C&R to Ditch Pasifika Scholarships and Council Cadetships

City Vision Media Release, 24 July 2007:

C&R to Ditch Pasifika Scholarships and Council Cadetships

Two initiatives from Auckland City Council to help our young people will face the chop if C&R Now has their way.

The initiatives, announced at the Council's Economic Development and Sustainable Business Committee this week, provide cadetships, graduate programmes and grants for youth employment opportunities with the Council and will attract tertiary students with skills in areas where the Council is experiencing shortages.

Maori and Pacific Island tertiary students will benefit through grants to Auckland University, AUT and Unitec.

But Auckland C&R Now Councillor Doug Armstrong said that if C&R Now gain control of the Council in the October elections the cadetships and scholarships will be abolished.

Cr Richard Northey, co-leader of City Vision/Labour and Committee Chair, is disgusted. "The Cadetships demonstrate Council's genuine commitment to the Mayor's Taskforce for Jobs and the Taskforce objective of getting all young people placed in work or training. That's so much better than simply whinging about the anti-social activities of unemployed youth.

"The Pasifika scholarships, supported by the Council's Pacific Island Board, bring great value to the Pacific Island communities as well as skills and diversity to Council itself. "

Cr Richard Northey
Ph 0272479662 or 6341494.

Posted Tue 24 Jul 2007