Supporting Our Local Trades, Workers, and Apprentices
Waikato is built by the people who lay the concrete, hammer the nails, drive the trucks, and repair the roads.
As too many local tradespeople, apprentices, and workers are being left behind by a council culture that favours consultants, suits, and outside contractors while local builders, sparkies, and drain-layers struggle to win council jobs.
As rising costs and red tape have made it harder for young people to learn a trade, get experience, and build a future here in Waikato.
As your Tuakau-Pokeno ward councillor, I will champion a More Boots, Less Suits Policy for our district that:
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Prioritises local trades and apprentices for council infrastructure contracts and subcontracts.
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Introduces a Waikato Apprenticeship Incentive Fund to support young people training in essential trades.
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Cuts the council’s reliance on expensive consultants and out-of-town contractors by strengthening in-house expertise and backing local.
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Pushes for fast-track building consents and inspection processes for trade-based small businesses.
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Works with central government and industry groups to bring more training programmes into our local schools and communities.
Because when we invest in the people who build our homes, fix our pipes, and pave our streets—we invest in a stronger, fairer Waikato.
Let’s bring the boots back. Let’s build our future from the ground up.
