5 Apr 2013

More Maori wanted for trades training

9:45 am on 5 April 2013

Ngai Tahu is calling on more people to sign up to its trades training programme He Toki ki te Rika to help rebuild Christchurch.

The South Island iwi, Christchurch Polytechnic Institute of Technology, and Hawkins Construction will host a Maori trades open evening at CPIT's Trades Innovation Institute on Friday night.

Sir Mark Solomon, who is the patron of the programme and guest speaker at the open evening, is encouraging whanau to step up and join He Toki.

He says his tribe has worked with tertiary and industry to create and deliver a course that specifically caters to Maori.

Sir Mark says He Toki is a start for whanau wanting to step up and take advantage of the job opportunities arising from the rebuild.

The Government provided a $1 million boost last year, which allowed money to create He Toki scholarships which will provide full fee support, help with work placement, a $1000 apprenticeship grant and dedicated resource to help continue the development of He Toki students after they leave CPIT.