On Monday 3 December 2018 over 125 local graduates were recognised for successfully completing a diverse range of qualifications at a special ceremony hosted by her Worship Mayor Alex Walker at the Civic Theatre in Waipukurau.

The Graduation saw the Eastern Institute of Technology (EIT), Central Hawke’s Bay District Council and The Mayors Taskforce for Jobs partner together to celebrate local success in a first combined event for the district.

The Mayors Taskforce for Jobs runs Industry Training Graduations to recognise the achievements of recent graduates and provide an opportunity for the trainees and apprentices to celebrate with their families, friends and employers.

Over 100 graduates of EIT certificate programmes were also recognised at the Graduation in front of families, friends, tutors and EIT staff.

“We were delighted to help create a combined celebration for all the students to acknowledge their successes. Even with the power cut, the evening was a great event. It was certainly memorable to see the mass of cellphones providing light,” says Sandra Fleming, EIT Central Hawke’s Bay Learning Centre Coordinator.

“Our local EIT Learning Centre in Waipukurau is a great asset to our community and provides local people with access to further education. The graduation is a time for celebration as well an opportunity to say thank you to local employers for their ongoing commitment to youth and training,” says Mayor Walker.

“We’re delighted to partner with EIT this year. It’s enabled a wider group of Central Hawke’s Bay graduates to be recognised for their achievements”.

A further 25 industry trainees and apprentices were also recognised at the ceremony for achieving their local qualifications. They graduated from the scheme that saw 12 local employers and five external training providers involved.

The Guest speaker at the event was Dale Williams, former Otorohanga Mayor who set up the first ever Mayoral Taskforce for Jobs programme. It successfully took unemployment of those under 25 to zero in his district by motivating local businesses to employ and train young people.

This model has since been used around the country and Central Hawke’s Bay set up its own Mayoral Taskforce for Jobs in 2012.