Expressway will also make the route in and out of Wellington more resilient to events such as crashes or natural disasters.

Learn more about

how Work and Income can help employers develop their workforce and fi ll skill shortages with trained and job-ready employees: www.workandincome.govt.nz/business/

WEB LINKS

www.nzta.govt.nz/projects/mackays-to-peka-peka/

An industry with opportunity

Central


www.nzta.govt.nz/projects/mackays-to-peka-peka/

Spotlight on xxxxSpotlight on Central

“I have always been a rescuer. If something is wrong, I want to fi x it.”

Social worker Anne Reed has faced

many tough challenges in her own life,

but she draws on those experiences to

help children and families with Child,

Youth and Family in Masterton.

“It’s such a joy when we have a

child go to a home for life placement.

Knowing that child is going to belong

to a family, and is no longer a CYF kid,

is fantastic.”

Anne’s interest in social work began

years ago, from fostering children and

meeting their social workers.

But before she could explore social

work as a career, her marriage fell apart

and her children needed her attention.

“One of my daughters, at 13, started

getting into trouble. By the time she was

15 she was sniffi ng glue.”

It took more than 10 hard years

of rehab and relapses before she

“got herself cleaned up”, says Anne.

During that time Anne met a

counsellor who inspired her to enrol in

a drug counselling course at Wellington

Institute of Technology. A woman on

the course worked for Victim Support,

and suggested Anne volunteer for them.

“Victim Support changed my life.

Through them I went on a Living

Without Violence course run by the

Upper Hutt Women’s Learning Group.

“The programme was aimed at

people who had lived with, or were

working with women who were victims

of family violence, which I thought would

be helpful for a victim support volunteer.

“Part of the programme was sharing

stories, and I was listening to these

women’s stories and thinking ‘Oh my

God, that is what has happened to me’.

“My fi rst husband was never physically

violent, but he was emotionally violent.

My next relationship was physically

violent. For years I felt like I was living

under a cloud. I felt I was useless.

“This course was my light bulb

moment. I saw what my life had been

and I didn’t want it to be like that.

I ended up facilitating the groups for the

next eight years.”

Anne moved from volunteering to

a paid part-time role at the Women’s

Centre, where she remained for six years.

Finally Anne decided to rekindle

her dream to become a social worker.

She earned a qualifi cation in social

work and gained a role with Child,

Youth and Family.

Eight years on, Anne is passionate

about her work and the people she

works with, even though it can be

tough emotionally.

“We have a statutory obligation

to ensure the safety of children –

and sometimes in order to do that

you have to have a bit of oomph.

We need to make people think about

the consequences if they don’t put their

children’s needs fi rst.”

Anne says that people’s immediate

assumption is that their children will be

taken from them.

“But I say ‘Let’s see what is going on

and how we can help you. It’s about

you and your family making good

decisions for your child, but if you can’t

make those good choices, we can step

in and help’.

“Because I have been through a lot,

because I know what it is like to raise

kids on your own, and I know what it

is like to be abused, and I know what

it is like not to have a good relationship

with your mother, I fi nd that I can

connect with families,” she says.

“I really enjoy it. I like helping people.

My biggest regret is not becoming a

social worker sooner.”

WEB LINKS

www.victimsupport.org.nzwww.cyf.govt.nz

Fixing things


Spotlight on xxxxSpotlight on Central

Daniel Ousey knew from the age of eight he wanted to join the Armed Forces but after leaving school he got in a rut and lost motivation to do anything but play Xbox and sleep.

“I left school at 16. I was sick of it,

I didn’t want to be there. I did some

general labouring and was on and off

the benefi t for a year. Life wasn’t great,

to be honest. I’d sit around, drink a bit,

and worry about money. I wasn’t close

to my family. It was just a struggle,” says

the Masterton-born 20-year-old.

However, a visit to Work and Income

changed all that.

“They told me about LSV and I

thought I’d give it a crack. I needed to

get myself into gear and get some life

skills,” says Daniel.

Limited Service Volunteer (LSV) is

a free, six-week, live-in motivational

programme for unemployed young

people, run by the New Zealand Defence

Force on behalf of Work and Income.

It aims to increase the number of young

people entering employment or training

by improving their self-discipline,

self confi dence, motivation and initiative.

For Daniel, the Trentham-based

programme did just that. In just six weeks

it turned his life around completely.

He’s now proud to say he’s a gunner in

the New Zealand Army, based at Linton

near Palmerston North.

“It’s been my life goal to do this since

I was young, when my cousin came

home in uniform. But I didn’t have the

motivation or the determination to do it

until I went on LSV.

“It’s changed my life. Two days into

LSV they asked me what I wanted to

do in life. I told them, ‘join the Army’.

Two weeks after the course fi nished

I had an interview with the Army and

now I’ve been here for a year.

“I’ve loved it since the day I joined.

It’s good fun, we work with fi rearms

and heavy artillery, and I get paid to

shoot rifl es and blow things up!”

Daniel’s next aim is to get his heavy

vehicle license, then he’s fi rmly focused

on the future, keen to take up one of

the 50-odd trades on offer within the

Army. “I’m leaning toward engineering

or mechanics. There’s so many things

I can do and the Army pays for it all

– it’s great.”

Daniel says LSV prepared him well

for his Army job. He found it strict.

The early morning physical training

sessions and the long days were diffi cult,

not to mention getting little sleep

thanks to a room-mate who snored.

“It was a wake-up call but it didn’t put

me off. You’ve got to push yourself

and you’ve got to want to do it.”

Daniel knows LSV has transformed

him in many ways. He’s lost weight,

gained motivation, displays manners,

shows maturity and respect for others

and makes better decisions. “People

reckon I’m a different person. It really

has helped me to grow up,” says the

oldest of fi ve children.

His mum Tracey, a teacher aide,

is quick to agree.

“Daniel and I had horrendous

arguments. He saw me juggling four

jobs. I wasn’t relying on Work and

Income and yet he was sitting around at

home on a benefi t.

“But he’s like my best friend now.

I’m blown away by where he is. He rings

up and the fi rst thing out of his mouth

is ‘are you right mum, do you need

anything?’ whereas before it’d be ‘have

you got $80 I can borrow?’”

When Daniel tried to prepare for

LSV, Tracey, a runner, remembers

how he failed to make it even halfway

around the 2.4km block she’d run

with him. “Now I don’t run with him,

I bike. There’s no way I can keep up.

He’s too fast, too fi t!” she laughs. “If I

have a down day, I just think of Daniel

and I’m good again. I’m very proud

of him.”

For Daniel, LSV has given him a life.

“I have lots of reliable, good mates,

being in the Army. I have an awesome

income. I’ve got everything I’ve ever

wanted and I’m only 20. I’ve got a ute,

I’m about to get a dirt bike, and I’m in a

really nice house with some Army mates

with a bbq and all the boys’ toys,”

he says excitedly.

“The Army really is my dream come

true.”

WEB LINKS

www.workandincome.govt.nz/individuals/looking-for-work/limited-service-volunteer.html

www.workandincome.govt.nz/video-clips/lsv/

New lease on life

“It was a wake-up call but it didn’t putme off . You’ve got to push yourself

and you’ve got to want to do it.”


www.workandincome.govt.nz/individuals/looking-for-work/limited-service-volunteer.html

www.workandincome.govt.nz/video-clips/lsv/

round-up Regional

SouthernSouthernFoster Care Awareness Week: Dunedin foster parents were treated to a night out at their annual

FOSCARS event in November, as part of the local celebrations. Awards acknowledged foster parents

who have cared for more than fi ve years.

Supporting offenders into work: Work and Income Southern and the Department of Corrections

have established a working party to streamline how the two organisations work together to support

offenders into employment.

Health and Disability Forum: The forum facilitated by national offi ce was well attended by health

and disability regional teams. The purpose was to discuss and workshop how to best support clients with

health and disability issues into employment from a strengths-based approach.

Canterbury Canterbury White Ribbon Day: More than 1,000 people gathered outside Christchurch police station to march

to Hagley Park to mark White Ribbon Day. MSD staff were among those to tie balloons to fence

railings outside Christchurch Hospital, and hold a minute’s silence.

Focus on Affi rm: MSD staff joined forces at Affi rm, the Aranui Family Festival for 2014. In recent

years Work and Income’s stand has refl ected on work done across MSD, including Child Youth and

Family and SKIP information for Parents. This year MSD covered information from all service lines,

focusing on employment and supporting families to do well.

It’s Christmas time: Canterbury’s children and young people in care had a great time at the annual

Christmas party in Bishopdale.

Nelson, Marlborough and West Coast Nelson, Marlborough and West Coast New partnership: Work and Income has partnered with Nelson Bays Primary Health to boost

awareness of the services that are available to help meet the needs of clients it sees. Nelson

Bays Primary Health provides a gateway into working with the health sector and can help Work

and Income staff better inform people about services to help people with health or disability

issues fi nd work.

Close relations: Child, Youth and Family West Coast is working closely with local community

organisation Homebuilders, supporting them as they work directly with families to develop their

day-to-day parenting skills.


Central Central Connecting clients: Feedback from a recent series of seminar sessions run by Central Region has

been positive. Hundreds of Palmerston North clients were invited to the day-long expo, which

enabled up to 180 clients to meet with local training providers. Training providers represented

courses that included Care Giving, Training for Work, Retail and Hospitality, Rural Industry Skills and

Call Centre Training. There were also sessions for youth about LSV and Outward Bound options.

Legal driver trial: A Levin initiative is seeing clients referred via the Neighbourhood Policing Team

to a Work and Income-funded training programme which helps them to gain a driver’s licence.

All nine places available under the trial have been fi lled, three clients having completed the programme,

with two gaining licences and one moving into employment shortly after.

WellingtonWellingtonSuccessful training initiative: Work and Income has contracted with Capital Training Limited and

StudyLink to prepare benefi ciaries for employment with StudyLink in customer service representative

roles. Nineteen benefi ciaries completed the programme.

New contracts: Two providers, Equip Worldwide Limited and WelTec, have been contracted to

provide 145 training places. About 70 percent of participants are expected to move into sustainable

employment in the building and civil construction industries.

On trial: The Wellington Service Centre has been hosting a trial initiated by the simplifi cation team

at national offi ce to help clients to move into online digital services.

Taranaki, King Country and WhanganuiTaranaki, King Country and WhanganuiWhite Ribbon thriller: The 2014 White Ribbon day was marked by the third street relay in three

years. Work and Income and Child Youth and Family participated, with Work and Income running

second to overall winner YMCA.

Dental care important: Raising the profi le of Mäori health is the main aim of a six-month dental

cadetship based in Hawera. The Taranaki District Health Board is working with Whakatipuranga

Rima Rau Trust, MSD and Te Whare Punanga Korero Trust.

New managers: Work and Income’s Michelle Atkins, employment co-ordinator New Plymouth, and

Robyn Karena, prison re-integration case manager Whanganui, have been accepted on to the Ministry’s

Te Aratiatia programme.

East CoastEast CoastJoining forces: Wairoa Work and Income recently teamed up with YROA YNOT of the Wairoa District

Council to stage a careers expo for the town’s young people.

Beard growing: MSD men from across the region recently joined counterparts from Hawke’s Bay

Regional Prison, Community Probation and Corrections for a beard-growing competition, raising funds

for Women’s Refuge and Victim Support. The event, in support of White Ribbon Day, raised about $1,100.

Adopt a Family campaign: Napier and Taradale Work and Income and staff from East Coast

Regional offi ce and Napier Child, Youth and Family supported the Napier Salvation Army’s Adopt a

Family Christmas Cheer appeal, where disadvantaged families are connected to community agencies

providing Christmas hampers.


Bay of Plenty Bay of Plenty 3K to Christchurch: A new initiative to help with labour shortages in Canterbury is proving effective

in connecting more than 80 Bay of Plenty jobseekers with employers.

Children’s team: The Rotorua children’s team recently celebrated its 18-month anniversary.

Bringing together frontline professionals working with children from health, education and social

sectors to protect vulnerable children and young people, more than 100 children have been assisted.

Ministry of Youth Development: Ministry of Youth Development Central North regional team

recently supported the Lake District Health Board with its youth consultation towards developing the

Lakes District Health and Wellbeing Strategic Plan.

WaikatoWaikatoChildren and employment focus: Child, Youth and Family social workers and Work and Income staff

were at Lake Karapiro in January for the waka ama sprint nationals. With a focus on families, keeping

children safe and securing employment, it aims to help people make positive changes this year.

Graduates aid shortage: Recent graduates of a dairy farming programme in North Waikato are

hoping to help ease the shortage of skilled farm workers.

Wellbeing on show: April’s Wellbeing Waikato Show enables the community to discover the

amazing wealth of health and wellbeing products, services and organisations available in the region.

Work and Income staff attended the show last April and spoke with hundreds of people, providing

information and advice on help available.

Auckland Auckland Working Together to Keep Kids Safe: Child, Youth and Family sites around Auckland will be

inviting people who work with children to attend a Working Together to Keep Kids Safe workshop

during March and April. The workshops are designed to deliver child protection education and

bring key groups together.

PM Youth Programme: One hundred 2015 Prime Minister’s Youth Programme participants from

across Auckland recently spent the week challenging themselves and engaging with high-profi le

New Zealanders. The week-long programme is for young people who have faced, and are managing,

challenges in their lives.

NorthlandNorthlandFast Track Job Match: It’s a little like speed dating but instead of looking for love, Fast Track

Job Match participants were looking for employers and employees for their perfect job.

The pilot event saw more than 40 people successfully placed into work. A second event followed,

with 12 employers and 81 jobseekers attending. FTJM is a collaboration between Whangarei District

Council and MSD, supported by the mayor’s Taskforce for Jobs. Applicants move around stations

and have three minutes to sit down with potential employers, giving both a chance to explore

whether it’s a match made in heaven. The relaxed atmosphere allows jobseekers to perform at their

best and ditches the process of going through hundreds of CVs for employers.


Subscribe to RiseSubscribe to the printed magazine or Rise online (along with other Ministry publications and newsletters) viawww.msd.govt.nz/subscriptions

There is no charge to subscribe.

Rise onlinewww.msd.govt.nz/rise

Download past issues of Rise from the Ministry of Social Development website.

Rise for the iPadRise is available as a digital iBook on your Apple iPad. As well as fl icking 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.

Contact Rise Do you have suggestions, feedback or story ideas for Rise?

Please email us at [email protected]

Rise in print, online or iPad – it’s your choice

MINISTRY OF SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT

I S S U E 25 – D ECEM B ER 201325 – D E

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

Home for life – the foster family with a dream home

Onjeurlina Leiataua – our youngest Black Fern

Achievement


“He aha te mea nui o te ao? Mäku e kı̈ atu. He tangata, he tangata, he tangata!”

From lost to leaders – former refugees make their mark



Kaha

MINISTRY OF SOCIAL DEVELOPMENTISSUE 26 – MARCH 2014

“What is the“What is the most impor“What is the most important thingat is the ost important tortantnt thing in the g in the worin the worn ththehe world?worldwowororldldtant thing in the woant thing ing in thn the world? ldd? ggI tell you. It is people, itI tell you. It is peell you. It is people, it is people, it is people!ople, itit iss people, it is peops people, it is peot is people, it is peopplee!!ple opl oplplee!””

“He aha te mea nu“He aha te He aha te mea nui o te aonuii o te ae ao? a te aoMäku e kï atu He tangata he tangatMäku e kï atu. He takï atu He tangata he tangatau. He tangata, e tanngata, hehhee tatangataa, he tange tanngagatata!”äku e kï atu. He tangata, he tangate tanangaatata,a, he tahee t ngatataa!”

A teacher, a dancer and

Homes for those i

MINISTRY OF SOCIAL DEVELOPMENTISSUE 27 – JUNE 2014



Community Joining up for Kawerau kids – Social Sector Trials

Cyber marae – connecting young M ori

Shed Project – opening the community to disabled people

MINISTRY OF SOCIAL DEVELOPMENTISSUE 28 – NOVEMBER 2014

Tips, links and newsCasey-Marie Young experienced a

wow moment when she took on a new job at a Nelson café.

Not only did the 23-year-old secure a

30-hour a week job at Café Istanbul, she also

received a surprise in the form of a Work

Bonus through Work and Income.

“It was such a surprise and was so helpful.

I could get all my bills paid and was able to

do a big grocery shop for the fi rst time that

I can remember, so that I had everything in

place before I started my new job.”

Work Bonus is an incentive payment

available to some benefi ciaries who choose

to work even though they don’t have work

obligations as a condition of their benefi t.

Casey is one of 8,133 who have received

the Work Bonus, paid automatically to those

eligible when they cancel their benefi t to move

into work, since it was introduced as part of

the July 2013 Welfare Reform changes.

Casey says she’s worked hard to get

a good future under way for her and her

four-year-old daughter.

Last year, with help from Work and

Income, she studied and completed a

certifi cate in Professional Restaurant,

Wine and Bar Service at the Nelson

Marlborough Institute of Technology.

Not only that, she passed with Merit and as

the top student in her class.

“Getting childcare sorted was a big part

of making my plans go smoothly and Work

and Income was able to help me with that

too,” she says.

Casey had worked part-time to top up

her Sole Parent benefi t, but 2015 is the

beginning of a new era for her.

Armed with her qualifi cations, a head

start through the Work Bonus and a job

that uses her skills, Casey has certainly had a

sweet start to the New Year.

WEB LINK

To fi nd out if you qualify for a tax-free Work Bonus visit:www.workandincome.govt.nz/individuals/brochures/work-bonus.html

New job and bonus to boot


www.workandincome.govt.nz/individuals/brochures/work-bonus.html

www.msd.govt.nz/subscriptions

If you get a job before you have to, you could get a tax-free Work Bonus.

Talk to us to see if you’re eligible.

Contact us:

Call us on 0800 559 009, orvisit a Work and Income service centre, or

visit www.workandincome.govt.nz

Rise March 2015

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