Minister of Employment Willie Jackson has announced $1.6 million for the next two years to the TradeUp partnership and Pathways programme.
"Skills are everything, young people are everything," he said.
The announcement was made at BCITO in Mount Maunganui this morning.
Rotorua Mayor Steve Chadwick and Tauranga Mayor Greg Brownless were at the announcement.
Minister of Employment Willie Jackson was in Tauranga to launch Pathway to Trades, a new programme under He Poutama Rangatahi in the Bay of Plenty.