'We are looking forward to having Tanaya as part of our team,” says Kawerau District Council's i-SITE manager Nikki Melvin. 'Her friendly personality, experience in working with the public and her willingness to learn about the tourism industry will make a big contribution over the busy summer period.”

Although the Kawerau i-Site Visitor Information Centre is new to the national i-SITE network, it is well-established in the community as the ‘go-to place' for almost all travel and information needs.

'We are delighted that the first placement goes to a Kawerau District Council organisation,” says Industrial Symbiosis chair David Turner. 'KDC has been instrumental in supporting ISK and in our ability to access Provincial Growth Funding. The Cadetship Scheme is a major part of our Kawerau Pathways to Work Plan which is designed to provide a strong and capable workforce in Kawerau.”

Kawerau Mayor Malcolm Campbell concurs.

'It's great to see our rangatahi introduced into industry through a programme conceived by our own industry,” says Malcolm. 'Council is looking forward to seeing the full programme develop where up to 40 cadets will be introduced into our local industries over the next two years.

'Local jobs for local people has been core to the work done under the Mayor's Taskforce for Jobs and it's heartening to see our own initiatives happening in our own community.”