Courses For

Polynesians

Pacific Islanders are very much a part of New Zealand’s industrial economy.

Many thousands work in factories, on construction sites and in com merce. In fact, many have risen through the ranks to become super visors in a very short time.

To overcome communication and language problems experienced by some supervisors, the NZ Depart ment of Labour, through its Indus trial Training Service, has developed Instructor-Tutor courses for Poly nesians. These have been accepted with enthusiasm by management and

Polynesian personnel.

In Auckland the programmes have been operating for almost a year and the first Wellington programme was held at the end of last October.

Wellington personnel taking part came mainly from Western Samoa.

Their tutor, Hugo Stanley, an Indus trial Training Service officer, came to New Zealand from Savalalo, Apia, 14 years ago.

Some course members had already been through the programmes in their own factories or with the In-

dustrial Training Service. For others it was an entirely new experience.

The men and the one woman on the Wellington course all agreed the programme would help them im mensely in their instruction and induction work with all nationalities.

In Auckland, Polynesian Training Officer, Fred Atiga, has with John Pasley, a training development officer, conducted six Polynesian

Instructor courses covering 20 com

panies. Students included people

from the Cook Islands, NZ Maoris, Niueans, Tongans and Samoans.

All company managers have com mented favourably on the results of the programme. They have noted improved performance and changed attitudes of employees which could only be attributed to the Polynesian Instructor programme.

Training officer Hugo Stanley makes a point to (from left) Amatago Milo, Time Lolo, Ana Sea and lakapo Pio.