Apprentices across Aotearoa could receive a significant pay rise under a new Green Party election policy promising to abolish the training wage, provide $2,000 towards tools and equipment, and invest an additional $30 million annually in Māori and Pacific trades training.
The announcement is the latest component of the Green Party’s Good Jobs for All of Us employment package, aimed at strengthening the skilled workforce needed to build homes, expand renewable energy and improve infrastructure.
Green Party co-leaders Chlöe Swarbrick and Marama Davidson say the changes are designed to make apprenticeships more financially accessible while helping more young people complete their qualifications and move into sustainable employment.
The proposal comes as the Greens warn that apprentice numbers have fallen to a 15-year low, with low wages, insecure employment and inadequate support making it increasingly difficult for trainees to remain in the trades.
Training Wage to Be Abolished
At the centre of the policy is a commitment to abolish the training minimum wage.
Under current settings, eligible apprentices and trainees can be paid a lower minimum hourly rate than other adult workers.
The training minimum wage is currently $19.16 an hour, compared with the adult minimum wage of $23.95 an hour.
The Green Party’s proposal would remove that lower rate, ensuring apprentices currently receiving the training minimum wage are entitled to at least the adult minimum wage.
For someone working a standard 40-hour week, the difference would be significant.
| Weekly earnings at 40 hours | Before tax |
|---|---|
| Current training minimum wage | $766.40 |
| Adult minimum wage | $958.00 |
| Potential weekly increase | $191.60 |
That represents a potential increase of almost $10,000 annually before tax for an apprentice currently earning the training minimum wage and working 40 hours every week.
The Greens argue that apprentices should not be forced to struggle financially while developing skills that are essential to the country’s economy.
The change would not mean every apprentice receives a pay increase, as some already earn above the adult minimum wage.
$2,000 Grant for Tools, Uniforms and Equipment
The party is also promising a $2,000 apprentice equipment grant, available over the duration of an apprenticeship.
The funding would help cover the cost of essential equipment, including tools, uniforms and course materials.
For apprentices entering trades such as building, plumbing, electrical work and automotive engineering, purchasing the equipment needed to begin training can create a significant upfront financial burden.
The Greens say reducing those costs would allow apprentices to concentrate on developing their skills rather than worrying about how to afford the equipment required for their training.
$30 Million Annual Boost for Māori and Pacific Apprentices
A major component of the announcement is a commitment to invest an additional $30 million each year in Māori and Pacific-led training initiatives.
The funding would support programmes designed to address financial and structural barriers affecting Māori and Pacific apprentices.
The proposed investment would focus on strengthening pastoral and learning support, improving job-matching services and providing assistance to newly qualified tradespeople entering their first jobs.
Green Party co-leader Marama Davidson says Māori and Pacific whānau can face additional challenges when accessing and completing vocational training.
The Greens argue that stronger community-led support would help improve apprenticeship completion rates and create more opportunities for long-term employment.
For Māori communities, the proposal also raises opportunities to strengthen pathways into skilled employment through iwi organisations, Māori training providers and businesses operating across the construction and infrastructure sectors.
Employers Offered $2,000 Completion Bonuses
The policy also includes a $2,000 completion bonus for employers who actively support apprentices to progress through their qualifications.
The Greens say employers have an important role in providing the supervision, practical experience and workplace support needed for successful training.
The proposed incentive is intended to encourage businesses to invest in developing their apprentices rather than simply using them as an additional source of labour.
The policy could be particularly relevant to smaller businesses that face costs associated with supervising trainees while maintaining day-to-day operations.
However, the proposal would also increase minimum wage costs for employers currently paying eligible apprentices at the training rate.
The balance between improved apprentice incomes and the financial capacity of businesses to provide training places is likely to be an important consideration in assessing the policy.
Building the Workforce Aotearoa Needs
The Greens say New Zealand needs more skilled workers to meet demand in housing, renewable energy and infrastructure.
The party identifies builders, electricians, plumbers, mechanics and other tradespeople as essential to its wider economic development plans.
It argues that increasing investment in apprenticeships would help address skills shortages while providing pathways into secure employment.
The party’s broader vocational training policy also includes restoring centres of vocational excellence to support the development of apprenticeships that respond to future workforce needs.
Opportunities for Māori Economic Development
For Māori businesses and communities, greater investment in trades training could support employment opportunities across several sectors.
Construction, housing development, infrastructure maintenance and renewable energy projects all require skilled tradespeople.
Māori organisations involved in papakāinga development, housing construction and regional economic initiatives could potentially benefit from a larger pool of qualified workers.
The proposed funding for Māori and Pacific-led training also recognises the importance of culturally responsive education and support.
Training programmes that connect apprentices with their communities, provide mentoring and address practical barriers to participation may help more rangatahi complete their qualifications.
The Greens say the objective is to ensure vocational training provides a pathway into meaningful employment for people from different backgrounds and financial circumstances.
Part of Wider Green Party Jobs Package
The apprenticeship announcement follows another Green Party election commitment to provide financial support for students completing compulsory practical placements.
That policy would provide eligible students training for professions such as nursing, teaching and social work with a $380 weekly payment during placements, alongside a $1,500 relocation allowance for those required to move.
Together, the proposals form part of the Greens’ broader employment and workforce development programme.
The party says the package is designed to support people entering essential occupations while encouraging investment in the skills required for future economic development.
Election 2026: Apprenticeships and Jobs in Focus
With the November 7 general election approaching, employment, wages and training opportunities are emerging as important issues for voters.
The Green Party’s announcement puts renewed attention on the affordability of apprenticeships and the support available to young people entering skilled trades.
The proposal also raises questions about how governments can balance fair wages for trainees, support for employers and the need to increase the number of qualified tradespeople.
For Māori and Pacific communities, the promised $30 million annual investment represents a significant policy commitment to improving access to vocational education and employment.
As Aotearoa confronts ongoing workforce challenges, the Greens are proposing higher minimum pay, practical financial assistance and targeted training investment as a way to encourage more people into the trades and help them complete their qualifications.
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