Māori & Pasifika Student Profiles

Wendy completed her Certificate in 2004 and now has an apprenticeship with a local Hamilton builder.

Wendy left an established career in Industrial Relations to become a full time Mum and caregiver, a task, which Wendy describes as being "one of the most important and fulfilling tasks of my life". Once her youngest child neared school age Wendy realised that she needed a job to help her partner support the family.

"I seriously began to assess my future options. I wasn't keen to enter the workforce without the best qualifications so took the opportunity to completely retrain. I had to isolate the industries with a demand for employees, where my age wouldn't be a disadvantage. That left Trades and Teaching. I chose building".

Wendy believes that she has made the best choice for her future.

"I feel confident with my choice and see this opportunity as a stepping stone to the rest of my life and that of my whānau".