Waimakariri District Council water technician James Morgan is the first person in the country to have achieved all of the Water Industry Training qualifications available.
"That's got to worth a $10,000 dollar prize, hasn't it?" James jokes from his Marsh Rd, Christchurch depot.
In fact, completing his qualifications is worth a lot more than that - a lesson James, like a lot of us, learned the hard way.
From school, James took up an electrician's apprenticeship. "I did all the hours, but not the final exam. If I could turn back the clock, I'd knuckle down and do the work."
He's certainly made up for it, having now completed national certificates in Water Treatment, Wastewater Treatment, Water Reticulation (Water Strand), and Water Reticulation (Wastewater Strand).
After a year playing rugby in South Africa, James returned and eventually took up a labouring job at the Waimakariri District Council. Encouraged by his boss, Ian Loffhagen, he resumed studying, with what was then the entry-level C-grade Water, Wastewater certificate. And then he kept on going.
"For treatment, of course, you have to have qualifications," James said, when asked what motivated his him to keep studying.
"The good thing about the council is that they pay for the training - so you might as well do it while it's there. It's relevant to the industry - and the Christchurch City Council wants everyone working on water mains to be qualified.
"Basically, if you're not qualified, you're going to get left behind."
James emphasises that theory only goes so far in his line of work. "You can do the training, but it comes down to the on-job experience as to how much use it is." He credits his workmates - some of who have been there for over 30 years - with making the training he's received relevant to the work he does.
That support is a two-way street. Ian credits James' commitment for getting the rest of his team qualified.
"Some of the other guys thought they'd been out of school too long, they were too old to train, they couldn't do the maths. But James' enthusiasm really spread."
"The self-belief before and after - they're different guys."
Ian believes in using his training budget to build the marketability of his team.
"If they have the qualifications, it's easier to get jobs."
But portability is one use for qualifications none of his team has yet needed. In the time Ian's been boss - including the eight years James has been working for him - no one's left.
So with some time on his hands until Water IT's supervisor qualification, with strands in water and wastewater, becomes available - due in late June, according to training adviser Annie Yeates - is James taking a study break?
"No. I'm finishing off my electrical ticket." |
