2 September 2009
Hyundai technician to represent New Zealand in World Skills Competition
Four highly skilled Hyundai technicians have battled it out in the New Zealand final of the Hyundai World Skills
Competition. Zac Powell, from Gary Cockram Hyundai in Christchurch took out the title and will represent New Zealand in
the World Finals in Korea.
Hyundai has over 18,000 technicians around the world – the World Skills Competition is a way of motivating technicians
from around the globe to achieve excellence in their technical skills and service, with the ultimate goal of providing
the best motor vehicle ownership experience possible.
“At Hyundai we value excellent service and technical expertise, so we take the World Skills Competition very seriously.
It is a way for us to challenge our technicians and bring them up to world class standards. We congratulate Zac and will
be supporting him all the way to the finals in Korea.” Says Philip Eustace, Executive Director Hyundai New Zealand.
Powell along with the other finalists Andrew Gillbanks (also from Gary Cockram Hyundai), John Hunter from IC Motor Group
and Chris Hoyer from North Harbour Hyundai, who had all beaten out technicians from up and down the country, spent a
grueling five hours competing to take out the title of New Zealand’s best Hyundai technician.
The competition comprised of a written exam and four practical tasks – partially dismantling and then rebuilding a
manual transmission, completing a high pressure diesel fuel flow test to identify and then replace the problem fuel
injector and diagnosing six faults on an Elantra and a Santa Fe.
Powell will travel to Korea in October where he will compete against over 70 technicians from up to 40 different
countries in the 8th World Skills Competition. New Zealand last held a place at the 3rd World Skills Competition, so
between now and when Powell leaves he will ‘train’ with the Technical Support Team at Hyundai HQ in Mount Wellington who
will make sure he is a truly world class technician.
ENDS