Forging skills, building loyalty: How Pacific Steel invests in apprentices

At Pacific Steel, apprenticeships aren’t just about technical skills – they’re about building people, careers, and loyalty. For decades the Otahuhu-based manufacturer has invested heavily in training, producing multiple award-winning apprentices and fostering a culture that gives the business a genuine competitive edge.

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Former Maintenance Superintendent Eddie Green was central to shaping that culture. During his many years at Pacific Steel he guided around 40 apprentices through their training, including his own son. He says it comes down to giving people the same shot he once received: “Someone gave me an opportunity, and I think I’ve done well through that. I wanted to give somebody else the same opportunity.”

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That philosophy has delivered results. Mike Vitale, who began his career at Pacific Steel as a production operator, was named Manufacturing Apprentice of the Year at SouthMach 2025 and has recently completed his New Zealand Apprenticeship in Mechanical Engineering. His national accolade added to two earlier wins at the New Zealand & Pacific Islands awards, cementing his reputation as one of the industry’s brightest talents.

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Mike says the support around him has been instrumental: “There’s never a shortage of tradespeople willing to help. You’re buddied with qualified mentors and backed all the way. The encouragement is what makes the difference.”

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Following closely behind Mike is apprentice fitter Witamihana (Witi) Matiu, one of just two current apprentices training at Pacific Steel. Green is emphatic about Witi’s ability: “He’s a very motivated apprentice with unlimited potential.”

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Witi is completing a New Zealand Apprenticeship in Mechanical Engineering (General Engineering). Like Mike, he also started as a production operator, and says seeing Mike succeed pushed him to apply for an apprenticeship – even though he knew it wouldn’t come with a pay rise. “I wanted this for myself,” he says. “It is an opportunity to learn while I earn, not just about the money.”

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Today, Witi is 27 months into his training and already ahead of schedule. He values the variety and pace of the work. “Here, you do everything – maintenance, hydraulics, pneumatics, fabrication and machining. They rotate us around the plant so we learn across different machinery and systems. It’s fast-paced and there’s always something to challenge you.”

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Looking ahead, Witi is clear about his goal: “I want to complete my qualification as fast as I can so I can help the next apprentice while my knowledge is still fresh. That’s part of the culture here – everyone shares what they know.” He adds that working alongside older tradespeople has been just as valuable as mastering the technical side. “They don’t just teach you skills – they share their experiences, their stories, and it builds enthusiasm for what else is possible. You start to see the different pathways out there.”

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That balance, combined with structured support from Competenz through regular reviews and study groups, creates a strong foundation. “Competenz take care of the unit standards, the roadmaps, the peer reviews – without that, it would be very hard,” says Eddie.

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Competenz Training Advisor William Malloy works closely with Pacific Steel, and he says the model is successful thanks to the dedication of the entire team.

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“It works because there’s strong commitment from both apprentices and the wider team. There’s a strong mentoring culture, with experienced tradespeople who actively pass on their knowledge. The day-to-day support onsite, alongside the structured training, regular check-ins and access to study groups creates the right environment for apprentices to grow and succeed,” explains William.

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For Pacific Steel, training is not just an investment in people, it’s an investment in the company’s future. As Witi puts it: “One day I want to be the one mentoring the next apprentice coming through. That’s what Pacific Steel is about – passing the knowledge on.”