Cultural/Community Mentoring with Maori and Pacific Electrical Apprentices

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Chris Holland

Abstract

New Zealand government policy documents over the last decade have committed to supporting Maori and Pasifika learners, yet still today there is little real support in place for learners in apprenticeships. There is even less support in place that acknowledges the cultural dimension of learning in the workplace. This paper discusses the establishment and review of a development project which sets out to provide culturally supportive mentoring for Maori and Pasifika apprentices. The project sought to do this by engaging experienced Maori and Pasifika tradesmen who were located in the local communities of their learners.

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Author Biography

Chris Holland, Work & Education Research and Development Services, New Zealand

Chris Holland has worked in the UK, Europe and New Zealand to research and address learning issues for low paid workers that are often attributed to low functional language, literacy or numeracy (LLN). In New Zealand, Chris is the Director of Work & Education Research and Development Services, which advises and conducts research and professional development mainly with government departments, industry training organisations and the Council of Trade Unions. Since 2007 Chris has been exploring mentoring for apprentices.