Crossed wires on sparky training

Electricians are warning homeowners needing emergency repairs they they may face months of waiting to get electrical work done.

Electrical Contractors Association of New Zealand (Ecanz) general manager Ray Barbara said in Christchurch yesterday that consumers needing fast repairs to faulty wiring would just have to join the queue.

He said electricians were regularly turning away work because of a critical shortage of qualified people that could last for up to three years.

As well as long delays including rewiring houses, consumers should expect to pay more for the privilege as market forces drove electricians' hourly rates up.

But despite the booming times, some electricians were being forced to dismiss apprentices as a training funding shortfall had reached "crisis" point, Mr Barbara said.

"We warned the Government of a funding shortfall six months ago.

"Now, two months into the 2005 year, no further placements can be made."

The Electrotechnology Industry Training Organisation (Etito) gets $9.5 million to train 7000 students a year, including 2700 electrician apprentices.

"Electrician apprenticeships are now in crisis because the industry lacks adequate Government funding for apprentices attending off-job training courses," Mr Barbara said.

The funding deficit was an especially bitter pill as Ecanz had spent a decade trying to convince school leavers and their parents of the merits of a electrician apprenticeship.

Industrial Controls South Canterbury took on two electrician apprentices this year and found itself in the unenviable position of having to tell one of the two that there was no funding for his training.

Its human resources manager, Erin McNaught, said applications for formal training for both apprentices were made at the same time.

While one was successful, the other was knocked back because there was no money in the Etito coffers to pay for his education.

"He was pretty disappointed," she said. "It puts the brakes on his learning."

Ms McNaught said it was disappointing the Government couldn't commit to funding such training.

- NZPA