25 Jun 2010

Agency puzzled by return of job scheme

6:38 am on 25 June 2010

The head of a social services agency in Mangere says the limited return of a job scheme for 16 to 24-year-olds is bizarre.

The Government ended funding for the Community Max scheme in the 2010 Budget, but Social Development Minister Paula Bennett says she's found $17 million to fund positions in Northland, Bay of Plenty, Waikato and the Gisborne region.

However, Peter Sykes of the Mangere East Family Service Centre says it reeks of politics rather than policy.

Mr Sykes told Waatea News that Ms Bennett is doing nothing to help young Maori in Mangere who lost their Community Max positions after the budget.