News
A lifetime of Frame and Truss
Mark Strawbridge, Detailer Manager at Placemakers in Harewood, Christchurch, has been in the industry for over three decades. Now leading a high-performing team of other detailers, we spoke to Mark about his passion for the industry and approach to managi
Building Belonging: Paving the way for more inclusivity in the trades
Free resources are now available for trade employers. They include a new podcast series, video series and interactive training modules for employers. The aim of these resources is to create inclusive worksites and a construction and infrastructure sector
Learning English, while tackling the tools
Paulo Oliveira moved from Brazil to New Zealand five years ago. What was meant to be a four-month exchange to learn English, turned into a decision to stay and enter the trades. Nearing the end of his BCITO | Te Pūkenga training to become a builder, we sp
Breaking down concrete barriers
Todd Maitland is a BCITO | Te Pūkenga Concrete apprentice working at Brownmore Concrete in Waihi. Despite having an intellectual disability, autism, and being blind in one eye, Todd is excelling in his studies and is working through the units in his appre
Celebrating female success in the painting industry
Chelsey Froese is now a BCITO qualified painter living in Queenstown having originally moved from Canada on a working holiday visa. We spoke to Chelsey about her decision to remain in New Zealand and undertake an apprenticeship.
BCITO officially part of Te Pūkenga
As of 1 January 2023, BCITO | Te Pūkenga has officially transitioned from being a work-based learning subsidiary, to one of 25 operating divisions within Te Pūkenga New Zealand Institute of Skills and Technology.
Improving Equity in the Construction Industry
Estimates are that 10% of the New Zealand population have dyslexia. This sometimes-debilitating learning disability makes it difficult for individuals to read and write, regardless of intellectual intelligence.
Seeding rare stonemasonry skills to the next generation
Scottish men Kris Boyd and Stuart Mackintosh are leaders in the small but unique New Zealand stonemasonry sector. As the proud owners of Christchurch-based Pinnacle Masonry, their team provides stonemasonry services across the South Island.
From accounting to building
Jeremy Pearce is a BCITO carpentry apprentice with a unique career history. Formerly a financial advisor, we spoke to Jeremy about his decision to pick up the tools and switch into the trades.
Tiling the next generation
Terry Jones, owner of Mangawhai Tile & Stone, has worked around the world in the tiling business. We spoke to Terry about his exciting career and commitment to training the next generation of tilers.
