Fiji Engineers Bring New Skills Home
MWH Global committed to the long-term future of Fiji’s Transport Network
Wellington., 3 February, 2014 – A New Zealand based training programme committed to up skilling Fiji’s transport
industry has produced its first successful graduates.
As part of its commitment to developing its own and other agency’s staff knowledge, MWH Global is transferring Fiji
trainees to its New Zealand offices to be mentored by its recognised experts whilst they continue to work on Fiji
roading projects.
The knowledge and skills developed during the three month programme will further enhance the participants’ abilities to
contribute to building and maintaining Fiji’s roads, bridges and jetties.
“We are committed to transferring our expert knowledge and up skilling the whole Transportation industry in Fiji. This
will undoubtedly bring about a sustained improvement to the country’s national roading network” said Mike Rudge, Fiji
Roading Network Manager, MWH. “There has been a huge amount of knowledge transfer to local staff already from MWH and
contractors working in Fiji. This has an on-going benefit for the individual, communities and economy as it means the
country will become more self-sufficient and, in time, have less reliance on foreign workers to deliver an efficient and
effective transport system.”
Mereia Kalivakatoga, Graduate Bridge and Structural Engineer at MWH, who recently completed the training programme in
Christchurch, said “The training has been an exceptional experience and a milestone in my career. The knowledge I have
brought back to Fiji with me has hugely enhanced my design and decision making skills and I am now applying it on a
daily basis to successfully deliver the bridges and jetties that are needed here.”
Tevita Tolio, Senior Road Design Engineer at MWH is currently completing his training in Hastings. “I am boosting my
technical skills and knowledge immensely whilst at the same time working with the experts in New Zealand on a project
which will ease traffic congestion in Fiji by giving commuters the option of traveling between Suva and Nausori. My new
found knowledge will result in the construction of even safer and higher standards of roads in future for the people of
Fiji,” said Mr Tolio.
MWH anticipates that by the end of 2014 five staff will have benefited from this immersion style training in New
Zealand. They will have enhanced their skills in road safety management, bridge, structures and road design with a
programme that brings a lasting improvement in capability.
In January 2012, MWH Global was awarded a five year contract by the Fiji Government to assist it in establishing the new
Fiji Roads Authority (FRA), and to build and maintain the country’s 10,000 kilometers of roads, its 1000 bridges and 44
jetties.
In the next few years a major reseal and rehabilitation programme is to be implemented across Fiji’s entire road network
together with the replacement of unsafe bridges and improvements to traffic signals and streetlights.
This game changing project, its systems, processes and objectives is now being brought to the attention of other
governments in the region including Papua New Guinea, which is increasingly focusing on its infrastructure as its
economy continues to grow at one of the fastest rates in the Asia Pacific.
ENDS