NZ apprentice finalists fight it out for number one

Finalists for this year's PrintNZ Training Apprentice Awards have been announced, with competition as tough as ever.

Over 100 apprentices and trainees who completed their training in 2007 were eligible for selection. From here. a wide range of information is considered when choosing the Branch finalists, including assessment and assignment marks, Workplace Assessor and Training Liaison Officer feedback and workshop reports.

"The standard of the finalists is always very high and this year is no different. This reflects very well on the individuals, employers and quality of the training programmes in place," said PrintNZ ceo, Joan Grace (pictured).

"Choosing a winner in each category is always difficult and a decision we take very seriously."

The PrintNZ Training Apprentice Awards Breakfast will take place on Friday 16 May 2008 at Sky City Auckland. The Apprentice of the Year will be announced live on stage at the Pride In Print Awards on the evening of Friday 16 May 2008. The Awards are sponsored by Agfa NZ, BJ Ball Papers and Kodak NZ.

The branch finalists for this year's PrintNZ Training Apprentice Awards are:

Binding & Finishing Award (sponsored by the Print Finishers' Association)
Orlando Akaata, GEON BFG, Wellington
Romilly Smith, University of Otago Library, Dunedin
Robyn Cubitt, Actionmail Ltd, Auckland
Dylan Jukes, PMP Print Times Colour, Warkworth

Digital Processes for Print Award (sponsored by Natcoll Design Technology)
Brendon Evans, Sealed Air (NZ), Hamilton
Joanna Doohan, Brebner Print Ltd, Napier
Ben Johnston, Craigs Design & Print, Invercargill
Troy Conole, The Gisborne Herald, Gisborne

Paperboard Packaging Award (sponsored by the NZ Paperboard Packaging Association)
Brent Martin, Ryco Dies Ltd, Auckland
Alvinesh Kant, Interpac Packaging Ltd, Auckland
Kelvin Forbes, Charta Packaging Ltd, Lower Hutt

Screen Award (sponsored by Blue Print Imaging Ltd)
Fatai Lolohea, Visy Pigid Packaging, Auckland
Meng Lim, Security Plastics, Christchurch
Martin Wilson, Pecpak Industries Ltd, Dunedin

Sheet-fed Award (sponsored by PrintNZ)
Tina-Marie Pereira, Printlink, Wellington
Andreas Kililis, Adprint Ltd, Wellington
Kieran Dale, Logick Print & Graphics Ltd, Auckland
Chris Gordon, Freestyle Artworks Total Print Production, Wellington
Autu Pou, GEON Printco, Auckland

Reel-fed Award (sponsored by the Newspaper Publishers' Association)
Peter Wannan, Wedderburn Scales Ltd, Auckland
Lillian Tobin, Aperio Group Ltd, Christchurch
Richard Hughes, APN Print, Wanganui
Evan Arthur, Gravure Packaging Ltd, Wellington
Steven Greenhalgh, Business Media Press Ltd, Auckland
Vincent MacKereth, Huhtamaki Packaging Worldwide, Auckland

National Certificate Trainee Award (sponsored by the EPMU Union)
Vishal Maisuria, Sealed Air (NZ), Porirua
Albert Seumalii, Sealed Air (NZ), Auckland
Joseph Martin, Chequer Packaging Ltd - GFG, Christchurch
Kenn Crichton, Amcor Kiwi Packaging (Case), Hastings