Hon CHRIS HIPKINS (Minister of Education): The Government was working to strengthen and promote vocational education options to New Zealanders even before COVID-19 hit. We've been focusing on raising the profile of trades and vocational education, and encouraging more people to take up those careers. Since COVID-19, we're removing the fees on all apprenticeships and a wide range of other trades and vocational education programmes from next Wednesday until the end of 2022. We'll be financially supporting and encouraging employers to keep their apprentices earning and learning, with wage subsidies of up to $16,000 per apprentice.