Hon CARMEL SEPULONI (Minister for Social Development): On 9 July, along with Mayor Phil Goff, I announced an extension to our partnership with Auckland Council, the Ngā Puna Pūkenga—Skills for Industry programme. The programme will fund up to 700 placements in Auckland through an investment of $4.34 million, to support people into infrastructure and related environmental jobs. Of the 700 placements, 420 will be for youth in receipt of a benefit; those over 25 with three or more months on benefit; Māori and Pasifika; and our long-term unemployed; as well as people not in education, employment, or training. A further 280 placements are for people made redundant as a direct outcome of COVID-19. This is a key partnership with Ministry of Social Development (MSD) funding to support pre-work training and job matching, Auckland Council providing opportunities for employment through infrastructure projects, and industry partners taking up new recruits and supporting them to gain new skills and remain in the industry.