Got the prize ... now for the house jobs

Mihaka and Maui Hohua with their Waikato Tainui award. Photo / Greg Bowker

Twin brothers Maui and Mihaka Hohua say they got into carpentry to repair their Kawhia home which needs a bit done to it.

The shower needs fixing, the floor in parts does too, as well as the roof.

But when asked how things are going Maui is blunt: "Nah, we haven't started yet".

The pair aren't short of carpentry skills - just time - having just graduated from Hamilton's Wintec as joint winners of its Maori trade training programme's Waikato Tainui award for Best Maori Trade Trainee.

The first twins to graduate from the programme, they obtained certificates in building and tikanga Maori and are looking to secure apprenticeships in the industry.

Both said the highlight of the 32-week programme involved trips to Waikato marae to study local Maori history.

Maui said he got into the trade to repair things, including his home, and plans to work in the residential housing industry.

Mihaka, who is older by 15 minutes, says he originally wanted to join the army but found a passion with building tools while at school. "I didn't want to go overseas to war and I didn't want to be away from home and I found that I liked finishing off my projects and thinking 'that is flash'."

He also wants to work in the housing industry - probably with his brother.

"We have worked together everywhere we go, like at school. We have stuck together our whole lives," he said.

The brothers are among the last students to graduate in the construction stream of the programme, which will be replaced by the Government's new Maori and Pasifika trades training initiative announced in January.

Director Hera White, said Wintec was one of seven training providers selected nationally to deliverthe initiative.

She said Wintec would start moving its current Maori trades training programme to the new scheme from April.