Unemployed figure slashed

Unemployment Benefit numbers for Te Awamutu have dropped 44% in the past year, mirroring a national plunge in UB numbers and confirming the region is well and truly on a roll.

Labour MP Sue Moroney says in June 2005, 90 people were registered unemployed around Te Awamutu with the local Work and Income NZ office. Today, there are 50. Across the greater Waikato region, numbers fell by 28% from 3,857 in June 2005 to 2,786 today.

“With the country doing so well on these statistics, it’s sometimes easy to forget that when the Labour-led Government took office in 1999, there were 514 local folk receiving Unemployment Benefit,” says Sue Moroney. “Local Unemployment Benefit numbers have plummeted by 90% in just seven years - that’s a phenomenal achievement and a huge endorsement of the Government’s work-focused approach. It’s also a feather in the cap of local businesses, community groups, and of course job seekers themselves.”

The Te Awamutu figures come on the heels of national data released by Social Development Minister David Benson-Pope earlier this month, showing New Zealand’s Unemployment Benefit numbers have fallen to below 40,000 for the first time in over two decades.

Sue Moroney says Domestic Purposes Benefit numbers have also fallen across the country by 4,000 in the last year alone.

“In that time, the number of local people receiving the DPB has dropped from 529 to 497. Having a Labour-led government means all New Zealanders getting a fair go, with families young and old getting the support they need to take charge of their lives and take up opportunities.”

SWINGS and roundabouts: life appears to be looking up for newly-employed Jannis Balks and children Kaitlyn and Nickolas. 208061AD

Jannis in job heaven
- kids keen on treats

Kaitlyn Balks is 10-years-old - and that’s how long mum Jannis Balks has been on the DPB. But like about 40 other Te Awamutu beneficiaries, Jannis is now in full time employment.

Although she has done childcare courses, and voluntary teacher aid duties because there were no vacancies in these fields she had struggled to find a job. But she started a cleaning job at Dey Street Village on Monday and is over the moon to be in the workforce (even if only for a three month trial).

“When Brian (Pitchford at WINZ Te Awamutu office) told me about the job I was rapt. I’m out there doing something for myself and my kids. It’s brilliant,” Jannis says.

Meanwhile, Kaitlyn and brother Nickolas (six and a half) are looking forward to a few extra treats now mum is a breadwinner.