Opening Doors for Waikato-Tainui's Future Workforce
Te Waharoa—Gateway to the Trades has launched a transformative 10-week programme designed to prepare selected Waikato-Tainui rangatahi for meaningful and sustainable careers in the trades.
Te Waharoa is a partnership programme between Waikato-Tainui, MITO (industry training organisation for the automotive, commercial road transport, extractives, gas and logistics industries), industry partner AA Insurance, and Whakutura Ltd (a Māori-led vocational education business and one of the founding partners of Te Waharoa). It is designed to support the aspirations of emerging talent, local businesses, and iwi, and to allow for a career pathway in the collision repair and refinishing sector.
The first Tāmaki Makarau—Auckland-based cohort officially commenced on 30 September with participants re-connecting, and in some cases connecting for the first time, with their awa, maunga, and whenua. In addition, they learned their whakapapa, the rich history of their iwi, and through whanaungatanga, made connections with others that will last a lifetime. This deep cultural experience also highlighted the tribe's progressive journey and future aspirations for all its members.
Kaaro Iti-Moeke, Career Pathways Manager at Waikato-Tainui, said, “The first week of Te Waharoa always focuses on our tauira reconnecting with their iwi, encouraging them to strengthen ties to their marae and whānau. This provides a robust foundation for their educational and career journey through the programme. Waikato-Tainui is committed to providing training and employment pathways for our tribal members, and to ensuring that our history, matauranga, and reo are integrated into these pathways. We are delighted to work with Whatukura, MITO, and AA insurance to offer this new opportunity.”
The work-readiness phase of Te Waharoa began on 7 October with participants embarking on MITO’s StartUp® programme, which focuses on developing critical soft skills such as goal setting, financial management, health and safety training tailored to industry standards, and first aid. This phase runs for two weeks, laying the foundation for their professional journey.
Stu Lawrence, Director–Programme Kaitautoko at Whatukura Ltd, said, “This education and employment initiative, part of Mana Motuhake, promotes self-reliance and self-determination. By allowing tauira to earn while they learn, the Te Waharoa programme provides a pathway to success without the burden of student debt. We have met with the employers and the tauira have opportunities in paint and panel apprenticeships in Tamaki.”
Industry partner AA Insurance will be utilising its quality repairer network to connect the Te Waharoa participants with repair shops to help find paid work placements in the final six weeks of the programme.
AA Insurance’s Chief Operating Officer Simon Hobbs said, “What stood out to us about this programme was the passion and investment the Waikato-Tainui iwi are putting into their rangatahi to ensure they are ready to enter the trades workforce.
“Supporting and retaining young talent in the trades is extremely important for our industry and we’re pleased to have the opportunity to work with Te Waharoa to help achieve this. We also want to thank our repairers: Concorde Panel Beaters & Spray Painters; Drive Group East Tamaki; Greenpark Panel & Paint; Main Autocentre; Moselle Panel & Paint; and Sallen Panelbeaters, for opening their doors to teach the rangatahi the essential skill sets required for collision repair. Te Waharoa is a great way to support the emerging talent of tomorrow.”
The Te Waharoa team continues to work closely with the employer, the participant, and their whānau during the placement, providing support throughout the programme. If the participant is successful in obtaining employment after the programme ends, MITO’s training support continues through the apprenticeship.
Te Waharoa programme has been running since 2020 and the success rate to date has been close to 100%.
Verna Niao, Executive Director at MITO, said, “This collaboration between industry, employers, Waikato-Tainui, and MITO offers real-time career opportunities. This is truly inspiring and will make a genuine difference in people’s lives.”
By joining this initiative, employers can have confidence that their new workforce will have completed a full induction programme that prepares them for the industry.
For more information on MITO’s Te Waharoa programme, please contact Ardi Tawha, Kaikōkiri Ōritetanga at MITO at ardi.tawha@mito.org.nz. The programme is fully committed in 2024, but will look to expand this kind of opportunity to other iwi in 2025.
Banner image features Te Waharoa participants during the MITO StartUp® programme, pictured during a visit to Andrew Simms dealership in Auckland: Jeremy Spicer (Andrew Simms, Group General Manager—Sales), Nick Loseby (MITO Vocational Careers Advisor), Te-hira Newton, Paitin Wilson, Carlos Murray, Te Kowhatu Puhi, Kuluva Thompson, Jordan Tuhura, Shakaudus Harris, Boynie Walker, and Alan Clarke (MITO Training Advisor, South Auckland/Franklin).
Media contact: Jo Fisher, Marketing and Communications Manager, MITO
jo.fisher@mito.org.nz
04 494 2440
027 446 0409