The Tai Tokerau Trades Academy aims to get 40 Māori students engaged in education, improve their levels of achievement, and provide them with relevant skills and access to employment.

Tai Tokerau Trades Academy delivers trades and technology programmes to secondary students, including carpentry, hospitality, agriculture, horticulture, beekeeping and automotive.

Tai Tokerau Trades Academy is running from three locations in the north - Northland College, Tikipunga High School and NorthTEC in Kaitaia.

Next year the academy will also include Kerikeri High School, Dargaville High School, NorthTEC Future Trades Centre, Trades Learning (Mobile Trades Trailer) and Kaitaia College. This will enable the academy to reach 125 students each year.

The ultimate aim is to raise the achievement levels of Māori students at NCEA levels two and three, which in turn will contribute to the skill base within Te Taitokerau and enable students to gain tertiary credits. The academy also encourages partnerships and relationships with iwi, community, schools, tertiary, government agencies and with the industry in the region.

The Governance Group includes: Te Rūnanga o Te Rarawa, Te Rūnanga A Iwi o Ngāpuhi, Ngātiwai Trust Board, Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Whatua, the Iwi CEO Forum, Kaikohe (Rau Marama) Community Trust, New Zealand Housing Foundation, Te Puni Kōkiri, the Ministry of Social Development, Housing New Zealand, the Ministry of Education, Northland Secondary Schools Principals’ Association, Northland College, Tikipunga High School, Dargaville High School, Kerikeri High School, Kaitaia College, BCITO, Regent Training Centre, NorthTEC and Telford Rural Polytechnic.