IVECO has expanded its Master Technician Tournament to include New Zealand participants for the first time.
More than 100 technicians from the company’s Australian and New Zealand dealer network entered the 2026 competition following its inaugural event last year.
The opening stage involved three rounds of online questionnaires covering servicing, maintenance and fault diagnosis across the IVECO range.
Nine top-performing technicians — seven from Australia and two from New Zealand — advanced to the final at IVECO’s Customer Innovation Centre in Melbourne.
Finalists completed seven timed practical tasks involving Daily, Eurocargo and S-Way models.
The challenges covered programming and CAN-Bus diagnostics using multimeters, PicoScopes and IVECO diagnostic equipment.
Contestants also completed a remote diagnosis role-play exercise using the manufacturer’s Remote Assistance Service.
Judges assessed the accuracy and speed of diagnosis and repair, along with each technician’s methodology, discipline and professionalism.
Black Truck Sales Toowoomba workshop foreman Matthew Radke won the tournament.
Adtrans Truck Centre senior technician James Bambery finished second, while NZ Trucks Christchurch electrician Jarrod Hodgetts placed third.
The three placegetters received cash prizes and trophies at an awards dinner.
IVECO customer and product support manager Jason Mobberley says adding New Zealand technicians gave the tournament an international element while “setting the scene for some friendly banter and new rivalries”.
“The tournament provided technicians with an opportunity to test their skills against their peers, which ultimately leads to greater knowledge sharing and professional development across our dealer network,” Mobberley says.
“The learnings gained from the competition are then taken back to dealerships, benefiting IVECO customers throughout Australia and New Zealand.”
IVECO plans to develop the competition further next year and encourage more technicians to participate.
