With an Apprenticeship you can earn money while gaining skills and qualifications. If you're 16 or older, and interested in a career in one of the industries that offer apprenticeships, you may be able to earn a qualification while you work.
What do New Zealand Apprenticeships involve?
New Zealand Apprenticeships teach you a trade such as:
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building
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engineering
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hairdressing, barbering or beauty
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agriculture or horticulture
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tourism
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sports or fitness.
As an apprentice, you:
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work for, and learn from, an employer who supports you through your apprenticeship
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complete practical, on-the-job assessments such as showing you can lay carpet
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attend courses that are part of the apprenticeship such as block courses, evening courses and day-release classes
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complete written assessments.
Benefits of New Zealand Apprenticeships include:
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earning at least the training minimum wage (employers often pay more as you become more skilled)
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gaining technical, practical skills
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gaining a Level 4 New Zealand Certificate when you complete the apprenticeship, which means you are likely to be paid more and have better work opportunities.
Getting Started
Choose the industry, job type and region you would like to work in and then contact the relevant industry training organisation (ITO) for more information.
How to apply for apprenticeships
If you already have skills and knowledge in your area of interest, find out if you can have these credited to your apprenticeship.
How to get credit for skills and knowledge you already have
An ITO can help you work out what you need to do, and what qualifications you can get.
ITO contact details and apprenticeship options
Pre-trade training helps you get knowledge and practical skills and a taste of working in a particular industry. It shows employers you’re ready for an apprenticeship.
The benefits of Pre-trade training
The Budget 2020 has made major investments in jobs and training in response to the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic with a a$1.6 billion Trades and Apprenticeships Training Package.
Interest in apprenticeships increasing as free trades training begins
The Targeted Training and Apprenticeships Fund (TTAF) will make training in targeted areas and all apprenticeships free from 1 July 2020 until 31 December 2022. The list of qualifications covered by the fund are available on the Tertiary Education Commission’s website.
In addition, the recently announced Apprenticeship Boost will help employers to pay for new and existing apprentices in their first two years of training.
“We know as a result of COVID-19, many New Zealanders will be looking to retrain and gain new skills, and employers in key sectors will need more skilled people,” says Education Minister Hon Chris Hipkins.
“We’re working hard to connect the two sides of the equation by making this process as simple and practical as possible. It’s designed not just for school leavers but for people in a range of circumstances and stages of their lives.
“That means we’ve removed costs for many learners, apprentices and employers – for the next two and a half years, and are targeting courses and programmes that are more likely to lead to jobs. We will also be deliberate in promoting vocational education for all ages,” says Minister Hipkins.