Carpentry jobs ahead for trainees in new scheme

A group of 20 strong and enthusiastic students from the Kapiti Coast left their surfboards and Play Stations alone this summer break.

Instead of heading to the beach or a computer, they’ve been in a carpentry workshop at WelTec’s Petone campus learning how to use hand-tools and  basic carpentry techniques in a setting like a real building site.

The students are enrolled in a new carpentry programme co-sponsored by WelTec and Whitireia Community Polytechnic.

This means they will be well placed to go into an apprenticeship in the building and construction industry after their 34 week programme.

Students from Otaki, Manakau and Levin

The students are from Otaki, Manakau and Levin.  They picked up basic techniques at WelTec’s Petone campus for a fortnight, then moved to new premises at Otaki’s Clean Technology Centre, Riverbank Road.

Tutor Richard Carter says: “We have a carpentry workshop with machinery set up for the students, a classroom so they can learn about consents, etc, and a building site where the students will construct a three-bedroom house.

“The students will be with me for four days a week and then they will approach local employers for work experience.”

Richard, who lives in Waikanae and was once a self-employed builder, knows builders on the Coast and he’s anticipating they will get right behind the students.

‘These young people will do well’

“With the great set up we have for the students and the skills they will learn building a house we know these young people will do well,” he says.

“The Otaki community is welcome to come and see what we’re doing here.  They may even wish to purchase the students’ house when it’s completed!”

WelTec and Whitireia Community Polytechnic have joined forces to provide trades training across the Wellington region.

From Otaki through to Paraparaumu, Porirua and Petone young people can study trades.

The decision to offer trades training in Otaki is in response to an expected boom in the New Zealand building industry resulting from the Christchurch earthquakes, New Zealand’s leaky homes and the pent up demand for new homes following a period of historically low levels of house building throughout New Zealand.

‘Fantastic opportunity’

“This is a fantastic opportunity for the local community,” says Ron Wilkinson, Councillor for WelTec and Whitireia.

Ron, who also lives on the Kapiti Coast, has long seen the need for high quality trades training in Otaki.

M r Wilkinson adds: “WelTec has an excellent reputation in the building and construction industry for producing work-ready graduates.  Students learn in an environment that replicates a real building site.

“The tutors are experienced trades people who understand young people and can teach them skills and mentor them through their training.

“Working in partnership, WelTec and Whitireia Community Polytechnic are keen to expand opportunities with employers in Otaki to provide students with work experience and hopefully an apprenticeship at their end of their studies.

A further carpentry programme as part of this partnership will be offered in Paraparaumu based at Kapiti College beginning this month.