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? Jackson stores catch sustainability bug
? Bus service for poverty-stricken suburbs
? Old Bill keeps grass smooth at defunct club
? Eastbourne carnival spilling into the streets
? Is there a bowls club in heaven?
? Smoke and strobe give Eastbourne spin on Seuss
? Tears and hugs after 24-hour ride
? ?Why would they steal from us??
? Empire?s future in limbo
? Hutt health board hires twice as many managers as docs
? Jackson Street Mile could win Olympic support
? Rotary fair dodges bureaucratic bullet ? for now

Trades stars face off in Petone
By Marika Hill

Mechanics, chefs and florists were among 100 entrants battling at Weltec?s Petone campus for a place in the Tool Blacks team, competing in next year?s international WorldSkills competition in Canada. Spectators could watch panel-beaters take apart cars, bricklayers set down elaborate walls, and chefs furiously chopping in the kitchen. Students and young professionals from 18 trades tested their skills during the biennial event. Regional trade and technology centre manager Tony Love said the pressure got too much for some participants who walked out of their competition. About 100 volunteers have been working over the last few months to ensure competitors were looked after and the event ran smoothly. Unlike their international counterparts who get full government funding, Worldskills New Zealand relies on volunteers, sponsorship and partial government funding. Everything from cars to kitchens were loaned for the event. ?Without sponsorship this would never happen,? Mr Love said. Speaking at the awards ceremony Hutt South MP Trevor Mallard said the competition was great at encouraging young people to undertake quality training. ?Competitions like WorldSkills are fantastic at showing off the skills of our future industry leaders, and reminding us of how quickly workplaces evolve to meet future skills needs.? WorldSkills New Zealand chief executive Peter Spencer also emphasised the need to maximise the potential of emerging talent in the trades. The Tool Blacks team, announced late October, will go through a rigorous training regime to prepare for the international competition in Calgary. ?The reason we have WorldSkills competitions is so we can benchmark our training against the best from the rest of the world and to provide them and their trainers with a network of like-minded people from the other competing countries.? Pictured: Cookery students simmered under the glare of judges as their cooking, hygiene, knife skills and cleanliness were put to the test.

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