DOUBLE WHAMMY

On-the-job training is resulting in local people being upskilled and cyclone-damaged homes repaired.
The win/win situation is helping to future-proof Wairoa’s tradie workforce and helping those who may not otherwise have been able to repair their cyclone-impacted homes.
The successful project is a collaborative effort between a range of partners, including the MSD’s Hawke’s Bay Jobs and Skills Hub, Wairoa Young Achievers Trust and Enabled Wairoa with support from the Wairoa District Council and Wairoa Recovery.
The project has involved introducing rangatahi to the trades with the dual impact of completing repairs, such as insulation, gibbing and plastering, on uninsured homes while teaching essential skills needed throughout the recovery.
Operations Manager Jobs and Skills Hub Hawke’s Bay Rani Morunga said the work combines training with building assistance under the watchful eye of carpentry tutor Casey Aranui.
“We knew there were workforce gaps in construction and infrastructure, particularly following the impact of the cyclone. Having so many yellow stickered homes - and with many of them uninsured, provided an opportunity to use these homes as a training space
to teach those in the community the basics of repair work such as insulation, gibbing and plastering.
“The programme aimed to do something practical, hands-on and helpful for the Wairoa community while at the same time planting some seeds for those who took part in the programme to consider employment in the construction sector.”
Rani said the focus is for the crew to continue to work alongside the builders who come into town. As well as gaining skills and learning to work independently, the nine trainees have completed health and safety qualifications and are gaining Building and Construction Industry Training Organisation (BCITO) qualifications. The Jobs and Skills Hub will continue to support the trainees into further employment.

 

Seth Walker is one of the trainees helping Wairoa build back better.

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