Master Electricians Apprentice Challenge co-ordinator and judge Shane Bell said if there were any flashes or signs of smoke, then the competitors in the Otago Southland Regional Master Electricians Apprentice Challenge were not ready for the industry yet.
About 35 apprentice electricians were put through their paces at Otago Polytechnic yesterday on the first day of the two-day event.
Mr Bell said they were competing in two categories — industrial, and domestic commercial electrical work — and each apprentice was being tested on skills consisting of electrical fault-finding, switchboard building, switch wiring, cable joining and industrial electrical equipment installation.
Otago Polytechnic allied trades programmes head Dave Bettis said the event provided a great opportunity for electrical apprentices to test their knowledge and practical skills in a supportive environment, learn new skills and meet new people from the electrical industry.
Mr Bell said the apprentices were all competing for one of five spots in the competition’s national final to be held in Queenstown at the end of October.
It is hoped another Otago Polytechnic apprentice will follow in the footsteps of Otago Polytechnic graduate Kent Marshall, who won the industrial category at the New Zealand Master Electricians Apprentice Challenge in Auckland last year.
The regional challenge continues today. Members of the public were welcome to watch, Mr Bell said.
