Marae trains more young workers | Wairarapa News | Local News in Wairarapa

A second intake has been welcomed at the Marae-based Trades Training programme at Te Heru a Rangi Marae in Masterton, following on from last year's highly successful pilot programme.
The eight students were formally brought on to the Masterton marae at a powhiri yesterday, welcomed by kaumatua, course supporters and students from last year's course.
Programme co-ordinator Te Whetu Waaka said last year's programme had been an outstanding success, with a retention rate close to 90 per cent.
''It was the pilot last year, so it was about trying to make it run properly. We had to work out how to fund Champagne dreams on a Fanta budget.''
But Mr Waaka said the development seen in last year's students was proof the course was doing well.
''The main thing they learn is carpentry skills, but also computer and life skills like communication. What it has done is to build their confidence and self-esteem, and opened their eyes to the opportunities that are open to them.''
Mr Waaka said last year's students had been given a solid base in carpentry, general maintenance skills and knowledge, and many would like to go on to carpentry apprenticeships. The current economic climate meant it had been a tough industry to start out in.
''There just aren't apprenticeships out there and the ones that are there have been scooped up by the apprentices who have been laid off as work dropped.''
But Mr Waaka expected the industry would pick up and there would soon be a need for more good apprentices.
''Around the country there's going to be a big demand for rental houses, so somebody's going to have to build them,'' he said.
This year's intake also includes the first girl to take the course. Tiana Hemi, 15, from Masterton said she was looking forward to getting stuck into building things and learning new skills.
''It's stuff that I enjoy. In school I made a table and a couch. But at school we only get to do it one day a week and here I can do it all the time.''
Miss Hemi said she was not yet sure what she wanted to do after the course, but it would involve building things.
One of last year's students, Joshua Thompson, 19, from Greytown said the course had been an important experience for him. ''It's great working on the marae, we learn karakia and haka while we are learning.
''It's kept me out of trouble.''
His confidence in his skills and his knowledge about building had improved hugely over the year, he said, and he was now looking for an apprenticeship.