Kahurangi Employment Trust

Ten years of quiet achievement are being celebrated in 2007 by the team at Kahurangi Employment Trust (KET). The organisation has helped hundreds of local people into sustainable employment during that time. The Trust was founded in 1997 by Nelson City and Tasman District Councils to help create employment opportunities and to access Taskforce Green funding.

A wide range of contracts has been undertaken during that time, from running the area’s first kerbside recycling collection to scrub cutting. Over time, funding sources have changed and KET is now sustained through contract work. Although employment rates are high, currently the Trust still retains its aim of helping disadvantaged people into work. Now the emphasis is more on those who have been on a sickness or invalid benefit for a long time. KET Manager Roger Thorn says this includes more people in recent times, with around 125,000 people on these benefits nationwide, and the number is steadily growing.

Current projects

To provide realistic workplace training, KET tenders for contracts and then trains staff while providing the service. Their main projects at the moment are the Refinery Gallery, which offers to help to local emerging artists, and the Tidy Town initiative, which concentrates on keeping Nelson looking good through graffiti removal, litter pick up and cleaning rubbish bins, poster towers and drinking fountains. KET also run the Revive shop at the Richmond Transfer Station sorting out what people drop off, rejuvenating it where possible, and selling it on. 

Each of these projects employs a number of key staff and an ever-changing roster of short term staff who stay for as long as they need to before moving into sustainable employment or for the length of the contract. When they leave there is always someone ready to take their place.

Workstream

KET is developing a new scheme called Workstream. It has establishment funding for four years and will set up a work skills training programme that is based on individual needs. Roger Thorn says each Workstream client will be evaluated and a programme tailored to their specific needs.

“Depending on each person’s skills, they might need support into work for six months or it might be a year or more. Also their training and development needs can be very different so Workstream will recognise that. It’s not the traditional ‘one size fits all’ approach and all the agencies we are working with are very excited about how it’s developing,” Roger says.

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The Refinery

Big plans are in progress for the Refinery Gallery in Halifax Street, which is also the home base for KET. The Gallery is being overhauled thanks to considerable support by sponsors Resene Paints and Nelson Pine Industries. It looks set to become one of Nelson’s most popular and versatile exhibition spaces. Funding from the Canterbury Community Trust has secured the services of Gallery Manager Seb Stewart who will develop the focus and direction of the gallery.

“We are working with a committee of experienced and knowledgeable people from the art sector on the future plans for the Gallery. We will be officially re-launching in October 2007 to tie in with the Arts Festival, so watch this space,” Seb says.

Part of the Refinery’s new approach includes plans to develop an artist ‘incubator’ where emerging artists, working on-site in the Refinery studio space or off-site, are supported by mentors with both business and artistic backgrounds. A programme of art workshops will be released soon to offer both professional and amateur artists a chance to develop new skills or experiment in new areas.

“The workshop programme is shaping up well and I’m sure it will be well received by anyone with an interest in art,” Seb says.

He also encourages people to check out the Refinery Gallery anytime. It is open 9am - 5pm Monday to Thursday and 10am - 4pm Friday and Saturday and entry is free.

The future

Nelson City Council renewed KET’s lease on its premises until at least 2012 and, with the plans for both Workstream and the Refinery Gallery making great progress, the next ten years look set to be even more successful for the Kahurangi Employment Trust.

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KET sucess stories

The Kahurangi Employment Trust (KET) recently shared several success stories with Council’s Community Services Committee. The Trust’s aim is to support people who are disadvantaged in the labour market and move them into quality sustainable work, all the while contributing to Nelson’s environment in meaningful ways.

All of KET’s projects find some way to give back to Nelson and the environment: planting trees, recycling and reusing materials, and cleaning up rubbish and graffiti.

Since 1997, KET’s Tree Planting programme has helped beautify many spots around Nelson. Their most noticeable project is in Sir Stanley Whitehead Park, visible from the CBD along the ridge from Walters Bluff to the Centre of New Zealand. Over the past ten years during the winter tree planting months, KET workers have added more than 20,000 native trees and shrubs to the hillside.

One former member of the tree planting team, Ira Devery, 65, was having difficulty finding work. KET was eager to take Ira on as a client based on his long work history – he was a sheep shearer for 30 years, and most people who do that type of work for all those years are usually incapacitated by that age. KET could tell that Ira was a smart worker because he was still fit and able to do manual labour. After a stint planting trees that convinced KET of his ability and desire to work, Ira joined the staff of another KET project, the Revive Reuse Shop at the transfer station in Richmond. Revive recycles second hand goods to paying customers and provides sustainable employment for three people.

Another former tree planter, Pete Wells, is now permanent with Tidy Town as the Litter Cart Operator. Tidy Town is an ongoing joint initiative with Council to remove litter, graffiti and other offensive material from the city. For seven years, Pete could not get a job interview because he was wrestling with mental illness. KET took Pete on as a tree planter first, and then offered him the job with Tidy Town after he was so successful. Pete has taken full ownership of his job and his communication skills have improved significantly.

Chair of the Community Services Committee Pete Rainey expressed gratitude at the great work being done by KET. “Sometimes we forget about the unsung heroes in our town who make a big difference in a quiet way. Planting trees in our parks and keeping reusable materials out of our landfills has an impact not only today, but for generations to come. KET and their clients are making a tangible contribution to our community and deserve our thanks.”