Nelson City Council

Since 1997 the Kahurangi Employment Trust (KET) has helped hundreds of local people into sustainable employment. The Trust was founded 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. Each Workstream client will be evaluated and a programme tailored to their specific needs.

The Refinery

Check out the Refinery Gallery anytime. It is open 9am - 5pm Monday to Thursday and 10am - 4pm Friday and Saturday. 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 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 future looks set to be even more successful for the Kahurangi Employment Trust.