From jobless to providing job hopes for thousands

By ALISON HORWOOD

The Herald has selected five talented young people as the Knowledge Wave Trust's emerging leaders. Today we profile Caron Taurima.

In 15 years, Caron and Richard Taurima have gone from being unemployed to heading one of New Zealand's largest private training schools, Carich New Zealand.

Carich, a name which blends Caron and Richard, is a fee-paying computing and technology school with 11,000 students, 400 staff and nine campuses in Auckland, Manukau, Hamilton, Wellington and Christchurch.

It is acquiring two other training companies, and next year will open its first international branches, in South Africa and China.

Mrs Taurima, 35, said the school struggled for eight years but is now like a monster out of control.

Carich was born in 1988, when she was unemployed and could not find work.

She convinced her father to re-mortgage his house, and used the money to set up a 12-week computer course.

She began with one Maori Access contract, but within two years was running five fulltime courses and was branching out into the corporate sector.

In 1991, Carich was given Qualifications Authority accreditation, enabling it to offer students Ministry of Education unit standards and qualifications.

In 1999, the company started the National College of Multimedia and Technology, with programmes in multimedia and other IT technology.

Carich also established a production company producing CD-Roms for the Land Transport Safety Authority and the Road Safety Trust.

Mrs Taurima, of Rangitane and Ngati Kuia descent, has also financed and produced for schools a Maori language, culture and lifestyle CD-Rom, Tangata Whenua O Aotearoa.

Those who know Mrs Taurima, such as communications consultant Tony Edmonds who nominated her for Knowledge Wave, say she stands out because of her drive and passion.

She wants ordinary people to be empowered through the opportunity to learn, said Mr Edmonds.

Mrs Taurima has won several awards, including Te Mana Wahine Tohu - overall excellence in business - from the Maori Women's Development Fund in 1999 and Institute of Management young executive of the year in 1996.