A positive force

The running shoes are getting some solid use at the moment, as Waiau local Mackenzie O’Shea is training for a goal of running 2.4km in under 12 minutes as part of entry criteria for the New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF).

With an eye on a possible future in the defence force, O’Shea (22) has recently completed a Limited Service Volunteer (LSV) course – a free, six-week residential placement for 17–24 year olds, helping them gain life and work skills to find employment.

The South Island LSV course is located at the NZDF base in Burnham, where participants work on practical and personal challenges that build self-discipline, teamwork and confidence. It is run in partnership with Ministry of Social Development. Courses are also run in Wellington and Auckland.

The opportunity arose through Hurunui District Council’s Mayor’s Taskforce for Jobs (MTFJ) which O’Shea joined after seeing an advertisement in the local community newsletter.

O’Shea explained she was at a local careers’ expo with MTFJ when she was directed towards the LSV stand.

“I literally sat down and signed up straight away, I didn’t even know what I was really signing up to,” she laughed.

The highlight of LSV for O’Shea was a five-day tramp through Arthur’s Pass, where she walked up to six hours a day with a 75kg pack on her back, then had to set up camp and make her own meals.

“We covered a lot of stuff like life skills, we got to chat to people from different work industries, and we worked on communication.”

Her current place of employment also came through MTFJ. Mayor Marie Black connected O’Shea with Emma Browning, co-owner of Hanmer Springs Gateway Lodge.

O’Shea is filling a 30 hour/week role managing the laundry and doing other fill in jobs.

“I love working at Gateway, they’ve helped me develop and been really supportive of what I want to do.”

Browning said it was great timing that the LSV programme popped up, as they’d been working on professional development. She was happy to give O’Shea six weeks of leave to attend the course.

“Mackenzie is now so re-energised and her approach to her work is fantastic.”

MTFJ has been a great support network, assisting O’Shea with obtaining her first aid certificate, preparing for job interviews, and creating a curriculum vitae.

“We will be sad when Mackenzie goes off to do something else, but it’s been awesome to see her grow,” said Browning.

Mayor Marie Black said the success of MTFJ as a starting point to give young people a nudge in the right direction, coupled with funding from the Ministry of Social Development, all helps to encourage great opportunities. She added it’s especially true in rural areas where finding jobs can be difficult.

“We can’t beat local connections, it is very rewarding to be in a position to join the dots, said Mayor Black.

O’Shea credited MTFJ for her growth in confidence too, because the programme has always had her best interests in mind.

“You just have to be open and honest about what you want. MTFJ is in your corner.”

About MTFJ:

The Mayors Taskforce for Jobs (MTFJ) is a nationwide movement of mayors championing locally-led solutions to youth employment. Through its partnership with Ministry of Social Development Industry Partnerships the Community Employment Programme (CEP) supports councils, businesses, and communities to connect young people into meaningful jobs. Since 2020, CEP has placed thousands of young people into work across rural and provincial New Zealand.

By June 2025, CEP had supported more than 8,500 young people into work across rural and provincial New Zealand.