Step forward for awards
A long-standing New Zealand family-owned transport business has been crowned training business of the year at MITO’s inaugural awards.
The Tranzit Group has worked with the training organisation since registering its first learner in 1993 and now has 20 staff completing MITO qualifications.
It has been recognised as a workplace that demonstrates outstanding commitment to high quality and learner centred on the-job training.
Tranzit’s team members have completed qualifications across heavy automotive engineering, road transport and electric-vehicle technology.
The business also provides strong mentoring, dedicated learner support and clear career pathways to help apprentices and trainees gain confidence, progress their skills and advance into leadership roles.
A host of other awards were presented at the ceremony at the Michael Fowler Centre in Wellington on September 1. They were:
Inclusive training business of the year: AMI MotorHub. The company supports learners from a range of backgrounds into automotive apprenticeships and careers.
Through practical support such as plain-language training materials, literacy and numeracy assistance, supervisor communication training, wellbeing check-ins and personalised mentoring, the business adapts to the needs of each learner.
Its commitment is reflected in pathways it has created for people who may not have had a clear entry into the automotive industry, including young people through the Mana in Mahi partnership, Maori learners, women in trades, neurodiverse students and migrants.
Supervisor of the year: Tavita Fa’amausili. With around 26 years of industry experience, he has been recognised for training and mentoring workers across of Omexom Ltd’s gas workforce.
Fa’amausili is also a trusted mentor who cares about learner wellbeing. He provides regular support to staff working in isolated regional roles, champions mental health and strengthens safety.
Secondary school of the year: Ashburton College. It has shown remarkable dedication to vocational education and industry training through well-resourced pathways in automotive, mechanical engineering, building and trades.
Its automotive students consistently achieve near 100 per cent pass rates in MITO’s StartUp micro-credentials.
LTSC training company of the year: McCarthy Transport Ltd. The company has demonstrated sustained commitment to safety, professionalism and workforce development in the high-risk log transport sector.
Through its long-standing involvement with MITO qualifications and the Log Transport Safety Council Pathway to Success accreditation programme, the business has shown leadership in lifting industry standards and supporting lifelong learning.
Chairperson’s award: Bob Boniface. His career has included business ownership and industry governance, including former roles on MITO’s board and as president and chair of the Motor Trade Association.
Boniface has been recognised for more than 60 years of contribution to the automotive and collision-repair industries. As the owner of Auckland Panel and Paint Group, he has also supported apprenticeships, workplace training and the Inspiring Futures Foundation.
Bob Boniface was presented with the MITO chairperson’s award by Warren Flowerday, MITO’s deputy chair, and chair Sturrock Saunders.
Lifetime achievement award for industry training: Dave Pardoe. His work has included developing nationally recognised transport qualifications and contributing to the Tairawhiti Road Transport Programme and Drive35.
Pardoe has worked for more than five decades across the forestry, transport and vocational training sectors.
Six MITO learners of the year were also honoured. They were:
Automotive: Reuben Halliday, of Terra Cat NZ. While completing his levels three and four MITO qualifications, Halliday took on extraordinary opportunities, including maintaining critical heavy equipment in Antarctica for the United States Antarctic Programme.
Collision repair: Jet Te Aho. After completing his apprenticeship, he continued to build his skills through further training in level-two structural repair while consistently applying his knowledge on the job.
Commercial road transport: Daniel Ludlow. Over two years, he has balanced the demands of his role at Booths Logistics by completing the certificate in commercial road transport, strengthening his technical knowledge, and understanding of safety, compliance and industry standards.
Extractives: Jakob Stassen. As operations manager at Hatuma Lime Company Ltd, he has embraced the challenge of developing new skills in the highly regulated extractives environment.
Drilling: Zane O’Gorman. Progressing rapidly from driller’s assistant to independently running a rig at Griffiths Drilling, he consistently achieves excellent core recovery and produces bore logs described as the best seen from a trainee.
Gas: Kristian Larsen. As a gas distribution fitter at Omexom, Larsen has shown impressive growth by taking responsibility for crew leadership, day-to-day site operations, and the safety of his team and the public. Read Autofile Online’s story on the MITO summit.
