Our 2011 election manifesto - Labour Party

YOUTH AFFAIRS
Our vision
New Zealand has a dynamic youth population that is more mobile, culturally diverse, and
technologically aware than ever before. By making sure the community and the government
listen to and engage with young people; by creating policies and services that work for them;
and by supporting them with sound information to make good lifestyle choices, the country
can harness the energy, enthusiasm and experiences that young people bring to decisionmaking
processes.
Today‟s young people are tomorrow‟s innovators and leaders. Labour believes that investing
in future growth by improving educational, employment and social opportunities is one of the
best investments we can make to secure a strong future as a nation.
While there are problems facing youth which need to be addressed, Labour acknowledges
that progress is never made by simply responding to the problems of today; in order to affect
positive change for young people both in local communities and across the country, we need
to be focused on the future. This policy sets out Labour‟s approach.
Youth disengagement / Youth unemployment
Young people are over-represented in the unemployment statistics. There are over 58,000
young people not in work, training or any form of education. Schools Plus was intended to
help young people transition from secondary school into employment or education, but this
initiative was scrapped by the current National Government.
Labour will adopt a goal that all young people up to the age of 20 are in employment,
training or education.
Labour will develop a comprehensive Youth Transition Service across New Zealand.
The role of each Youth Transition Service will be to ensure that all young people who
leave school are supported into further work, training or education.
Labour will ensure every school leaver has a plan for further training, education or
work and assist if they don‟t, by:
Completing the Youth Transitions (YT) network currently assisting over 6,600
young people each year. We estimate this will assist an additional 2,600
school leavers directly into employment or back to school each year.
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