Tariana Turia says creating jobs will be a key aim for the Bay of Plenty next year as the number of unemployed in the region continues to rise.
The Associate Minister of Social Development made the statement as she launched the Ministry's plan for the Bay in the 2009 to 2010 period.

Not everyone in the Bay is finding it easy to get work.

'Our families have had it tough this year bearing the brunt of the recession,” says Tariana.
She says the recession is officially over, but now the region is faced with the most important task of getting those people made redundant back into the workforce and helping first time jobseekers onto the employment ladder.
Tariana announced at the end of September end the number of unemployment benefit recipients in the Bay went up from 1791 at the same time last year to 4383 now.
Nationally the figure has risen to 60,660; an increase of 37,387 12 months ago.
Some of the employment programmes Work and Income will focus on include Kai Mahi, which so far this year has seen 87 beneficiaries placed into kiwifruit job positions, and the Community Max and Job Ops schemes which began in August.
'Bay of Plenty employers and communities have embraced these schemes and by doing so 92 young people are now on the employment ladder,” says Tariana.