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Christchurch Māori Carpentry Training Centre
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NameChristchurch Māori Carpentry Training Centre
DescriptionThe Māori Trade Training Scheme was a nationwide initiative in the early 1960s. It was established to meet two urgent needs at the time: the recruitment of young Māori into skilled trades, and the general need for more apprentices and skilled tradespeople.
A network of trade training centres was established, run by the Department of Māori Affairs and the local technical colleges. Training courses included those for painters and paper-hangers, electricians, panel-beaters and carpenters.
The Māori Carpentry Training Centre was opened in Weedons on 3 February 1962, in a converted RNZAF stores depot. An open invitation was issued to all local Māori to attend the pōwhiri, and transport to Weedons was arranged from the Hereford St. bridge in Christchurch Otautahi. Addresses were given by Sir Eruera Tirikatene Sullivan (MP for Southern Māori), Mr. W. J. Karetai (Chairman of the Canterbury Tribal Executive), Mr. McAlpine (Minister of Transport and local MP), Mr. Hanan (Minister of Māori Affairs), Mr. R. Jones (chair of the board of management, Christchurch Technical College), with a closing service by Rev. Wira Couch of Rapaki.
Weedons joined existing carpentry training centres in Auckland and Lower Hutt. It was expected that young Māori men from the South Island, Chatham Island and southern parts of the North Island would attend. 12 trainees were expected in its first year, followed by 24 trainees annually after that. Trainees learned bricklaying, blocklaying, carpentry and roofing over a two-year period, mixing practical and theory on house building. The trainees then went on to work with building companies to complete the rest of their apprenticeship.
'These carpentry training centres provide opportunities for these boys who otherwise might drift from one unskilled job to another' said the Minister for Māori Affairs, Mr. Hanan, in September 1961. Hanan, a liberal Pākeha National politician from Invercargill, held this portfolio from 1960 - 1969.
Accommodation for the trainees was provided through hostels in Christchurch Otautahi, including Te Rehua (1952), Te Kaihanga Māori Boys Hostel in Hanson's Lane, Riccarton (1962), run by the Anglican Social Services Council and the Catholic-run Te Aranga in Ensor's Road, Waltham (1968), from which they were transported to Weedons each day. These hostels provided vital support for young Māori trainees, helping them acclimatise to the city from their rural upbringing. Strong bonds of kotahitanga, community and friendship were forged between trainees, who would go on to not only pursue the carpentry trade, but to build and make carved taonga for marae and other Māori buildings. An example of this is the Te Rehua hostel, where carpentry trainees built a new hall and television lounge in 1972.
It is also important to understand the sense of profound social and cultural dislocation that some trainees felt, moving from their rural homes to a city that at times seemed unwelcoming to Māori. This is clear in the testimony of kaumatua Uekaha Taanetinorau (Ngāti Maniopotu), who moved at 16 to Ōtautahi Christchurch for a panel-beating apprenticeship under this government training initiative. He remembers it was a 'huge culture shock' and that few people could say his name correctly, so he started using the name Bob. He remembered 'It was a culture shock for both sides...a whole bunch of Māori walking down the road laughing and people would be looking at you'. Over time, this steady influx of young Māori to Ōtautahi Christchurch through these schemes would contribute towards making the city more diverse.
The Christchurch Māori Carpentry Training Centre was documented in August 1971 by a Christchurch Star photographer, and these images are available at the Canterbury Stories website https://canterburystories.nz/collections/archives/star/negatives/1971. Images of trainees in this collection include Ray Tetua (Nelson) and Les Huntley (Picton).
Start DateFebruary 1962
DescriptionThe Māori Trade Training Scheme was a nationwide initiative in the early 1960s. It was established to meet two urgent needs at the time: the recruitment of young Māori into skilled trades, and the general need for more apprentices and skilled tradespeople. A network of trade training centres was established, run by the Department of Māori Affairs and the local technical colleges. Training courses included those for painters and paper-hangers, electricians, panel-beaters and carpenters.
The Māori Carpentry Training Centre was opened in Weedons on 3 February 1962, in a converted RNZAF stores depot. An open invitation was issued to all local Māori to attend the pōwhiri, and transport to Weedons was arranged from the Hereford St. bridge in Christchurch Otautahi. Addresses were given by Sir Eruera Tirikatene Sullivan (MP for Southern Māori), Mr. W. J. Karetai (Chairman of the Canterbury Tribal Executive), Mr. McAlpine (Minister of Transport and local MP), Mr. Hanan (Minister of Māori Affairs), Mr. R. Jones (chair of the board of management, Christchurch Technical College), with a closing service by Rev. Wira Couch of Rapaki.
Weedons joined existing carpentry training centres in Auckland and Lower Hutt. It was expected that young Māori men from the South Island, Chatham Island and southern parts of the North Island would attend. 12 trainees were expected in its first year, followed by 24 trainees annually after that. Trainees learned bricklaying, blocklaying, carpentry and roofing over a two-year period, mixing practical and theory on house building. The trainees then went on to work with building companies to complete the rest of their apprenticeship.
'These carpentry training centres provide opportunities for these boys who otherwise might drift from one unskilled job to another' said the Minister for Māori Affairs, Mr. Hanan, in September 1961. Hanan, a liberal Pākeha National politician from Invercargill, held this portfolio from 1960 - 1969.
Accommodation for the trainees was provided through hostels in Christchurch Otautahi, including Te Rehua (1952), Te Kaihanga Māori Boys Hostel in Hanson's Lane, Riccarton (1962), run by the Anglican Social Services Council and the Catholic-run Te Aranga in Ensor's Road, Waltham (1968), from which they were transported to Weedons each day. These hostels provided vital support for young Māori trainees, helping them acclimatise to the city from their rural upbringing. Strong bonds of kotahitanga, community and friendship were forged between trainees, who would go on to not only pursue the carpentry trade, but to build and make carved taonga for marae and other Māori buildings. An example of this is the Te Rehua hostel, where carpentry trainees built a new hall and television lounge in 1972.
It is also important to understand the sense of profound social and cultural dislocation that some trainees felt, moving from their rural homes to a city that at times seemed unwelcoming to Māori. This is clear in the testimony of kaumatua Uekaha Taanetinorau (Ngāti Maniopotu), who moved at 16 to Ōtautahi Christchurch for a panel-beating apprenticeship under this government training initiative. He remembers it was a 'huge culture shock' and that few people could say his name correctly, so he started using the name Bob. He remembered 'It was a culture shock for both sides...a whole bunch of Māori walking down the road laughing and people would be looking at you'. Over time, this steady influx of young Māori to Ōtautahi Christchurch through these schemes would contribute towards making the city more diverse.
The Christchurch Māori Carpentry Training Centre was documented in August 1971 by a Christchurch Star photographer, and these images are available at the Canterbury Stories website https://canterburystories.nz/collections/archives/star/negatives/1971. Images of trainees in this collection include Ray Tetua (Nelson) and Les Huntley (Picton).
Start DateFebruary 1962Connections
PlaceWeedonsMore InformationAnnouncement of opening of the carpentry training centre for Māori, September 1961Māori hostels in Christchurch under threat of closure, October 1978Māori tradesmen who were former trainees at Weedons start Te Kaihanga to help with the Christchurch rebuild, June 2012Overview of Māori hostels in New Zealand, Heritage New Zealand websiteTe Aranga Hostel opens, June 1968Graduate Ray Tetua with his carving for Te Kaihanga hostel, 1971Mr. Hanan inspects Christchurch Māori Carpentry Training CentreReport on Māori Trade Training Scheme in Christchurch, 1962Māori Carpentry Training Centre Opening Details, January 1962Carpentry trainees build new hall at Te Rehua, February 1972Overview of Māori Trade Training Scheme, July 1967The story of Uekaha Taanetinorau, panel-beating trainee under the scheme
More InformationAnnouncement of opening of the carpentry training centre for Māori, September 1961Māori hostels in Christchurch under threat of closure, October 1978Māori tradesmen who were former trainees at Weedons start Te Kaihanga to help with the Christchurch rebuild, June 2012Overview of Māori hostels in New Zealand, Heritage New Zealand websiteTe Aranga Hostel opens, June 1968Graduate Ray Tetua with his carving for Te Kaihanga hostel, 1971Mr. Hanan inspects Christchurch Māori Carpentry Training CentreReport on Māori Trade Training Scheme in Christchurch, 1962Māori Carpentry Training Centre Opening Details, January 1962Carpentry trainees build new hall at Te Rehua, February 1972Overview of Māori Trade Training Scheme, July 1967The story of Uekaha Taanetinorau, panel-beating trainee under the schemeAttribution
Researched BySarah DavyWritten BySarah Davy
Written BySarah DavyChristchurch Māori Carpentry Training Centre. Selwyn Stories, accessed 03/06/2026, https://selwynstories.selwynlibraries.co.nz/nodes/view/5193