The Mayors Taskforce for Jobs (MTFJ) programme began 25 years ago with a clear and powerful mission: to tackle youth unemployment across New Zealand – over the past four years the national programme has supported over 6,400 young people into employment.

Our local MTFJ coordinator has successfully supported more than 30 young people into employment over the past year – and the Tararua MTFJ programme has been confirmed for another year by the Ministry of Social Development who will fully fund the initiative in 2026.

A heartfelt thank you to our local businesses for backing this initiative and giving our youth the opportunity to thrive. Your support makes all the difference.