In-house apprentice training students build houses with the support of community & industry mix.

Talking to Jim Moffett, lecturer in charge of Manawatū students in NZ Certificate in Construction (level 3), it was obvious it takes a large support network to build a complete house and enable students to learn the required skill-sets on site.

Every year, UCOL | Te Pūkenga Manawatū students build a three-bedroom house for the Palmerston North community. They begin by learning the basic skills of health & safety, tools, carpentry and the rules of working on sites. This soon progresses to a large building project of a complete house. Piece by piece they are guided and supported by staff, UCOL Te Pūkenga, industry and community. It is an incredible journey for these students, aged 16 and up. They also learn and engage in teamwork and become confident in social interactions. This is especially important when working with trades, contractors and, perhaps in the future, running their own businesses.

Let’s take you through how our industries support these builds here in the Manawatū rohe – it is quite a phenomenal team effort involving industry, UCOL Te Pūkenga and students. These connections are key to success for us all. Additional houses are built with programmes run in Whanganui, Taumarunui, Masterton and Levin, using different sets of local Industries.

It starts with the Architect, Daryl Edwards from Affordable Design, drawing up the plans and organising permits with the Palmerston North City Council. The students then start building the sub-floor inside UCOL Te Pūkenga workshops, with supplies from Mitre 10, who also bring in various products and hardware for the entire build. Framing is next and trusses follow. Trusses from Feilding’s H&R Jones. Roofing next, the metal and contractors are supplied by the company Metalcraft Industries.

When contractors are used, students observe and learn the processes, interactions and gain an understanding of the requirements needed like certifications and expectations. We have electrical, plumbing and construction courses at UCOL Te Pūkenga, however, the timing of the builds may not always match the course schedules.

The build continues with pre-wiring, plumbing and exterior to doors make the house watertight, provided by Sal Electrical, Waterworks and Fishers. Internal doors are supplied by Quality Doors. Then gibbing is started. Kitchen

joinery is supplied by Renal Doors and Joinery and Showers are installed by certified installers, Englefield and Clearlite. Plastering is done by PN Fibrous Plasters. Painting comes next with Dave from D&H Painting. AC Plastics also donates plastic packers every year to UCOL Te Pūkenga. Finally Central House Movers Ltd from Bulls place the completed house on the back carpark at UCOL Te Pūkenga ready for sale. Normally the houses have been presold, as they are very popular. Property Brokers handle the sales process. You can hear the passion in Jim’s voice as he describes a build and all the people involved.

“It just doesn’t work without great connections and the support of industry”.