- Workforce Development- This is a top issue for the South Waikato and a genuine understanding of our future workforce needs must get serious attention. Statistics NZ projections state it is most probable that Maori and Pacific Island peoples will be the majority persons in New Zealand within 50 years; this growing demographic should concern everyone for it is Maori and Tangata Pasifika youth who will be the workforce we need tomorrow and the nation tomorrow. But little is being achieved to see them finish school and gain the skills and ethics required for meaningful work and income.
We MUSTensure our future workforce is skilled and resourced to be productive I have listened to more than 500 people spread from across all regions of Aotearoa who identified Maori Workforce Development as a key priority for the future. The following key areas were identified for further work:
•Developing skills and lifelong learning a family priority
•Improving career advice to support lifelong employment and employability
•Promoting and supporting workforce participation among Māori as a matter of urgency
•Inviting closer industry involvement with Māori
•Ensuring that kaupapa Māori educational options are supported by quality out-of school care options to promote Māori women’s labour market participation,
•Finding ways to make Modern Apprenticeships and other vocational pathways work better for Māori and Pasifika women.
In addition,the need for more cooperation between industries, promoting our products in a coordinated way, forming strategic alliances inter and intra iwi, as well as regionally, nationally and internationally.
Accelerating Workforce Development ensures that people are recognised as the most important asset to economic sustainability.
Workforce Development is a strategic approach to decent work that requires a consolidation of effort not only by employers but also by the workforce and all stakeholders in the community to ensure sustainable jobs. Low skills and low wages do not provide prosperity for all as a key component of the LTCCP prosperity is for everyone not just business. The focus here is on People.
.Bridging support into employment for Maori youth
•Participation in Industry training
•Career information, advice and guidance for women
•Increasing workplace productivity for low skill and semi skilled workers
high wage, high skill, quality economy. Investment is still needed to catch-up after the disastrous 1990s where infrastructure was allowed to languish and investment in skill development virtually halted.
With meaningful approaches that truly walk the talk of valuing people as our greatest asset the workforce of the future can thrive and in so doing ensure that our communities thrive. - Maori Economic Development- The Ministry of Maori Development and NZIER provided a report in 2003 on this issue. Generally the following needs were identified to strengthen New Zealands economy through strengthening the Maori economy.
The Maori economy requires investment in high quality governance development. New Zealand businesses have opportunities available to them to transact and invest in the emerging Maori economy and developing government policy to enhance New Zealands overall economic performance. The Treaty of Waitangi is recognised as New Zealands founding document. Unity is not achieved through denial but would have increased opportunity to occur if a genuine commitment to resolving and restoring the imbalances brought about by the misdeeds of historical and contemporary injustices.
Further, the Treaty of Waitangi is an expression of relationship between the Crown, Maori and other New Zealanders. Mutual respect and the prospect of mutual benefits should underlie these relationships. There is much to be done regarding Maori development and collectively owned Maori land, the Waitangi tribunal has made recommendations on this which I support and will endeavour to implement in the South Waikato to ensure a fair playing ground for all rate payers. - Business- The ability of our district to achieve unprecedented long term increases in total production to levels never before seen is a reality when complimented with advanced technology applied by a skilled workforce. Economic development is not a zero sum game in which the winnings of some are inevitably mirrored by the losses of others, This is an approach where everyone can win.
Extracting wealth from the poorest regions in our country to grow rich and exploitation of the poor is not good business. Key drivers of change for our district in the innovation economy include creation of knowledge and innovation; The greatest benefit of the innovation economy will accrue to businesses who can access and adopt new technologies. Indeed, having innovative communities may be more important for growth than having a high rate of capital investment. One of the main factors driving the innovation economy will be technological advances. These advances will impact both on the existing sectors in which we as a district participate, and the new sectors that have great potential for us. Research and development coupled with education will be additional important factors enabling the South Waikato to excel in the innovation economy.
Technology transfer interventions will rise food yields through systematic improvements in pastoral practice, including of course the management of soil nutrients, mitigation and adaptation management i.e. changing crops and land use and the ability to irrigate. Reduction of carbon emissions through reduced cultivation practices are some solutions to an everyone wins approach to economic development. This is not an easy change by any means but a change in Dairy strategy working on systems rather than targets and having the capability to do this is the challenge for our industries.
Untapped potential exists with Tourism and alternative energy within the district that demands more exploration, planning and delivery.
Small business- Every day I hear from struggling small business in our district, ordinary hard working kiwis trying to keep their dairy's, boutiques, retail outlets and services providing to the people within our communities above water. The strengths of small business; include low debt-equity ratios, the separation of commercial activities from non-commercial, the movement to diversify assets, the strong focus on the quadruple bottom line, the value associated with being long term and local and recruitment of the best skilled people; may mean that these businesses are well placed to take advantage of these trends. Those who are best able to manage both innovation and risk, are likely to be more resilient during the hard times, and to be able to use the recovery as a springboard for future growth. A commitment to Small Business is compelling and needed by us all to support our local small business owners and operators. We can do this by following through with the Small business advisory board recommendations of:
•provision of advice, mentoring and practical tools
•access to finance and business support
•enhancing the environment for small business
•improvements in the regulatory environment.
The reality is that some of our new small businesses may not have the experience, expertise or financial resources to survive difficult times; andn like other businesses, may become risk averse, which may limit uptake of the opportunities which are available.
We all need to support our small business operators and owners who demonstrate the South Waikato hospitality matched with quality service and products. Thats our point of difference.
Let us grow local, make local and buy local - Strong Social Services: We can look to the most vulnerable in our communities to gauge how effective and meaningful are our social services.
Strong, healthy, confident communities that are safe and provide well for our aging and young populations has to be on our agenda for change. The social responsibility that comes with being a citizen of this country demands respect for social needs and rights. We all know jobs provide income for families, we all know that protecting our children and giving them the best start in life and throughout their lives is paramount to everyones well being. WE all know that an inactive youth is the devils playground and keeping our youth out of the criminal justice system and on track for a great future is a priority for our district. WE are the face of tomorrow for this country. If we look to Tokoroa we will find the age and ethnic demographics projected to occur in the country within 16 years. Its already here for us. A focus on people is more than trade training programmes, this is about our babies, our teenagers, our families, our elderly. Each and every one of them valuable members of our communities who have so much to offer now and into the future. How council promotes the social, economic, cultural and environmental wellbeing of our communities reflects how we respect each other, the relationships we have with each other, the expectations and standards that we hold to determine appropriate behaviour and how we will work together to ensure prosperity for all. As a staunch advocate for social policy and service you will see a commonsense approach taken to ensuring that our people and all people coming into the South Waikato feel their needs are addressed. Roads, Rubbish and Rates are basic local issues that need attention but the bigger picture is about committment, commonsense and community. To put social needs at the bottom of the to do list is unacceptable. As Mayor of the South Waikato this area of priority will go to the top of the to do list. To neglect, exploit or mistreat one community stakeholder whilst advancing another is inappropriate. A balanced and fair approach to intervention and assistance is required. As with all services we need skill, and better pay for our social service workers.
We need to build positive and constructive relationships with each other and commit to our aspirations for a vibrant, diverse, welcoming and caring community.
We are the South Waikato, and we are on a journey to discover ourselves, living and loving our home.
- YOUR EDUCATION IS CLAIR
YOUR HEALTH IS CLAIR
YOUR FUTURE IS CLAIR
VOTE CLAIR FOR MAYOR
No issues on file for Johnny Dryden.
- Provision of good primary and secondary health services is the number one priority for the next term. Our Hospital must be saved and provide the services the community need.
- Council’s Business friendly protocols have been successful in attracting several new businesses Over 250 new jobs will eventuate when they all star but Youth unemployment is an ongoing concern and must be addressed. The youth training centre will need to be enlarged.
- Waste management is essential. As good as our re-cycling is more needs to be done if we are going to implement an effective waste minimization programme.
- The South Waikato must retain its independence to protect local democracy. That means the partnerships we have developed with Raukawa and neighbouring Councils must be further enhanced and that will only happen when there is respect and honesty on both side. We have achieved that relationship and it must not be damaged.
- Council’s support of the River Trails is a major reason why the trust was able to be first off the block with the Prime Minister. That must continue and become part of the link Council is discussing with Rotorua. It will be a major boost to the tourism industry in the Central North Island.
