North Canterbury News: August 03, 2023

NEWS
16 The North Canterbury News, August 3, 2023
Ben is looking to the future
AMayors Taskforce for Jobs (MTFJ)
placement has takenhis firststep to
home ownership.
One month into his placement,Ben
Fowler (18)has joined KiwiSaver
through hisnew employment as an
insulatedpanel installerwith
Paneltech Contractors.
‘‘Thecompanyhas helped me set up
abank account and I'm keen to start
budgeting,’’Ben says.
By joining KiwiSaver, Ben is looking
forward to saving enough for his first
home loanaspart of the financialgoals
he has set himself.
Hurunui District Council MTFJ
Business Connector Chris Kingsays
secure employment provides
important life skills thatare over and
aboveremuneration, as well as skills
that are transferable to other positions
and industries.
Paneltech is helping Ben get his
Restricted Drivers Licence, building
on his Learner Licence, obtained
through theMTFJ programme.
Over the past month,hehas done
Site Safe trainingand has ticked off his
height safetycourse.
‘‘I’ve already learnt alot and Ienjoy
the work, I’ve evenbuilt afew walls.''
Paneltech Contractorsdirectors
Graham and LeonieSmith say
Paneltech,which buildsand maintains
insulatedpanel buildings,including
chillers, freezers, tiny homes and
offices,had been gladtosupport a
youngperson needing helpontothe
firstrung of employment.
‘‘Like alot of companies in the
building industry, we were looking for
staff, especiallykeen,reliableyoung
people who were looking to grow a
career in construction. Thiswas with
the intention of having them work
beside our staff and develop into
skilled trades people,’’ Grahamsays.
At work ... Paneltech Contractors Ltd director Graham Smith (left) shows Ben
Fowler adoor hinge fixing as part of his training.
PHOTO: SUPPLIED
‘‘Chris and Prudence from the
council's MTFJ programmeprovided
us with the opportunitytomeet and
trial young peoplewho needed some
extra support to get into the workforce.
‘‘MTFJ has given us the opportunity to
giveback to the community.Asthe
saying goes,‘it takesacommunity to
growayoung person’, and Leonie and I,
along with the Paneltech team, are
privilegedtosupport these young
people and the programme.
‘‘Ben is agreatsuccess story. He
cametousfrom the MTFJ programme
on atrial and really impressed us with
his focusonlearningand working with
the team. He is now afull­timeteam
member and is makingexcellent
progress in learning the trade of an
insulated panelinstaller,’’ Graham
says.
Fowler’s mum, Kristin, saysthe
opportunities provided by MTFJ for
Ben havebeen ‘‘life changing.’’
‘‘It’s been apositive change right
from thevery start of joining the MTFJ
programme —Ben gettinghis Learner
Licenceand seeing his wellbeing,
confidence and self­esteem grow,’’ she
says. ‘‘MTFJ has delivered many things
that Icouldn’thave as aparent.’’
HurunuiDistrictMayor Marie Black
says Hurunui Council has been an
early adopter of the MTFJ programme
and stories likeFowler’sdemonstrate
the programme's value.’’
Fit-for-purpose
fire station
Kaikoura now has anew, $7.04 million,fit­forpurpose
fire station.
It was officially opened last weekend by the
Minister of Internal Affairs, BarbaraEdmonds.
The Kaikōura Volunteer Fire brigade and
community were joined byFire and Emergency
service representatives, local iwi, and
stakeholders, including Kaikōura Mayor Craig
Mackle, and past members of the brigade to
celebrate its opening.
In 2016, the Kaikōura district suffered a
significant earthquake which left its fire station
badly damaged.
It was also deemed too close to the shore also,
which meant it was vulnerable to atsunami.
Construction on the new facilitybegan in 2021,
and part of the funding needed to build the new
station has come fromthe COVID­19 Response and
Recovery Fund.
The new station, which sits well out of the
tsunami zone, boasts three appliance bays along
with decontamination, breathing apparatus filling
facilities, operations and training rooms, and
offices.
There is also aresource garage housing
additional appliances and atanker.
Fire and Emergency New Zealand’s District
Commander, Canterbury, Dave Stackhousesays
the new station will provide an essential hub for
emergency services and the community.
‘‘Due to the location of Kaikōura, it poses
several challenges for emergency services which
the Kaikōura earthquake highlighted.
‘‘This new state­of­the­art station is asafe
facility for the Kaikōura VolunteerFireBrigade to
continue to offer its services to the community for
years to come,’’ he says.
‘‘The station has been constructed to ahigh level
of seismic strength so it can remain operating
following adisaster
Mr Stackhouse says the firefighters no longer
justrespond to fires.
‘‘The new station also ensuresvolunteers are
prepared, and will allow them to continue to
respond to arange of incidents around Kaikōura.’’
Areyou
aWaititi?
No matterwho you
are, yourcreative
project may be
eligible for funding.
waimakariri.govt.nz/creative
The second round of applications for the
year will open on Friday 28 July and close on
Monday 28 August 2023.
#ArtsForAllKinds
Or more of
aWhitney?
The Creative CommunitiesScheme supports
local artists to create. Visit your nearest
Waimakariri Library toget help with your
funding application.