With the America’s Cup set to return to our shores and New Zealand sailors and boat builders revelling in a triumphant campaign, one former NZMACITO apprentice has given us his take on why New Zealand boat builders are considered some of the best in the world. Nathan Kerry has forged a successful career for himself in Europe following his NZMACITO apprenticeship at Gulf Harbour’s Brin Wilson Boats. Now based in the UK and owner of NK Marine Services, he’s worked on the two biggest superyachts in existence, built the first wings for team Landrover BAR, and worked for the Red… Read More

Simon Bird, age 28, qualified as a Marine Systems Engineer whilst working at Alloy Yachts under Ross Clapham, now one of our NZ Marine and Composites ITO field officers.   (In his own words): After Alloy Yachts I wanted to get my Class 3 foreign going engineering ticket. So I managed to get a training position aboard an anchor handling and support vessel servicing the oil rigs down in New Plymouth.   I needed nine months sea time and then had to go the NZ Maritime School to do the theory side and sit the exams. After getting my engineering… Read More

Fijian boat builders training in New Zealand With assistance from government funding, NZMAC ITO and Skills International Limited have given four Fijian apprentice boat builders an incredible opportunity to further their training in an off-job training course and a short tour of some New Zealand marine companies. The off-job training course is designed to supplement skills already learnt in the workplace, and expose learners to skills and experience that they may not otherwise have access to. Vi, Ryan, Tony, and Tex have spent two weeks at the Scale Drawing and Lofting course with NZMAC ITO providers Northtec at their Whangarei… Read More

Success at C-Quip International Jay-Evan Paskell completed a gateway placement at Lloyd Stevenson Boatbuilders Ltd at high school. After enjoying that placement, a careers advisor at school helped him get an interview with Advanced Aerospace Ltd, also known as C-Quip International. After five years refining his skills and knowledge as a composites technician, Jay-Evan has spent the last year as the supervisor of the clean room, and the Laminating Team Leader. Jay-Evan has completed a Level 3 Boatbuilding Pre-Apprenticeship, a Level 3 Composites qualification, and is currently working towards completing his Level 4 Composites qualification. After that he wants to… Read More

Howick College students Nick Mackenzie (17) and Jayden Prentice (16) are building what they hope will be bright careers at top New Zealand boat manufacturer, Rayglass Boats. The pair spends the first two days of each week learning a wide variety of practical skills at the world-class boatbuilder in Mt Wellington. The students, two of the first to take advantage of a new School to Work programme, have even been given their own exclusive project. “We were keen to give Nick and Jayden the opportunity to experience and learn as much as possible while they are with us,” says Rayglass… Read More

Andrew Goldfinch wondered if a full apprenticeship was right for him, so he enrolled in a Pre-Apprenticeship Limited Credit Programme (LCP) to find out. He completed the LCP, enjoyed the work and was offered a full apprenticeship at Yachting Developments. Andrew has now completed his National certificate in Boat Building (Composite) (Level 4). Andrews main focus for the future is to work overseas, possibly as part of a super yacht crew. “Finish your apprenticeship. Once that’s done you’ll be employable all around the world” -Andrew Goldfinch Read More

Like many budding yacht painters before him, Mike began his apprenticeship with Alloy Yachts International in Auckland New Zealand almost 20 years ago. After ‘doing his time’ with several of Auckland’s yacht building and painting businesses such as Fitzroy Yachts, Southern Spars and more he ventured overseas to grow and hone his skills. The highly competitive, and larger European yacht painting industry beckoned and Mike eventually landed a job in Italy. Whilst there he advanced his body of knowledge about his trade and learned many of the innovative techniques he brought back to New Zealand. World class yacht painting company, One10 was founded by Mike Vitali… Read More

Morgan Ford completed an auto electrician apprenticeship straight after leaving school. After working on a friends boat in Vanuatu and Tonga, he developed a strong interest in working on boats and putting in to practice the skills he has learned during his training. Morgan works at Mainland Batteries Ltd. and building on his interest in boats, he has completed his apprenticeship in Marine Electrical and Electronics. “Moving from cars to boats is a logical, straight forward transition” -Morgan Ford Read More

Dave Hammond qualified as a marine system engineer with Sovereign Yachts in May 2002 and has already written the book – or at least a logbook – to improve efficiency in his tasks. Since graduating in his apprenticeship, Dave, 25, has worked on superyachts in Europe and America as either first or second engineer. He is also qualified as Y3 and 4 under the MCA ruling, and is second engineer on the 230ft Utopia. An engineer’s job includes recording of maintenance issues to ensure all systems are as reliable as possible. Most engineers maintain computer records, but create a hand-written… Read More

  She arrived tired, drab and lacklustre. She will leave with a gleaming dark blue hull with gold trim, on a colour-matched trailer and ready to party on a private lake. In between, she has given apprentices at Andrew Fink Marine in Hamilton a solid sense of achievement. The seven-month restoration was done mostly by third-year boatbuilding apprentice Jeremy Farr and fourth-year boatbuilding apprentice Morgan Roberts with assistance from fellow apprentice Zack Christensen. Hauiti is a small riverboat, built in fibreglass to a mould taken off a harbour boat, circa early 1900s. The current owner bought her for sunset cruises.… Read More