Large increase in number of female and
Older people, Ma¯ ori, and women all became trades apprentices in large numbers as the pandemic played havoc with the economy last year.
There were just over 57,000 trades apprentices in New Zealand at the end of last year, a growth of 12,000 or 17.6 per cent on the year prior, according to newly released data from the Tertiary Education Commission.
That growth was in part spurred by a large increase in apprentices outside of the typical apprentice: women.
Education Minister Chris Hipkins, who has ploughed huge amounts of cash into making apprenticeships free, said it appeared many were making career changes. ‘‘Apprenticeships are traditionally seen as something you do out of school, but with free trades training we are seeing a big jump in workers aged 25 to 39 taking the opportunity for a career change,’’ Hipkins said.
There were 3730 more apprentices aged between 25 and 39 at the end of 2020, a growth of onefifth on the year prior, and 1510 more who were 40 or older – a growth of 28.3 per cent. older people and
Growth in Ma¯ori and Pacific apprentices is outpacing the growth in other ethnicities – there was 28 per cent more Ma¯ori apprentices than the year prior and 29.2 per cent more Pacific apprentices, compared to 16 per cent growth for other ethnicities.
‘‘The number of Ma¯ori and Pacific apprentices grew almost 30 per cent last year, which will benefit the economic development of their communities for years to come,’’ Hipkins said.
The growth was coming from a low base however – in absolute terms there were just over 3000 new apprentices who were from Ma¯ ori or Pacific backgrounds, and 6300 from other backgrounds.
Women are also becoming apprentices in greater numbers, with 30 per cent more female apprentices at the end of 2020 than in 2019. Again, the growth was from an extremely low base – there was still far more men coming into
Philip worshipped at the capital’s Anglican cathedral in 1968, 1977 and 2002.
The Wellington cathedral’s clergy donned gold and red copes – liturgical vestments – that were made in anticipation of the royal couple’s first visits.
In Parliament last week, politicians paid their respects to the late British royal.
‘‘No matter what your role, no matter what your responsibility, grief spares no-one,’’ Ardern told the House.
‘‘Prince Philip added to the world, he added to Britain, he added to the Commonwealth,’’ Opposition leader Judith Collins said.