9 Oct 2025

Is heading to the regions really the answer for young people out of work?

From Checkpoint, 5:17 pm on 9 October 2025

For the nearly 13% of young people not currently in work or study, the Prime Minister reckons he's got an answer: head to the regions. The government wants to stop people becoming "trapped" on the jobseeker benefit, so from November next year they are introducing a parental assistance test; meaning 18 and 19 year olds who's parents earn more than $65,000 a year will no longer be able to claim the benefit. Luxon says primary industries like horticulture are crying out for young people to come and work for them, so why not leave the big cities and get stuck into some good, honest graft? Evie Richardson reports.