Students from East Coast high school students participating in the
Tairāwhiti Schools Trades Academy received certificates and prizes at a prize-giving on Friday.

The achievements of students from 15 Gisborne and East Coast schools were celebrated at a Tairāwhiti Schools Trades Academy prize-giving today (Friday, 04 November 2022).

This capped another successful year for the Trades Academy at EIT│Te Pūkenga Tairāwhiti Campus,  which has seen the numbers participating in the programme increase.

The Trades Academy, at the Tairāwhiti and Hawke’s Bay campuses of EIT │Te Pūkenga, works with secondary schools to provide year-long trades programmes to help students achieve NCEA Level 2 and prepare for higher-level study. About 60 percent of students participating are Māori, while 42 percent are female. In Tairāwhiti students attend Trades Academy each Friday, gaining vocational skills and getting hands on experience.

The prize-giving, which was held at Gisborne War Memorial Theatre, saw more than 200 students receive certificates, with a number getting prizes for their achievements in in the courses at the Tairāwhiti Trades Academy. The guest speaker was the Mayor of Gisborne Rehette Stoltz, while long-time Trades Academy supporter and Principal of Tolaga Bay Area School, Nori Parata, provided some closing remarks. EIT│Te Pūkenga Tairāwhiti was represented by Trades Academy Manager Paul Hursthouse and Tairāwhiti Campus Manager Waata Shepherd, as well as other staff and tutors involved in the academy.

Nori thanked the academy for the way it worked with the school community to co-construct the course delivery.

Paul congratulated the students on their achievements at Trades Academy and said they should celebrate their success.

“The Hawke’s Bay and Tairāwhiti Trades Academy is in its 11th year, and we remain one of the largest academies in New Zealand. We thank the Ministry of Education for supporting this Academy which allows EIT│Te Pūkenga and schools to work together and provide learning opportunities for students.”

“Our ethos of the Trades Academy is it’s got to be fun, practical and engaging. We are delighted that we are able to partner with high schools to extend their senior curriculum.”

The Trades Academy in 2022 has delivered 23 individual courses at levels 2 and 3; from Automotive to Police Preparation, Building & Construction to Computer Technology. Primarily delivered by EIT│Te Pūkenga, with three of the offerings delivered in partnership with Turanga Ararau.