‘Tool Blacks’ to be decided at upcoming competition

MEDIA RELEASE

For immediate release

Date: 31 March 2015

‘Tool Blacks’ to be decided at upcoming competition in Hamilton

Hamilton will host 102 international competitors in the ‘Olympics of the trades’ at Wintec in Hamilton next month in the inaugural WorldSkills Oceania Competition.

The national team is made up of 23 young Kiwis who have been deemed the best of the best in their chosen trades for their age, and includes four Hamiltonians.

Taking place from April 14-17 at Wintec’s Rotokauri campus, the New Zealand WorldSkills team will take on competitors from Canada, India, Malaysia, China, Australia and Korea in a total of 30 skill categories.

“The NZ WorldSkills team will compete in 18 of those categories, ranging from aircraft maintenance to various auto and engineering trades, carpentry, joinery, plumbing and heating as well as floristry, hairdressing, restaurant trades and web and graphic design,” said WorldSkills NZ chief executive Bruce Howat.

“The competition will be intense for the under-23 year olds as they all vie for a spot in the Tool Blacks – the national WorldSkills team that travels to Brazil in August for the international competition.”

Each competitor has a personalised, hands-on mentoring programme to ensure they have the best shot at winning a medal.

This includes ‘mental toughness’ training developed exclusively for WorldSkills NZ competitors by Open Fort.

“One of the gifts of WorldSkills competitions is the confidence the kids gain in their own abilities,” says Howat.

“It’s helped by receiving the endorsement of a positive peer and skill group that’s with them every step of the way.”

Chelcie Kuriger (21)

Chelcie Kuriger is an apprentice technician at Waikato Toyota by day and a regional rock n’ roll dance rep/teacher by night.

She is very nearly finished her apprenticeship through Wintec and is representing New Zealand in the Automotive Technology category at the WorldSkills Oceania Competition next month.

Chelcie won the regional WorldSkills New Zealand Competition and claimed a silver medal in last year’s National competition and says she is doing everything she can to come out on top against her international contenders in the upcoming competition.

“We will be carrying out gearbox and engine rebuilds, electrical engine management, steering and suspension repairs, as well as brake and wheel alignments over the three days, and with just 2.5 hours for each module, it will be intense,” she said.

Michael Benson (21)

Michael Benson has just one competitor in the Sheetmetal Technology category at WorldSkills Oceania – and it’s an Aussie.

Benson won gold at the 2014 nationals and is doing everything in his power to finish on the podium at the upcoming Oceania competition, going into work at Stainless Design Ltd. at 5am to do an hour of training before work, and not leaving until he has finished training after work at 8pm most nights.

“WorldSkills has really opened my eyes to the career opportunities that exist for me within my trade,” said Benson.

“There is potential for me to move through the ranks, and work in the design office or own my own business one day – both of which I would like to do, so I have to put in the work to make that happen.

“My bosses at work are very supportive of WorldSkills because they hold the same values of striving for excellence and pushing the boundaries to be at the forefront of your trade.”

Jenny Eastwood (21)

Jenny Eastwood is a junior stylist at Morph Hair in Hamilton and is in her last year of her apprenticeship with Wintec.

She won a gold medal at last year’s WorldSkills National Competition and while she has high hopes for the Oceania Competition, she says she is realistic about the tough competition that is coming from the international teams.

“I will be happy if I can walk away from the competition having produced work that I am proud of. That’s what is most important to me,” she said.

Skills tested in the hairdressing category at Oceania will include everything a stylist does in their day to day work, she said.

“We will be emulating every day in the salon, so every skill that we’re trained in will be tested. It’s terrifying, but exciting.”

David Fox (21)

David Fox has worked at Wade Collision Repairs in Hamilton for five years as a collision repair technician and is entering the WorldSkills Oceania Competition in the Auto Body Repair category.

After winning a silver medal at the WorldSkills Nationals in 2012, he says he is as prepared as he can be ahead of the Oceania competition next month and has been studying up on the last international competition in Lepzieg, Germany to get an idea of the level at which he will be competing.

“I’ve always had a passion for vehicles, which I guess has come from my dad and stepdad both having an interest in building up old cars,” said Fox.

“I’m really looking forward to the challenge of the competition and seeing exactly where I sit in the scheme of things internationally.”

How you can help support the Tool Blacks:

• Come along and cheer the team on at Wintec in Hamilton from Tuesday 14 February from9am-4pm through to Thursday 16 April and on Friday 17 April from 9am –12noon. Free admission.

• ‘Like’ us on Facebook and check out our website

About WorldSkills NZ:

WorldSkills New Zealand is an independent, non-profit charitable trust founded in 1986, dedicated to encouraging young people to excel in vocational skills. This is achieved through exposure to competitions at regional, national and international levels.

© Scoop Media