Competing in work skills

Press, 22 October 1986, Page 17

Competing in work skills

By

BILL HARRISON

International trade skill competitions arrived in New Zealand recently almost unannounced — certainly without Auckland’s characteristic raz-a-ma-taz.

"Career Skills New Zealand’s” objective is to put New Zealand representatives into the international ‘Skills Olympics” in Sydney in 1988. Almost unnoticed, 317 young tradespeople representing 19 trades in the Auckland region each worked for eight hours in the Prince’s Wharf terminal building for a period of a week.

Their combined efforts leave the old overseas passenger terminal quite unchanged, but they have launched “Career Skills New Zealand’s” series of regional competitions. Another six regional competitions will be held to select contestants for a national competition to be held in September next year. Christchurch stages its competition in June.

Suitable qualifiers from the national final may then be sent to the international Olympics. There is nothing new about trade skill competitions. They have occurred throughout history at.fairs and show grounds all around the world. In a carnival atmosphere, work skill became a sport as workers met in competition to find a champion. More recently, New Zealand has pro-

duced champions from forest and farm — world class axemen, shearers, fencers, and ploughmen. "Skills Olympics” is different. A spirit of competition is retained, but physical prowess and showmanship are put aside. Born in Europe after the Second World War from a need to improve training standards for trade skills, international competitions are now held every two years. Some 30 industrial and service occupations in more than 20 countries are now involved. New Zealand joined the International Organisation for the Promotion of Vocational Skill Training and

Youth Skills Olympics last October. “Career Skills New Zealand” is an independent, non-profit, charitable trust, established by generous grants from the Ministry of Employment and New Zealand’s major industrial companies. The trust is administed through a network of national and regional voluntary committees, representing industry and education including employers, unions, and technical institutes. In little more than 14 weeks since its inception, the Auckland regional committee organised its first competition. No mean achievement this, considering 19 trades and 317 competitors were involved. The national committee is assembling the vast amount of equipment needed, from hair-dryers to milling machines. Some it will own, some will be on extended loan from sponsoring companies. Each regional competition will use the equipment to give all competitors the same working conditions. An atmosphere of quiet concentration pervaded the old . Auckland Overseas Terminal building as apprentices and trainees set about their prescribed tasks under the close supervision of their judges.

Motor mechanics studied electronic monitors as they searched for faults deliberately placed in the engines on which they worked. Gas torches burned through steel as structural steel projects were shaped. Eerie light shone through protective plastic sheets as electric welders arced and flashed. Hairdressers’ models wore Cherry Blossom creations, their hair now three shades of red. Chips and shavings flew as woodworkers dovetailed, housed, and planed their projects. Each competition project is designed to test key aspects of each trade skill. Skills competitions help future leaders in the industry gain confidence, experience, and recognition. “We cannot always build the future, for our youth but we can build our youth for the future.” — Franklin D. Rooseveldt. The future prosperity of New Zealand depends on an adequate work force of skilled tradespeople. And yet too often, employers are frustrated by a lack of skilled personnel. In Christchurch a committee of volunteers is already working towards June’s regional competition. They deserve our support.