The construction industry wants the Government to keep offering the fees free policy to those going into trades.
Since being first offered in 2018, Newstalk ZB can reveal more than six thousand students have taken up fees-free to become a tradie.
Building and Construction Industry Training Organisation CEO Warwick Quinn told Mike Hosking they're getting a lot of new recruits.
"Families have told me the scheme was often the tipping point that encouraged them to give it a go.Â
"If we lose it, it'll drive desperately-needed construction staff into other fields."
The New Zealand Union of Students' Associations also supports fees free, saying it relieves students of critical debt.
New Zealand Union of Students' Associations President Isabella Lenihan-Ikin says students are going into trades and vocational training as a direct result of the barrier-free option.
"The policy enables tertiary education to be an option for all, not just the middle class or elitist people."
Latest data shows more than 80,000 students have benefited from fees free up to August 2019.
- text by Aaron Dahmen
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