NEWS & INFO
NZMA, BCITO & Women in Trades celebrate women in construction
New Zealand Management Academies Ltd (NZMA) hosted their first Women in Construction Breakfast on 10 May with a group of high achieving female construction talent inspiring NZMA students. Women in Trades were there too.
Strong female presence at pre-trades
Forty-eight percent of New Zealand’s population are women, but they only make up 16% of the painting and decorating industry. Could investing in more female apprentices help the industry battle the current labour shortage? Tina Falconer, a painting and decorating tutor at Ara, certainly thinks so.
Meet Margaret Otai-vai, Plumbing Student at MIT (2016)
"Give it a go, because it can be done. Don't be intimidated by plumbing being a 'male's job'. Women can do it too,"
Watch Margaret discuss why she loves training for the plumbing trade
Meet Nikita Ward, a Skills Plumbing Apprentice
The idea of working in tight spaces, with grime and sewer pipes gives most people the heebee jeebies. But Nikita Ward gives a different perspective.
“Everyone thinks ‘plumber’ means sh*t,” says Nikita. “I’ve been doing this for three years and only had to deal with it maybe ten times. The grubby stuff is crawling under houses. You get used to it. I quite enjoy it now. I like the challenge of squeezing into small spaces.”
Where there’s a will there’s a way
Meet Plasterer Kirstin McGavin, she completed her apprenticeship in 2017 and has been working since then as a qualified plasterer with Tauranga Plasterers. Something that she never thought she would achieve.
Exciting new sign up for the Architectural Aluminium Joinery (AAJ) Sector
BCITO had the pleasure of signing Tamara Tuhiwai into a new apprenticeship within the AAJ sector. Tamara will complete her apprenticeship at Vistalite Windows and Doors in Taupō.
Meet Mel Browne, Carpentry Graduate of MIT
“Just get out there and do it! There’s no difference between them and us”
Diversity works in exterior plastering
Glenn Munro from Properly Plastered in Christchurch shares his thoughts on why having women on his team works.
BBFNZ launches scholarships for women
The Brick and Blocklayers Federation (BBFNZ) has launched the Jan Buckland Scholarships for women Brick and Blocklaying apprentices.
Women nailing careers in the trades
Female trade apprentices love their career choice, but research shows that few considered a career in building or construction while they were at school.
Find out more about what BCITO’s female apprentices think about their trades careers