Students gear up for annual Electrical Taster Course

Student attendees of a previous taster course. Photo by James Stanbridge.

Student attendees of a previous taster course. Photo by James Stanbridge.

TEN secondary students are gearing up for a unique school holiday experience with the annual Eastern Bay Energy Trust electrical taster course.

Organised and co-funded by the Eastern Bay Energy Trust and Connexis the course is based at Tarawera High School and runs from September 25 to October 4. 

The course has been lengthened this year to include the 2019 Annual Connection Competition in the Hawkes Bay which showcases the talents of the energy industry’s brightest stars. It features three days of intense cable jointer and line mechanic competitions with teams from throughout New Zealand in events like a pole top rescue. 

The 10 students will also complete a variety of industry-related, team-building and personal development activities all aimed at providing a good overview of the range of careers available in the electrical sector. Students will learn first-hand about career pathways into the electrical industry including apprenticeships and tertiary education pathways. 

The programme includes site visits to generation sites including Nga Awa Puarua, Aratiatia, Ohaaki, Arapuni, Karapiro and the Huntly Power Stations. The students will also learn about distribution with visits to Transpower, the state-owned enterprise responsible for electric power transmission in New Zealand.

The programme culminates with the students presenting their learnings to industry representatives and whanau. There are also 2020 industry placements available with the Horizon Energy Group.

Just under 30 applications were received from year-12 and year-13 students with 10 selected after an interview process. Ten of the students who missed out will be taken on a day-trip to visit Eastern Bay energy related sites.

The 2019 Eastern Bay Energy Trust ‘Electrical Taster Course’ students selected:

  • Daniel Ford, Whakatane

  • Elias Te Rire, Tarawera

  • Finn Jeffery, Whakatane

  • Jacob Davis, Whakatane

  • Johann Stoove, Whakatane

  • Eli Hunia-Mataio, Rotorua Boys High School (from Te Teko)

  • Ihaia Gerrard, Trident

  • Cory McComb, Trident

  • Arlen Harvey, Trident

  • Brandon Hope, Trident


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