Tongan linesmen recruited by Northpower New Zealand [1]
Wednesday, June 12, 2013 - 18:15. Updated on Monday, September 9, 2013 - 18:40.
Ten linesmen will leave Tonga at the end of this month after securing jobs with Northpower, a New Zealand based electricity distribution contracting company. The Tonga Power Ltd. workers, including one woman, have been trained to New Zealand qualifications and will fill skills shortages.
Tonga Power stated they have an agreement with Northpower for the recruitment of skilled linesmen, as the overseas utility companies are bracing for staff shortages and devising strategies to recruit more workers.
Northpower had in 2006 employed 25 linesmen offshore, primarily from Tonga, which has opened up employment and career development opportunities for Tongan tradespeople.
Opoportunity
Rob Lowe, Tonga Power's Distribution Manager, said the career opportunity was advertised internally and is a structured process to help those who want to move overseas and apply their skills. "The move will be fully supported to help our staff and their families settle into their homes," he said.
He said 24 Tonga Power linesmen applied for this career opportunity with Northpower and these applicants were shortlisted to 10.
The successful applicants are expected to leave Tonga in late June depending on the completion of Stage 1 of the Tonga Village Network Upgrade.
John van Brink, Chief Executive Officer for Tonga Power Ltd said they had trained their linesmen to New Zealand qualification standards and their skills are widely sought after.
"It is extremely satisfying for our Board to see how Tonga Power can support our staff and give them an opportunity to take their skills to a new level. The Northpower arrangement means that the shift to a new job and family home is trouble free and more importantly the staff and their families have ongoing support structure to help them settle into a new country.
"For Tonga Power this means we can manage how we replace skilled staff with new trainees and bring employment opportunities to the community," he said.