Students Building A Great Future
Three NorthTec trades students are $500 better off after being awarded scholarships at a construction industry event in
Whangarei.
Blair Panther, Aiden Ludlow and Adam Taylor each received a cheque for $500 after being judged the top students of 2014
in their respective fields, at the New Zealand Institute of Building (NZIOB) Blair was awarded the prize for
architectural technology, while Aiden was the top carpentry student and Adam won the prize for best electrical student,
although he was unable to attend the ceremony.
The scholarships were awarded by NorthTec.
The event, hosted by the Northland branch of the NZIOB, took place at the Bank Street Social Club and was combined with
a networking Christmas cocktails function.
NorthTec works in partnership with the NZIOB Northland branch, resulting in sponsorships to the top students each year
and educational site visits, seminars and other events.
Blair Panther, who has just completed the first year of his two-year Diploma in Architectural Technology, was also
awarded a positon on the NZIOB local committee for 2015. This will give him the opportunity to interact with industry
figures and help out at events.
Blair said he had wanted to become an architect since his teens, but as a youngster he was deterred from entering the
profession, and instead went into the building trade. In 2013 he decided it was time for a change and signed up for the
NorthTec programme so he could learn to draw up his own plans instead of building from other peoples’ plans.
Blair said: “When I’ve finished my diploma I will be my own draughtsman and will be able to draw up my own plans. It
will save me money and give me the freedom to design things myself.”
He added: “I’ve found out through doing this programme that it’s really what I was made for. It’s all about positive
encouragement – the tutors encourage you to do it. That’s what is really good; they take note of where you’re at and
accommodate different learning styles accordingly. My tutors, Jan NorthTec is the Tai Tokerau (Northland) region's
largest provider of tertiary education, with campuses and learning centres in Whangarei, Kerikeri, Rāwene, Kaikohe and
Kaitaia. NorthTec also has over 60 community-based delivery points from Coatesville in rural Rodney to Ngataki in the
Far North.
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