Joining the dots

Oliver enrolled in the Joinery Top of the South Trades Academy(external link) programme available at NMIT Te Pūkenga after hearing about it at school last year.

“I enjoy doing physical things like PE (physical education), mechanical engineering and building things. When I heard about the trades course, I decided I’d take it,” he says.

Oliver enjoyed the Trades Academy programme so much, he continued his education journey this year by taking the Certificate in Construction Skills(external link).

“So far, it’s been fun,” he says. “There are amazing tutors and good people on the programme.”

The class was encouraged to all apply for the Nelson Pine Industries Ltd – Construction/Joinery Scholarship by tutor, Huw Morgan. The successful recipient takes home $1000 for course-related costs and is invited on a tour of the site.

“The tour was really interesting,” Oliver says. “I wandered through their workshops and saw everything from the trucks dumping the logs all the way to the finished products.”

Oliver is looking forward to being able to build anything he wants around the home and to starting an apprenticeship later in the year.

“I’ve been working during the holidays for a local company and have secured an apprenticeship with them, which is really exciting.”

For more information on the carpentry and joinery programmes available at NMIT, or the Trades Academy courses open to secondary school students, visit our website(external link).

Enrolments open 1 August for 2024 Trades Academy, go to the Trades Academy website(external link) to apply.