Competenz

Competenz Competenz is a multi-sector work-based learning organisation.

You can find more information about the industries we support on our website: competenz.org.nz/our-industries

Maintenance, general engineering and fitting and machining apprentices, this one's for you!The MESNZ Excellence Awards a...
01/09/2026

Maintenance, general engineering and fitting and machining apprentices, this one's for you!

The MESNZ Excellence Awards are fast approaching. You could be in to win:
๐Ÿ’ฐ Up to $2,000 towards your engineering future with the Bill Buckley Scholarship
๐Ÿ† Recognition for your workplace via the Apprentice Training Organisation Award

Find the Bill Buckley Scholarship application form here:
https://mesnz.org.nz/about/scholarships/

Nominations for the Apprentice Training Organisation Award are just 1โ€“2 pages, with a follow-up phone interview to talk through the details.

Send your application in before Friday 11 September to [email protected].
To find out more about the awards, visit www.mesnz.org.nz.

31/08/2026

What makes a great coach? Turns out a little laughter can go a long way.
๐Ÿ‘€ Keep your eyes peeled for 2026 MVC coming soon, rewarding our Most Valuable Coachesโ€ฆ

Wallie Askew Memorial Workskills Competition: Regional challenges complete! Throughout August, our team had the pleasure...
27/08/2026

Wallie Askew Memorial Workskills Competition: Regional challenges complete!

Throughout August, our team had the pleasure of supporting the Wallie Askew Memorial Workskills Competition regional challenges in Auckland, Palmerston North and Christchurch, assisting with judging, coordination and facilitation.
An initiative of Institute of Refrigeration, Heating and Air Conditioning Engineers NZ and hosted by Steelfort branches across the Northern, Central and Southern regions, the competitions tested apprentices across four key areas: pipework, emissions, electrical and theory.

Congratulations to the apprentices who secured first and second place in their regional challenges and earned a place in the National Final, taking place in Palmerston North this October.

Northern region
๐Ÿฅ‡ Cody Smith, McAlpine Hussmann Auckland
๐Ÿฅˆ Jayme Martin, McAlpine Hussmann Rotorua

Central region
๐Ÿฅ‡ Cullen House, McAlpine Hussmann Wellington
๐Ÿฅˆ Michael Herbert, McAlpine Hussmann Wellington

Southern region
๐Ÿฅ‡ Jackson McKenzie, Active Refrigeration
๐Ÿฅˆ Max Sargeant, Active Refrigeration

A huge well done to everyone who took part. The talent, skill and dedication on display across all three regions highlight a bright future for New Zealand's refrigeration, heating and air conditioning industry. We look forward to seeing the finalists compete at the national event in October.

Great employers don't just train apprentices - they build them into confident, skilled tradespeople.Sean Martin worked a...
24/08/2026

Great employers don't just train apprentices - they build them into confident, skilled tradespeople.

Sean Martin worked across five employers over 13 years to complete his Level 4 refrigeration qualification. That experience taught him exactly what sets a great training culture apart, and he's now using it to mentor the next generation at Excel Refrigeration and Air Conditioning.

Read the full story below:
https://www.competenz.org.nz/news/the-difference-great-employer-make

Twenty-seven years in manufacturing taught Peter Sutcliffe one thing above all: build people, not just products.As he re...
23/08/2026

Twenty-seven years in manufacturing taught Peter Sutcliffe one thing above all: build people, not just products.

As he retires from Marley NZ, Peter shared the principles that shaped his approach to leadership โ€” reward capability over tenure, keep learning as technology evolves, and make safety everyone's responsibility.

Under his leadership, Marley was named Plastics Training Company of the Year in 2023 and runner-up in 2025. About a third of his team have worked there longer than he has.

For employers thinking about how to build a workplace people don't want to leave, here are Peter's seven lessons.

Read the full story below
https://www.competenz.org.nz/news/peter-sutcliffes-seven-lessons-for-better-manufacturing

When times get tough, many businesses hit pause on training. Cambridge-based Treadlite did the opposite.As New Zealand's...
20/08/2026

When times get tough, many businesses hit pause on training. Cambridge-based Treadlite did the opposite.

As New Zealand's only tyre recycler manufacturing rubber products for the domestic market, Treadlite turns thousands of end-of-life tyres into recycled rubber for playgrounds, sports fields and horse arenas. And they're applying that same long-term, second-life thinking to their people.

Through our manufacturing programmes, six of Treadlite's team are now working towards the New Zealand Certificate in Manufacturing, building the skills and confidence to become the leaders of tomorrow. One of them, Terrence Mohetaue, laughed when he was first approached, thinking he was "too old to be learning stuff now." Today he's completed Level 2, progressed into Level 3, and is mentoring the next intake, applying what he's learned to redesign processes and reinforce safer ways of working at their new facility.

As HR Manager Katie Hannah puts it: "It's easy to think you can't afford training during challenging times, but recruitment is expensive too. If we can keep our people, keep them engaged and give them opportunities to grow, that's a much better investment."

That's what a genuine learning culture looks like. Competenz is proud to partner with Treadlite on the journey.

Read the full story here: https://www.competenz.org.nz/news/if-we-couldnt-spend-more-money-we-could-spend-more-time

20/08/2026

From gaming to advanced manufacturing: meet the Joystick Trades. ๐ŸŽฎ

Could the hours young people spend gaming be developing skills they'll use later in some of New Zealand's technologically advanced workplaces?

At Competenz we call them the Joystick Trades! It's a connection weโ€™ve been hearing from apprentices across the industries we support - and one that recently caught the attention of TVNZ 1 Seven Sharp!

Last night we featured in a story on Seven Sharp, looking at how skills developed through gaming are finding an unexpected home in modern trades.

Reporter Carolyn Robinson visited Pact Group to meet Competenz apprentices Josh Felise-Anderson and Brandon Sekene, alongside Kevin Withell, our National Manager Apprenticeships, and Pact Group Executive GM Deanne Holdsworth.

Thanks to TVNZ 1 Seven Sharp for recognising the value in this piece, to Josh and Brandon for sharing their story and Pact Group for encouraging training and development of young apprentices.

If you missed the feature last night, check it out below ๐Ÿ‘€

๐Ÿšจ Job Alert: Engineering Apprentice-Fitter ๐Ÿšจ๐Ÿ“ AucklandKickstart your career in engineering with this hands-on apprentice...
18/08/2026

๐Ÿšจ Job Alert: Engineering Apprentice-Fitter ๐Ÿšจ

๐Ÿ“ Auckland

Kickstart your career in engineering with this hands-on apprenticeship opportunity. Work alongside experienced professionals, build practical skills, and earn while you learn.

๐Ÿ”นLearn on the job with industry experts
๐Ÿ”นGain a nationally recognised qualification
๐Ÿ”นBe part of a supportive team environment
๐Ÿ”นGain experience in reactive maintenance, plant reliability, safety focused work, reliability-centred maintenance, planned maintenance and working with operators and shift technicians.

Whatโ€™s in it for you?
โœ” Earn while you learn
โœ” Structured training and career progression
โœ” Work alongside an experienced mentor to gain experience and skills towards your qualification
โœ” Join a well-established organisation with a welcoming and inclusive culture

๐Ÿ•— Full-time role

๐Ÿ”— Click the link below to learn more and apply today.
https://www.competenz.org.nz/job-listings

From leaving school at 16 to help support her family, to leading a team of 13 as a Production Supervisor โ€” Lexiga Pritch...
16/08/2026

From leaving school at 16 to help support her family, to leading a team of 13 as a Production Supervisor โ€” Lexiga Pritchard's journey is one to celebrate.

The Papatoetoe local has been named one of six recipients nationwide of the 2026 Bunnings Warehouse New Zealand -Women in Apprenticeships Award, recognised for her technical skill, leadership, and determination while completing her New Zealand Certificate in Light Fabrication with Competenz.

Lexiga's path wasn't a straight line. A pre-trade mechanical engineering programme opened a door she'd never considered, and she hasn't looked back since.

"My apprenticeship has given me opportunities I never imagined, and I hope my story shows other young people that there are so many different pathways to build a career you love."

Congratulations, Lexiga โ€” we're proud to have you as part of the Competenz whฤnau.

Read more at the link below:
https://www.competenz.org.nz/news/a-different-path-to-success-earns-national-apprenticeship-honour

Our team headed down to the Top of the South Wood Council Forestry Awards at the end of July, joining the forestry commu...
12/08/2026

Our team headed down to the Top of the South Wood Council Forestry Awards at the end of July, joining the forestry community from across Marlborough, Nelson and Tasman to celebrate a year of hard work and achievement.

Competenz Regional Manager Forestry Hannah Unsworth had the pleasure of presenting the Apprentice of the Year award to Keegan Fox from Moir Logging Company.

Keegan's win highlighted how he's grabbed every opportunity to learn and grow, progressing straight from his Forest Harvesting Operations apprenticeship into Mechanised Felling. He's known for his versatility on the skid, falling and machinery, and for the focus on safety and crew culture he brings to the job every day.

Congratulations to Keegan on your well-deserved win, and to everyone who took home an award. ๐Ÿ™Œ

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EMA, 145 Khyber Pass Road
Auckland
1023

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Tuesday 8:30am - 5pm
Wednesday 8:30am - 5pm
Thursday 8:30am - 5pm
Friday 8:30am - 5pm

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