Partnership raises the bar for building

Trevor Griffiths and Adele McLean of the New Zealand Institute of Building. Photo / John Stone

NorthTec and the New Zealand Institute of Building are celebrating a relationship that has helped train new recruits and improve standards in the construction industry for more than 10 years.

The partners' achievements will be noted at a dinner for 70 guests at NorthTec's Apprentice Restaurant tonight.

The partnership has cemented networks, standards and qualifications to the advantage of NorthTec students in a variety of study areas as well as the industries they are preparing to work in, says Northland NZIOB acting president Trevor Griffiths.

Mr Griffiths founded the branch of the northern region chapter (from Taupo northwards) with only two members, and opened the door to NorthTec, when he moved to Whangarei in 2002.

While there are 72 members in Northland, this is expected to rise to 100 by year's end.

There are 850 members nationwide.

NorthTec academic manager of trades and technology Adele McLean described the partnership as "win-win".

For the past 10 years, NZIOB has awarded four $500 scholarships annually to NorthTec students.

NZIOB's overseeing and liaison role between the industry, tutors and students has helped NorthTec get accreditation to deliver qualifications that in turn benefited the building industry, Ms McLean says.

Related courses range from a diploma in architectural technology to national certificates in carpentry and electrical engineering.

Ms McLean, who is also a NZIOB Northland board member, says two new diploma courses are planned: construction management and quantity surveying.

A new memorandum of understanding now allows students studying building-related subjects to become members of the NZIOB at a reduced rate, easing their access to networking, innovation sharing and industry "ins" as well as giving the Northland branch a healthy membership.

But even without the student factor, Northland was punching above its weight as far as membership numbers went, Mr Griffiths said.