New Zealand Certificate in Painting and Decorating (Level 4)

Aaron Wilson - Painting (Trade)

“I was painting in Auckland then relocated up here and needed to re-train and get trade qualified so I could run my own business.  At a NorthTec open night I looked into transport, but instead I was advised to simply upskill in painting because I already had the experience and there’s a good demand for it.”

“The stand-out here is the tutor. He creates a great learning environment, manages the group well, and makes it easy to ask questions. Working out the pricing and quotes and quantities is a challenge for me but the tutor explains things well and is genuinely passionate about the trade. Everyone is focussed here, and to any young person looking to educate themselves, you couldn’t do better than NorthTec.”

“We’re doing some exciting projects like the Otamatea marae and it’s great to be giving back to the community as we develop our skills. I’ll be a better painter for the experience.”

“I’ll continue to level 4 painting then I’m going to do a small business course here so that I can run my own business well. Ultimately I’d like to manage a team probably doing spray painting of both interiors and exteriors. ”

Challas Nathan - Painting

“I love it here every day. There’s heaps about painting I didn’t realize – the prepping, plastering, learning about the paints and safety. It’s all a challenge and that’s what I like about it.”

“I also get to work in my own town.  I know the other bros and the tutor and I’ve started on a learning process that I enjoy enough to take further.”

“I’ll start by helping to paint my Mum’s house then I’ll get straight into work. My uncles are painters in Auckland and I’m happy to do any type of painting work. The further I look into this, the further I realize it can take me.”

Brandon Wilson - Painting (Trade)

“The roofing job I had was going down-hill. I used to paint a few years ago and I was familiar with NorthTec because I had studied construction here before, so doing this course was a chance to pick up new skills.”

“I love going out on site and I’m getting really interested in colour. We have a good mix of students and a good tutor.”

“After the course I want to get an apprenticeship and ultimately would love to take up fly-in-fly-out short term painting contracts in other countries.”

Iwi – Tainui and Ngapuhi

Kelsey Lawrence - Painting

“The best part of this course is that we’re out there doing up a community building in town, not just sitting in a classroom. We got some experience here first stripping down and painting some old church pews, and we had to organise the business side of the town job sorting out things like the scaffolding and pricing, but we mostly learn by doing.”

“I’ve always loved painting, changing things around, art and drawing. I’ve been farming for my grandparents and working in my Dad’s engineering shop in town, but I’m keen to learn more about painting and there’s a lot of work for brush hands at the moment.”

“I surprised at how much I’m enjoying learning. I was home schooled and I hated school so I didn’t think I liked learning, but this is so applied and I now want to keep learning. It was awesome meeting all the students and the tutor is so encouraging and doesn’t leave anyone behind. The tutor’s motto is ‘Achieving together’.”

“As soon as I finish the course I want to get a job painting and I’ll go on and do level 4 which gets into paint spraying, wall-papering and plastering. There’s lot of painting and trade work around at the moment and the pay is good if you’re efficient and know what you’re doing. Already my nana wants me to paint her house.”

“I’ll keep learning, get more experience and see where it takes me.”

Hui Simon-Hau - Painting

“Painting is really satisfying. Doing the level 2 course got me hooked so now I’m giving this next level a shot.”

“It’s a challenge for me to show up every day and stay with it but it’s worth it. I’ve met heaps of new people because we go out painting on the job. I enjoy the team we work with and the people we meet out there.”

“I want to become self-employed after this and long term I’d love to be a tutor and give others the gift of painting.”

Gary Baker - Painting

“My Dad’s a painter so I’ve been painting since I was a teenager and basically have the advantage of knowing what I’m doing. I decided to do the course because I want to learn different ways of doing things, upskill, learn to use different gear and get qualifications so I can take on bigger job contracts.”

“I love painting so I really enjoy the course. It’s opened my eyes to other ways to prep aside from Dad’s way. I’m also learning to use the spray gun which is something Dad always did, and I’m surprised to find I’m actually quite good at it.”

“Our class is a mixed crew and we all work together and learn from each other. I can help some of the young fellas with some tips and with their paperwork. The tutor is thorough and he’s an ace man. I ask him lots of questions. He knows I’m interested and he encourages me with uplifting comments and helpful extra info.”

“Getting this qualification means I will have something behind me that says I’ve got this. I want to start connecting with builders and painters to get jobs and I want to also learn how to plaster. I’m feeling competent and confident. I know what I need to do, in what sequence, and how to price it.”

“I’m ready to take on a contract of my own now so I’ll advertise by word of mouth and start doing work on Thursdays and Fridays which are our work experience days. My dream is to own my own business and employ people. There’s a big demand for this trade now and I feel equipped to help meet that.”

Zaine Williams - Painting

“I did an agriculture course first but I liked painting when I was young. The best part of this painting course is learning how to do things properly by physically doing them. There’s a lot more to rolling than I thought – especially rolling a ceiling.”

“As part of the course we students work together on a house for work experience and we work well as a team. We’re a good mix of ages and backgrounds. I’m surprised that I’m quite good and steady at cutting in.”

“When I finish the course I’m hoping to get a job painting and then want to get an apprenticeship. By getting knowledge and experience in painting we can apply that to our own houses in the future without having to pay someone else.”

“We have family land so the dream for me is to spend my life both painting and farming, and ultimately be able to make my own place.”

Tracey Pomana - Painting

“I’m surprised how motivated I am to get up and go to work now. We do practical painting work out in the community as part of this course and I love seeing other people’s houses and meeting other trades-people. As a home owner myself I always pick up little hints.”

“I was into building and construction and did that foundation course first but now I prefer the painting. I’m an outdoor person and have painted my house before so I was keen to get more info on the whole process and how to paint more professionally. With any painting of course it’s the preparation work that’s the hardest part.”

“We work together out there with the other students and the tutor comes and checks that we are on track. Already I have got bits of paid work with a painter and when I finish the course I’m keen to get into paid painting work. It will give me some independence and some mana after having been a beneficiary for quite a while.”

“You never know what you can find inside yourself until you step out and start something new. You won’t find it if you stay in your same old routine.”

Te Awarua Pihema - Painting

“We’re painting our town. Really. I love seeing the houses go from pretty run down to really nice. And the best part is that it’s our own town so we know the people inside. It’s changing the feel of where we live.”

The NorthTec painting course in Moerewa is part of the Tū Te Aroha project using ‘helping hands’ within the community to upgrade their homes. “The biggest surprise was that my family house got painted too. It was painted inside and out, plus got some other carpentry upgrades.”

“I‘m not good at taking to new things, so stepping up to do the intro level course first in Kaikohe was a huge challenge for me. The tutors were very supportive and helped me get confidence and now I’m doing the next level which includes working to improve our town’s housing.”

“As part of our painting course we also learn some finishing skills and a bit of basic carpentry. I’ve seen what the carpenters do out on the job so I’m now keen to get into a building course when I finish this. I want to get the skills so I can do renovations and flip houses. It’s so satisfying to see the change.’’

“My dream is to work for myself so later I may to do some business training. When you’ve been stuck, the first step is the hardest. Once you’re over that, you’re flying!”