Watt a clever bunch

Watt a clever bunch – apprentices reach Master Electricians Challenge finals

Twelve bright sparks from across the country have reached the finals of the Master Electricians Challenge, the country’s toughest contest for apprentice electricians.

The finalists have been selected from entrants countrywide through a series of knockout heats. Now they are heading for the gruelling two-day final to be held at Hamilton’s Claudelands Events Centre on 26-28 May.

The competition, now in its 14th year, aims to find New Zealand’s top electrical apprentices. There are two divisions – Domestic/Commercial and Industrial. Contestants will face two full days of tasks and challenges designed to test their skills and abilities.

Master Electricians operations manager Bernie McLaughlin said that finalists will each face five workstations and have two hours to complete a range of tough tasks, designed to replicate a ‘real industry’ setting and applying the latest available technology.

“The scenarios are designed to test that they can respond swiftly and efficiently to challenging tasks they may face in their working life,” said Mr McLaughlin

“The industrial category will be slanted towards programmable logic controllers, and motors and motor starters. We are introducing more technology into the domestic/commercial category - so they could be doing anything from wiring through to programming lighting controllers.”

While this year’s task details are under wraps, previous contestants have tackled challenges such as automating the operating system for a rock quarry conveyor belt or automating a simulated motel room with features for guest comfort, such as underfloor heating and motion sensitive lighting.

All the contestants are apprentice electricians, mostly in their final year, who are combining on-job training with their employer with off-job training with their training provider.

The winners in each category will win a range of prizes and the title of Master Electricians Electrical Apprentice of the Year.

For more details about the challenge see www.ecanz.org.nz.

Finalists in the Domestic/Commercial division are:

• James Gibson, Dunedin. Employer: etco/Plunket Electrical. Trainer: etco
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• Jamie Newell, Wanganui. Employer: etco/Q-West. Trainer etco.
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• Fritz Conlon, Rotorua. Employer: BJ Electrical. Trainer: Trainer: Open Polytechnic
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• Joseph Morris, Hawkes Bay. Employer: Russells Electrical. Trainer: EIT
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• Daniel Carson, New Plymouth, employer: Sinclair Electrical. Trainer etco
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• Dion Reardon, Christchurch. Employer: etco/Aotea Electric. Trainer: etco
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• Scott Keeler, Christchurch. Employer: Melray Electrical. Trainer: CPIT/SIT.
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Finalists in the Industrial division are:

• Logan Sanders, Auckland. Employer: etco/Dalton Electrical. Trainer: etco
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• Nick Taylor, Hawkes Bay. Employer:Heinz Watties. Trainer: etco
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• Jonathan Wilkinson, Christchurch. Employer: Master Electrics. Trainer: CPIT
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• Rynhardt Marais, Auckland. Employer:Dalton Electrical. Trainer: etco
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• Rahul Babu, Auckland. Employer: etco/Dalton Electrical. Trainer: etco.
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Two regional entrants were also awarded The Skills Organisation’s sponsored Outward Bound Scholarships. These are:

• Tom Leslie, Wellington, training with etco, working for Prolight Electrical
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• Kaleb Frost, New Plymouth, training with etco, working for Laser Electrical
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ENDS

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