At MPTT, a Whanaungatanga Day welcome marks the beginning of each cohort’s journey, setting a powerful foundation for our tauira to succeed in their training and beyond.
Whanaungatanga means connection and belonging
Whanaungatanga is about relationship, kinship and a sense of connection. Although the concept doesn’t have a direct English translation, whanaungatanga is often understood as intergenerational relationships and whakawhanaungatanga as relationship building.
Sam Sefuiva, MPTT Project Manager, says, “Whanaungatanga is about a sense of belonging through shared experiences and working together. And this is not unique to Māori culture.
“Pasifika models of wellbeing and development, like the fonofale, are also about relationships and align with ‘va’, the space between that both separates and connects.”
“Connecting to other people is an invitation to bring our whole selves to relationships with other people. Whanaungatanga tells us that we are not alone. It shows that we collectively support and act for everyone’s benefit. Our lives are woven together; when one person benefits, we all do. In this way, whanaungatanga reminds us that we share responsibility for each other.”
“This aligns with MPTT’s kaupapa of collaboration and teamwork while supporting our vision of helping our people become work-ready and succeed in the trades.”
Importantly, the obligations and benefits of whanaungatanga strengthen each member of our community as they make their way through their training and careers. It’s not only about new tauira but also about navigators, alums, industry leads, and the wider community.
Good relationships build resilience
Research shows that having a teacher or leader who believes in you is vital to motivation and achievement. Similarly, good relationships bolster the resilience of learners.
Tu Nu’uali’itia, Unitec’s MPTT Relationship Manager, explains, “The important thing for our students is to know they are part of a bigger whānau and that they are not only connected by their scholarships but also by their culture.
“It’s about having a reason to get up and come to the course to achieve an aspiration that maybe they never thought they could do.
“They know they are going to be looked after right through their education. We are there for them at every step of their journey.”
We know it counts when tauira tell us what they gain from the day:
- “A sense of belonging within the MPTT community”
- “Knowledge of what to expect after I finish studying and going into my apprentice years”
- “Cultural confidence”
- “Confidence in networking and teamwork”
- “Validation that I am studying in the best field for my career goals”
The programme is created with care
MPTT plans the day to create a whānau-like atmosphere. In 2025, the event was on Te Noho Kotahitanga Marae and Papa Hou from there was the MC. One participant commented,
“I think having the event at the marae added some gravitas to the day. You could see students really engaging with the welcome.”
Our navigators and team lead the way, introducing themselves and sharing their backgrounds and stories. Each year, we also introduce different industry leaders and inspiring alum stories. This helps everyone find common ground and feel part of a collective.
Sainila Tagi, who now owns his own business, Compass Electrics, is an impressive MPTT alum and recent guest speaker. He inspired people with his journey, focusing on future solar initiatives, and gave honest advice on succeeding in the trades.
Sector inductions help new trainees connect within interest areas. In 2025:
- MITO guest speaker Sui Williams talked to 44 Automotive trainees about the variety of pathways and opportunities.
- Careerforce and Mapu Maia talked to 46 Health and Wellbeing students about career pathways and what their employers value.
- BCITO speakers Doug and Hamish advised 53 Carpentry trainees on their future in construction.
- Competenz shared industry insights with Mechanical Engineering and R&A trainees on career prospects in their industry.
- Industry advisers from Skills Group talked to large groups of Electrical and Plumbing trainees.
Food brings people together during our whanaungatanga: a hangi along with other Pasifika treats. It’s no surprise feedback on the food is always outstanding – it is a sure way to connect people across cultures. Participants rave about the “food and fellowship”, “team effort and kai”, and “eating and singing”.
Work, learn and grow together
A key part of the day is for tauira to learn a haka from across Māori and Pasifika cultures. For many, this means truly going outside their comfort zones. Others find themselves stepping up to lead. By the end of the day, the whole rōpu can perform the MPTT haka as one. This unique haka combines movements from Māori, Samoan, Tongan, and Fijian cultures. The proud, impassioned performance shows how empowering the day is and their collective strength for the journey ahead.
“It was quite cool learning about haka from the other Pacific cultures and the meaning behind them. I gained a sense of belonging within the MPTT community. When everyone did the haka at the end, I felt all the emotions and saw how everyone actually put in effort.”
Tuwhakairiora (Tu) Williams, Mana Whakahaere Māori for MPTT, says it’s vital to show ākonga that their culture and identities are valued and welcomed.
“This is the only opportunity for students across all of our training facilities and programmes to come together in their pre-trade training to forge relationships and share knowledge.”
Our trainees lead the way
“There are sixteen MPTT programmes around NZ, but Auckland is the largest,” explains Tu.
“We’ve looked at the level of success over MPTT’s ten-year lifespan, and it has trended upwards. We’ve put over 5,000 students through their pre-trade training.”
MPTT was established in 2014 and is funded and supported by the Tertiary Education Commission (TEC) and the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE). The programme builds on the foundations of the hugely successful Māori Trades Training scheme in the 1950s and 1960s, which was disestablished in the early 1970s.
“Our work is important because there is a huge skills demand in the construction, infrastructure and aligned industries, where we are short of around 100,000 skilled workers,” says ‘Aisake (Issac) Liava’a, Mana Whakahaere Pasifika for MPTT.
“And it’s important that the rapidly growing Māori and Pacific population have these opportunities to gain meaningful and sustainable employment so they can contribute to Tāmaki Makaurau, Aotearoa, their communities and whānau.”
More than 100 ākonga in pre-trades training at Unitec are registered with MPTT. Their scholarships cover tuition fees and help them progress towards an apprenticeship and a job.
Ngā mihi to our supporters
We offer our thanks to everyone who makes MPTT’s Whanaungatanga Day possible: navigators, training partners, industry representatives, employers, funders such as TEC and MBIE, along with supportive whānau.
Your support ensures our tauira are set up for a thriving future filled with mana, pride and purpose.