Cedric Folaumoetui – NZCB Apprentice of Year Challenge winner! Pictured with New Zealand Certified Builders and Industry Training Association staff, who were dressed for the ‘steam punk’ themed official dinner
Dedication and a commitment to supporting his family are the foundations of graduate Cedric Folaumoetui. He recently completed a Diploma in Applied Technology – Carpentry and in June won the New Zealand Certified Builders Association annual ‘Apprentice Challenge’.
Cedric is the first Pasifika winner of this annual competition that pits all the regional winners against each other at a national event. The competition is a ‘grand slam’ of tasks and challenges including an exam on the building code, a presentation and a panel interview.
Cedric is no stranger to tertiary study, already holding a Bachelor of Arts in Criminology, and previously employed at Work & Income, it was a big decision to take on further education. Cedric says he is driven by his commitment to his parents and seven siblings, and his goal to go back ‘home’ to rebuild both his grandparent’s family homes in Tonga.
He credits Onehunga High School, the first school to offer a building and construction programme, for helping him make the transition, and family members already in trade roles for providing an awareness of the potential to earn more than where his current career path was taking him. He’s a firm believer that people are driven by passion or by money, so it was about finding the balance between his own passion, personal goals and financial security.
Cedric says Tongan culture promotes “paving the way” for the younger generation, so 10 years ago he chose to provide his parents with some additional support by taking on the upbringing of his youngest brother. He initiated a change of schools for him to Auckland Boys Grammar and while that meant more financial pressure for Cedric, he says it has definitely been worth it. His brother is excelling at school and at 17-years-old has decided to pursue further tertiary studies next year.
Cedric’s study and work ethic has certainly been aspirational for the youngest Folaumoetui – he’s been an important role model for his brother and now Cedric has new career plans. Working on-site he has recognised that a good builder also needs to be a designer and have a view of the whole project, so he’s heading back to achieve another goal, complete his remaining papers for a Bachelor of Construction, double majoring in construction management and quantity surveying.
Cedric has no qualms about returning to Unitec for further study. He says the staff are very approachable and the class sizes are smaller so there is more ‘one on one’ time. He also found that his learning style was more hands-on so knowing he will be heard when he needed help or input was important.
Cedric says if there is anything he could change about his career journey it would have been to head to Unitec straight from school.