4 February 2000

Mayor Calls For Bigger Effort For Jobs

Speaking at the Onuku Marae, Akaroa, at Waitangi Day celebrations, Mr Moore said one of the worst casualty rates for unemployment was among the young. "Maybe we should be promoting the idea of nobody leaving school without a job or somewhere to go should be an important social contract between society and the individual."

Mr Moore concentrated on unemployment matters in his speech. He said leadership in the unemployment area was required at all levels: iwi, community, central and local government, and the private sector.

"I have been working on several fronts of the employment problem. All the South Island mayors met last year for the first time and as a result this year we will be holding a South Island Economic Development Summit," he said.

He said he would putting together another forum called "Mayors for Jobs."

"We all need to discuss with an open mind where the new jobs will come from. I’ve been delighted to see that the new Government is placing great importance of encouraging regional economic development," Mr Moore said.

If new jobs were to be created everyone had to be passionate about putting the ideas in place.

Mr Moore said society should look again at bringing back a public works programme to tackle the work undone. "Maybe young people might be given the opportunity to work for two years on some version of national service. We could call it Aotearoa Corp – NZ Community Service. It could mean that some young people will get to build their skills in the armed services. But that’s not the only way," he said.

Some young people could be taught skills at community level. The possibility of ideas for such a programme was unlimited.

Local government could play a key role with a public works programme. "We have heaps of projects and ideas from all age groups and sectors of the community," Mr Moore said.

NB: A full version of the speech will follow.