Māori Trade Training in Ōtautahi
In July, Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu, Christchurch Polytechnic Institution of Technology (CPIT) and Hawkins Construction welcomed the Government’s further $1m investment into Māori Trade Training in Christchurch.
The group are still negotiating the details of the funding. However it is hoped the focus be on fee support and apprenticeships.
He Toki ki te Rika (Māori Trades Training) was launched in June 2011 by Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu, CPIT and industry partners to up skill Māori for leadership roles in the city’s rebuild.
He Toki is a 12 to 14 week Māori pre-trade training course covering programmes in carpentry, painting and decorating, plasterboard, plumbing and drainlaying.
The students are taught at CPIT’s Trades and Innovation campus and learn in a cultural environment, which involves tikanga and use of te reo. Also under the He Toki programme ‘tradies’ who do not have ‘formal qualifications’, but are semi-skilled can gain recognition of their experience through CPIT’s Centre for the Assessment of Prior Learning.
In December 2011, Hawkins Construction entered into partnership with Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu to create practical opportunities for building Māori capability and leadership within the trades workforce.
Hawkins have already started to create these work experience opportunities. Since April He Toki students have been getting experience at some of Hawkins project sites. He Toki students David Te Pania and Rueben Hohaia (pictured) have been lucky enough to be working on these sites.
Steve Taw, South Island Operations Manager, Hawkins Construction, said Hawkins is proud and excited to be associated with the He Toki programme and supporting the students embarking on their journey into the construction industry.
‘It is extremely satisfying to be part of a programme which provides direct benefit to the local community and iwi. We recognise that our support to the programme will have positive outcomes for all its stakeholders as we work collectively to rebuild Canterbury.’
If you are in the trades industry and can provide some hands-on work experience for our Māori trainees then please contact our He Toki Pastoral Care Coordinator Selau Ifopo on 021 416 347 or
[email protected]