Weston Kirton: Ruapehu District Mayor talks benefit numbers increasing, impact on the regions

More targeted support is on the way for beneficiaries on the jobseeker benefit, but questions have been raised about punishing people who don't move for jobs.

Job losses have been a big problem in regional New Zealand this year, with two big mills closing in the Ruapehu District costing over 200 people their jobs.

Mayor Weston Kirton told Ryan Bridge there simply aren't any regional jobs around.

"We've got only a limited number of opportunities in our district. We do have one or two businesses that, on a seasonal basis, take people and we traditionally have a high unemployment rate in our area anyway," he said. 

"To have 230 jobs taken away from us has a huge impact on our economy".

An additional 8000 people went on jobseeker support in the last three months, bringing the total to over 200,000 which is pushing the government's target of bringing that down to fewer than 50,000 by 2030.

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
So we've got the job seeker numbers were up yesterday,
not good for the government's target, up eight thousand people
on the job seeker over the last quarter, a total
now two hundred thousand. The target for the government, remember,
is fifty thousand by twenty thirty. But a question arose
at Postcab yesterday should you be forced to move for

(00:20):
a job and should you be punished if you don't
move for that job? The Minister Louise ups and insisting
that the sanctions are just for those who are looking
for work and are not complying with those requirements.

Speaker 2 (00:34):
They're not being punished if they can't find a job.
It's about the common sense steps that they need to
take and look for some people, they'll have a house,
they'll have kids in school, they'll bet a whole bunch
of life circumstances they have to deal with any mesd
you take that into consideration.

Speaker 1 (00:50):
They're to a pay who district's being hammered by job
cuts recently, Western curtains the Marry's with us this morning.
Good morning Western, Yes, good morning Ryan, Good to have
you on the show. Tell me how are you guys
getting on one hundred and thirty job cuts from Windstone,
Pope are where is everyone?

Speaker 3 (01:06):
Well, I'm moving around, Ryan, that's obviously You've got only
a limited number of opportunities in our district. So we
do have one or two businesses in the seasonal basis
that take people, and we traditionally have a high unemployment
rate in our area anyway. But to have two thirty jobs,
you know, taken away from us is a huge impact
in the economy, and we are losing these people primarily overseas.

(01:31):
Some of those go overseas with their skill sets, but
the mill impact is huge to us. But we're doing
our best as a council and as a community to
keep those people in our towns. And there's a huge
impact to us, you know, the families that have to
move away. Is this to me?

Speaker 1 (01:49):
No, it's massive. Is anyone being forced to move or
is MSD saying we will pay you the job, seek
your benefit so long as you keep up with your
requirements until you find a job in the district.

Speaker 3 (02:03):
Well, I're simply not there, Ryan. The jobs that these
people are accustomed to just simply not there. So you
can't just force people into other work that not skill
haven't got the skill sets a lot of the people
that the government is trying to focus on, as I understand,
the people that hadn't had jobs for some time, so
those jobs seekers, they don't have licenses, and it's just

(02:23):
unfortunate that, you know, we do see cuts in areas
like licensing for example. We understand next year the people
that deliver on licensing for example, are going to lose
their funding. For people that vulnerable people that need a license,
they sometimes can't afford to, you know, come in there

(02:45):
and go through the process for a car license, but
that funding is cutting, has been cut. So it's unfortunate
that on one hand, you know, we're trying to get
people into work, and then the other is that we
hear that they're funding going to be cut, so we're
trying to deal with with em Steve to try and
get that reinstated. So that's problem. I think.

Speaker 1 (03:04):
Yeah, I think that the hard Leg and a whole
bunch of others do great work with those with licensing
and Westin thank you very much for that. Sounds like
there's not much of an issue, more of a storm
and a teacup when it comes to claims that MISD
would force you to move and get out of town. Basically,
if you wanted to get yourself a benefit.

Speaker 3 (03:22):
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