Wāhine on the tools

Tradecareers.co press release - 29 September 2022:

Proudly supported by Waihanga Ara Rau and Hanga-Aro-Rau

From welders to big rig drivers, to builders, to engineers, from brekkie to knock-off, each episode follows these trailblazing wāhine to see how they navigate their job and celebrate their aspirations for the future.

Massive shout-out to the incredible team that helped bring this series to life. From our mana wāhine stakeholder group led by Turakawa Bartlett from Manaavation, Amanda Williams and Kelly Bennett from BCITO.

Through to our brilliant and hilarious writers' room stars Janaye Henry, Stevie Greeks, Sandra Tisam, Tina McNicholas, Te Aowera Rolleston and Sepelini Muaau.

Massive shout out to Waihanga Ara Rau and the Hanga-Aro-Rau Workforce Development councils for their vision and support.

“The launch of this awesome web series Wāhine on the Tools comes at a pivotal time. We know that the Covid-19 pandemic disproportionately affected the employment of women – especially our Māori and Pacific wāhine – and that our industries across Manufacturing, Engineering, Logistics, and Construction and Infrastructure are facing unprecedented skills shortages which have been compounded by the pandemic. These industries are traditionally male-dominated, but there are a growing number of passionate and talented women making waves in our industries – but we need more to make a difference. This web series proves that wāhine have a strong place in our sectors, with highly successful careers full of a diverse range of opportunities. We are proud to showcase the exciting careers and talented wāhine already in our industries to provide inspiring pathways for generations to come.”

- Samantha McNaughton, Deputy Chief Executive Hanga-Aro-Rau

And last but not least to our all wāhine production crew at NUI Creative, Sonara Southcombe-Wallace, Leilani Fokelau, Lillian Panapa and all the crew behind the scenes.

“As an organisation led and inspired by Indigenous wāhine, assembling a completely wāhine production crew was a no-brainer. In the NUI Production crew, we are mama, sisters, aunties and daughters, each of whom has their own connection to the experiences shared in the series. So it’s been incredibly fulfilling empowering wahine in the trades sector as well as wahine in the production, which is at the heart of the mahi NUI is here to do.”

- Leilani, Co-Director of Nui Creative

Wāhine on the Tools is presented by TradeCareers and is supported by Waihanga Ara Rau and Hanga-Aro-Rau Workforce Development Councils and is funded from the Tertiary Education Commission Covid-19 Fund.