Masterton marae welcomes trade trainees

Thirty-five new students were welcomed to the Nga Kanohi Marae o Wairarapa trades training scheme in Masterton yesterday.

The marae-based training scheme was the first of its kind in New Zealand at its launch in the town in 2009.

this year, in tandem with WelTec, tutors would deliver both Level 2 and Level 3 building courses, scheme manager Charles Morunga said.

He said the scheme would also focus on pastoral care with a new WelTec package to enhance transport and meals for students to help ensure achievement.

"For the past three years we've helped with kai for the kids - you really can't learn well when you're hungry - and we pick up those who need it. We think pastoral care is the key, and the close involvement of family as with any marae."

The 34-week fulltime courses would be based at Te Heru a Rangi Cultural and Education Centre at the southern approach to Masterton and at a workshop in nearby Edwin Feist Place, he said.

Most students on the course are aged from 15 to 19 and 90 per cent are male, he said. Female students have in the past "knuckled down on the theory and seem to do a lot better" than their male counterparts. He said almost 40 students have graduated since its inception and about 80 per cent are today in work.

Costs for the course are about $5000 each student for Level 3 and $1200 each for Level 2, he said, although several scholarships and grants are open to students, including the Youth Guarantee scheme.

The Level 2 tutor this year is Bruce Oliver and Joe Anderson will take Level 3 students through their paces and Weltec teachers will give one-on-one classes in numeracy and literacy.

Level 3 students will build a house out of their workshop base over the course and Level 2 students based at the cultural and education centre will complete jobs onsite that include carpentry, roofing, plumbing, gardening and electrical work.

Mr Morunga said Genesis Energy is the course's major sponsor, and Masterton District Council also helped with funds.