3-AD006.00 SOCIAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT WAIHI NORTH PROJECT Oceana Gold New Zealand Limited WSP June 2022 29 A Focus Group Meeting was held to explore the potential opportunities and challenges associated with local job creation and what that may mean for employment and skills development. Representatives of key organisations from the education, training, employment and social services sector were invited. A number of groups participated in the online focus group and those unable to attend indicated their willingness to attend in future. The focus group was held online due to COVID-19 restrictions. The key questions for the focus group were: • What are the key opportunities and challenges (technical, social, logistical, other) to develop a sustainable workforce? • What is required to action an outcome? A summary of the outcomes of the Focus Group Meeting is provided in Table 8. Table 8: Focus Group Meeting Outcomes STAKEHOLDERS SUMMARY OF ENGAGEMENT Online Focus Group Invitees: Wintec*, Pacific Coast Technical Institute, Valley Education and Training Enterprises, MITO*, BCITO*, Te Wānanga o Aotearoa, Waihi College*, Te Waka*, Work and Income*, Ministry of Social Development, Te Korowai Hauora o Hauraki*, Waihi Community Resource Centre*, Hauraki District Council*, Waihi Community Forum*, OGNZL* (*attended focus group meeting) The technical challenges were identified were Availability of workforce Training availability Workforce retention Need for career pathways The social challenges identified were: Housing Roles for mana whenua Support for youth Drug, and alcohol issues Need for local buy-in Logistical Challenges Funding Job requirements of the mine (age, health, etc.) Provision of Training opportunities Housing Other Competition with other industries for skills Perceptions of mining/environmental impact Attracting or retaining young people in Waihi. The outcome was a resolution that there was a need for a coordinated effort with inputs from a variety of organisations. The information gathered at the Focus Group would be used to formulate a recommendation in the Social Impact Assessment regarding Skills Development and Training and the discussion would be led further by OGNZL. The first step would be the development of a skills matrix to understand workplace requirements and skills needed and input would be obtained from all parties into the skills matrix and the support they could provide.
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