Summing Up

Jill White Mayor of Palmerston North

 

That was fantastic feedback.

If I could mention two items that leapt out at me.

The concern from Massey students that students don't see this as a city to make their home or place, or as a city to invest their knowledge or talents in. That's certainly something we need to take on board and work on.

The other is the idea that we have an enormous resource here in terms of the arts, for all sorts of quality of life and employment related issues for quality of life.

For each one of us, different things will have leapt out from that presentation. Each of us has the task of taking away something that leapt out of the day at us that we are prepared to take ownership of - saying "yes, I can do something about that."

There are some obvious things for the City Council to take up but there are other groups and individuals that will be taking away things.

We don't have the time to sit down now and say, what are the connections, that one group talked about. I think that's incredibly important - how do ideas move from a day like this to be taken on board by the practice people. I know some of the ideas and practice people are the same anyway.

These papers and this material is to be published. Is the local group going to do anything further about saying how do we make sure that there are communications and how do we get feedback?

I've sensed an enormous amount of energy and enthusiasm, really a desire to put employment and unemployment back at the top of the agenda. I've sensed that right through the day. There is still a task to do, to carry on with.

Comment - There are probably people here who have either come with ideas or got enthused about something who may not meet again. There used to be an Employment Network as well as the LEC. The only remaining group is the LEC - is there scope for them to join it?

Reply - Yes. Anyone who wants to get involved, please see me (the LEC Coordinator). I will ensure you are kept in touch - the ideas people and the do-ers, especially the do-ers - and invite you to the next meeting.

There is also the $100,000 in the draft Annual Plan for Employment Initiatives. We would like to see consultation with the LEC as to how it is spent.

Make a submission to the Annual Plan if you support the proposal.

Thank you to all the members of the organising group, you have done a tremendous day's work. I think that's very obvious from the number who have stayed from 8.30 am to 5 pm - how important the issue is regarded and how well the day has been organised.

Thanks to all the sponsors and supporters, especially the national Local Employment Co-ordination Unit, it was their great support that got this started. Also to the Community Employment Group, Work and Income New Zealand (WINZ), the Public Service Association and the Palmerston North City Council.

Thank you all very much for participating today.

I leave the thought with you that we must make the connection between the ideas and the practice.

Thank you.