Students working on their own house project in Kaitaia

Students working on their own house project in Kaitaia

For the first time, students on the National Certificate in Carpentry (Level 4) at Kaitaia’s NorthTec Learning Centre are working on their own community house building project.

Tutors, Steve Rameka and Murray Smith say it is the ninth house now to be built by the carpentry students over the past six years but the first to be built off site.

He said the four bedroom house is being constructed north-west of Kaitaia and is a key component for the student’s practical element of the National Certificate in Carpentry.

Back in July, 13 students started building the house at Weber Place. Nearing completion, the students are now eager to finish off the first house they have been involved in building and to high standards.

So far, the students have kept to schedule, having completed the foundations, frames, wall cladding, roofing, the carport, doors and the windows of the house were in, and it was “weather tight.”

Steve believed that the project was demonstrating to the student’s essential life skills. Even the basics such as turning up to work on time, was having a desired effect on their development and can-do attitudes.

Steve recognized that the time planning was important in the building trade as working to tight deadlines become critical for whether or not a project slips behind or stays on schedule. He suggested that this was a particularly important work habit to develop early on in a building career.

“We aren’t teaching speed, this will come with time when they are employed in the industry. At the moment we are teaching basic carpentry skills and techniques, so that potential employers will have an apprentice that has at least got the basics right and is able to take instructions on the first day of work.”

Steve said that working on the project was something “tangible” that the students would be able to use as evidence of previous work experience to a prospective employer.

“This practical experience is the most pleasing part of the course for them, which backs up the theory they have learnt during the year. They are able to go and put all of that into practice,” he emphasized.

If the National Certificate in Carpentry (Level 4) interests you or would like to enrol in any of the other trades NorthTec offer including a new entry-level Certificate in Elementary Construction find out more by visiting www.northtec.info

Steve said one of his Elementary Construction students is getting work experience at Omaha Beach (east of Warkworth) with a building company that will employ him as an apprentice, at the completion of this year’s course.

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