Houses and job skills for South Taranaki iwi in WITT joint project

A group of South Taranaki rangatahi are making history building whare for local iwi as they learn carpentry skills on the job in a collaborative project with WITT.

The 14 trainee carpenters are the first cohort on a project of Ōkahu Inuāwai hapū of Ngāruahine Iwi in South Taranaki near Hawera. The first whare under construction at Tokaora - when completed in November – will be transported to iwi land nearby Okaiawa.

Called Tapuwae Pae Pātūtū (Trades Training Programme), the words mean ‘Steps to Achievement’, says Gregg Parata, the Kaiwhakahaere Programme Manager for Ōkahu Inuāwai Hapū.

The project is to build whare for uri (descendants) of Ōkahu Inuāwai Hapū and wider Ngāruahine whanau with four homes planned for the first phase. They bought the first one ready-made. It was built by trades academy students at WITT last year.

“In 2023 we did a survey of our people on what our needs were, and housing was at the top,” he says.

WITT is delivering the education programme – the New Zealand Certificate in Construction Trades Skills Carpentry (Level 3) - with kaiako (tutor), Clive Porter, on site at Tokaora. Iwi have converted an old school hall into a classroom next to the building site where the three-bedroom whare under construction sits under a shelter.

As a young tradie (panel beater) who reluctantly moved to Auckland to do his training in the mid-80s, Gregg is passionate about creating local opportunities on home turf for job training because the cost of moving away to train is prohibitive for many.

“The carpentry programme and building experience is a pathway for the ākonga [students] into doing an apprenticeship after they finish this year,” says Gregg. “Interwoven into the programme is our Mātauranga Māori language, stories, karakia and waiata with John Hooker (Ngāruahine Iwi, Ōkahu Inuāwai Hapu) at Aotearoa Marae.”

The scheme is supported by Māori and Pasifika Trade Training (MPTT) scholarships (funded by Tertiary Education Commission) and Youth Guarantee (funded by the Ministry of Education).  MPTT support includes PPE (personal protective equipment) and tools, says Gregg.

Caption: Chad Jones and Cruz French - trainee carpenters at the Tokaora site.

Mates and mahi

Cruz French (Te Atiawa), one of the rangatahi on the project, says it’s been a positive experience. He’s learned about the basics of building, such as measuring, cutting and angles, as well as operating a range of tools and equipment, including drop saws, nail guns, planers to name a few.

“Connecting with the other boys, I’ve made lifelong friendships,” Cruz adds. “We have a good connection with our tutor too. It’s all about learning the skills for our future.”

Daniel Fuemana, Director of Schools, says; “WITT is delighted to team up with Ōkahu Inuāwai hapū to collaboratively design a local solution to address the housing shortage in the region by co-developing and delivering practical training and skills that are urgently needed. 

“This is a great opportunity for uri [ancestral descendants] to get involved and gain hands-on experience in carpentry and potentially other trades,” he says.

He hopes to see a new cohort sign up for 2026 to start on building the next whare. 

Caption: Carpentry trainees aim to complete the whare build in November.

Deputy Director of Trades at WITT, Kerrie Thomson-Booth, feels “humbled and privileged to be part of the WITT collaboration with hapū to build houses at Tokaora. This kaupapa is more than just building a whare — it’s about strengthening connections, sharing knowledge, and working alongside hapū, akonga, and the wider community.

“I’m grateful to have played a small part in this journey and proud to have contributed to a project that will leave a lasting legacy for whānau and future generations.”

Gregg is delighted with progress and at the commitment of the 14 trainee carpenters.

“This past month has seen the inspection of the roof - which we passed prior to iron going on - installation of the whare windows, a security fence erected, and roof installed.”

He’s looking ahead to recruiting for next year’s whare build by joining forces with the Mayors’ Taskforce for Jobs to host a tradies’ BBQ breakfast this week (4 September) on site. Cruz and his co-workers will be there to share their experiences and show potential trainees the work-in-progress house they are proudly building.

Top caption: At the Tokaora site near Hawera (from left): Kerrie Thomson-Booth, (deputy director - Trades School at WITT); Clive Porter (carpentry tutor); and Gregg Parata (Kaiwhakahaere Programme Manager for Ōkahu Inuāwai Hapū).