Masterton graduates keen to carry on

GRADUATES: Staff and graduate trainees from the Nga Kanohi Marae o Wairarapa Level 2 National Certificate in residential property maintenance included Kieran Kawana, left, co-ordinator Charles Morunga, Tew Simmonds, tutor Trev Simmonds, Sonny Paku, Jimmy Rimene, Ashleigh Mita-Waata, Jocelyn Kawana, Regan Kawana, Ethan Bain, Land Based Training operations manager James Towers, Stefan McLachlan and Waka Henare.

The leaders of a successful marae-based trades training scheme in Masterton are looking to establish a higher level of study for trainees who graduated this year despite difficulties in traditional classrooms.

Charles Morunga, Nga Kanohi Marae o Wairarapa manager, said 10 trainees graduated last Friday from a 31-week course launched in March that focused on a Level 2 National Certificate in basic residential property maintenance with building construction and allied trades skills.

The course came ahead of an ongoing Level 2 introductory course in horticulture scheme that Nga Kanohi launched in early October.

The NZQA-accredited property maintenance course covered theory and practical work, with trainees taught on-site at Te Heru a Rangi Marae near the southern approach to Masterton. Trainees also studied health and safety rules and established literacy and numeracy skills as needed, Mr Morunga said.

The Land Based Training organisation were major sponsors of the courses and Mr Morunga said there was now also a focus to get a Level 3 course up and running which the new graduates could take up.

"A lot of these guys are only 16 or 17 who have got out of school for various reasons. But they achieve here and if this is the environment in which they achieve, we have to keep doing it."

Pastoral care was a defining element of the schemes, with trainees often picked up from home and taken to and from the course headquarters, and lunches provided and marae tikanga and kawa observed, he said.

"These kids would be out on the streets if they weren't here."

James Towers, Land Based Training operations manager, said his organisation had, for the first time last year, been the major funding group for the Nga Kanohi scheme and were keen to consider sponsoring a Level 3 programme if there was wider community support and funding collaboration.

"It's marvellous. We're really pleased. We'll be doing the same again next year, doing the Level 2 building course followed up with the horticulture course. The challenge for us now though is to find a Level 3 course we can pathway these new graduates into. We'd like a bit more support for the programme from council and others, and they do seem to be coming on board."

Mr Morunga said there would be another 12 spaces available on the Level 2 building scheme and the same number on the horticulture programme.

"The latest graduates want to come back right now. They're ready but we have to be able to offer them something at a higher level. It would be better for us if they do come back, for their own future."

The marae-based training scheme was the first of its kind in New Zealand at its launch in the town in 2009.