Graduation Speech for Heinz Watties Australasia
Hon Parekura Horomia
11 May 2001 SPEECH
5 PM SATURDAY
12 MAY 2001
Graduation Speech for Heinz Watties
Australasia
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Tena koutou katoa. I am delighted to be here at the graduation ceremony for 250 staff at the Heinz Wattie's Australasia plant in Hastings.
Last year my colleague Steve Maharey was here. He presented national certificates to 100 staff. Next year I hope to be given the chance to present more qualifications to even more staff.
I am myself a graduate from the university of life. I've been a shearer, a fencing contractor, a printer and a scrub cutter. So I know what it is like to do a hard days work. Sometimes I wish I was back there and not having to deal with the bureaucracy and paperwork in my current job.
In making that comment, I would like to state up front that I completely support people getting an education. Why? Because education gives people choices. It gives people choices which those without qualifications do not get easily. I want opportunities for my mokopuna, for my children, for my relations, for my friends, for Maoridom and for all people in Aotearoa.
Not only is it good for the individual but the country needs it as well. To compete in the global market we need a country with the best scientists producing cutting edge production technology. We need the research and development staff in the private sector. We need people who are very good at what they do in whatever field they work. We need to be encourage ourselves to keep trying and to get better.
Today's Ceremony
I want to start by congratulating
the management of Heinz Watties Australasia for your vision
and drive that has given your staff the chance to keep
learning and to achieve nationally recognised
qualifications. Without a doubt, this level of staff
training means your company is serious about developing the
potential of your work force. Today is the culmination of
hard work and organisation by management, staff and industry
training organisations (ITOs).
A willing and able management team and a sound training infrastructure is only part of the picture. Today would not have been possible without staff who were motivated and hungry to learn. Congratulations to all of you who have achieved national certificates. You have shown energy, motivation and skill and it is a tremendous effort that you can be proud of.
Last but not least, recognition must always be paid to your whanau. Thank you for getting in behind your family member and helping them reach their goal. It is not easy combining workplace learning with a full-time job, family responsibilities, kids and all of the other things that demand time. But here at Heinz Watties Australiasia you have found a way that works.
Industry Training
System
What we see here today represents the very best of
the government's Industry Training Strategy. We are
committed to workplace learning. We want to walk the talk -
and people like you show us the kind of pathway that others
can follow. You show us genuine achievement.
However, even with the efforts of Heinz Wattie’s Australasia and the ITOs, across New Zealand we still do not have the kind of integrated skills and employment strategy that we require.
We need an industry training system that is closely aligned with industry and regional development, employment and wider compulsory and post compulsory education and training policies. We need an industry training system that can very quickly respond to emerging challenges in the labour market.
We have seen positive developments under the current system. As the associate Minister of Education and Employment I am delighted to say that there has been an increase in the number of trainees (from 25,000 during the 1980’s to 63,000 in 2000) and a stronger sense of industry control and ownership.
Modern Apprenticeships
As
the Minister of Maori Affairs I am extremely pleased to see
the success of the Modern Apprentices. I'll talk more
about that later.
During the 1990s, industry trainees got
older. In December 1999, only 10 percent of trainees in
structured training were aged 16-19 years, and only 24
percent were 20 –24 years-of-age. Two-thirds were aged 25
years and older. In some industries, a high proportion was
in the forty-plus age group. So, although more people were
participating in industry training, the number of young
people taking part was reducing.
The Modern
Apprenticeships scheme is the first step in addressing some
of the limitations within our industry training
system.
Last year we aimed to generate 500 new modern
apprenticeships, rising to 1,500 by July 2001 and 3,000 by
the end of 2001. I understand that Heinz Wattie’s
Australasia has taken on four modern apprentices.
The
first target has been met. As at February, 518 modern
apprenticeships were in place in the building and
construction, dairy manufacturing, electricity and
electrical, engineering, hospitality, printing, and
telecommunications industries.
The second stage of the
roll out is well underway. The second stage extends the
programme into the agriculture, forestry and fisheries,
community and social services, food and related products
processing, and service industries.
The evaluation of the
Modern Apprenticeship pilots has been positive. Generally,
employers have responded well and there has been steady
interest from young people, their parents and whanau.
As
Minister of Maori Affairs, I am delighted with Maori
participation in Modern Apprenticeships. A recent
evaluation report showed that 20% of Modern apprentices are
Maori. Almost half of the apprentices are in forestry, then
the wool industry and then carpentry. I think Modern
Apprenticeships are encouraging young Mäori to consider
careers in industry. This is good news and an exciting
development in employment opportunities for
Mäori.”
Industry training review
The second step in
addressing the limitations of the current industry training
system is the industry training review. We like the fact
that industry has become more involved in structured
education and training. We want to build on that industry
ownership.
The emphasis over the past decade has been
on the development of the system and its infrastructure.
Now is the time to address the problems that have emerged
and to enhance the performance and effectiveness of the
system.
The review commenced in July 2000. There have
been meetings between stakeholders and officials to discuss
interests in some depth, a meeting with Maori stakeholders,
and regular contact with employers, the Industry Training
Federation, and the New Zealand Council of Trade Unions.
Interviews have also been conducted with firms, with
Industry Training Organisations, and unions.
A public
consultation document was released in March this year and
submissions closed last month. That document makes it clear
that we are happy with the industry training system’s
defining features i.e. Industry Training Organisations,
competency-based education and training, and the National
Qualifications Framework.
But to succeed in the future
we must have an industry training system that::
1.
continues to raise the quantity and quality of skills held
by the workforce;
2. responds rapidly to the changing
skill needs of the economy;
3. equips more New Zealanders
to successfully participate in the New Zealand workforce;
and
4. becomes more accessible and responsive to all
groups in the workforce, including Maori, Pacific peoples,
women and migrants.
The Government is still considering
the best ways to improve the system. I would like to stress
one point though. Industry training is not a second chance
educational pathway. There is no intention to use industry
training as a safety net to remedy the failures of the
schools sector. Those issues will be addressed through
education policies, not remedied through vocational
education and training interventions.
I want to thank you
for the opportunity to speak today. I wish you all well for
the future and may you continue learning throughout your
lives!
Tena koutou, tena koutou, tena koutou katoa.
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12 May
2001