Wednesday, 28 July 2010
WHAKATANE’S Dion Moke has been named as the inaugural recipient of the New Zealand Drilling Federation scholarship.
The scholarship is presented to the best all-round student on Tai Poutini Polytechnic’s training programme.
The polytechnic established the programme this year at the request of the drilling industry, with a brief to provide training – including practical hands-on skills – with the aim of encouraging students into the industry.
Tai Poutini’s 20-week programme offers a range of skills and licences, including drilling rig and small plant maintenance; welding and gas cutting; working at heights; first aid and emergency care; lifting and moving loads; forklift and heavy traffic licences.
Mr Moke impressed the tutors at the Greymouth campus with his maturity, focus and ability to learn quickly, and then went on to excel in his work-based training.
He began his work-based training with Horizon Drilling on New Zealand’s largest truck-mounted rig, which is undertaking coal bed methane gas exploration at Dobson.
He also experienced coal exploration in the Buller region with Helidrill Ltd, and was then employed by Westmere Drilling to gain knowledge of the water well industry.
“Being part of the very first practical drilling programme ever to be taught in New Zealand has been an exciting journey,” he said.
“I realise I have been fortunate and privileged to be part of history by becoming one of the first group of drilling students, and to set an example for others to follow.”
For Mr Moke, the scholarship is not about the $2000 he gets but the mana that goes with being selected as the best student on the inaugural programme.
He has returned to the North Island and is currently employed with Boart Longyear in Auckland. He will move to Rotorua to begin work on their geothermal rig there this month.