Media Release 12 June 2013

New NorthTec Painting course contributing to historic Whangarei church project

The historic Whare Karakia (Church) on the Urupa (cemetery) at Pehiaweri Marae in Glenbervie, Whangarei, is being given a new lease of life thanks to the new NorthTec Certificate in Painting (Trades) (Level 2) course.

“It has been beneficial to both the Marae community and to our students who have gained a lot from the onsite practical painting experience,” says NorthTec Painting Tutor James Whittaker.

“It’s the first time painting has been offered as a professional trades career course here in the Northland and we’re really pleased with the way it has gone. From a personal point of view, this course has been long overdue here in the Northland,” James says.

The six-month Level 2 course allowed the first intake of 13 students to leave their own mark as part of their contribution to the Glenbervie and nearby Tikipunga communities.

“It is good for our students to be involved in projects like this and to know they are putting something back into the community while at the same time learning a skill and trade as a career option,” says James.

NorthTec has been working with Pehiaweri Marae community now for nearly two-and-a-half years to build, enhance, and restore the facilities which exist on the site.

Much of the recent collaborative work has concentrated on the church which was built in 1886 after eight acres of land was gifted by the local whanau to the Church of England in 1885 to hold in trust for use as a church, vicarage and burial ground.

In 1980 the property was returned to the whanau following a Private Member’s Bill being tabled in Parliament and since then there has been on-going development and refurbishment of the facilities.

“We’re just pleased to be part of this project which is on-going and my expectation is that we more intakes will work on this project before it Is finished in July 2014,” James says.

Local company John Cooper provided scaffolding for free while the Marae paid for all other materials.

“It is not the only project NorthTec has managed to secure, we have another one in the pipeline with the Ngati Wai Trust Board but we’re always looking for more of course. The more we work we do with our industry partners the better it is for our students and for firms looking to recruit our painting graduates.”

ends

© Scoop Media