New Zealand employers of Pasifika people meet in Auckland on Wednesday to learn how they can take part in a new training initiative for tradespeople.
The Maori and Pasifika Trades Training initiative was launched earlier this year to prepare for an anticipated boom in the city's construction industry.
The Auckland project manager for the scheme, Kirk Sargent, says his programme provides a seamless pathway for trainees from pre-recruitment through training and into work.
"The ideal goal is to make sure that we have got significant numbers of Maori and Pasifika entering certified careers in the trades. So that is just making sure we stay in touch with them the whole way. Now once they become certified we will be encouraging them to become the employers of the future and the leaders of the future."
Mr Sargent says their initial funding is for 494 students of which 470 places have already been taken up. He says with two more intakes this year he expects to exceed the quota.
70 employers, including some major New Zealand companies, are expected at the event.