NZ and US sign student work travel scheme

New Zealand tertiary students can now work and travel in America for up to a year.

Under the new arrangement signed in Auckland this week, the US State Department’s tertiary student summer work travel programme will open up more opportunities for young New Zealanders considering working and travelling in the United States as part of their OE.

Prime Minister Helen Clark says this is consistent with New Zealand’s interest in enhancing people-to-people links with the United States, which help to underpin our broader bilateral relationship.

OECD endorses government leadership on skills

An OECD report released this week shows the Labour-led government is doing well in workforce skills and vocational training with our economic development policies.

The Integrating Employment, Skills and Economic Development report goes further, showing that before 1999, central government paid little attention to regional economic development.

There are now opportunities to take that work even further. We need to ensure a growing proportion New Zealanders entering the workforce have the right knowledge, qualifications and skills to meet industry demands.

For Tertiary Education Minister Michael Cullen's statement, click here. The full report is available at: www.dol.govt.nz/publications/general/iesed/summary.asp

More support for sick and disabled people to get work

People with ill health and disabled people are to get more support and new services.

Changes to the government's Working New Zealand programme include the Job Search Service, wider availability of employment and training programmes, and easier to understand benefits system.

Most people on benefits want to work and with the right support they can. The Labour-led government wants to ensure people on Sickness Benefits or Invalid’s Benefits who want to work, are given every opportunity to do so. Where work isn't appropriate, we want to provide a service that helps them participate in their community.

The improvements come into effect from 24 September, and build on changes to the social support system implemented earlier this year.

For more info, click here.

MPs challenged to get active with Push Play

Members of Parliament are getting active in the runup to Push Play Day 2007.

The exercise is part of the Push Play Nation campaign being run by Sport and Recreation New Zealand (SPARC), which jumps off on Sunday 16 September and lands at Push Play Day on 2 November.

Push Play Nation is about having fun working physical activity into everyday life so that it becomes a healthy habit.

With summer just around the corner, now's good to dust off the walking shoes, pull the bike out of the garage and explore New Zealand’s fabulous back-yard.

For information go to the SPARC website www.sparc.org.nz.