Apprenticeships in Waikato
To find an apprenticeship in Waikato, you look for an employer first: the training is arranged around the job. Below are 5 Waikato employers that take apprentices on, across 4 trades, with how long each trade takes and where else to look.
Last checked .
How long did your apprenticeship take?
Put it on the record. Anonymous, about two minutes.
Add your timelineWhere can I find an apprenticeship in Waikato?
Start with the 5 Waikato employers listed on this page, then the apprentice listings on SEEK and Trade Me Jobs filtered to Waikato, and register your interest with the training provider for your trade (BCITO for building, Competenz for engineering, MITO for automotive, HITO for hairdressing), which can match you with an employer.
- Pick the trade. The table below gives the length and school entry level for each trade with employers in Waikato; our how to get an apprenticeship guide covers all 13 trades.
- Approach the employers listed here directly.Many small firms never advertise an apprentice role; they take on someone who asked at the right time. Each listing links to the company's own website.
- Check the job boards. SEEK, Trade Me Jobs and Indeed all carry apprentice roles you can filter to Waikato. Search “apprentice” plus the trade.
- Register with the training provider. Tahatū advises registering your interest with the provider for your trade, which may match you with an employer looking for an apprentice.
- No employer yet? Try a pre-trade course. In Waikato that means Wintec. It is not required, but it shows an employer you have tried the work.
Which companies take on apprentices in Waikato, and for how long?
| Trade | Employers listed | Apprenticeship length | School entry |
|---|---|---|---|
| Plumber | 1 | 3–4 years | NCEA Level 2 if you are still at school. |
| Carpenter and builder · Carpentry apprenticeship guide | 1 | 3–4 years | NCEA Level 2 is usually required for the study or training. |
| Automotive technician and mechanic | 2 | 0–4 years | NCEA Level 2 may be useful, but is not specifically required. |
| Fitter and turner · Engineering apprenticeship guide | 1 | 3–4 years | NCEA Level 2 if you are still at school. |
Length and entry are from each trade's Tahatū occupation page (linked on the trade page). The steps follow Tahatū Career Navigator (Tertiary Education Commission) — About apprenticeships, checked 2026-11-04. Polytechnic sites checked 2026-11-05.
Do apprentices in Waikato get paid less than elsewhere?
No. Minimum pay for apprentices is set nationally. In Waikato, as everywhere in New Zealand, the floor is the training minimum wage of $19.16 an hour for trainees 20 and over doing at least 60 credits a year, and the adult minimum of $23.95 otherwise. Employers can pay more, and many do once you are skilled. Apprentice wages in NZ →
The Waikato employers, by trade
4 of the trades we cover: plumber, carpenter and builder, automotive technician and mechanic, fitter and turner. Between them, 5 Waikato employers on this site take apprentices on. Each is listed below under its trade, with a link to the company's own website on its page.
Plumber in Waikato
Carpenter and builder in Waikato
Automotive technician and mechanic in Waikato
Fitter and turner in Waikato
Common questions
Do I need a course before starting an apprenticeship in Waikato?
No. An apprenticeship starts with a job, not a course, so you can go straight to an employer. A short pre-trade course at Wintec can help if no employer will take you yet, because it shows you have tried the work and know the safety basics.
Changing careers? There is no upper age limit: adult apprenticeships and pay at 25, 30 or 40+.
Every listing verified against the company's own website on 2026-09-18. This site holds no reviews or ratings. Correct or remove a listing.