Supporting Māori Apprentices

BCITO has launched a campaign to highlight the achievements of Māori tradespeople. “We’ve seen the percentage of Māori workers in building and construction grow from 12 per cent in 2018 to 17 per cent. However, we also want to see a corresponding rise in Māori students completing their apprenticeships and qualifications,” said BCITO Director, Greg Durkin.

“With industry, we’re supporting Māori tradies to grow their skills and success. It’s more than working in the trades; it’s getting qualified to take your career and the whole industry forward. This is vital so we can continue to have a strong and thriving workforce that can deliver New Zealand’s infrastructure needs now and in the future.”

BCITO’s package of initiatives includes Kahukura, a pilot programme that offers mentoring and support for first-year Māori apprentices studying through BCITO, scholarships for more advanced qualifications, and a leadership development programme aimed at encouraging young Māori to consider owning and leading businesses.

Award-winning Māori-led employer Stronghold Group currently employs 19 BCITO apprentices. “You can’t separate the culture from the person, and we embrace the culture. For us, it’s amazing. We appreciate that, we appreciate you, we see you for who you are and where you’ve come from,” says Managing Director of Stronghold Group, Karalee Tangiau (Ngāti Whātua ki Kaipara).

Josh Davis (Ngāpuhi, Te Rarawa) recently qualified in painting and decorating after a decade in the industry. “As a 39-year-old male Māori, I want to tell you it’s not too late to start your apprenticeship and get qualified. It’s not too late to create new opportunities and take control of your career path. It’s not too late to start again or try something new. You are worthy. Your future is in your hands,” he said at his graduation.

BCITO’s campaign also responds to persistent challenges facing Māori in vocational education, where qualification completion rates continue to lag behind national averages. While Māori representation in the trades is growing, 2021 data showed that only around 48% of Māori learners at polytechnics and institutes of technology complete their qualifications, compared to 57% for non-Māori, non-Pasifika learners. Through culturally responsive initiatives like Kahukura and partnerships with Māori-led employers, these figures have improved in recent years. BCITO supports more Māori

to not only enter the trades but also to thrive in them, complete their apprenticeships, and become industry leaders.