"I can't see it being successful," said Mr Mackiewicz.
"There's not enough jobs here. We have people on the unemployment benefit trying to find even 15-hour-a-week jobs, never mind 30 hours.
"If there was a recruitment company like that here in Wairarapa, they'd find it very hard to keep to the contract. It's a ridiculous idea."
Mr Mackiewicz says the Wairarapa Advocate Service has several clients on its books who struggle with depression and anxiety, and he believes they would find 30 hours of work per week difficult.
"Thirty hours a week is a lot of hours for someone with a mental illness," he said. "If the employer thinks they're not up to the job, they can just dismiss them under the 90 day clause. They don't have to give a reason.
"It's not [the Government's] job to say they can work 30 hours a week because their illness isn't severe enough."
Wairarapa Labour hopeful Kieran McAnulty agrees that the proposed employment service will not be beneficial for the region - but said he will be watching its trial around the country with interest.
Mr McAnulty said that the Government's focus needs to be on job creation, not removing unwell people from benefits and into work to "keep the numbers down."
"They need to be creating jobs - not simply bringing in sanctions on benefits when people are screaming out for work," he said.
"The Ministry of Social Development website shows that unemployment in Wairarapa has risen by 250 per cent since 2005, when it was at its lowest. Some of the only jobs available are low paid jobs.
"So, instead of locking people into benefits, people will be locked into poorly paid jobs. Which isn't that much better."
Mr McAnulty, a former Work and Income case manager, said he was concerned that people being managed by Work and Income will be placed in the hands of a private agency unable to cope with vulnerable people.
"Those private companies are primarily all about bottom lines and figures," he said. "The Government is taking money away from those who are specifically trained to work with vulnerable people on a one-to-one basis, and giving it to someone who's got an incentive. They know that if they push them into work, if they fill that vacancy, then they'll get money at the end of it."
Ms Bennett defended the proposed scheme, stating that, under the previous welfare system, those with mental illnesses were not supported in getting back into the workforce.
"I'm proud of a Government that is willing to pay more to help those who are likely to find it harder to get into work and be independent," she said. "Under the old system, many people were simply written off to a lifetime of welfare without talking to them about what they can do and what they want to do.
"Many with low level metal health issues like anxiety, stress and depression want to work, but may need support. This Government is willing to fund that extra support."
Ms Bennett said tenders for the employment service have been invited on the Government Electronic Tenders Service, and are open to community and private organisations in the four selected regions. This service, she said, will provide "wrap-around" case management of the client, employment placement and employer support.
She did not indicate if there were plans for the service to be implemented elsewhere in the country if it were successful.
Mr McAnulty remains critical of the scheme, saying Ms Bennett is merely rebranding existing schemes to appear tough on beneficiaries.
"There were already measures in place to help people struggling to find work. But, with all these reforms, [the Government] is making it look like they are being tough on those they have labelled no-hopers. They know there are votes in doing so."
