Shared Prosperity programme update
The Shared Prosperity programme combines all existing initiatives related to demonstrating just, circular and regenerative economic development including the flagship initiatives: Social Procurement, He Waka Eke Noa, (HWEN), UPtempo, and Māori and Pasifika Trades Training (MPTT) consortium, and the Youth-focused activity which includes overseeing the youth projects for nine Local Boards.
Social Procurement
The Māori Economic Development Advisory Board (MEDAB) has been so inspired by The Southern Initiative’s work pioneering social procurement in Aotearoa that it is using it as an example to show others how transformational social procurement can be.
As a result of this support, MEDAB organized for TSI’s social procurement initiatives to be showcased to the chief executives of all central government departments at a meeting on 30 July. The video above was shown to this group and further meetings with Ministers and government officials have taken place to progress the roll-out of social procurement policies on a national level.
Social Procurement hui
A Social Procurement hui with Te Kotahi a Tamaki was held on 23 June with representatives from 33 marae attending, along with Auckland Mayor Phil Goff. At the hui, which was organised with the support of TSI, it was agreed that council and Te Kotahi a Tāmaki would work together to ensure social procurement policies were established so Māori and Pacific businesses get more opportunities to access council contracts
Click here to see the news item on this event.
He Waka Eke Noa
The number of registered Māori and Pasifika-owned businesses in HWEN has now grown to 90.
On 14 August we completed a Pre-Qualifications Health & Safety workshop with HWEN members to ensure they are able to meet regulatory requirements when delivering contracts. This workshop included presenters from AT, IMPAC, 360 Safety Solutions and ATEED.
A three-year funding proposal is currently in progress with Te Toa Takitini, which if successful, will see He Waka Eke Noa resourced with dedicated staff enabling more Maori and Pasifika businesses to enter into council family supply chains.
Māori and Pasifika Trades Training
The Tertiary Education Commission (TEC) approved TSI’s consortium funding and has provided additional funding for learner support that can cover pastoral care and practical transition into employment costs.
As of July 2019, 158 students were enrolled in the Māori and Pasifika Trades Training (MPTT) programme, of which 15% (50 out of 334) were aged 16-24 years. Of the students, 117 were male, 41 female, 84 Māori and 74 Pasifika. There has been 52 qualification completions and 10 withdrawals.
We are currently in discussions with the CEO of each private training establishment to assess how to attract more students and increase retention.
Driver Licensing for TSI MPTT Learners
TSI MPTT has arranged a service agreement with Rule Education Trust to deliver a Driver Licensing programme for our learners. The cost of $60,000 to run the programme is being met by TSI MPTT and Top Coat (an employer). Rule Education are already underway with engagements with our providers to scope learners for this programme.
Youth
The Youth programme budget from Local Boards has been secured for 2019/20 and agreements with community providers are also being drafted. These programmes are based on developing strong employment skills and technical skills as well as providing employment brokerage, post placement and wellbeing support. Partial funding allocations have been agreed with Franklin Local Board and Puketāpapa Local Board which will support design processes to hear the youth voice and lead to further funding in identified areas. Initial consultation with the Māngere-Ōtāhuhu Local Board and Ōtara-Papatoetoe Local Board has taken place and some of the funding will be confirmed in the next month or so. In addition to this, further funding (outside of the Youth programme allocations for 2019/20 from Manurewa Local Board and Puketāpapa Local Board) are under consideration at the moment.
We have received the initial BERL research results from the Stats NZ Integrated Data Infrastructure (IDI) for all 16 to 24-year-old individuals in The Southern Initiative area. We are analysing this data in order to provide meaningful information to the Local Boards that can contribute to the development of the Local Board Plans and also future investments.
In July, members of the Shared Prosperity team led and hosted people from MSD’s Wellington-based Policy Group for a week’s series of meetings, workshops and place-based experiences to help the Policy Group build an understanding of South Auckland people’s lives and lived experiences and make connections for synergistic opportunities between TSI and MSD. This Policy Group has a particular focus on cross-agency, cross-sector work relating to youth, people with disabilities, family violence and sexual violence. The group co-ordinates MSD’s participation in wider social sector policy initiatives and supports work on cross-sector Auckland issues.
Pasifika in IT mentoring
TSI partnered with Pasifika in IT to provide a mentoring support initiative for young people in the Māngere-Ōtāhuhu and Ōtara-Papatoetoe local board areas as part of its Youth programme. This project matches Pasifika IT professionals with 30 Pasifika young people and their whanau and provides mentoring, coaching and industry exposure using a relational approach. Apart from the one-on-one tailored mentoring activities, young people and their parents also attended STEAM workshops and a seminar with Serato, a Kiwi-owned global software company which specialises in DJ music applications. On 6 September, the Pasifika in IT team and Serato hosted young people and their parents in an exposure tour of the company. Participants listened to career journeys of Pasifika IT professionals working in Serato as well as a hands-on experience using various Serato DJ gear.
Tech apprenticeship programme mentoring
TSI is pilot testing a tech apprenticeship that provides experience and project-based training where students get paid to design solutions for a start-up tech company. With the fast rising Gig economy, we partnered with KidsCoin, a financial tech startup founded by a young Maori woman entrepreneur to mentor and train 15 young people in Papakura High School.
The tech apprenticeship aims to breakdown current barriers that prevent Māori and Pacific engagement with the tech sector. It focuses on a culturally responsive approach along with Pasifika and Māori leadership to engage with young people in a way that is relatable and encouraging.
Noho Based Health and Safety Training
Noho Based Health and Safety Training was provided in conjunction with Vertical Horizons and the funding of Manurewa Local Board. Sixteen young people took part in this programme, all of them achieved 36 credits in five days and since then six individuals have secured employment and the rest of them have taken part in additional licensing and are now being supported by TSI’s Employment Broker Coaches. This success was well received by the Manurewa Local Board which has helped them in approving a local community group to do this programme with some changes in the next couple of months using the 2019/20 Youth programme funding.
Capacity Building of Te Ara Rangatahi
Te Ara Rangtahi was provided with Franklin Local Board’s Youth programme funding for 2018/19 to capacity build them to provide extended services to the young people of Franklin and also take on a coordinating and leadership role for employment and skill development in Franklin. TSI has been involved in guiding and helping them to make more connections to employers, education providers and NGOs to capacity build their staff. Te Ara Rangatahi has not only provided outstanding support for young people in developing strong employment skills, they have got seven young people into quality employment. They have also taken on the opportunity to Chair the Franklin Skills Network and is expanding their services. Now they are looking to work with us in understanding how to solve some of the transport issues their young people are facing.
Te Matatini
Supporting Te Matatini Lead for Auckland Council in realising the major global and internationally renowned Maori Kapa Haka Festival for 2021 and in particular the procurement opportunities apparent for our HWEN businesses.
Te Matatini 2021 will engage Māori businesses within HWEN across the procurement processes for this major Tier 1 event; and to support Māori businesses to access procurement activities across the plethora of activity planned for AC2021. To engage and work with Māori communities as part of the overall Te Matatini 2021 kaupapa going forward. Post 2021, this will include working with ATEED across other tier 1 events, regarding ongoing procurement opportunities for Māori entities.