Regional Plan for Auckland South

CONTENTS:

• Message from the Chief Executive
• Regional Commissioner’s report
• Our region
• Our regional strategies
• Objectives and key tasks
• Achieving our key tasks
• Our community commitment
• Consultation

MESSAGE FROM THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE

I am very pleased to have the opportunity to introduce this Regional Plan to you. It is a summary of what we ’ve achieved for this region during the year, but it is also a strategy for how we will be doing even better in future.

I am always very proud to be able to tell people about the Department of Work and Income’s successes, and the hugely significant role our staff play in achieving that. I believe this Plan illustrates just how hard they have been working for the people of this region.

While highlighting the positive steps we’ve taken in the local labour market to really make a difference for those living and breathing the special nature of this region, this Plan also looks further ahead, to the goals we ’ve set our sights on for the coming months. We are taking every opportunity we have to meet our commitment to help all New Zealanders achieve independence.

We are engaging with communities more than ever before. A strong foundation for our ability to do this is our regional flexibility strategy –local solutions to local needs.

Already we ’ve seen good indicators that this focus will move us ahead very quickly in meeting the needs of the individuals who make this region the special place it is. As always, we will be closely focused on the local client base. We ’ll be organising our resources to target local needs in the most appropriate way for a particular area, or client group.

‘Closing the Gaps’ is also at the forefront in every case. The Department is in a special position to make a difference here, with our Maori and Pacific clients already a key target area for our specialised programmes to assist people in taking a full part in the economic, community and educational life of their locality.

I know this Plan sets the right challenges to meet the needs of this community, and I believe it demonstrates the special local understanding, knowledge and expertise our staff can offer. Working together, and in local partnership, we can only have success.

CHRISTINE RANKIN

REGIONAL COMMISSIONER’S REPORT

I welcome the opportunity to reflect and celebrate the Auckland South region’s past year, and to share our strategic direction and focus for the 2000/2001 year.

The Auckland South region is unique in its diversity, which combines vital urban areas and a vigorous rural area complementing each other’s needs. Added to this is the cultural diversity of the region, which brings about great challenges particularly in seeking to close the gaps for Maori, Pacific Peoples and youth.

The past 12 months have been very successful and challenging. I have been impressed by the enthusiasm and commitment of staff and the community in working together to find ways to achieve mutual goals to enhance the quality of life for our clients, families and communities.

Our focus has been on developing our ability to improve support and meet the needs of our clients and their families.To this end,we have focused on delivering an individualised approach to assisting people. We have had many successes over the past year. Here are some highlights.

• $870 million has been paid out in income support ensuring that the basic needs of our clients are met.

• Over 5,000 individuals have been assisted with a range of skills training,motivational training and on-the-job work experience. 80% of the clients attending these courses were Maori or Pacific Peoples. This is a total investment of $270 million in the people we serve.

• The proactive work of our staff resulted in 8,400 of our clients finding work in the past months, 66% of which were full-time permanent jobs.

• Otara Health ncorporated,in partnership with the Department of Work and Income and members of the local community,is co-ordinating a programme of health,welfare and education. Up to seven long-term unemployed people have been given extensive training and not only have they moved towards independence themselves, but they are now helping others as well.

• The community learning support project,a joint project between Hillary College, Community Employment and Manukau Local Employment Co-ordination has been established to develop and implement community education courses in life skills, technology and health.

• Work Brokers account manage individual businesses to ensure a sound understanding exists of each employer’s needs. We have demonstrated our responsiveness to companies in times of job creation and of new businesses moving into our region.

• With the support of the enterprise programme and the excellent support of enterprise agencies, we have assisted more than 100 clients into new businesses in the last 12 months.

Looking forward

I am excited about the coming year and am confident in our ability to achieve a flexible, regionally-driven approach that will make a difference for Auckland South clients and communities. Working collaboratively with other key agencies, local bodies and communities to develop integrated initiatives that deal with issues relating to health, housing, education and employment is vital, as is the need to work with advocacy groups to identify solutions to close the gap.

Providing for a growing,diverse and vibrant region is not easy.However,we must continue to source opportunities to provide significant improvements in the lives of large numbers of people. To achieve this, we must also build on our successes and extend the way in which we relate to other key stakeholders in the region through alliances,and through agreements with key Government agencies,local authorities and community groups.Furthermore,we must continue to provide case management to all clients ensuring individual needs are assessed accurately and benefit entitlements are received.

For some of our clients,re-entry into the workforce will happen relatively quickly, but for others the pathway will take longer. Providing clients with the full range of information for additional assistance is also critical to ensuring clients are both encouraged and supported to take up training and part-time and/or low-paying employment.

Finally, this business plan sets the goals of the Auckland South region for the next 12 months. Clearly, by working together, remaining flexible, developing and sustaining partnerships in the community, we will achieve our goals, resulting in improved community well-being and sustained prosperity for all.

OUR REGION

Introduction

Auckland South is home to more than 370,000 people from 142 ethnic backgrounds, making the region one of the most culturally diverse.

Auckland is the largest urban metropolitan region in New Zealand and is experiencing rapid population growth.This places significant demand on physical and social infrastructure as well as the environment. These pressures demand a more integrated approach across local bodies,Government agencies, community organisations and the business sector.

The three Auckland regions recognise the importance of working closely together and establishing collaborative partnerships and relationships across the sectors for the benefit of clients and communities.

Manukau City

This is the third largest and most ethnically and culturally diverse city in New Zealand. It is also one of the fastest growing cities in the country. Of the 55,200 plus hectares that make up Manukau City, 80% of the land is rural and just 20% urban. As you can see in the table on the next page, the city is made up of predominantly Maori and Pacific Peoples.

Dynamic urban development in the last three decades has made Manukau City home to more than 280,000 residents who represent some 142 different ethnic groups.

Manukau remains an extremely youthful city with over 40% of its population under 25 years. High profile events hosted yearly by Manukau City, such as the Smoke Free Rally of New Zealand, Ellerslie Flower Show and the International 3-Day Equestrian Event at Puhinui Reserve, contribute to Manukau’s economic growth and job creation.

Otahuhu

Otahuhu is included in the Auckland South region and has a diverse population of approximately 17,000. Otahuhu has a proportionately higher percentage of Pacific Peoples than elsewhere in Auckland South.

Otahuhu is part of Auckland City’s Industrial Edge with the manufacturing industry playing an important role in the area’s economy. The recently redeveloped High Street retail area is thriving and caters for Otahuhu’s diverse ethnic population.

The closure of abattoirs and railway yards in the area has led to low-rental housing and this has made Otahuhu a popular choice with many new immigrants and low income families.

Papakura District

This district has an area of 12,600 hectares and a population of 42,000. During the next 20 years, the population is expected to grow significantly to more than 70,000.

Papakura is a blend of town and country and like Manukau, it is ethnically diverse. It has a diverse physical environment which includes the forest-covered Hunua foothills, the rolling flat plains where agricultural and horticultural activities predominate as well as the urban area which heads towards the Manukau Harbour and the Auckland-Hamilton motorway.

Papakura features a broad range of rural and urban activities. These include the Ardmore Aerodrome, Karaka Horse Sales, Takanini thoroughbred training track,a major commercial and retail centre and the largest area of covered flower growth in New Zealand at Drury. There are also two large quarries, substantial residential and industrial areas and a broad range of recreational and community facilities.

Franklin District

This district covers 220,000 hectares of land and has a population of 48,000. 77% of people in the district are NZ Pakeha and 17% are Maori, with the remaining 6% belonging to other ethnic groups. The area has a wonderful mix of geographic features with complex volcanic remnants and the frost-free Bombay Hills. Market gardening is popular, with some of this land being cropped three or four times a year. The district grows a third of the nation’s fresh vegetables. Franklin’s main urban areas are Pukekohe, Waiuku and Tuakau.

	NZ Pakeha	Maori	Pacific Peoples	Asian	Other ethnicity
Manukau City	50%	20%	17%	9%	4%
Otahuhu	25%	22%	35%	15%	3%
Papakura	67%	24%			9%
Franklin	77%	17%			6%