Max effect

A scheme that helped a Manukau man find work is ending. He tells Kieran Nash this will be a huge blow.
On a large building site in Manukau, a group of builders is sheltering from a heavy downpour and waiting to return to work. Among them is Sione Kolo, a young man who found his job through a Government scheme to get young people into work.
But he's one of the last. Even though the scheme - called Community Max - has been "hugely successful", the Government will not continue to fund it.
Mr Kolo, who finished a course at polytech, found out about Community Max through Work and Income. He's worked at the construction site - a combined church and childcare centre - for more than four months.
"It's pretty tough to find a job so I applied for this and I got it. It's awesome. It's a good opportunity to take since I've been to tech. It's full-on."
The 20-year-old from Otara says more money should be put into the scheme. "I reckon they should keep it on. One hundred per cent. I'd like to see other people find an opportunity like this, to find jobs for the young people. These days there's not so many jobs out there."
When his job is completed, Mr Kolo says he will use the skills he has learned to continue studying, and hopes to qualify as a builder.
Tony Bracefield employs Mr Kolo. He's been delighted with Mr Kolo's work, and his project has been helped  by the Government's contribution, which he says totals about $12,000. He'd also like to see funding continue.
"The Government should be looking to put more money into it," says Mr Bracefield.
Community Max was devised  as a short-term way to get people aged 16 to 24 - the highest out-of-work group  in the country - into jobs.
Otara community board chairman Tunumafono Avaula Fa'amoe is disappointed the scheme has ended and says it's a blow for the community. "My concern is my community lost a lot of jobs and Community Max is something that they would look into."
He says  this scheme, if kept on, could provide valuable opportunities for young people.
"I think given the increase in unemployment, the highest percentage is our young people. Community Max is the least they can be doing. At least it's something."
Social Development Minister Paula Bennett says Community Max was never intended to be long-term. "We're thrilled with it. It's been hugely successful," she says.
But,  she says, it cost too much. "The Cabinet put aside $40 million for Community Max and we've spent it. It always had a cap on how many places there are. At the end of the day, $40 million is a lot of money. We simply can't afford to subsidise projects like this."
Labour's youth affairs spokeswoman Jacinda Ardern says the scheme tackled only short-term job placements. She says the emphasis should be on getting young people into polytech courses or other education schemes.
However, Mr Fa'amoe says education doesn't work for everyone.There are some who won't be able to take that path. Some of my community won't be able to give it a go."
According to the Household Labour Force Survey,  the unemployment rate at December 2009 was 26.5 per cent for 15-19 year-olds and 12.2 per cent for 20-24 year-olds.
All maxed out
Community Max furnished a six-month wage subsidy for young people working on community-focused projects. The subsidies were intended to help prepare them for further opportunities in the workforce.
The subsidy was provided at the minimum wage for 30 hours a week for 26 weeks. There was also a training component of up to $1250 for each young person.
Initially, 3000 places were allocated but, recently, another 230 places were added, taking the total to 3230 at a total cost of $40.3 million.
Community Max is due to end in December this year. Projects already started will be funded to the end of their contracts.
By February 12, 2627 Community Max places had been filled through 451 sponsors.

For job-seekers, a "Manukau youth initiative" starts this month, mentoring up to a quarter of the 3500 to 4000 young people who leave school in the city each year.
More info, phone the Solomon Group 268 9210.