Hui calls for community-led response to planned Toi Ohomai closure

A South Waikato District Council-facilitated hui, held at Council chambers in Tokoroa, has seen key stakeholders agree that sustainable and community-led solutions are essential, following notice of the planned closure of Toi Ohomai’s Tokoroa campus.

Council facilitated the second taskforce meeting on 4 September to discuss the implications of the planned closure.

Broadly, this meant reviewing and developing potential pathways forward for rangatahi across the South Waikato district.

Conversations included information sharing around education and training data for rangatahi, and key development updates from the South Waikato Investment Fund Trust (SWIFT) and Toi Ohomai.

During this transition period it is hoped that some of the available transition funding may be used to explore and implement ideas.

Outcomes from the hui included:

• an agreed understanding to combine resources to the development of solutions/pathways.
• the establishment of a smaller working group to drive forward pathway planning and implementation.
• an agreed understanding that the working group actions are locally / community-led and will draw on agency / external support if required.
• that Council’s role is as facilitator and not driver for this kaupapa.
• The development of a Workforce Development Strategy commissioned from Veros by SWIFT.