Building, Construction & Allied Trade Skills

Completing this programme means you’ll be able to:

• Apply safe working practices while completing BCATS projects

• Read plans and project documentation to plan and complete tasks

• Measure, mark out, and calculate materials accurately

• Select, use, and care for hand/power tools and machinery

• Communicate and contribute as part of a build team

• Explain the different roles involved in a construction project

We keep it simple: learn a skill, try it, then use it on small builds. Most of your learning will happen in the workshop through real build tasks. You’ll:

• sketch

• plan

• make two BCATS projects under supervision

• practice tool care, site safety, and tidy workmanship

Classroom time backs this up with the language, maths, and documentation skills you need to perform on site.

By the end, you’ll be able to:

Keep studying
You could continue into the New Zealand Certificate in Building, Construction, and Allied Trades Skills (Level 3) or other built environment programmes alongside NCEA.

Use at work
You could step into entry-level roles across building, construction, and allied trades, or pursue an apprenticeship pathway.

Community involvement
You could support kaupapa such as community builds, marae maintenance projects, or school/whānau renovations using safe work practices.

You can enrol if you: 

• Are 16 years or older 

• Are a NZ citizen or resident (includes Cook Islands, Niue, Tokelau) or Australian citizen/permanent resident 

• Currently reside in New Zealand 

• Hold the New Zealand Certificate in Building, Construction, and Allied Trade Skills (Level 1) or have equivalent skills and knowledge

This programme is:  

• full-time  

• 41 credits  

• 38 weeks long (includes holiday breaks) 

• classroom-based, with workshops, online sessions or noho marae