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MÄORI CADETSHIPS LAUNCHEDElectrix Ltd and Tenix Alliance NZ have both signed up to train and employ ESITO Mäori cadets.Left to Right: Robert Ferris, Gavan Jackson (Electrix Ltd) and Gary Bennett (Tenix Alliance NZ).wider efforts to boost thenumber of Mäori gainingrelevant and higher levelqualifications and opportunitiesin growth industries.PUTTING MÄORI IN POWERLeith also says cadetships offera relatively inexpensive optionfor employers to recruit anddevelop capability. Furthermore,Mäori cadets gain confidence,employment experience,general and job-specific skills,formal qualifications, industrynetworks and employment.Cadets will receive personalisedmentoring and supportthroughout their training.A new cadetshipprogramme will literally beputting Mäori into powerby the end of the year.With a global shift towardswind, thermal and geothermalpower generation set to create ashortage of skilled workers, Te PuniKökiri and the Electricity SupplyIndustry Training Organisation(ESITO) launched 50 new Mäoricadetships in May.“Skilled telecommunications,infrastructure and energyworkers are in demand acrossthe country and this initiativewill see Mäori gain formalqualifications in an excitinggrowth industry,” said Te PuniKökiri Chief Executive, Leith Comer.At the launch ceremony inWellington, Mäori AffairsMinister Hon Dr Pita Sharplessaid the cadetships were aninnovative example of howprivate, public and educationsectors can work together togrow New Zealand’s own talentpool of skilled workers.ESITO chair John McInteersaid the scheme puts Mäoriat the heart of a significantinfrastructure industry, pursuingnational qualifications for a rangeof trade and technician careers."These 50 people are a criticalstep to ensuring our industrywill be able to attract and retainenough people to meet futureworkforce needs.”Te Puni Kökiri’s initiative,‘Enabling Mäori Success throughCadetships” is in its third year,developed in response to thePrime Minister’s Job Summitin 2009. The programmecomplements Te Puni KökiriThe cadetships target bothnew recruits as well as currentemployees. Fifty cadets will beworking and training fulltimethroughout New Zealand by theend of October 2012.InfraTrain is at the forefront of Te Puni Kökiri’s ‘Mäori in Industry and TradesTraining’ initiative. At the ESITO launch we caught up with InfraTrain chiefexecutive Philip Aldridge and Ngä Pü Waea’s, Antony Royal.10TE PUNI KÖKIRI | KÖKIRI | KÖANGA / SPRING 2012