A year of achievement for Regent Training Centre

Regent Training Centre students, tutors and whanau gathered at Kaikohe' Kohewhata Marae for the 2016 prizegiving. Photo / Debbie Beadle

Kaikohe's Kohewhata Marae provided the venue for the Regent Training Centre's 2016 prizegiving, despite the imminent threat of rain and a power cut.

The privately-owned training organisation, which has been operating for more than 30 years, currently provides more than 20 courses and programmes, building being one of the biggest and most successful in terms of establishing students in the modern apprenticeship programme and into the industry.

Those who achieve the required literacy and numeracy standards go directly into the programme of choice; those who do not receive the assistance they need to make the grade.

Approximately 300 students, 97 per cent of them Maori, are welcomed to the Kerikeri campus every year.

The following prizes were awarded.

Best student overall - Jozef De Weyer (automotive). Most conscientious - Tere Pouto Davis (numeracy/literacy). Citizenship award (for demonstrating honesty and integrity) - Cedric Rihari-Malcolm (building). Most improved - Joshua Dan Koni (automotive).

Outstanding improvement in reading and numeracy - Kimbel Prime, Matthew Grace and Pangu Ashby.

Outstanding improvement in reading - Bill Kaipara Harris.

Completion certificates - Stephanie Brown, Kimbel Prime, Quinton Samuels, Jake Bowker, Tere Davis, Jackie Cooper, Matthew Temoananui Grace, Harold Wright, Rosalin George, Huia Kanuta, Te Aroha Kanuta, Taisyn Williams-Baker and Pangu Ashby.

Certificates of achievement (for those who had obtained employment) - Benjamin Koni (Accurate Projects), Pomana Pomana (Turners and Growers Kerikeri), Nicol Tau (Kauri Motels, Kerikeri), Era Marie Brown (Cafe Haruru Industrial Estate), Juvenah Harris (Corrections Kaikohe), William Wickliff (Ashby's Boatyard, Opua), Bronson Young (Daniel Retemana forest contracting), Jamie Harris (Copthorne Waitangi), Benjamin Cortezi (McDonald's Greenlane), Jontelle Kemp (Copthorne Waitangi), Harriata Walker (Copthorne Waitangi), Bobbi Henry (Copthorne Waitangi), Ocean Epiha (Kauri Cliffs), Hemi rau Maaka (Matauri Bay Farms), Samuel Potae (AFFCo Moerewa), Turi Pou (Matauri Bay Farms), Jon-Bradley Heger (McDonald's Kerikeri), Steven Solomon (Nortec Kerikeri), Ramona Albert (Culinary Institute Kerikeri), Damien Hampson (Spars and Rigging).