Studying mining the way to enter the industry

Uprooting his partner and one-year-old son and moving to Greymouth to study civil construction, quarrying and mining was a massive life change for Nick Yates, but he definitely has no regrets. Less than a year later, the 24-year-old is working in a job he loves, earning more money than he ever has, and looking at buying a house.

Nick Yates: “The course was a great way for me to get into the industry”

“At the beginning of the year I was unemployed, then I became a student, and now we are looking at going from renting a house to buying one. That’s a big change – it’s great,” he says.

Nick and his family were living in Whitianga when he was made redundant from a job in the aquaculture industry. He had always been interested in mining so looked around and found Tai Poutini Polytechnic’s (TPP) civil, quarrying and mining programme which was aimed at those wanting to enter the industry. He moved the family to Greymouth in February while he completed the 30-week course and is now working full-time as a plant operator for Solid Energy’s underground coal gasification project in Huntly.

“The course was a great way for me to get into the industry,” Nick says. “The tutors were really experienced and I learnt a lot from them about the basics of mining. I am doing further study now, and the qualifications I got at TPP can be cross-credited towards ongoing training.”

Hard work pays off

TPP’s civil, quarrying and mining lead tutor, Tom Daly, says Nick is a great example of a student who worked hard, listened and followed instruc - tions. “His hard work paid off as he got a job as soon as he graduated. Mining is booming at the moment – there is plenty of work available, and students like Nick can expect to earn good money in the industry,” he says.

Jesse Norgate is another graduate who says he would not have got a mining job if he had not completed a course at TPP three years ago. “You can’t get into the mining industry without experience,” the 22-year-old says. “With a recommendation from Tom I got a job at Echo Mine near Reefton after I graduated. I have been there three years now, driving loaders, dump trucks and bulldozers, and I really enjoy it.”

Jesse worked in dairy farming before doing the course, but he says mining has much better money and hours. “It’s a job, whereas farming is a lifestyle. I’m still learning heaps which keeps it interesting, especially from the old guys who have been doing it all their lives.”

In touch with industry

Tom Daly says tutors are in regular contact with the industry and able to recom - mend students for upcoming jobs. “Jesse was a natural on the machinery, and I knew I could recommend him to prospective employers. I have since seen him at work at the Echo Mine, and the job he does on the tip sites is amazing.”

Rosco Moore from the Echo Mine says while he prefers to hire experienced operators, he trusts the tutors at TPP to send him the good graduates. “TPP gives students a basic grounding and a good start in the industry, but there’s still plenty to learn when they come to us,” he says.

“Mining has lots of opportunities and is one of the only industries going ahead at the moment. Miners can earn good money, and there are plenty of prospects for travel – they can go anywhere in the world once they have some experience.”

The minerals industry is continuing to grow. Recent research has found the West Coast alone has the potential to double its present mineral production over the next 5–15 years.

Tai Poutini Polytechnic is currently registering students for programmes starting in 2012; for further information on the Certificate in Civil Construction, Quarrying and Mining, visit www.tpp.ac.nz