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Internal Affairs and the National Community Organisation Grants Scheme are holding public meetings throughout the country next month as part of the first nationally co-ordinated COGS local distribution committee elections.
There are 37 local distribution committees throughout the country, including two within this electorate. Given the important role these grants play in our community, I encourage anyone wanting to know more about their local candidates to attend the meetings.
The first is in Featherston Community Centre on April 19 at 2pm, followed by another the same day at REAP House Masterton at 7pm.
In the northern end, the first is April 20 at the Civic Theatre Gallery in Waipukurau. This is followed by a meeting the next day at Knox Presbyterian Church Hall in Dannevirke at 1pm and Pahiatua's Senior Citizen's Hall at 5.30pm.
I join Social Development and Employment Minister Steve Maharey and Disabilities Issues Minister Ruth Dyson in urging employers to give disabled job seekers a go.
Thousands of disabled people have a vital economic and social contribution to make and needed more opportunities.
With unemployment at a record-low, there has never been a better time to focus on providing work opportunities for all New Zealanders. This means thinking outside the box about how we can provide opportunities for people that have traditionally had difficulty obtaining employment.
The Government's new Service for Sickness and Invalids' Benefit Recipients is a good example of how we can support people with disabilities to find employment. Rather than focusing on why people can't work, case managers will now ask what people need to get into employment and will take steps to make it happen.
I encourage employers to adopt this way of thinking as well.
We're asking employers to look at abilities - not impairments. The Government will support employers in making any necessary accommodations to take on disabled staff and help make their employment sustainable.
Most employers already know that hiring people with disabilities is viable - already 1 in 6 people in employment has an impairment of some kind. We now need to do all we can to make sure that the 1 in 5 New Zealanders with a disability have a fair opportunity to contribute to and benefit from our country's economic strength.v
While on the subject of employment, more people are learning skills and trades in Wairarapa than ever before.
Latest figures show 2561 people were involved in industry training during 2004 in Wairarapa, 282 more than in 2003.
The region's young people are enjoying their best-ever chance to get into a trade or develop some skills that will set them up for good jobs.
That's equally important to Wairarapa employers who've battled skills shortages since National decided to scrap the traditional apprenticeship system in the 1990s. And when the Labour-led Government introduced the Modern Apprenticeships programme in 2000, National promised to abolish it.
Everyone benefits from the dramatic lift in industry training, funding for which has doubled since the Government took office in 1999.
Across the country, nearly 140,000 trainees participated in various industries in 2004 - a 10 percent increase over the last year.
We're enjoying an economic boom. Sometimes you can't get a tradesperson or a skilled worker for love nor money. Every young person in training eases that peak of demand.
With strong economic growth and low unemployment, the Government and industry need to work together to overcome skill shortages and increase productivity. The growth across the region of industry training and Modern Apprenticeships shows this is happening.
I want to ensure that our region continues to share in this growth. I welcome inquiries from employers, parents and young people who want to plug into industry training and Modern Apprenticeships.
Last week was Asthma Awareness Week and with winter approaching it is timely to think about how dry, warm and pollution-free our homes are.
Many houses are damp and cold, which leads to more colds and flu and aggravated asthma.
Keep moisture out by putting lids on pots when cooking, dry clothes outside, air your house on fine days, check for water leaks and remove mould using very diluted household bleach.
Keep heat in by having well-fitting curtains and pulling them at night and use draught stops under doors.
Keep the air clean by having your home smokefree. This means smoking outside and asking your friends and family to also smoke outside.
Over 800,000 New Zealanders suffer from asthma and other respiratory illnesses so we need to do what we can to keep our loved ones healthy.
More information is available at www.asthmanz.co.nz or www.positive-energy.co.nz.
Congratulations to David and Janine Swansson, of Pahiatua, on being named this year's Hawke's Bay/Wairarapa Sharemilkers of the Year and good luck in the finals in Hamilton in May 7.
My thanks to all those who have served in Norsewood's volunteer fire brigade over the past 50 years. The brigade celebrated this milestone recently and I was particularly impressed with the fact that six of the 18 volunteers are 25-year veterans.
Finally a reminder that as daylight saving has ended, it is timely to check the batteries in smoke alarms. If you are in any doubt, replace them and if you are unsure or unable to do this, call your local fire brigade. Smoke alarms save lives.
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