A new school-based trade training initiative will see Central Otago and Queenstown Lakes students build transportable homes.
The TradeBase program sees Breen Construction partner with Dunstan and Wakatipu High Schools, BCITO and the local industry to offer structured, competency-led learning on real Breen construction sites, right on school grounds.
Managing director Lindsey Breen says the industry hasn’t always done well at identifying opportunities for young people. He hopes TradeBase will bridge this gap and give students skills to help them stand out when they enter the workforce.
“The construction industry has always invested in apprentices, but too often our sector is seen as a backstop for school leavers. We want to change that.”
Engaging and inspiring all kinds of learners is a key motivation for Breen. TradeBase sees students gain practical experience, earn Pre-Trade and NCEA credits, and learn what best-in-class workmanship looks like without leaving their school community.
“TradeBase puts construction in front of talented kids who might not be traditional academics, but who are creative, solution focused and practical. TradeBase is being designed to give students are real sense of achievement.”
Students will build 69m² transportable homes on site at each school, removing the need for students to travel long distances and giving them the rare chance to construct a real, meaningful project. At Dunstan, the completed home will be used for hostel accommodation, while Wakatipu’s build is likely to be sold into the community, with the Dunstan programme also open to Central Otago and Queenstown Lakes students and NEET participants through a 2026 MSD pilot.
“If we succeed, out the other end will come competent trainees who hopefully will want to become apprentices or move into other areas of construction. Our intention with TradeBase is to invest in and raise the bar for our industry and our communities through enabling access to life-long learning opportunities.”
Brands such as Hilti Tools, Aotea Electric, Foleys, Placemakers, Trusstech and many others have backed the initiative. “We can’t do it without forward-thinking schools, academic partners like BCITO, and our trade partners,” Breen says.
Wakatipu High School Principal, Oden Nathan, says the program is extraordinary for Wakatipu Students and the basin in general. “WHS is thrilled to partner with Breen Construction so that we may continue to offer our students this valuable learning opportunity and to support students with their passions and pathways in the construction industry.”
Alongside Breen and school representatives, students heard from Talent and Development Manager for the Highlanders rugby team, Kane Jury, at the program’s launch event. In a talk titled ‘Practice Like a Highlander,’ the athlete highlighted how on-the-job training helps students experience real construction site demands and assess whether they have the stamina, focus, and discipline needed to work safely and accurately.
Breen’s focus is an excellent TradeBase experience for Southland students but the hope is other schools in other locations will adopt the initiative in the future. “We are open to conversations,” Breen says. “We’re excited to see this programme develop and scale.”
A total of 28 students—14 from Wakatipu, 8 from Dunstan, and 6 MSD participants—have enrolled in the program, compared to the equivalent program which had just nine students from the wider Queenstown Lakes and Central Otago region in 2025.
