Ten line staff from the Tonga Power Ltd have won employment contracts with New Zealand’s Northpower Ltd after completing a two-weeks recruitment boot camp.

The group including one woman are expected to migrate with their families to New Zealand in November this year.

John van Brink the Tonga Power CEO said Northpower was very impressed with the trainees. The feedback on the two-week training and evaluation session was they were great ambassadors for Tonga and their work at the session was very professional meeting New Zealand qualifications.

He said the ten lines staff who had been working with Tonga Power for over three-years would be working with higher assets such as service lines and HV transformers in New Zealand.

Meanwhile, 11 trainees who will replace the group, leaving are currently working on the Tonga Village Network Upgrade project and will be given opportunities with Tonga Power.

"It is always a challenge replacing our staff and we have negotiated with Northpower payment for Tonga Power training of replacement staff."