Starting a new career in any industry can be challenging. For wāhine stepping into the trades sector, these challenges increase phenomenally.

TradeCareers and Waihanga Ara Rau (the Workforce Development Council for the trades and construction sector) recognised these challenges, and tasked Nui with an online web series that would highlight authentically the experiences of wāhine in the trades.

As a wāhine-owned and operated agency, this was exactly the type of mahi we believe in. So we got to work alongside our mates at CO2Media, assembling an all-wāhine production crew to capture the stories of five wāhine doing it in the trades.

Over three months we captured the inspiring stories of wāhine who had taken on careers as: a wheel loader driver (forestry), an electrical engineer, a welder, a health and safety officer, a plumber, a linesman and carpenter.

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“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 māmā, sisters, aunties and daughters, each of whom have their own connection to the experiences shared in the series. So it’s been incredibly fulfilling empowering wāhine in the trades sector as well as wāhine in the production, which is at the heart of the mahi NUI is here to do”

- Leilani, Nui CEO

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“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. 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

These inspiring stories of wāhine, who have found their 'why' in construction and infrastructure, will encourage many more to seek a career pathway in the sector and start their vocational training journey.

- Philip Aldridge, Chief Executive Waihanga Ara Rau