Nissan Selects Top New Zealand Technician
Nissan New Zealand held its bi-annual competition to select the top Nissan technician in New Zealand on Saturday, 13
March.
Every two years Nissan Motor Company hosts a world-wide competition for Nissan technicians identifying the “best of the
best” in a variety of categories. These competitions are competed first at the National level, followed by a Regional
(Oceania for us) level competition. Only the winner of the Oceania competition is invited to participate in the World
Finals held in Tokyo Japan. This competition is the Nissan International Service Technical Contest, commonly referred to
as NISTEC.
Technicians from all New Zealand Nissan dealerships were invited to forward their interest in competing in the NISTEC
competition. Participation requires a high level of commitment from both the technician and the dealership he or she is
employed by. Based on written examination results, the top four Nissan technicians in New Zealand were identified and
competed in the national finals at the Nissan New Zealand head office technical training school on Saturday.
The practical competition was made up of four disciplines consisting of Engine Diagnosis, Electrical Diagnosis,
Transmission Diagnosis and General Servicing. Contestants were afforded 10 minutes to read a “customer complaint” and 1
hour and 20 minutes to actually diagnose and repair the vehicle or component for each discipline. Intentional faults
were programmed into each competition vehicle.
Times were strictly monitored and the technicians were evaluated by four independent judges. Contestants were scored on
their ability to diagnose, speed and accuracy, as well as demonstrating safe practices in all aspects of their practical
tests. The accuracy of the diagnosis and repair were major factors in the resultant scores.
The four finalists in the New Zealand National Level competition were Mr Errol Bebbington of Drummond & Etheridge Nissan in Ashburton, Mr Daryl Brosnan of City Nissan Lower Hutt, Mr Peter Liew of GT Nissan in Wellington and
Mr Brendon Taylor of Max Pennington’s Autocity in New Plymouth.
The National Level winner who will represent New Zealand in the Oceania competition to be held in Australia in May is Mr
Brendon Taylor of Max Pennington’s Autocity in New Plymouth.
Our utmost congratulations go out to both Mr Taylor as well as the management of Max Pennington’s Autocity as the level
of commitment and dedication demonstrated by both has resulted in the outstanding performance of Mr Taylor on the day.
Mr Taylor will be accompanied by Mr John Reynolds of Nissan New Zealand when he represents New Zealand in the Oceania
competition in Australia.