Last year Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu joined forces with Aurecon to support the growth of job opportunities for Ngāi Tahu in the Canterbury rebuild.
As part of the partnership, Aurecon established a cadetship programme, which has a limited number of ‘earn while you learn’ positions available to Ngāi Tahu whānau. Cadets will work at the Aurecon Christchurch office, in the area best suited to their skills, with the aim of becoming a professional draftsperson or technician.
These cadet roles will involve the development of technical drawings for Land & Building projects and will help to develop solutions on how Christchurch will be rebuilt. Both roles include field and desk work. Alongside training within the office, Aurecon will pay for cadets to complete a formal qualification at CPIT.
Last year Antony Gray and Josh Mitchell were selected for the positions. The 18-year-olds are both extremely grateful for the opportunity and support they have been given to start a career – Josh as a cadet geotechnical engineering technician and Antony as a cadet drafter. Both have now enrolled for their New Zealand Diploma of Engineering, with Josh’s weekly workload involving 20 hours at Polytechnic and 32 hours at Aurecon; and Antony is about to replicate that, as his polytechnic study intensifies.
Antony (educated at Dunedin’s Bayfield High School), had to change cities to undertake his new job. He is private boarding with a family he knew from Dunedin and slowly turning Christchurch into his home.
“Aurecon is such an awesome place to work and I am trying to play a bit of volleyball and some basketball. That’s helping me get to know more people.”
Josh started at Aurecon after finishing at Shirley Boys High School and Ellesmere College.
“It’s a privilege to get this opportunity and I know what a huge difference it has already made in getting me started on a career,” he said. Mondays are the most challenging day for Josh with 12 hours of classes at Polytechnic. Kaiwhakahaere Tā Mark Solomon, a proud supporter of the programme, says cadets will ultimately gain certification in a profession of their chosen technical field.
“The cadetship creates a significant opportunity for Ngāi Tahu whānau to gain a meaningful career and contribute to the recovery of Canterbury.”
If you have a ‘can do’ attitude, are keen to learn new skills and want to help with the rebuild of Christchurch, a cadetship with Aurecon could be the career for you.
Applications are open now and close 1 November
Te Tapuae o Rehua can help you apply for a cadetship with Aurecon, so please contact Eruera Tarena on 03 365 9206 or 021 989 852.
Or if you have everything sorted, email your CV and cover letter to [email protected] no later than 25 October.
Aurecon provide engineering, management and specialist technical services for clients all over the world, and are proud of delivering award winning projects. For more about Aurecon go to www.aurecongroup.com
Josh Mitchell (left) and Antony Gray.
