WorldSkills NZ team to compete against 72 countries in the trade equivalent of the Olympics in Brazil

WorldSkills NZ chief executive Bruce Howat  has just announced the final NZ Tool Blacks team to fly out to the international competitions in Brazil in August as:

Christopher Robertson - Aircraft Maintenance (from Bulls)
David Fox    - Autobody Repair (from Morrinsville)
Luke Tahurangi   - Automotive Refinishing  (from Wainuiomata)
Chelcie Kuriger   - Automotive Technology (from Hamilton)
Matty Hull    - Carpentry (from Eketahuna)
Jacklin Pillay   - Cooking (from Weymouth, Auckland)
Cameron Shailer   - Electrical Installations (from Rotorua)
Amelia Addis  - Floristry (from Palmerston North)
Timothy Wightman  - Graphic Design Technology (from Glenfield, North Shore, Auckland)
Nadine Gratton   - Hairdressing (from Nelson)
Michael Good   - Joinery (from RD6 Invercargill)
Nick Bastiaansen   - Maintenance Engineering (from Gore)
Adam de Pass   - Plumbing (from RD4 Invercargill)
Michael Benson   - Sheet Metal Technology (from Hamilton)
Stacy Smyth   - Welding (from Dannevirke)

The 15-member team will represent NZ in 15 of the 45 or more trade skills contested at the WorldSkills International competitions in Brazil. Approximately 1300 under-24 year old competitors from 72 countries will battle it out to win gold in their skill categories. More than 200,000 visitors are expected to attend the five day competition in Sao Paulo.

The NZ WorldSkills team has had three rounds of competition to help them prepare for the international competitions. Team members had to win through the regionals, then the 2014 National competitions and in April this year, the Oceania competitions to get a place on the Tool Blacks. More than 120 competitors from seven countries attended the Oceania competitions at Wintec: Canada, India, Malaysia, China, Australia, Korea and Singapore.

The intensity of competition has increased with each round, but the internationals will be a bigger step up again due to their sheer scale, the far greater number of competitors and the fact they are off-shore in Brazil.

Each competitor has had a personalised, hands-on mentoring programme to ensure they have the best shot at winning a medal, including “mental toughness” training developed exclusively for WorldSkills NZ competitors.

WorldSkills NZ chief executive, Bruce Howat says discussions are underway with other trade groups to include their skill categories in the competitions as soon as feasible.

WorldSkills NZ is still fundraising to send the team, their skill mentors and managers to Brazil. You can help by:
• Donating $10 or more through WorldSkills.org.nz
• Coming to see the team off at Auckland Airport on 6 August (see website for details).
• ‘Liking’ WorldSkills NZ on facebook

About WorldSkills NZ:
WorldSkills New Zealand is an independent, non-profit charitable trust founded in 1986, dedicated to encouraging young people to excel in vocational skills. This is achieved through exposure to competitions at regional, national and international levels.