July 17, 2013
Tamaki trades seek co-operative
Auckland Māori tradespeople are taking a lead from Otautahi and setting up a Māori trades co-operative.
Industry, iwi and education providers are discussing the benefits that could come from teaming up, including being able to tender for bigger projects, getting better prices for materials and being better able to provide training and employment opportunities for rangatahi Māori wanting to enter the building industry.
Barry Baker, the chair of Christchurch’s Te Kaihanga Co-operative, says trades people who had gone through the Māori trade training programmes in the 1970s and 80s got together after the earthquakes to help with rebuild projects.
He says by training and bringing younger people through, it may become sustainable long term.
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