Ministers support Pasifika Trades Training launch

Ministers support Pasifika Trades Training launch

The involvement of Pasifika church ministers has contributed to strong support for a new Pasifika Trades Training initiative at CPIT, which was launched at the Trades Innovation Institute campus yesterday.

The 100 available places for 2012 are filling fast with 46 registrations of interest at the launch, another 20 registrations by email and many more enquiries to CPIT’s Centre of Maori and Pasifika Achievement (CMPA).

The initiative is being run in collaboration with leaders from the Pasifika community, including Pacific Church Ministers, who will encourage young adults and mature students from their communities to enrol in programmes at CPIT’s Trades Innovation Institute, upskill and contribute to the Christchurch rebuild.

Reverend Elder Tumama Vili conducted the lotu (prayer) at the launch and requested that Pasifika parents encourage their young adults to enter tertiary study and gain trades qualifications.

“The success of the launch shows that the involvement of church ministers is essential to informing Pasifika people about the opportunities available to them. The ministers are happy with the initiative and very thankful because they want to see members of their communities up-skill from being labourers to being leaders,” Peni Latavao, Administrator for CMPA, said. “Individual achievement has a positive effect on families and on communities, as well supporting the rebuild of Christchurch.”

The initiative arises from a Government ‘Skills for Canterbury’ package which has allocated $6 million for Pasifika Trades Scholarships across New Zealand. Of the 300 scholarships available nationwide, 100 have been awarded to CPIT to assist with up-skilling workers for the Canterbury rebuild. These full tuition scholarship places will assist Pasifika students entering into trades training programmes through CPIT over the next two years.

ENDS

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