Nor'West News: June 15, 2023

Thursday June 15 2023 97
Apprenticeship Boost
offers a different path
Dan Rosewarne
Labour List MP
based in North Canterbury
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HI-TECH: New technology used to detect fires at Bottle Lake Forest Park
has won a local government excellence award. PHOTO: NEWSLINE
Fire detection network
wins digital award
A CUTTING-EDGE project has won
the Datacom Award for Digital Local
Government.
Smart Christchurch was presented
the award at the LGFA Taituarā Local
Government Excellence Awards on
Thursday evening for a trial of an early
fire detection sensor network in Bottle
Lake Forest.
The technology was also highly commended
in the overall supreme award
category.
The fire detection network reduces the
risk of a fire in the popular recreational
spot, using artificial intelligence and
Internet of Things technology to monitor
conditions within the park.
City council manager of Smart
Christchurch Michael Healy said he was
thrilled the self-powered sensors received
the award.
“It’s fantastic to see the project gain this
recognition, as it helps to protect a special
part of Christchurch city.
“The technology will help protect the
forest, neighbouring properties, the
environment and wildlife of the Waitākiri
Bottle Lake Forest Park.”
MP Dan Rosewarne left high school early
to begin an automotive apprenticeship. He
knows first-hand the benefits that studying a
trade can have on young people as they enter
the workforce.
Like the 57,000 apprentices who have already
been supported by Apprenticeship Boost,
including well over 4,000 right here in
Canterbury, I know what it’s like to choose
the non-traditional pathway of vocational
education.
As someone who struggled in high school,
I vividly recall being told by my high school
careers counsellor to “just get a trade”, as
though it was a second-tier option. As it turns
out, following her advice and beginning an
automotive apprenticeship was the best thing
I could’ve done. The kinaesthetic learning style
clicked with me and helped me to boost my
work ethic, build my confidence, and eventually,
it led me to my 23 year-long career in the New
Zealand Defence Force. The vocational pathway
is one I’ve advocated for ever since.
When the pandemic arrived, this Government
saw the importance of investing in tradespeople
and those who employ them. Apprenticeship
Boost is a payment of $500 per month, per
apprentice, made direct to employers. The
payment covers the first two years of an
apprentice’s training and helps businesses to
take on new apprentices who can earn while
training towards their qualification. Currently,
more than 18,000 employers are registered with
the program.
Since the Apprenticeship Boost launched in
August of 2020, this Government has supported
more than 57,000 apprentices to stay in work
while training toward their qualification.
The Initiative has enabled the number of
young apprentices to increase by 45%, Māori
apprentices by 71%, Pacific apprentices by 97%
and women in apprenticeships by a remarkable
112%.
Apprenticeship Boost ties into the wider goal of
Budget 2023: delivering support for today and
building for tomorrow. Over the next several
decades, we will inevitably see further damage
to our roads and buildings as severe climaterelated
weather events become more frequent.
This, coupled with a growing population and
the infrastructure requirements that come with
it, mean tradespeople are more vital to our
country than ever before.
My message to young people is that if you want
to be a mechanic or a sparkie or a drainlayer, go
for it! Our country needs them, and university
is not the only path to success. I’m proud of this
Government’s record on supporting vocational
training and the work we continue to do to back
apprentices and their employers.
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