KEY POINTS:
Former All Black Michael Jones is one of those on the invitation list to next week's Jobs Summit, where he will help ensure Pacific people's concerns are not sidelined.
Mr Jones was at a pre-summit meeting of Pacific Island community leaders, employers and officials yesterday working on material to take to the summit.
Fellow former All Black turned undertaker Va'aiga Tuigamala was also at the meeting, representing small Pacific Island business.
Mr Jones and Mr Tuigamala endorsed the National Party during the election campaign and their presence at yesterday's Pacific Jobs Fono (meeting) did not go unnoticed by the Minister of Pacific Island Affairs Georgina te Heuheu, who noted it was appropriate that the two former All Blacks be part of the Government's "rolling maul" of initiatives.
The summit's chairman, NZX chief executive Mark Weldon, and Prime Minister John Key have emphasised it was for those on the "coal face" of employment, rather than bureaucrats, politicians and interest groups.
Mr Jones said he had been involved in the community in education, community service and business.
"It is important to take a Pacific voice there. But I'm there also as a concerned community leader, because I'm a New Zealander as much as I'm representing one of the minority communities in New Zealand."
Mr Jones said yesterday's fono, hosted by the Ministry of Pacific Island Affairs, was a constructive start to trying to help with problems faced by Pacific workers, who are expected to be hit disproportionately by the recession.
Among the matters discussed was whether the Recognised Seasonal Employer Scheme was needed if Pacific workers in New Zealand were struggling to find jobs.
The scheme was devised in a time of high employment and allows some employers to recruit teams from overseas, with a focus on Pacific Island countries, for seasonal work such as fruit picking.
Ministry of Pacific Island Affairs chief executive Dr Colin Tukuitonga said despite the change in the employment market, the scheme remained critical for "our rellies" in the islands.
It was backed up by business consultant Tino Pereira, who said the impacts of the recession were expected to hit harder in the islands.
