Thirty-one team leaders and managers from Timaru have become the first people in New Zealand to attain the National
Certificate in First Line Management at level 3, Aoraki MP Jim Sutton said today.
The 31 people, who work for Sanford Seafood Processing and New Zealand Light Leathers in Timaru, received their
certificates at a special ceremony in Timaru today.
They are the first people to gain the National Certificate in First Line Management at level 3 on the National
Qualifications framework.
Mr Sutton said the achievement was important, both for South Canterbury and for the whole nation.
"Management of both Sanford and Light Leathers have reported that the application of skills learnt during the training
for this certificate has been rewarding for those individual managers, their staff, and for the companies involved.
"Such good value is this training, that both companies will have more staff doing this certificate this year. And many
of those here today who have completed the certificate at level 3 are aiming to complete the certificate at the next
level up."
Mr Sutton said that by training staff who then applied their new skills at work, businesses were investing in their
people and creating greater efficiencies.
"The Labour-Alliance Government is working hard to develop New Zealand as an innovative society. A key part of that
involves us working to enable people to learn new skills and to apply them."
He praised Sanford and Light Leathers, the two training organisations involved (New Zealand Seafood Industry Training
Organisation and the Food and Engineering Industry training organisation Compentnz) and training provider Precision
Training for their collaborative efforts.
"Most of all, I congratulate those here today who have achieved such a learning milestone. The rest of the country can
learn from your experience."
Hon Jim Sutton Speech Notes 28 February 2002
11am, 1 March 2002 NZQA certificates presentation, Timaru
Wes Davies, Barbara Johnsen, Neil Dickson, John Broadhead, Jean Tilleyshort, ladies and gentlemen: my colleague
Tertiary Education Minister Steve Maharey is very sorry he is unable to be here today.
But I am delighted to be able to fill in for him.
This is an important event, both for South Canterbury and for the whole nation.
We are very good at knocking ourselves when we do badly ? just ask the All Blacks or the Black Caps ? but we're not so
good at celebrating our successes.
Today, we are here to celebrate success.
We have here today 31 team leaders and managers from Sanford Seafood Processing and New Zealand Light Leathers who have
gained the National Certificate in First Line Management, at level 3. These are the first people in New Zealand to gain
this national qualification off the National Qualifications framework.
I'm told that management of both Sanford and Light Leathers have reported that the application of skills learnt during
the training for this certificate has been rewarding for those individual managers, their staff, and for the companies
involved.
I am delighted to hear that it is having practical use!
Such good value is this training, that both companies will have more staff doing this certificate this year. And many of
those here today who have completed the certificate at level 3 are aiming to complete the certificate at the next level
up.
Ladies and Gentlemen: further training can improve not just the work of the staff member involved, but the whole
organisation they work for. Our successful students here today demonstrate that.
By training staff and applying those new skills in the workplace, businesses are investing in their people and creating
greater efficiencies.
I commend the two businesses ? Sanford and Light Leathers ? the two training organisations ? New Zealand Seafood
Industry Training Organisation and the Food and Engineering Industry training organisation ? and Precision Training, the
training provide, for their collaborative efforts.
Most of all, I congratulate those here today who have achieved such a learning milestone. The rest of the country can
learn from your experience.
The Labour-Alliance Government is working hard to develop New Zealand as an innovative society. A key part of that
involves us working to enable people such as yourselves to learn new skills and to apply them.
Thank you for all your hard work, and best of luck for your further education.
Office of Hon Jim Sutton