Apprenticeship scheme launched   18 Apr 2015

The He Toki ki te Mahi Apprenticeship Training Trust was launched by Prime Minister, the Rt Hon John Key at Rehua Marae in Christchurch this evening.

With large numbers of Maori progressing through the highly successful pre-trades training, He Toki ki te Rika, which was established after the February 2011 earthquake, the programme has now extended its support to three education pathways: a pre-trade pathway; an apprenticeship pathway and a leadership pathway.

The He Toki ki te Mahi Apprenticeship Training Trust aims to increase Maori apprenticeship participation and completion rates. The initial cohort will focus on carpentry apprentices but further development of the initiative will include a wider selection of trade disciplines that will align with the He Toki Ki Te Rika pre-trade training programme.

He Toki ki te Mahi is made up of a consortium that brings together the strengths, knowledge, expertise, capability and networks of Ngai Tahu, Te Tapuae o Rehua, CPIT and Hawkins Group. It is a Maori-led initiative that will operate under a collaborative governance structure incorporating iwi (Te Runanga o Ngai Tahu), industry (Hawkins) and the tertiary sector (Christchurch Polytechnic and Te Tapuae o Rehua).

Ta Mark Solomon, Te Runanga o Ngai Tahu Kaiwhakahaere and Patron of He Toki ki te Rika welcomes the new apprenticeship programme.

“We’re very proud of what has already been achieved through the pre-trades training programme He Toki ki te Rika,” he says.

“Over 800 students have enrolled in He Toki ki te Rika since it began. It has become recognised as a flag ship for the other consortia around New Zealand that are establishing their own trades training programmes. I’m confident that He Toki ki te Mahi will further build on this success to produce well-qualified apprentices who will contribute significantly to the construction leadership of the Christchurch rebuild and beyond.”

He Toki ki te Mahi is starting off with a small group of 10-15 carpentry apprentices who have been through He Toki ki te Rika; but we aim to increase that number to 50-plus new apprentices by the end of this year.

He Toki ki te Mahi has been designed for work-ready individuals who have completed some trades study, or have a demonstrated work history.

CPIT Chief Executive Kay Giles said the institute was delighted to be involved in the next stage of He Toki ki te Rika. “He Toki ki te Mahi is building on the success of the trades training programme to support graduates to transition into apprenticeships. As a partnership, we are looking toward the future – beyond programme completion and that first job on site, to the pathways needed to create sustainable careers and resilient futures,” she said.

Hawkins Group Chief Executive Geoff Hunt says that his company and staff feel privileged to be a partner in this life-changing programme. “Our aim is to provide the industry support and employer perspective to ensure that the flow of the trainees and apprentices meets industry’s needs. Our staff are also becoming more knowledgeable mentors and building understanding and respect for Maori culture.”

About He Toki ki te Mahi – Maori Apprenticeship Training Trust
He Toki ki te Mahi is a charitable trust organisation committed to supporting Maori through their trades apprenticeship. We mentor Maori apprentices through the apprenticeship journey in a way that is customized to best meet their learning needs.

We are committed to Maori success and increasing the number of Maori entering and achieving their trades apprenticeships.

The Benefits
This group training scheme gives the apprentice, the employer and the Trust a win-win situation. The apprentice gains competency and experience with a host employer while receiving on-going Maori-mentored apprenticeship support throughout their training. The Trust takes on all the employment and administration involved in employing an apprentice, enabling the host employer to focus on their core business and to train the apprentice. The nation benefits from a successful model that will increase Maori participation and completion in the New Zealand Apprenticeship system; and the associated research around best practice models for supporting Maori apprentices.

ENDS

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