Aspiration 2

Waitaha tangata rau, tangata manomano

This aspiration is about positive change for people within the workforce and those looking to enter it. It is about our region supporting people to thrive in the labour market, having equal visibility of all the career options available, and being able to easily access the support needed to navigate the labour market throughout their working lives.

He ara rau ki te kōmata o angitū, heoi he ara mā tēnā, mā tēnā o tatou
There are multiple pathways to success, but each and every one of us has a pathway to pursue

Kua huraina rāia ngā tairo
All obstructions have been removed

To promote a more productive and diverse workforce, Canterbury needs to ensure that there are no barriers holding people back from accessing the training and education opportunities they need to fully participate in the labour market – now and into the future. The region needs to have systems in place that give meaning to the idea that “where you live, should not limit or determine your career aspirations.” This means that rangatahi need to have the full visibility of all the career pathways and learning opportunities available to them, and that they have access to the support they need to take the next steps both before and after leaving school.

Equally, we need to ensure that employment and career development support and programmes are visible and easily accessible to all (including rangatahi, disabled people, Māori, Pacific peoples, older workers and job seekers, refugees, recent migrants, rainbow groups and ethnic communities) regardless of age or life stage so they thrive in the labour market.

This will require taking a system wide view where the values of oranga (livelihood, welfare, health, living) are at the forefront. We need to understand the barriers that are holding people back from entering and achieving success in tertiary education (including vocational education) and employment. This will allow us to partner with providers, employers and communities to alleviate those barriers and promote initiatives that help people where it is needed most.

This first iteration of the Canterbury RWP will look at how the region can improve this support within the labour market, with a specific focus on initiatives that will improve outcomes for rangatahi and for all current and future employees in Canterbury’s Healthcare and Social Assistance, Manufacturing and Digital Technology sectors.

In the longer term, this aspiration is about creating a fair labour market environment for all, and where those in need are connected up to programmes, mentorship and guidance so that equitable and sustainable labour market outcomes are achieved across the board.

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