Significant win for apprentice training advocacy

Te Pūkenga has reintroduced apprentice training fees for all plumbing, drainlaying and gasfitting apprentices. This comes following the closure of the government’s temporary Targeted Training and Apprenticeship fund (free trades training), which was put in place in 2020 to help a variety of in-demand industries with Covid recovery.

Training fees were due to apply from 1 January 2023 but, thanks to Master Plumbers’ advocacy work, Te Pūkenga agreed to cover the first month and postpone their reintroduction until 1 February.

Master Plumbers also argued that it would not be fair for training fees to apply to apprentices who should have completed their qualifications before the funding ended but have gone over duration through no fault of their own (eg, lack of block course availability).

For this group, who started the 2023 year over their programme duration, Te Pūkenga have agreed they will not be charging 2023 fees. If an apprentice goes beyond the expected end date of their programme during 2023, their Direct Debit payments will be stopped from the date they go over duration.

Master Plumbers has worked to clarify programme durations with Te Pūkenga to ensure over-duration apprentices have their Direct Debits stopped at the appropriate time. They are:

Plumbing, Gasfitting and Drainlaying = 60 months

Plumbing and Gasfitting = 48 months

Gasfitting = 36 months

Drainlaying for Registered Plumbers = 12 months

Other Financial Support

Apprentice employers can receive up to 24 months of support, at up to $500 per month, through the government’s Apprenticeship Boost scheme. Payment is made directly to employers to help them keep and take on new apprentices. This scheme finishes on 31 December 2023.

Find more information at www.workandincome.govt. nz/apprenticeship-boost

Some apprentices will be eligible for the Government’s Fees-Free scheme in 2023. Find more information at www.feesfree.govt.nz