Cuba Te Aho

Ingoa: Cuba Te Aho
Iwi / Hapū: Ngāti Porou, Ngati Kahungunu ki Te Wairoa
Ahumahi: Automotive Collision Repair
Tūnga mahi: Apprentice Collision Repairer
Organisation: Cavanagh Panel, Paint, Glass

Cuba Te Aho – Building a Career in Collision Repair

With over five years’ experience in panel beating, including three and a half as an apprentice — Cuba Te Aho is carving out a solid career at Cavanagh Panel and Paint. For him, trades offer a clear advantage: practical skills, real-world learning, and the ability to “earn while you learn” without the weight of student debt.

Cuba is part of a growing wave of Māori entering the collision repair trade. In 2023, Māori represented 16.7% of those in training — a strong sign of interest — though industry representation remains lower at just over 12%. Cuba’s journey reflects the potential for more Māori to progress into long-term roles and eventually business ownership.

From an early age, Cuba learned the value of work. While at Te Puke High School, he worked part-time at New World and helped his dad in the workshop, paying for his own fuel by 16. The classroom setting didn’t suit him — he preferred hands-on learning and seeing how skills applied in real life.

He began in both glass and panel work, starting each day with several hours in glass. But the repetitive nature of the work pushed him toward panel beating, which offered variety, problem-solving, and the satisfaction of restoring vehicles.

Sport was once a big part of Cuba’s life — he played volleyball at national level, was a world-ranked Gymsport tumbler, and competed in football and rugby. Eventually, he stepped away from high-level sport to focus on building a career and enjoying more balance.

Cuba’s motivation comes from his work environment and the strong example set by his parents. “They’ve always worked hard to give us opportunities,” he says, a lesson that drives him to persist through challenges. His apprenticeship hasn’t been without hurdles — balancing long days on the tools with study was tough, especially reading and comprehension tasks. He started his apprenticeship once, paused, and returned with renewed commitment. Now, he dedicates three to four hours a week to study while sharing responsibilities at home, including cooking for the family.

He values the support of his team and the ability to ask questions freely. The variety of the trade keeps him engaged — no two jobs are the same — and he enjoys the constant learning that comes with problem-solving on the workshop floor.

Cuba believes trades are an ideal pathway for young people unsure of their next steps. Seasonal work like kiwifruit and forklift driving offered him income but lacked long-term growth. In contrast, collision repair provides transferable skills, industry experience, and the potential to work anywhere in the world.

Once qualified, Cuba hopes to take his skills abroad, potentially to Australia, to gain fresh experiences while continuing to grow in the trade. His goal is to keep learning, stay adaptable, and build a career that can carry him wherever opportunity calls.