EIT is widening its reach in encouraging young Pasifika to take up opportunities to train for careers in the trades.

Launched in 2013, New Zealand’s Māori and Pasifika Trades Training (MPTT) initiative offers support and incentives to assist students aged 16 to 40 to gain meaningful trades qualifications and apprenticeships.

Nationwide, 2000 students benefitted from the scheme last year and the Tertiary Education Commission is aiming to boost the national annual intake to about 5000 students by 2019.

“With that target in mind, EIT wants to be more proactive in promoting the benefits of the MPTT scheme,” says EIT’s director Māori – Poutahu, Tuhakia Keepa.  “We are looking at new ways to engage our Māori and Pasifika communities as a means of encouraging young people to take up this opportunity for trades training.

“Our objective is to align our training programmes to the needs of both employers and learners.  We are also focusing on building further pathways to better connect to activities associated with our Māori and Pasifika communities as a means of promoting the MPTT scheme.”