Progress report: December 2022

Overview

People are the most important taonga (treasure) in our region; a culturally connected, strong and resilient people across all aspects of life.

We worked with the region to develop the 2022 Regional Workforce Plan (RWP), with a focus on the food, fibre and whenua and energy Sectors. It will support our taiohi (youth), kaimahi (workers), and employers to access the skills and training they need for success.

The 2022 RWP produced 19 actions, including 4 cross-cutting regional labour market themes:

• embedding Te Ao Māori, tikanga and Mātauranga Māori into training provision
• formalising training so kaimahi can obtain formal recognition for the skills they have learnt on the-job
• supporting sector involvement in training provision and pathway development
• supporting exposure to careers and skills needs. 

Progress on action implementation 2022 

Energy Skills Action Plan

We have continued to support the development and publication of the Energy Industry Skills Action Plan alongside Energy Resources Aotearoa. This partnership has resulted in the first industry-led action plan, which drives a lot of the mahi of the Taranaki RSLG moving forward.

Energy Industry Skills Action Plan [PDF 4.9MB](external link)

Transferable skills

We have worked with the Process Operations Training Programme Governance Group and the Western Institute of Technology at Taranaki (WITT) Te Pūkenga to ensure that a specific focus on transferable skills was included in the Certificate in Energy Process Operations (Level 3), as requested by industry. We are pleased that this course is currently accepting enrolments and has wide sector support for industry placements and permanent roles upon completion for many.

Strategic partnerships

We have brokered conversations connecting industry and Centres of Vocational Excellence, Workforce Development Councils and Industry, and iwi and training providers. These partnerships and conversations have resulted in knowledge sharing, resource allocation conversations, and the formation of a region-wide Skills and Talent Network. Many of these partnerships have similar aims of supporting exposure to careers and skill needs within Taranaki.

Mātauranga Māori content

We are committed to continuing conversations with Ngāti Maru on how mātauranga Māori content, practices and knowledge specific to Taranaki can be imbedded into food and fibre related training. The importance of our historical context and how this interfaces with modern day training remains a priority for the RSLG and Ngāti Maru.

Next steps 

The Taranaki Regional Skills Leadership Group (RSLG) has identified the Kaiāwhina Health Workforce and the hauora and wellbeing of the construction sector as the focus areas for the 2023 Regional Workforce Plan.

Targeted stakeholder engagement within the region’s labour market are ongoing, with a specific focus on the Stratford and South Taranaki districts. These engagements will complement the mahi completed to date and will inform the actions and recommendations within the plan.

The RSLG also remains committed to implementing the 19 actions that were developed in partnership with industry, iwi, unions and other key stakeholders in 2021/22.