Northland youth unemployment rate falls to lowest in 15 years

Now off the benefit and into employment, Whangārei's Munro Pomare has become more confident since starting working at Liquorland a year ago.

The number of young people out of work in Northland is at its lowest rate since records began, and one of those happy about the situation is Whangārei man Munro Pomara.

A Ministry of Social Development-funded programme aimed at helping young people off the benefit and into work or study got Pomare a job after almost two years of unemployment.

Pomare's MSD case manager introduced him to Ngā Ara Tōnui, which has been supporting young job hunters for more than nine years. He's grateful for their support.

Northland Regional Commissioner for Social Development Eru Lyndon said Pomare was just one of the young people helped into employment in the past 12 months.

''With the help of people like Tawhana and our other service providers we've seen youth unemployment fall to the lowest rates since records began in 2004.''

For the December 2018 quarter, the MSD Household Labour Force Survey shows the current not in employment or education (NEET) rate for 15 to 19-year-old is 11 per cent and the 20 to 24-year-old rate is 13.5 per cent, down from 36 per cent in 2015.

"These numbers are still higher than we would like them to be. Young people in Northland need our help and we're determined to do all that we can to find more jobs for more people like Munro," Lyndon said.

Pomare, 24, knows just how hard it can be to find work, though.

"It's not easy finding work when you don't really know where to start, Tawhana [from Nga Ara Tōnui] and my case manager really helped me with that," he said.

"I live with my mum and my brother, who is autistic, and I need to help out at home. I've never managed to find a job that I really liked or that fitted with my family commitments. I got this job in March last year and it's improved my confidence and I love earning a wage."

"For this job I had to get my Licence Controller Qualification (to help work at Liqourland), I didn't have the money at the time but my work mates chipped in the $200 so I could do it and I've now paid them back. It was a good feeling for them to support me, and even better when I paid them back from the money I earn."

Pomare's manager, Quentin Moriarty, said he will be doing his Manager's Licence next year and with that he can go anywhere. Not that he wants him to.

"Tawhana approached me about Munro and asked me to give him a trial, as soon as he finished his first day I knew he was a good fit for us,'' Moriarty said.

"Working here you see some interesting people and you really get to know the locals, it's a community and Munro is now part of that."