Looking for an awesome career, something you can really get into and be proud of?

Then look no further – NZ Marine ITO can guide you along your path!

The New Zealand Marine Industry is New Zealand’s largest non-primary manufacturing based industry employing over 10,000 people in approximately 1,000 companies of varying sizes.
New Zealand is highly regarded worldwide as a nation of boatbuilders of high quality boats including sailing and motor super yachts, launches and trailer boats, as well as a supplier of marine related products and services.

To support the growth the New Zealand Marine Industry will require the ongoing supply of skilled, qualified and talented people in a wide variety of specialised trades. This includes naval architects and marine designers who create the designs and the boatbuilders who specialise in building, refits and repairs using different materials (composite, wood, alloy, steel). It also includes marine systems engineers and marine electrical and electronic installers, who are responsible for installing and servicing all the engineering and electrical/electronic systems on boats. The impressive finishes on the exterior hulls and superstructures of boats are produced by marine substrate fillers and fairers and exterior marine painters, while the interiors are created by marine cabinetmakers and interior marine painters. For yachts there are also the marine riggers and sparmakers who work closely with the world’s best sail makers.

Essential Marine Industry services are provided by the marine sales and services sector, which encompasses boat sales and brokerage, marine retail and distribution and marina operators. Every year there are between 600 and 700 apprentices undergoing training spread across all these sectors of the Marine Industry and their training is managed by the NZ Marine Industry Training Organisation (NZ Marine ITO). Until September 2010, NZ Marine ITO was known as the Boating Industry Training Organisation (BITO).

Click here to find out more about Marine Industry Apprenticeships and how you can BECOME ONE vital part of our winning team.

Here is the process you need to follow to enter the Marine Industry and register for training:

The following flow diagram outlines the typical stages of an apprenticeship, using the National Certificate in Boatbuilding (Composite) Level 4 as an example:

So, what qualifications are available?

Here’s a list of the types of qualifications you can get an apprenticeship in:

Is that all there is to it? Do you guys have any fun?

Absolutely! There are quite a few events you can get involved in to make your apprenticeship more exciting:

World Skills:

Once every two years, Marine Industry cabinet making apprentices compete in the World Skills New Zealand competition, a kind of Olympics for tradespeople. Participants compete against each other to complete practical projects using the on-job skills that they have learned. The projects are designed to test time management, plan and specification interpretation as well as ‘hands-on’ skills. The competitive aspect ensures that only those with access to the highest quality training systems succeed.

The winners gain the chance to represent New Zealand in the World Skills International competition (as members of the ‘Tool Blacks’). These competitions are supported by the NZ Marine ITO as an inter-company competition, the purpose being to show-case the skills of our apprentices both nationally and internationally.

National Marine Trades Challenge:

The annual Marine Trades Challenge (‘Build a boat and sail it’ competition) is designed as a celebration of the skills of apprentice tradespeople working in the Marine Industry.

Teams of four, made up of three apprentices and one tradesperson, compete to build a boat in two hours and then race it around a course using paddles, sail and, sometimes, outboard motors. Teams are judged on
teamwork, presentation, safety, standard of build and how they place on the water. The on-water race shows their skills and teamwork under tricky conditions.

This is an eagerly anticipated annual ‘day out’ for the industry where apprentices can demonstrate their knowledge and skills to their supporters and to the industry. Though a fun event, it is highly competitive and the overall winning team is invited to compete at the Sydney International Boat Show’s ‘Build A Boat Competition’ (and vice versa). New Zealand teams have dominated the Sydney competition in recent years.

How we celebrate success – NZ Marine ITO graduation:

The annual NZ Marine ITO Graduation is a high profile industry event to acknowledge the success of each graduate and is traditionally held at the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron in Auckland during November
each year. Following a formal dinner, a guest speaker presents every graduating apprentice with his or her National Certificate / Diploma.

Parents and managers are invited to share in the achievements of the apprentices and to recognise them as valued and qualified industry employees. Most apprenticeships take between three to five years to complete and their graduations mark a major milestone in the careers of these graduates.

From here, some of the graduates will be considering the next stage in their career plan, perhaps taking on more responsibility in their current job, or undergoing further training.

Alright, SIGN ME UP! What do I do?

Too easy! Visit our NZ Marine website, or get in touch via phone 09 360 0056 or 0800 600 242

Or send an e-mail to info@bia.org.nz and we’ll send you some more info.