Tool Blacks build up to WorldSkills Championships in London in October
August 2011
The cream of New Zealand’s young trade trainees are preparing to take on their peers from around the globe at the world
championships in London in October.
WorldSkills is like the Olympics for young people involved in trade and technical training programmes such as
hairdressing, plumbing, carpentry and cooking.
A team of 17 New Zealand competitors, selected after national championships last year, will compete against more than
1000 other young people from over 50 countries.
The Kiwi team is called the Tool Blacks. They are all aged under 23 and have proven they excel at a particular skill.
Earlier this year the team went to Australia to compete in the Global Skills Challenge as a warm up for the world
champs.
Chief Executive Officer of WorldSkills New Zealand, Peter Spencer, says the Tool Blacks gave the Australians a real run
for their money.
“This team of young people are exceptional when it comes to focus and dedication. The Australian competition gave us the
chance to assess our strengths and weaknesses in preparation for WorldSkills London.”
A special reception was held for the 2011 Tool Blacks at Government house in Auckland on their return from Australia in
July.
“The team is proud to have been chosen to represent New Zealand and attending the reception at Government House, where
they performed a haka for the guests was the icing on the cake,” Mr Spencer said.
More than 150,000 visitors are expected to attend the London WorldSkills Championship which will be the largest
international skills competition in the world.
“WorldSkills London 2011 will amaze people by showing them the endless possibilities their futures could hold and
inspire them to gain expertise at the highest level which this country needs.”
Tool Blacks 2011 team
Region
Name
Category
Auckland
Andre Prinsloo
Autobody repair
Auckland
Rob Hamilton
Marine Cabinetmaking
Auckland
Megan Anderson
Cooking
Auckland
Daniel Berry
Industrial control
Blenheim
Aroha Hebberd
Floristry
Canterbury
Mat Pascoe
Polymechanics
Central Nth Island
William Taylor
Sheet Metal Technology
Central Nth Island
Andrew Watson
Carpentry
Northland
Curtis Hartley
Automotive Technology
Northland
Ben Roche
Bricklaying
NZDF
Kirsty Lister
Restaurant Service
Otago
Laura Simpson
Hairdressing
Otago
Scott Nicholson
Plumbing
Southland
Shaun McInerey
Electrical installations
Waikato
Brad Wood
Welding
Wellington
Drew Avery
Car painting
Wellington
Chris Evans
Joinery
WorldSkills – some background
• WorldSkills New Zealand is part of a worldwide group (approx 50 countries) which organise trade competitions within
their own countries and form teams to compete at the biennial international competition.
• WorldSkills NZ’s mission is to challenge New Zealand to achieve world class standards by demonstrating excellence
through workplace skills competitions for young people.
• WorldSkills NZ currently caters for more than 20 skills categories covering everything from automotive and building
trades to floristry and catering.
• The WorldSkills National Finals were held at Christchurch Polytechnic Institute of Technology from 22-26 September
2010.
• The Tool Blacks team competed in Australia from July 5-8 this year and attended a reception at Government House,
Auckland on July 9.
• WorldSkills London will be held at the ExCel London Exhibition and conference centre in London’s docklands from 5-8
October 2011.
• There will be 45 official competition zones at WorldSkills London 2011, covering everything from bricklaying to
hairdressing.
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