Top of the Class
Marelda Hanson (pictured) and Tania Nepe topped the class when they graduated from EIT this month with the NZ Certificate in Primary Industries Skills.
Marelda is pleased to be in permanent employment thanks to collaboration between a local horticulture company, Ministry of Social Development, First Choice Employment Services and EIT’s School of Primary Industries.
Nine people who used to be unemployed had major cause for celebration when they graduated from EIT this week with NZ Certificates in Primary Industries Skills.
Seven of them now have jobs and two are doing further career training, thanks to a joint effort between a local horticultural company, Ministry of Social Development (MSD), First Choice Employment Services and EIT’s school of primary industries.
“I had kids from a young age and had always been on a benefit,” said Marelda Hanson, who, with Tania Nepe, topped the class.
“MSD invited me to a seminar on kiwifruit – I gave it a go and now I am a permanent worker – I have never been that in my life,” she said.
“I came every day because I enjoyed the people – they became my friends and my family.”
She thanked her tutors and John Phelps from Thompsons Horticulture for pushing everybody along with their studies and MSD for putting them through it.
“I tried to give it my all and now I have a job and I am permanent.”
Thompsons Horticulture owners Craig and Leisha Thompson, manager John Phelps and team leader Belinda Huriwai joined EIT senior managers, tutors, First Choice Employment Services and MSD representatives to congratulate the graduates.
The course was a joint venture, aimed at helping meet a growing shortage of skilled workers for the horticultural industry, and particularly the kiwifruit sector, which is rapidly expanding here.
MSD were keen to be involved in similar courses again, said regional commissioner Annie Aranui who told the students she had started her own working life picking apples and working in vineyards with her grandmother in Hawke’s Bay.
“Your qualification is a step in the right direction,” she said.
The qualification could be used to gain jobs or as a stepping stone into expanding careers.
Craig Thompson told them he had been working in the kiwifruit industry since before he left school. One of the big challenges was encouraging people to be part of the industry and work with them.
“it is great to see people who have not been involved before coming into it. “
The success rate of the course was a credit to all of those involved.
He congratulated manager John Phelps for hatching a plan that had helped people into the industry.
“I have seen other programmes which have not put people into work. We need to make sure it’s not a one-off thing.
“The kiwifruit industry has a lot of growth and opportunities ahead. It will not be achieved without the people to help us.”
EIT head of primary industry school Nigel Udy said that working with industries to meet their human resource needs was a fundamental part of EIT’s kaupapa.
“The steps you have all taken is a credit to yourselves and something the industry needs.”