Trade/Vocational Training

The industry training system provides support systems that are designed for Māori trainees, as well as others, to successfully complete their vocational qualifications.  While ‘industry training’ was introduced in the 1990s, all trainees funded through the industry training system are employees who undertake learning on the job, just as they did in old-style apprenticeships prior to these reforms.

The Modern Apprenticeship scheme initiated in 2000 provides, in addition, a personal mentor for the trainee to assist in locating employment and meeting their on-off-job training needs.  The high levels of participation by Māori in industry training (including Modern Apprenticeships and Skill Enhancement programmes) suggests that there are real opportunities for Māori to access learning through apprenticeship style training.

The Government has introduced a number of initiatives in the last few years to bolster Māori trade training.  Trade training requirements are met through the Government’s Industry Training strategy, which is industry-led and is designed to be responsive to the needs of employers.

In 2003, there were 21,700 Māori involved in industry training, representing 17 per cent of all industry trainees.  Modern Apprenticeships function as industry training with an enhanced support role played by coordinators who serve as the link between employers and younger trainees.  Māori made up 15 per cent of those in Modern Apprenticeships in 2003.

There are also two main training programmes targeted at people with low qualifications to learn vocational skills.  In 2003, Māori learners made up 42 per cent (8075) of those on Training Opportunities and 47 per cent (5602) of those on Youth Training.

In addition the targeted Skill Enhancement programme had 79 per cent (790) Māori trainees. Skill Enhancement is available to Māori and Pasifika young people enrolling in vocational education and training leading to industry qualifications at levels 3 or 4 of the National Qualifications Framework.

There are plenty of opportunities for Māori to access vocational training through industry training and Skill Enhancement and to reach entry requirements through Training Opportunities, Youth Training and pre-trade courses in tertiary education providers. 

The significant increase in Government targets and associated funding for industry training since 2000 have provided many more opportunities for Māori to access training.  Further opportunities for Māori are still being provided through the expansion of industry training and the demand-driven funding system for tertiary education providers, and direct support provided to learners in Skill Enhancement and Modern Apprenticeships.

Vocational education and training takes many different forms and occurs in many places.  Vocational education is supported by Government with funding to education providers (through the Student Component) as well as to industry training organisations (through the Industry Training Fund).  Vocational education can take place on the job, within industry training and in employer-specific training, and in education providers – both in tertiary education institutions such as polytechnics and wānanga, and in private training establishments.  Most vocational education leads to industry qualifications.  These qualifications are developed by industry training organisations and are registered on the National Qualifications Framework.

Vocational education is delivered by Tertiary Education Institutions (TEIs) through both student component funding (by tailoring courses to the interests of learners) or by winning industry training contracts from Industry Training Organisations that are partly funded through the Industry Training Fund and partly funded by employers.

TEIs, and in particular institutes of technology and polytechnics, have a major role in the provision of vocational training. Institutes of technology and polytechnics also work to respond to regional training and employment needs – working directly with employers or regional employer organisations to meet vocational training needs.