The automotive industry was the clear winner at the WorldSkills Oceania 2015 competition in Hamilton, with those in the New Zealand team – the ToolBlacks, taking away five medals, three of them gold.
WorldSkills, dubbed the ‘Olympics of the Trades’ is an international competition that brings young people from 73 countries together to compete in their respective skill area.
The auto industry was represented by six apprentices in three categories: autobody repair, automobile technology and car painting, with five of the six kiwi apprentices bringing home medals.
Overall, New Zealand won 19 medals from 23 competitors, with both gold and silver in two categories – automobile technology and car painting.
Medals went to:
Autobody repair, gold – David Fox, Wade Collision Repair, Hamilton
Automobile technology, gold – Jeff Sutton, Class Harvest Centre, Invercargill; silver – Chelcie Kuriger, Waikato Toyota, Hamilton
Car painting, gold – Luke Tahurangi, Larsen’s Panel and Paint Limited, Wainuiomata; silver – Rowan Cumiskey, Fleet Street Panel and Paint Limited, Auckland
The New Zealand team to travel to the WorldSkills International in Sao Paulo, Brazil in August this year will be announced later this week May.
