Arapono
Election CentrePartiesPolicies
Learn
Log inSign up free
Data sourced from:
New Zealand ParliamentElectoral CommissionStats NZNew Zealand TreasuryRadio New Zealand (RNZ)Beehive
Arapono

Navigating New Zealand Politics

An independent, non-partisan political information platform for New Zealanders.

  • Instagram
  • Facebook

Learn

  • Find what matters to you
  • Your Plan
  • How Parliament Works
  • Glossary
  • About Arapono
  • Our Sources

Explore

  • Command Centre
  • Elections
  • Battlegrounds
  • Interactive Map
  • MPs Directory
  • Party Policies
  • Budget 2026
  • Bills Tracker
  • Take Action

Account

  • Sign Up Free
  • Log In

Legal

  • Help & FAQ
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Use
  • Submit a Correction

© 2026 Arapono. All rights reserved.

Arapono is an independent platform. All information is sourced from official NZ government and electoral sources. We are not affiliated with any political party.

All parties on Education
Education · Party position

Labour on Education

Expand apprenticeship support to grow trades workforce

Labour says it will expand the Apprenticeship Boost programme. Businesses that take on an apprentice would get $500 a month for two years instead of one. New apprentices would get a $1,000 grant to cover tools and course materials. Five new trades would be added to the scheme, and a mentoring programme would be piloted to help apprentices and employers. The changes would start from July 2027.

What they say they'll do

  • Extend Apprenticeship Boost employer payments from one year to two years at $500 a month, from 1 July 2028
  • Provide a $1,000 toolbox grant to new apprentices to cover starter costs, from 1 July 2027
  • Expand Apprenticeship Boost eligibility to five new trades from 1 July 2027
  • Pilot structured mentoring for apprentices and employers from 1 July 2027
  • Invest $21 million a year in Māori-led training linked to real jobs and qualifications
  • Back marae, iwi trusts and Māori providers to design and deliver employment-focused training with mentoring support

Who this affects

Apprentices and people starting a trade
New apprentices would receive a $1,000 grant to help cover tools, uniform and course materials, plus access to structured mentoring.
Employers taking on apprentices
Businesses would receive $500 a month for up to two years to help cover the cost of taking on and supporting an apprentice.
Māori people seeking work or retraining
Māori of all ages would have access to Māori-led training programmes with mentoring and practical support designed to connect them with local jobs and qualifications.

In their own words

“Employer payments extended from one year to two years at $500 a month, effective 1 July 2028”
“$1,000 toolbox grant to help new apprentices cover the cost of getting started, including tools, kit, uniform, and course materials, available from 1 July 2027”
“Māori unemployment is more than double the national rate. More than one in ten Māori are unemployed, and around one in five rangatahi Māori aged 15 to 24 are not in work, education, or training.”
Verify at Labour — official policy page

Summarised neutrally from Labour’s own official policy (as at 2026-09-07) and checked by an editor. Nothing is paraphrased without the source linked. Read the original ↗ Arapono is non-partisan. Compare all parties on Education →

Coverage at a glance

Which party holds a published position on which topic.

Open the compare tool →

Swipe across to see all 11 topics — the party column stays put.

PartyEconomyHousingHealthEducationClimateEnvironmentCrime & JusticeTreaty & Māori AffairsImmigrationForeign PolicyDemocracy & Government
National
Published position∅ No stated position (verified) Not captured yet
Labour∅∅∅∅∅∅
Green
ACT
NZ First
Te Pāti Māori
TOP
Also contesting, without seats in Parliament
Women’s Rights
Animal Justice
ALCP
Conservative
Outdoors & Freedom
Vision NZ
Alliance
Free Palestine
NZ Loyal∅
Te Tai Tokerau∅