3255 days ago

Apprenticeship scheme tackles skills shortage

Noel Smith from Noel Smith Councillor - Newcastle Ward

The roading industry in New Zealand, along with many other industries, is experiencing a shortage of skilled personnel.

An apprenticeship programme in the Waikato District is playing its part to address this skills shortage following the graduation of its first intake last month.

A partnership between Downer, Waikato Tainui and the Ministry of Social Development has resulted in 10 previously unemployed members of the community gaining a qualification and employment.

The Downer Basics Civil Apprenticeship Programme aims to attract capable people into the industry and give them career pathways along with industry qualifications.

The programme is designed to give graduates a clearly defined career path and is supplemented with studies and linked to a national qualification.

The intention is for Waikato District Alliance to run the programme annually.

Congratulations to this first graduate intake.

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More messages from your neighbours
2 hours ago

Brain Teaser of the Day 🧠✨ Can You Solve It? 🤔💬

The Riddler from The Neighbourly Riddler

Make a hearty dish. Take just half a minute. Add four parts of kestrel. Then just add one. What have you made?

(Trev from Silverdale kindly provided this head-scratcher ... thanks, Trev!)

Do you think you know the answer? Simply 'Like' this post and we'll post the answer in the comments below at 2pm on the day!

Want to stop seeing these in your newsfeed? No worries! Simply head here and click once on the Following button.

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6 days ago

Poll: Should the government levy industries that contribute to financial hardship?

The Team from Neighbourly.co.nz

As reported in the Post, there’s a $30 million funding gap in financial mentoring. This has led to services closing and mentors stepping in unpaid just to keep helping people in need 🪙💰🪙

One proposed solution? Small levies on industries that profit from financial hardship — like banks, casinos, and similar companies.

So we want to hear what you think:
Should the government ask these industries to contribute?

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Should the government levy industries that contribute to financial hardship?
  • 59.5% Yes, supporting people is important!
    59.5% Complete
  • 26.2% No, individuals should take responsibility
    26.2% Complete
  • 14.4% ... It is complicated
    14.4% Complete
1120 votes
5 days ago

Derelict Tokanui Hospital site in line for a clean-up

Libby Totton Reporter from Waikato Times

Derelict Tokanui Hospital buildings will be demolished and contaminated land cleaned up so the site can be offered back to iwi.

The former psychiatric hospital, southeast of Te Awamutu, sits on land taken from Ngāti Maniapoto under the Public Works Act in 1910.

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