MEDIA STATEMENT | FRIDAY 31 AUGUST

Unitec Respond to Labour MP Megan Woods’ Media Statement

(To view Ms Woods’ original statement, click here:

http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA1208/S00471/bill-pays-dole-to-employers-who-take-on-young-apprentices.htm)

David Nummy, Associate Dean Strategic Development of the Faculty of Technology and Built Environment responds to Labour MP Megan Woods’ media statement dated 30 August 2012 titled “Bill pays dole to employers who take on young apprentices”.

“We have a major skills shortage in NZ – due to the demand of the Christchurch rebuild and the huge housing shortage in Auckland. The shortage of qualified tradespeople is now impacting on companies operating in Christchurch where vacancies are not being filled from the New Zealand workforce.

“There is no single fix to solving this skills shortage; we have to consider a range of solutions such as the Bill lodged by Megan Woods.

“Unitec recognised the emerging skills shortage some time ago and as such, has launched a campaign - ‘We make the people who make it’ - which highlights career options in the trade industries, as a good choice for students considering tertiary education.”

For more on the campaign visit www.unitec.ac.nz

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