Construction and Infrastructure Sector

You’ll be part of a well-run team that’s committed to getting the job done to meet the client’s specifications. You’ll work indoors and outdoors. Often it’ll be dusty and noisy, but you’ll also get to feel the sun on your skin and the wind on your face. The hours may vary. You move around from site to site, working with lots of different tradespeople, contractors and clients. You’ll have a variety of different tasks to do no matter what your job is, and you’ll use heaps of different tools and types of machinery. The work is physical and active – you won’t need to join a gym to stay fit. It’s hard work, but there are plenty of laughs and jokes with good mates.

It can be exciting, from driving a 30-tonne digger to making something out of nothing – where it never existed before. There’s always some paperwork to be done, but there’s also an honest day’s pay for an honest day’s work. You can work for yourself or you can work for someone else. Bottom line: if you like to work hard, respect people, do a quality job and deliver on people’s expectations, you can earn it all – the house, the car, the bach, the boat – without having to win them in the lottery.

WAKA-AMA HOE (PADDLE MAKING) 

What is the course about? Students will make a wooden paddle for a waka-ama. They will design the blade, select and laminate the timber, join the blades to the shaft and then shape their paddle using a variety of hand tools. The paddle will be finished with Danish oil.

What to wear? Old clothes to work in - not school uniform. Closed shoes are compulsory.

Unit Standards

Students will be assessed against the following unit standards:

Dates upon application
Course length: 5 days
Time: 9.00 am – 3.00 pm
Course cost:

$50 plus GST per students per day including materials and completed paddle

This course is offered at the Future Trades Campus, Dyer Street, Whangarei