- to provide a national focus of leadership on the jobs issue through co-operation between Mayors concerned about employment issues in their communities,
- to share best practice on what we can achieve on employment at the local level,
- to create local and national forums which address the big picture' of trends on the issues of income and work,
- to link with imaginative private sector initiatives that are addressing unemployment.
- Strengthen national identity and uphold the principles of the Treaty of Waitangi
- Grow an inclusive, innovative economy for the benefit of all
- Restore trust in Government and provide strong social services
- Improve New Zealanders' skills
- Close the gaps for Maori and Pacific people in health, education, employment and housing
- Ensuring macroeconomic policies enable sustained economic growth and its accompanying job creation
- Promoting an employment rich economy by removing barriers to employment growth
- Developing a flexible, highly skilled workforce
- Developing strong communities
- Improving participation in employment for Maori and Pacific people
- Improving participation in employment for people with disability and other groups at risk of long term and persistent unemployment
- Making the most of what a region has to offer rather than solely making transfers from prosperous regions to less prosperous regions
- Partnering with the local community to facilitate the development of local strategies that respond to local opportunities and that integrate social, environmental and economic concerns
- A `whole of government' response where the activities of central government are integrated into regional strategies together with local stakeholders
- Building the capacity of local people and community development agencies
- Obtaining advice or expertise to assist in regional/community strategic planning initiatives
- Re-thinking government expenditure in the regions to improve outcomes
- Funding for specific community/regional development initiatives
The "Memorandum of Understanding"
29 August 2000
MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING
BACKGROUND
MAYORS TASKFORCE FOR JOBS
AND CENTRAL GOVERNMENT
1. In February 2000, a group of Mayors from throughout New Zealand met in Christchurch to establish a MAYORS TASKFORCE for JOBS which would be a national focus for Mayors concerned about the future of work and livelihood in our communities.
2. Following the February meeting 31 Mayors joined with the initial group at a forum in Christchurch in April, to advance the concept further. The majority of Mayors throughout the country are supportive but were unable to attend due to prior commitments. The forum endorsed the objectives and the two goals of the Taskforce
OBJECTIVES OF THE MAYORS TASKFORCE FOR JOBS
3. The objectives of the MAYORS TASKFORCE for JOBS are:
4. The Mayors Taskforce for Jobs is committed to two goals:
— Goal two: By 2009, all people in our communities will have the opportunity to be in work or training.
OBJECTIVES OF THE LABOUR-ALLIANCE GOVERNMENT
5. The Government has established Key Government goals to guide public sector policy and performance. These goals include:
6. The Government is committed to the following employment goals:
7. The key principles of Government involvement in regional development are:
THE DIMENSIONS OF THE CHALLENGE
8. Nearly 200,000 people are jobless in our communities. The parties to this Memorandum of Understanding are renewing their public commitment to addressing these issues and pledging to co-operate on future initiatives. We recognise that we need to act strategically and effectively and to think long-term.
9. What we are most concerned about are the long-term trends on work and income in our communities. The parties to this memorandum affirm that there is no continuing justification for the `waste of New Zealanders' through unemployment. There needs to be a concerted leadership effort at both local and central government level about the future of work and livelihood and the creation of more opportunities for our children's children.
10. The jobs of the future will certainly still come from new business opportunities. However, future employment will also be driven by our collective choices to value the new work that needs to be done and ensure Maori and Pacific Island people also have access to these new work opportunities. This will require a shift in thinking about what we value and the parties can play an important governance role in leading these choices on behalf of our communities.
PRINCIPLES OF APPROACH
11. Central government and the Mayors Taskforce for Jobs are committed to zero waste of people.
12. Central government and the Mayors Taskforce for Jobs are committed to closing the divisive and debilitating gaps that have opened up throughout New Zealand society. There are gaps between the skilled and the unskilled, between employment rich and employment poor communities and between the cities and the provinces. The most urgent and visible gaps exist between Maori and Pacific communities and others.
13. Central government and the Mayors Taskforce for Jobs are committed to reducing long term unemployment.
14. Central government and the Mayors Taskforce for Jobs are committed to building a working partnership to address unemployment at the local level, through fostering co-operative relationships across all sectors.
15. The Mayors Taskforce for Jobs and central government recognise the importance of co-ordination and collaboration to addressing complex social problems.
16. The Mayors Taskforce for Jobs and central government recognise that local solutions have the greatest chance of success where local leadership and community ownership are key ingredients.
OBJECTIVES OF THE PARTIES
17. The Mayors Taskforce for Jobs and central government will assemble a package of programmes from which communities can draw to assist community development initiatives, and develop and support community entrepreneurs. This package is likely to include support for:
18. Mayors will participate in the development of regional/local action groups, which will develop clearly articulated long term strategies to work on whole of government solutions in their areas. Wherever possible these groups will build on existing mechanisms for central and local government, community and business partnership around employment creation and community development. Central government will ensure that barriers are removed where possible so that appropriate, innovative and flexible decisions can be made at the local level.
19. The Mayors Taskforce for Jobs will promote close co-operation between the Ministry of Economic Development and local economic and employment development organisations to minimise duplication and build on successful structures.
20. The Mayors Taskforce for Jobs and central government will work together to promote new solutions to unemployment which reflect the changing nature of work in our country.
21. The Mayors Taskforce for Jobs and central government will develop mechanisms for policy input by local communities. Wherever possible these will build on existing mechanisms for central and local government, community and business partnerships around employment creation and community development.
22. The Mayors Taskforce for Jobs, the Ministers of Economic Development and Employment and appropriate officials will meet quarterly to discuss progress on this partnership.
23. This Memorandum will also act as a working document between central government, the Mayors Taskforce for Jobs and any Working Parties and Technical Groups that Local Government New Zealand establishes for employment and economic development.
24. Central and local government will work as partners on employment and economic development building on the issues identified at the inaugural central/local government forum in March 2000.