Six NZ apprentices in running for top award

Next week’s Pride In Print Awards sees not just the best in print, but also the country’s best apprentice.

Six candidates are in the running for the award (see below), that will take place on Friday 20 May 2011 at the Wellington Convention Centre, followed later the same evening by the NZ Pride In Print Awards, where the Apprentice of the Year will be announced.

The PrintNZ Training Apprentice Awards celebrate the achievements of the top print industry apprentices and trainees. Every person who completed training during 2010 was eligible for selection.

According to PrintNZ Training chief executive, Joan Grace, (pictured) each of the six winners in the running have done well to get this far. “Their commitment to learning, outstanding attitudes and involvement in the workplace are to be commended,” she said.

“The companies who trained the winners deserve acknowledgement for the time and effort they put into training their employees. These companies are reaping the benefits of having skilled staff who really add to the workplace.”

The winners were selected using a wide range of information held by PrintNZ Training along with additional information provided by employers and/or workplace training supervisors.

They will now attend an interview for the Apprentice of the Year Award on 19 May.

Category winners
Binding & Finishing Award - Sponsored by the Print Finishers Association
Winner: Jason Rako, (pictured) PMP Print, Christchurch

Digital Processes for Print Award - Sponsored by Natcoll Design Technology
Winner: Matthew Lowe, The Beacon Printing & Publishing, Whakatane

Fibreboard Packaging Award – Sponsored by the NZ Paperboard Packaging Association
Winner: Stewart Luamanu, Amcor Kiwi Packaging, Auckland

Screen/Dry Offset Award - Sponsored by Blue Print Imaging Ltd
Winner: Michael Win, NCI Packaging, Upper Hutt

Sheet-fed Printing Award - Sponsored by PrintNZ
Winner: Wayne Torrie, Logan Print Ltd, Gisborne

Reel-fed Printing Award - Sponsored by the Newspaper Publishers Association
Winner: Franz-Josef Mundt, Taranaki Newspapers, New Plymouth