Tool Blacks build up to WorldSkills Championships

Tool Blacks build up to WorldSkills Championships in London in October

August 2011

The cream of New Zealand’s young trade trainees are preparing to take on their peers from around the globe at the world championships in London in October.

WorldSkills is like the Olympics for young people involved in trade and technical training programmes such as hairdressing, plumbing, carpentry and cooking.

A team of 17 New Zealand competitors, selected after national championships last year, will compete against more than 1000 other young people from over 50 countries.

The Kiwi team is called the Tool Blacks. They are all aged under 23 and have proven they excel at a particular skill.

Earlier this year the team went to Australia to compete in the Global Skills Challenge as a warm up for the world champs.

Chief Executive Officer of WorldSkills New Zealand, Peter Spencer, says the Tool Blacks gave the Australians a real run for their money.

“This team of young people are exceptional when it comes to focus and dedication. The Australian competition gave us the chance to assess our strengths and weaknesses in preparation for WorldSkills London.”

A special reception was held for the 2011 Tool Blacks at Government house in Auckland on their return from Australia in July.

“The team is proud to have been chosen to represent New Zealand and attending the reception at Government House, where they performed a haka for the guests was the icing on the cake,” Mr Spencer said.

More than 150,000 visitors are expected to attend the London WorldSkills Championship which will be the largest international skills competition in the world.

“WorldSkills London 2011 will amaze people by showing them the endless possibilities their futures could hold and inspire them to gain expertise at the highest level which this country needs.”

Tool Blacks 2011 team

Region

Name

Category

Auckland

Andre Prinsloo

Autobody repair

Auckland

Rob Hamilton

Marine Cabinetmaking

Auckland

Megan Anderson

Cooking

Auckland

Daniel Berry

Industrial control

Blenheim

Aroha Hebberd

Floristry

Canterbury

Mat Pascoe

Polymechanics

Central Nth Island

William Taylor

Sheet Metal Technology

Central Nth Island

Andrew Watson

Carpentry

Northland

Curtis Hartley

Automotive Technology

Northland

Ben Roche

Bricklaying

NZDF

Kirsty Lister

Restaurant Service

Otago

Laura Simpson

Hairdressing

Otago

Scott Nicholson

Plumbing

Southland

Shaun McInerey

Electrical installations

Waikato

Brad Wood

Welding

Wellington

Drew Avery

Car painting

Wellington

Chris Evans

Joinery

WorldSkills – some background

• WorldSkills New Zealand is part of a worldwide group (approx 50 countries) which organise trade competitions within their own countries and form teams to compete at the biennial international competition.

• WorldSkills NZ’s mission is to challenge New Zealand to achieve world class standards by demonstrating excellence through workplace skills competitions for young people.

• WorldSkills NZ currently caters for more than 20 skills categories covering everything from automotive and building trades to floristry and catering.

• The WorldSkills National Finals were held at Christchurch Polytechnic Institute of Technology from 22-26 September 2010.

• The Tool Blacks team competed in Australia from July 5-8 this year and attended a reception at Government House, Auckland on July 9.

• WorldSkills London will be held at the ExCel London Exhibition and conference centre in London’s docklands from 5-8 October 2011.

• There will be 45 official competition zones at WorldSkills London 2011, covering everything from bricklaying to hairdressing.

ends

© Scoop Media