What polytech was this through.  I've had this argument with the ITO several times about the pre-trade.  A lot of my apprentices have done the pre-trade and did the one day a week work experience with us.  Were your guys fees reduced to take this into account?  I have been guaranteed by the ITo that they do not reduce fees and have not done so/

One polytec in Wellington does a year, but I think you two days of work experience a week, the other poly tech does a pre trade in 3 months.

that aint no joke badger i was on $13:50 for FOUR YEARS doing my apprentiship and i was 35years old when i started!!! and then jumped straight to $21 which in my eyes is still underpayed for what i do...and thats the whole reason i did this apprentiship cus im sick of not getting payed what im worth and sick of bosses patting me on the sholder telling me how good i am and yet not showing that in my pay packet!...this country sucks for wage workers heck i was making more 7 years ago over in aus working a brain dead job in a plastics factory than i am today a qualified/licensed plumber!!!
yea im sure there are those good ones out there but they are very few and far between.
But anyways im sitting my craftmans next year and as soon as rego time comes up im on my own!!!...i just think that anyone that does 4 years and then the other two and does not work for themselvs is a bloody fool but everyones diffrent and each to there own.