Industry Training (2005)

Labour’s vision

Labour believes that every New Zealander is entitled to access quality public education of the highest standard, throughout their lives. Quality education ensures that every Kiwi regardless of who they are and where they come from can achieve their full potential and contribute to New Zealand's society and economy.

Labour is committed to a quality tertiary education and training system that will support New Zealand's economic and social development, and environmental sustainability. Labour wants to ensure that our tertiary education system is focused on quality and relevance. We want to ensure that an integrated approach is taken to tertiary education, and that barriers to participation are eliminated.

Industry Training

A skilled workforce is one of the drivers of growth and innovation. Skills lift productivity, and they lift the competitiveness of our enterprises and our industries. Skills, knowledge, information and creativity are becoming the main drivers of our country's competitive advantage.

Workplace learning provides a financial return on the investment and provides the kinds of personal rewards that grow self-esteem and independence. If New Zealand is to actively participate in the knowledge economy and society, then our people must be able to enhance their skills throughout their lifetime. Employers will need an increasingly well trained workforce to deal with the ever-changing environment in which they operate.

New Zealand must become a nation that values and encourages innovation, recognises and capitalises on our unique qualities and strengths, and competes confidently and successfully in the global marketplace.

Labour's Record

During the last two terms in government, Labour has:

Provided for a doubling of the government’s investment in the Industry Training Fund – up from $56.1 million in 1999 to $128.9 million for 2006;
Increased funding provided to Industry Training Organisations by over 60 per cent;
Introduced the Modern Apprenticeship scheme, creating work-based learning opportunities for close to 8,000 young people;
Continually increased participation in industry training. There are almost 140,000 people participating in industry training;
Assisted Industry Training Organisations to better anticipate, and respond to, emerging skill needs in industry;
Passed legislation to provide a balloted levy mechanism that allows industry to contribute to the cost of maintaining an effective Industry Training Organisation;
Introduced the Gateway programme, designed to build pathways for senior secondary school students into work-based learning, and to encourage better partnerships between schools and local businesses;
Given industry training the same status as other education and training pathways in the tertiary system.

Modern Apprenticeships

During our next term in government, Labour will:

Provide funding for an additional 5,000 Modern Apprenticeship places, taking the total number of Modern Apprentices to 14,000 in 2008;
Allow up to twenty per cent of Modern Apprentices in any industry to be above the current age limit of 21.

Industry Training

During our next term in government, Labour will:

Continue towards our goal of having 250,000 people participating in structured industry training;
Work with employers, unions, employees, Industry Training Organisations and training providers to significantly increase not only participation in industry training, but also the quality and relevance of that training;
Work with small and medium sized enterprises and the self employed to lift participation in training;
Continue support for the Skill New Zealand partnership with business and employee representatives to enhance the reputation and desirability of trades as a career option for young people.

Youth Transitions

During our next term in government, Labour will:

Introduce a Youth Apprenticeships pilot, providing opportunities for young people to gain credits towards their apprenticeships while still at school;
Continue to work towards the goal of all 15 to 19 year olds participating in some form of education, training or work by 2007;
Expand the Gateway programme to build pathways for senior secondary school students into work-based learning to all state high schools by 2007;
Expand the Youth Transitions Service to cover all regions in the country.

Cadetships

During our next term in government, Labour will:

Explore the possibility of establishing a structured cadetship programme as an alternative to institutional training for those entering associate professional roles.

OTHER REGIONS +NORTHERN