Education Trust and Northtec: Māori and Pasifika Training

Te Matarau Education Trust and Northtec Partner to Provide Māori and Pasifika Training

Te Matarau Education Trust, a new Tai Tokerau Hapu-Iwi collective made up of Te Uri o Hau, Ngātiwai, Ngati Hau, Ngati Hine, Ngati Rangi and Te Aupouri, has teamed up with NorthTec to provide trades training for Maori and Pasifika learners.

Last month Tertiary Education, Skills and Employment Minister Steven Joyce and Associate Tertiary Education, Skills and Employment Minister Tariana Turia, announced Te Matarau Education Trust as one of the latest five providers selected for the Māori and Pasifika Trades Training initiative.

The country-wide joint initiative by the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment and the Tertiary Education Commission will fund 3,000 places by 2015 to encourage young Māori and Pasifika people to gain qualifications, New Zealand apprenticeships and employment.

“The Government is investing $43 million in the Māori and Pasifika Trades Training initiative to help young people to develop skills in trades that are needed right now and in the longer term,” Mr Joyce said.

“New Zealand’s and Northland’s economy is now growing strongly and there are big opportunities over the next few years - particularly with the need for housing and infrastructure in Auckland and the Christchurch rebuild – for anyone interested in trades careers to train and take up apprenticeships.”

Te Matarau and NorthTec will offer trades training in courses such as forestry, hospitality, construction, painting and going into the future, automotive engineering.The training will be offered in the Far North, Mid North, Whangarei, Dargaville and Kaiwaka.

“This initiative is a unique way of bringing Iwi, hapū, Māori and Pasifika groups together to help those who most need assistance to get ahead in life,” Te Matarau Co-chairman Philip Alexander-Crawford said.

“The best part about this collective initiative is that it involves a number of Northland Iwi and hapū working together because we recognise that we have to join hands to support and encourage our young folk to get into meaningful employment,” Co-chairman Pita Tipene said.

The courses are fees-free for Māori and Pasifika 18-35 year olds; and classes start on July 21.

ENDS

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