Learning on the job was the cause of celebration at the Oamaru Opera House on Monday night, as the 2023 Waitaki Industry-trained graduates ceremony took place. 

It was a chance to celebrate with friends, family and co-workers for people employed across the Waitaki district.

Waitaki mayor Gary Kircher, deputy mayor Hana Halalele and councillor Jim Hopkins presented graduates with certificates for a diverse range of qualifications, including health and wellbeing, pest control, engineering, retail, agriculture, meat processing and business.

Gary congratulated the graduates on completing this stage of their learning journey, and thanked employers who had supported their staff to undertake study on the job.

“At a time when it’s more and more difficult to find good staff to fill vacancies, growing the knowledge and skills of our workforce is incredibly valuable to the Waitaki District,” he said.

Apex Engineering apprentice Jess Smail was guest speaker, and emphasised the importance of encouraging hands-on learners to follow their drive, broaden their view and not follow traditional education and career paths because of the expectations of others.

She spoke about the challenges of being a woman in a trade, and pushing herself out of her comfort zone.

“I could go on about how many different skills I’ve learned and the things I’ve experienced and how much I love my job, but it’s the people who have helped me learn who make the most difference – at work, at school, at home,” she said. 

“It’s the people who put time into helping me that really changed the game”.

Certificate Recipients 2023

Nightlight Pest Control

Carl Smith – NZ Certificate in Pest Operations (Level 3) Urban Pest Control

Observatory Village Lifecare

Ade Agustinawati – NZ Certificate in Health and Wellbeing (Level 2)

Noor Laila Binti Abdul Latiff - NZ Certificate in Health and Wellbeing (Level 2)

Eleanor Caldwell - NZ Certificate in Health and Wellbeing Advance Care and Support (Level 4)

Bryan Jeffery Salinda - NZ Certificate in Health and Wellbeing (Level 2)

Maryann Cubillo - NZ Certificate in Health and Wellbeing (Level 2)

Samjhana Chaulagai - NZ Certificate in Health and Wellbeing Assistance (Level 3)

Whalan Lodge

Nancy Lomogda - NZ Certificate in Health and Wellbeing Assistance (Level 3)

Waitaki Girls High School

Alora Hill – NZ Apprenticeship Community Facilitation Youth Work (Level 4)

Southroads

Joe Davey – NZ Apprenticeship – NZ Certificate in Infrastructure Works Pipeline Construction and Maintenance (Level 4) Drinking-Water Strand and Infrastructure Works Pipeline Construction and Maintenance (Level 4) Stormwater and Wastewater Strand

Rico Gill - NZ Certificate in Infrastructure Works (Level 2) Bethany-Jane Paisley - NZ Apprenticeship - NZ Certificate in Drinking-Water Treatment (Level 4) Multistage Processes Optional Strand

Gen Paisley - NZ Diploma in Engineering Practice (Level 6) Civil Engineering Strand

Graham Robson - NZ Certificate in Business - Introduction to Team Leadership (Level 3)

Matthew Rowling - NZ Certificate in Infrastructure Works – Single Site Supervision (Level 4)

Bruce Wickham - NZ Diploma in Drinking-Water Treatment (Level 5)

North Otago Motor Group

Jacob Davies - NZ Certificate in Collison Repair / Non-Structural Repair (Level 3-4)

Mortimers Garage

Prajit Brij – NZ Certificate in Light Automotive Engineering (Level 3-4)

Alliance

Devon Allum - NZ Certificate in Business Introduction to Team Leadership (Level 3)

Nicole Duncan - NZ Certificate in Meat Processing and Meat Product Manufacturing (Level 4) with strands in Boning Operations, Grading, Meat Quality Assurance, Slaughter Floor Operations, Dressing Operations, Optimising Meat yields, and Meat Product Manufacturing

Adi De La Ford - NZ Certificate in Business Introduction to Team Leadership (Level 3)

Aiden Meechan - NZ Certificate in Meat Processing and Meat Product Manufacturing (Level 4) with Strands in Boning Operations, Grading Meat Quality Assurance, Slaughter Floor Operations, Optimising Meat to Team Leadership (Level 3)

Sagar Krishna – NZ Certificate in Meat Processing and Meat Product Manufacturing (Level 4) with strands in Boning Operations, Grading, Meat Quality Assurance, Slaughter Floor Operations, Dressing Operations, Optimising Meat yields, and Meat Product Manufacturing

Noel Sheridan - NZ Certificate in Meat Processing and Meat Product Manufacturing (Level 4) with strands in Boning Operations, Grading, Meat Quality Assurance, Slaughter Floor Operations, Dressing Operations, Optimising Meat yields, and Meat Product Manufacturing

Altavady Group

Jessica Lake - NZ Certificate in Primary Industry Skills (Level 2) with optional strand in Self-Management and Employability Skills

S.G Hales Ltd – Little Ben Farm

Toby McCabe - NZ Certificate in Agriculture (Level 4) with strands in Arable Farming, Dairy Farming, Breeding Livestock Farming and Non-Breeding Livestock Farming

Mitre 10 Mega

Molly-May Mestrom – NZ Certificate in Retail (Level 2)

Graham Atley - NZ Certificate in Retail (Level 2)

Michelle Wilson - NZ Certificate in Retail (Level 2)

Northanjer Aged Care

Ulata Poasa - NZ Certificate in Health and Wellbeing (Advanced Support) Level 4

Leanne Smith - NZ Certificate in Health and Wellbeing (Advanced Support) Level 4

Emily Fuluasou - New Zealand Certificate in Health and Wellbeing (Advanced

Support) Level 4