While Dave works across the industry in the widest sense — including road freight, logistics, livestock, bulk haulage, forestry and agriculture — the focus for those coming through from the Tairawhiti Economic Support Packages Redeployment Programme is on the re-metalling — alongside the Provincial Growth Fund (PGF) — and removal of hazardous trees projects.
Just like the dedeployment programme, the aim is not just to get locals into good paying jobs, but jobs with clear career paths and room to progress.
“This is run by industry for industry,” Dave says.
“Before we got the funding it was being run on a shoestring with me calling in a lot of favours just to show it could be done.
“It’s all about recruitment, upskilling and retention.”
Dave has trained 12 people,including three women, from the redeployment programme, and a further 80 under the transport project.
His truckies-in-training have been deployed to Fulton Hogan, DeCosta Haulage, ArbourCare and Recreational Services among others.
Some are driving already while others are learning the trade from the ground up.
They are also helping with the community firewood project, where wood from hazardous trees is cut up and distributed to those in need.
“Some are just needing refreshers while others are starting from scratch.”
The aim is to give them the qualifications and training to help build self-confidence, backed up with good pastoral care.”
Dave has completed two metal truck courses, with another about to start.
“The redeployment programme is amazing . . . being able to give people these opportunities that many would never have had before. They are rapt to be able to do this.”
He works closely with every participant and stays in touch once they have completed the course.
“Some need to reset their goals. They have been living hand-to-mouth for a long time and this gives them the opportunity for more of a long-term plan.”
Dave also works closely with the industry to ensure the training is moving with its demands.
“Right now is a bit of a low time so the re-metalling project is a saviour.
“Next month all the horticulture work starts up.
“We need to link the seasonal jobs so people have ongoing opportunities with proper back-up.
“We want them to have the know-how and confidence to move forward.”
The PGF investment highlights the need for government investment in the regions and Dave feels the redeployment programme has rolled on from that.
“It has really shown the wider benefits the whole community receive.”
Dave has been in trucking for 25 years and is on secondment from Williams and Wilshier, which he joined more than 20 years ago.
He has steered the business through a quality management programme, leading to improved health and safety policies and staff welfare.
He is recognised as an industry leader in forestry, working with industry training organisation MITO as a trainer/assessor to develop driver training qualifications.
Next up for him is a cadet programme for under-25s.
“We would bring them all the way through to becoming fully-fledged truck drivers — just like an apprenticeship and tied in with NZQA (New Zealand Qualifications Authority) standards.”
Dave is hopeful some of the new cadets will come from the redeployment programme.
The Government-funded $23.755m redeployment programme was established in response to the impacts of Covid-19.
It is providing work and training for 236 people across five projects, with the goal of ensuring they not only find work but pick up new skills, qualifications and the opportunity of meaningful, long-term employment.
