Trust supports Ma¯ori career paths at NMIT

Free tertiary education is now available across the top of the South Island for Ma¯ori looking to get into the primary sector.

Whenua Kura Trust, aimed at supporting Ma¯ori into ‘‘good career prospects in the primary sector’’ has partnered with Nelson Marlborough Institute of Technology (NMIT) to offer free education to Ma¯ori across the region.

Trust national delivery manager Liz McElhinney said Ma¯ori students could take construction, wine cellar operations and maritime courses in Marlborough and Nelson without having to worry about finances.

‘‘We support Ma¯ori to get qualifications and move into good career prospects within the primary sector ... So we pay for their course fees to study and we’ve got some partnerships with some tertiary institutes around New Zealand,’’ she said.

This was the first time the trust was able to offer students in Marlborough courses, after establishing a partnership with NMIT this year.

The trust was looking to recruit more people for the one-year pretrade construction course at NMIT in Blenheim.

The course would give graduates the qualifications to work as entry-level construction site workers, pre-cut factory workers, and in the retail sector of the building and construction industry.

McElhinney said most interest for the course was coming from Ma¯ori aged between 17 and 25, however those up to 40-years-old were eligible.

‘‘Most of them are probably aged between 17 and 25 which is a good target market because that’s where our biggest unemployment is but we certainly are aiming to get up to 40 [years-old] which may be a change in career for a person.’’

If students successfully completed the certificate in construction, McElhinney said they would be rewarded with a tool belt and $1000.

The trust also offered free study for courses around the country, including dairy, beef and sheep farming courses, conservation courses and bee keeping courses.

The construction course starts on February 22.

For more information about the free study opportunity, visit the Whenua Kura Trust website or call 03 578 9073.