Scaffolding student reaches new heights

Media release –

24 July 2011

Scaffolding student reaches new heights

A 25 year old Mangakino man has been named the country’s top student scaffolder. Allan Ngatai Thompson, who works for Riteway Rigging and Scaffolding in Kawerau, was presented with the Scaffold Trainee of the Year award at the Scaffolding and Rigging NZ (SARNZ) conference in New Plymouth on Saturday.

Allan should be proud at his accomplishment says Tai Poutini Polytechnic’s Head of Department – Scaffolding, Vadim Spice. “His tutors say he is a high achiever with great skills. He is a charismatic leader and in training he always approached each task with vigour and showed a high level of workmanship,” he says.

Allan completed his training at Tai Poutini Polytechnic’s Tauranga campus. He gained his National Certificate in Elementary Scaffolding in 2009, went on to pass his National Certificate in Intermediate Scaffolding in 2010 and completed his training with the National Certificate in Advanced Scaffolding this year.

“Scaffolding is a highly specialised trade and as a young advanced scaffolder Allan now has the highest trade qualification,” says Mr Spice.

“In the scaffolding industry a trade certificate is mandatory under the Health and Safety in Employment Act. It’s a small, highly--‐specialised industry which places great emphasis on safety and professionalism.”

Tai Poutini Polytechnic runs a National Certificate in Scaffolding programme and is recognised by the industry as the preferred national trainer. It has campuses in Christchurch, Dunedin, Auckland, Wellington and Tauranga. The polytechnic works closely with industry body Scaffolding and Rigging NZ (SARNZ). Graham Burke, president of SARNZ, says Allan deserves great credit for the award.

“He has an excellent future in the industry after dedicating himself to training and hands--‐on experience in the workplace. It’s also great to see the winner coming from a company with a long history in the industry.”

Qualified scaffolders are sought after for a wide range of work including residential, commercial, industrial, event seating, petrochemical industry work and film and theatre sets.

The Award was started in 2008 in association with Tai Poutini Polytechnic and other SARNZ supplier members who contribute to the combined prize pool which includes a selection of top--‐of--‐the line tools and safety gear and a gold plated scaffolding spanner trophy.

NDS