Trainee builders providing homes to whānau in need

One of the new new Kāinga Ora homes is delivered to a site on Mary Street, after being built at a trades academy. Picture supplied

Trainee and student builders are continuing to deliver the goods by providing quality new homes for those in need.

In recent weeks Kāinga Ora has continued to take delivery of new homes built by students of trade academies here and further afield.

“We have seen four new healthy homes moved on to Kāinga Ora sites over the last few weeks,” said Roxanne Cribb, the Kāinga Ora acting regional director for East North Island.

The homes have come from two building academies.

One in Grafton Road has been transported from the building academy at Massey High School in Auckland.

Others in Gladstone Road, Konini Street (Elgin) and Mary Street (Mangapapa) have come from the Iconiq Building Academy based at Gisborne Airport.

“Two more homes are expected from Massey High School soon. Iconiq has two homes in production, one of which will be placed in Cambridge Terrace,” said Ms Cribb.

“We have also received two homes from the Springhill Prison Trades Academy, which the Iconiq academy team are establishing on site in Kowhai Street.

“It is rewarding to see the hard work of so many students reaching this milestone,” Ms Cribb said. “The homes we are getting from the trade academies are a win-win for everyone.

“Families in need get a well-built home, communities get an increase in the number of qualified tradespeople and students get real-world skills building an actual house under supervision.”

Building academies provide a pathway for young people to enter the trades.

“The homes from the building academies are all quality homes. They are warm, dry, healthy homes built to New Zealand Green Building Council 6 Homestar standards.

“It’s great to know that the standards that we need to have in our homes are being achieved by the academies. They are leaving a lasting legacy by delivering quality homes where there is an immense need.

“Last year we had four homes delivered to Gisborne from trade academies around New Zealand.  This included a large five-bedroom home from Unitec in Auckland.

“This year we’re expecting 10 new homes in total that will be built at a building academy, then transported on to Kāinga Ora sites for whānau to move into.”

Seven of those will come from the Iconiq Trades Academy in Gisborne and the other homes will come from academies throughout New Zealand.

The homes are designed to be easily picked up and moved on to vacant sections.

ICONIQ Group managing director Todd Scrafton said he and his team were extremely proud of what the academy team had achieved so far.

“At ICONIQ we are committed to making a social impact as we introduce a new and sustainable cycle into Te Tairāwhiti.

“As a company we have high hopes for the future of our Māori and Pacific youth. We want to do our part to open the door of opportunities for local rangatahi.

“We are already proving and showcasing that there is no reason why this programme cannot continue to be a huge success which we have always known it would be.”

Massey High School building academy tutor and licensed building practitioner Luke Kanuta said everyone involved was grateful to be a part of “something as unique as our building academy”.

“It has opened so many doors for our students and allowed them to learn all the skills necessary to succeed in this pathway that they have chosen.

“The meaningful work our students do in building Kāinga Ora homes helps shift their mindsets, makes them passionate about working for communities and contributes to them ensuring they only give their

best.

“This academy and partnership not only helps us build great homes and great builders, it also enables us to build great people, too.”