Minister for Pacific Peoples Aupito William Sio says his Ministry’s Tupu Aotearoa jobs programme has helped more than 1,000 Pacific people into employment in the last six months.
The Minister said a further 1,400 Pacific people had transitioned into workplace training over the last 12 months using the programme.
“When we expanded Tupu Aotearoa in 2020 to encompass more of our people in more of our regions in addition to metropolitan areas, we knew it would be transformative,” said Mr Sio.
“It is heart-warming to see the difference these job placements and qualifications continue to make for so many of our Pacific aiga.”
Figures from the Ministry show in the first two quarters of 2022 – from the beginning of January to the end of June – 1,040 participants in the programme found employment, including 771 in the June quarter alone.
“While I would like to commend the Ministry and our providers for their tireless work in getting people jobs, or job-ready, I would especially like to congratulate the participants who came along, listened and learned, and then went out to do something to better their lives and the lives of their loved-ones,” he said.
The Tupu programme connects Pacific people with local providers to support them to access work or learning opportunities on their journey to employment, further training or study.
“By eliminating barriers to employment and education we are ensuring Pacific people have the knowledge, skills and tools to find jobs, or enter study, and build a brighter future for themselves and their families,” the Minister said.
