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Students to Christchurch rebuild
Saturday, October 27, 2012
FIVE EIT Tairawhiti carpentry students are heading south to help with the Christchurch Rebuild Project . . . and hopeful it just might lead to permanent work at the end of their studies.

Level three students Joe Kaukau, Daniel Leach, Tama Brown and Frankie Ngatoro, along with level four student David Apelu, will start the long drive to Christchurch tomorrow.

They will be joined on the mission by four students and a tutor from the EIT Hawke’s Bay campus.

The team will work in Christchurch with Habitat for Humanity, who are organising volunteers to help with the rebuild and recovery of the historic city.

EIT Tairawhiti campus manager Simon Bousfield says they are so excited to be part of the project that they are already talking similar ventures.

“It’s great to be involved in such a worthwhile and positive initiative, and we are hoping to work with Habitat to make this an annual pilgrimage.

“It gives the students real work experience and helps with making those essential contacts for future work.”

During their two weeks in Christchurch, the students will work with experienced building companies on both residential and commercial sites.

Once Tairawhiti put its hand up to be involved, some funding was even offered from people in Christchurch who were appreciative of the commitment.

The rest of the funding is met by EIT Tairawhiti.

“Part of our commitment is not just training the students, but also getting them out into work following their training,” says Mr Bousfield.

“At the moment there is not so much available here in Gisborne, but this trip could lead to future working relationships.”

He was full of praise for the students who are part of the project.

“This is getting late in the academic year for students and they are sacrificing a lot of their own time too.”

The students are excited to have the opportunity.

“It’s going to be awesome to get that real experience,” said Daniel Leach.

“We’re all looking forward to it.”
READY TO SWING A HAMMER AND HELP: EIT Tairawhiti students (from left) Joe Kaukau, Daniel Leach, Tama Brown and Frankie Ngatoro, who are heading to Christchurch to help with the rebuild. Picture by Diana Dobson
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