Isaac and Malachi Paku
WelTec construction trades graduates, twin brothers Isaac and Malachi Paku from Wainuiomata, want to share the skills, knowledge and values they have learnt from tutors and employers with their colleagues in the construction industry and create working environments which are safe and supportive - for all types.
Malachi is currently working as a carpenter with Rhys Finlay Contractors and Isaac is an electrician with Argus Fire Protection, both enjoy their work, but their goal is to set up their own trades services company one day to create a culture and working environment which they believe will respond to the needs of their fellow workers around them.
“When you work in construction trades you meet and work with a lot of people from different walks of life, many of whom are struggling with different challenges,” explains Malachi. “Whether it is depression, substance dependence or reintegrating into society after being in prison, they are all just doing their best.
“My aim is to run my own company that covers a variety of trades and can control a build from start to finish so that people can belong and do not need to be subcontracted out to different projects all the time which can be disruptive and sometimes even confusing, I want to create a safe and happy place for these people to work.”
Isaac is using his time at Argus wisely to learn as much as he can. He is given the opportunity to do a wide range of tasks and the senior guys take time to teach him and share their vast experience and knowledge. His bosses even asked him to present at his old school Hutt Valley High to encourage young women into the trades.
The twins both graduated from WelTec in 2018. Malachi gained a Level 3 New Zealand Certificate in Construction Trade Skills, Carpentry, and Isaac a Level 3 certificate in Electrical Engineering.
Both twins were supported through their study by the Māori and Pasifika Trades Training Scholarship offered by WelTec. The scholarship helped Isaac and Malachi to complete their course without any student loans.
Isaac explained: “It was very important for me to get into the workforce and become financially independent early on. The fact that, through the scholarship, I could do that, and then come out the other side without any debt was amazing.”
The brothers had work ethic from early on and in their final year at Hutt Valley High were both prefects.
“I had planned to do the usual thing and go to university, but our parents pushed us to have a look at the trades courses at WelTec, and once I had spoken to the tutors I knew it was the right option for me,” said Isaac.
“I always had a knack for taking things apart and putting them back together so I thought I would give the electrical engineering course a go. It has lead to fantastic employment opportunities - and now I would like to own my own business and help others around me.”
“I didn’t know about the scholarship until they went to talk to the tutors at WelTec,” says Malachi. “There were a lot of factors involved in the decision to study - but getting the scholarship was definitely a big contributing factor.”
Along with the scholarship, Isaac and Malachi appreciated how supportive the staff and at WelTec were during and after their studies.
“WelTec keeps track of where the students are in their courses, and then lets companies know that there will be students available for apprenticeships,” explains Isaac. “They then help with the transition to employment. The tutors were great throughout the course, making sure everyone was sure of what they needed to do, and making it feel like one big whanau,” he says.
Tui Bradbrook and Tame Ngaheke from WelTec are tasked with helping graduating students on the scholarship into employment.
“No student is the same and so we get to know each one personally, to know how to support them into employment, and to set them up in work to succeed,” says Tame. “We teach the students that what they put in, is what they will get out, but that we are on the same page as them and here to help.”
Malachi explains: “The guys sat us down to talk about job opportunities and got me my first job on that very day. There are so many trades jobs around and it was nice to have the WelTec staff helping to navigate that with us.”
Although the trades are providing Isaac and Malachi with great work opportunities, the end game for the twins is more than building and wiring houses. They want to make a positive impact on the people they work with and make the workplace, about more than just work, they want to make it a whanau - just like WelTec made them feel like whanau.
Further information on the Māori and Pasifika Trades Training
Māori and Pasifika students looking to learn a trade can apply for a Māori and Pasifika Trades Training scholarship, which is a government-funded scholarship to cover full fees and course-related costs.
Our staff and mentors are here to support you on your learning journey. We provide mentoring, pastoral, cultural and academic support. Our job brokers can help you find and prepare for work, including getting your driver’s license, site safety or first aid certificates.
Entry criteria
You need to meet the entry criteria for the programme you are enrolling in and be:
• of Māori or Pasifika descent
• 16-40 years old at the start of your study
• a New Zealand citizen or Permanent Resident
• able to meet the entry requirements for your programme
A list of programmes can be found here.
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