Jobs next door but Pacific youth still shut out of employment opportunities

The cranes are up, construction is booming and thousands of people head to work around Auckland Airport every day.

But for many Pacific young people living just minutes away, getting a job is still a struggle.

New figures from Stats NZ show youth unemployment has reached its highest level in 30 years. In the year to March, one in six or 17.3 per cent of New Zealanders aged 15 to 24 were unemployed.

Pacific youth are being hit even harder, with 21.6 per cent not in employment, education or training.

At Māngere-based Ara Charitable Trust, staff say the figures match what they are seeing on the ground.

The trust works with Year 13 students from seven South Auckland schools, helping connect them with training, work experience and jobs across the Auckland Airport precinct.

Willie Malakai supervising trades students from Alfriston and Tuakau College. Photo/Supplied

William Malakai, Senior Tutor Schools and Site Manager, says being close to jobs does not always mean young people can access them.

“I think the barriers are getting to work, getting up early, transport, that’s what’s holding them back,” he tells William Terite on Pacific Mornings.

Malakai says many students need support adjusting to the demands of working life.

Watch William Malaki and Joseva Viqasi's full interview below.

For some, he says, trades can provide a pathway that better suits their strengths than a classroom environment.

“I truly believe trade is a good answer for kids who are not really good in the classroom. They get to work with their hands and meet other people who can mentor them,” he says.

“They’re more confident to talk about their feelings, they’re ready to take on the world.”

The challenge comes as industries that employ many Pacific workers continue to feel the effects of the economic slowdown.

In an earlier interview, ASB economist Wesley Tanuvasa says Pacific workers are heavily represented in construction and goods production, sectors that have been under pressure in recent months.

The Government plans to double Trades Academy places to 20,000 from 2027, citing forecasts of 220,000 new jobs over the next four years.

Youth unemployment has been getting higher since late 2022. Image/Stats NZ

For Joseva Viqasi, the Ara Work Experience Programme lead, giving young people a chance to experience a workplace can change everything.

Many students arrive unsure about their future but Viqasi says confidence often grows once they step into a real work environment.

“When the hands-on experience comes into play, you really see the spark light up in their eyes. They speak with more confidence because they’ve turned up.”

Viqasi says Pacific youth often benefit from seeing mentors who understand their culture, family expectations and life experiences.

“They walk into Ara and see good examples in front of them. It’s about building that confidence so they can step into the real world.”

For apprentice David Mafileo, who is helping build Auckland Airport’s new terminal, the experience has been life-changing.

Students learn skills before putting them to use with vocational training. Photo/Ara Charitable Trust

“They put me to work with some tools, and when I stood back and looked at it, I was really impressed,” he told 1News.

Others have found the transition from school much harder.

Zion Tiaki, a former Naenae College head boy, spent 18 months looking for work before landing a job with the Electoral Commission.

“We were told that if you get Level 1, 2 and 3 at NCEA (National Certificate of Educational Achievement), that will guarantee you a job at entry level,” he told Stuff. “That’s just not the case.”

For those working with Pacific youth like the Ara staff, the issue is not a lack of jobs.

The bigger challenge is making sure young people have the support, confidence and practical help they need to reach opportunities that are often right on their doorstep.