Scoop has an Ethical Paywall
Work smarter with a Pro licence Learn More

Local Govt | National News Video | Parliament Headlines | Politics Headlines | Search

 

Hawke's Bay Sparkie Claims National Title

Hawke's Bay Sparkie Claims National Title

New Zealand’s Electrical Apprentice of the Year – Industrial Rob Stockley has always enjoyed electronics and building projects.

So when Rob and wife Liz moved to Hawke’s Bay to raise their two young daughters, he decided to turn a life-long interest into a burgeoning career and enrol in EIT’s pre-employment programme for the electrical trades.

“Going back to school was a challenging but necessary step towards becoming an electrician,” says the 41-year-old from Hastings. “Electricity is unforgiving and a solid grounding in the basics is essential.”

Studying for the Certificate in Electrical Trades, Rob says he was fortunate in having Grant Millar and Ray Lawrence amongst his tutors.

“Their passion for the electrical trade and their willingness to go the extra mile for struggling students is a credit to them and EIT. It was through my tutor Grant Millar that I was introduced to Fruit Handling Systems which led to my current job.”

Winning the ECANZ Challenge was “a huge confidence boost” for the former Air Force man, who outperformed four other finalists in automating a conveyor system in a simulated bottling plant.

Shortly after claiming the title, Rob flew to the USA where he is commissioning a new apple packhouse in New York State.

“Fruit Handling Systems has supplied several machines to this job including a robotic bin dumper, an in-feed conveyor and treatment system and a row of bin fillers.”

Making all these machines work together and integrating them with other packhouse plant is like “a giant jigsaw puzzle”.

Advertisement - scroll to continue reading

Are you getting our free newsletter?

Subscribe to Scoop’s 'The Catch Up' our free weekly newsletter sent to your inbox every Monday with stories from across our network.

Rob says his employers provide him with opportunities to be involved in the design, manufacturing and commissioning of a range of industrial machines.

“We specialise in materials-handling equipment installed in fruit packhouses. I enjoy figuring things out and making them work, so it’s fulfilling to see a new concept from paper through to the customer’s factory.”

Asked about his future direction, Rob quotes Albert Einstein – “once you stop learning, you start dying.”

He plans to continue in the electrical field, learning for as long as he can.

“I enjoy teaching and expect at some stage I will follow in the footsteps of my tutors Grant and Ray.”

As for opportunities available to qualified electricians, Rob quips: “The world needs electricity like the world needs haircuts. There will always be opportunities for qualified tradespeople (and hairdressers) wherever they find themselves.”

ends

© Scoop Media

Advertisement - scroll to continue reading
 
 
 
Parliament Headlines | Politics Headlines | Regional Headlines


Gordon Campbell: On The US Opposition To Mortgage Interest Deductibility For Landlords


Should landlords be able to deduct the interest on the loans they take out to bankroll their property speculation? The US Senate Budget Committee and Bloomberg News don't think this is a good idea, for reasons set out below. Regardless, our coalition government has been burning through a ton of political capital by giving landlords a huge $2.9 billion tax break via interest deductibility, while still preaching the need for austerity to the disabled, and to everyone else...
More


 
 

Government: Concerns Conveyed To China Over Cyber Activity
Foreign Minister Winston Peters has confirmed New Zealand’s concerns about cyber activity have been conveyed directly to the Chinese Government. “The Prime Minister and Minister Collins have expressed concerns today about malicious cyber activity... More

ALSO:


Government: GDP Decline Reinforces Government’s Fiscal Plan

Declining GDP for the December quarter reinforces the importance of restoring fiscal discipline to public spending and driving more economic growth, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says... More

ALSO:


Government: Humanitarian Support For Gaza & West Bank

Winston Peters has announced NZ is providing a further $5M to respond to the extreme humanitarian need in Gaza and the West Bank. “The impact of the Israel-Hamas conflict on civilians is absolutely appalling," he said... More


Government: New High Court Judge Appointed

Judith Collins has announced the appointment of Wellington Barrister Jason Scott McHerron as a High Court Judge. Justice McHerron graduated from the University of Otago with a BA in English Literature in 1994 and an LLB in 1996... More

 
 
 
 
 
 

LATEST HEADLINES

  • PARLIAMENT
  • POLITICS
  • REGIONAL
 
 

InfoPages News Channels


 
 
 
 

Join Our Free Newsletter

Subscribe to Scoop’s 'The Catch Up' our free weekly newsletter sent to your inbox every Monday with stories from across our network.