Taking the hard road – Kat Kaiwai

benstevens Civil, News, NZ Apprenticeships, Our People

The highlight of Katareina Kaiwai’s four-year journey to achieve her Civil Infrastructure Apprenticeship was getting it finished.  That is not to say that Kat, who now runs her own roading firm, Tairāwhiti Contractors, did not enjoy her training. In fact, one of the first things she did after completing her Apprenticeship was to ask her Connexis Customer Service Account Manager (CSAM) what qualification she could do next.  However, she says it was only once she got to the end of her training that she …

November eNews

Prue Feely Civil, Energy, eNews, NZ Apprenticeships, Ultimit / Women in Infrastructure, Water

Kia ora koutou, There’s a lot of change happening in our sector, and we’ve embraced that with some changes of our own.  At the end of the year I’ll be leaving Connexis to join BCITO (the Building and Construction Industry Training Organisation) and Kaarin Gaukrodger, our very able and experienced General Manager, will be taking over the reins.    I’m immensely proud of the team at Connexis and …

Photo evidence not essays, new tool in rural contractor training

Prue Feely Civil, News

A new ‘user-friendly’ qualification, eligible for free trades training, has gained a big thumbs up from Rural Contractors New Zealand for workplace evidence such as photos being accepted as one way to recognise the skills of people working in rural contracting. The New Zealand Certification in Rural Contracting level 3 was unveiled by the Industry Training Organisation Connexis at this …

Government announces Free Trades Training scheme – a welcome boost for the Infrastructure Industry

Prue Feely Civil, Energy, News, NZ Apprenticeships, Telco, Water

The Government’s recently announced Free Trades Training scheme is a welcome boost for the Infrastructure Industry.  It provides a platform for attracting keen new workers to build the required workforce capacity and capability to deliver on the pipeline of infrastructure projects. The Targeted Training and Apprenticeship Fund (TTAF – also called Free Trades Training) of $320 million was announced by …

Lockdown Time Converted to Study Time

Prue Feely Civil, News, Our People, Ultimit / Women in Infrastructure

Civil infrastructure trainees around the country put the recent Level 4 lockdown hours to good use hitting the books and studying toward their apprenticeships. Lateisha Jeeves, Fulton Hogan Whangarei and Quaid Leech, Extreme Earthmoving Ltd in Auckland, switched their study from the workplace to home making the most of the lockdown hours. Lateisha is part of Fulton Hogan’s road maintenance …

Jimmy Robertson from Goodmans Contracting - Civil Trades Certified

In a time of change, successes continue

Prue Feely Civil, Civil Trades, Energy, News, Ultimit / Women in Infrastructure

TOBY BEAGLEHOLE, CHIEF EXECUTIVE, CONNEXIS INFRASTRUCTURE INDUSTRY TRAINING As published in Contractor Magazine January ‘Perspectives 2020’ As a newbie to vocational education and industry training in New Zealand, I was caught on the hop by the Government’s proposals in its Review of Vocational Education (RoVE) in February 2019. The biggest revamp of industry education in more than 25 years, RoVE …

Government’s Infrastructure Investment Welcomed

Prue Feely Civil, Civil Trades, News

The Government’s announcement to future-proof New Zealand with a $12 billion investment in infrastructure is a positive sign for the country’s future.  With $6.8 billion tagged to developing transport, this will provide some much-needed certainty of forward work for the civil infrastructure sector and has been welcomed by the nation’s infrastructure sector training organisation Connexis. Connexis Infrastructure Industry Training Chief …

eNews – December

Prue Feely Civil, Civil Trades, Energy, eNews, News, Telco, Ultimit / Women in Infrastructure, Water

Kia ora, As the calendar year draws to a close, I’m pleased to report that 2019 has brought a wide range of successes. As the standard-setting body for the infrastructure industries, Connexis shares the Government’s commitment to raising the profile of vocational education. This includes working with schools and communities around New Zealand and providing more flexible workplace-based learning, while actively supporting …

Wairoa Star: Civil contracting apprenticeships distinction for three QRS staff

Prue Feely Civil, Civil Trades, News

When you start at the bottom it’s important to be recognised as you move up within your chosen industry, says one of three civil construction stalwarts who gained Civil Trades Certification at Quality Roading and Services (QRS) last month. “It’s given us industry recognition and distinction as skilled tradespeople,” says QRS project supervisor Joe Winiana. “There’s a huge difference to …

Annual Connection Award Winners - Line Mechanic Compeition

Annual Connection Excellence Awards 2019

Prue Feely Civil, Energy, News

The Annual Connection Excellence Awards celebrate the best and brightest trainees working in the Electricity Supply and Telecommunications industries. They also recognise those who have made a significant contribution to the industry through their enthusiasm and commitment to industry training. Over the three days of competitions at Annual Connection competitors showcased the very best practices for completing jobs safely and …