EARN WHILE YOU LEARN
CIVIL ENGINEERING
CADETSHIPS
Some large engineering and construction companies, including
Opus, MWH, Lattey, Higgins, Fulton Hogan and Downer, and local
authorities, like the Napier City Council, offer cadetships, where you
“earn while you learn”. A cadet studies part-time towards a diploma
or degree while working for the company, so they get on-the-job
work experience while studying.
The following people are currently doing, or have completed, what used to be called the National Diploma in Civil
Engineering (NDCE), and is now the NZ Diploma of Engineering (Civil) [NZDE (Civil)], through the New Zealand
Institute of Highway Technology (NZIHT). This IPENZ-accredited qualification is recognised in Australia, Canada,
Ireland, Korea, New Zealand, South Africa, United Kingdom and the United States, so Engineering Technicians
with this qualification can work professionally in those countries. For details, refer:
For more information click here or visit www.ipenz.org.nz
Keyword: IPENZ accredited two-year diplomas in engineering
AARON DEMANSER, a past pupil of Taradale High School, started his cadetship with Downer in 2011, studying parttime towards an NZDE (Civil). He has been involved with various road-surfacing contracts throughout Hawke’s Bay,
as well as operating the Hastings frontline bitumen sprayer (the machine that sprays bitumen onto the road) during
the summer.
AMY PATTERSON-HORNER, a past pupil of Havelock North High School, was employed as a cadet by MWH in
Hastings while she studied for an NDCE, and National Diploma in Civil Engineering (Applied) through NZIHT. Amy
is now an IPENZ Registered Engineering Practioner. She has specialised in water and waste engineering. During
her cadetship, she was involved in the project to build the Hastings District Council Wastewater Treatment plant at
East Clive. In 2015 she managed a $6 million project to upgrade the Havelock North wastewater pipes to enable the
development of more subdivisions in the area. After taking 6 months off on maternity leave, Amy is now a Project
Manager, managing many of the water and waste projects for MWH’s client, the Hastings District Council. These
include the Heretaunga Street trunk water main, Omahu and Irongate industrial water services, and Te Mata Road
sewer and water mains.
BEN HARRIS, from Lindisfarne College, started a cadetship at Opus in 2004, and completed his NZDE (Civil) in
2011. In 2009 Ben moved to Opus in Wellington, and in April 2012 to Opus DaytonKnight in Canada. He is currently
based in Fredericton, working as a Survey Crew Chief on various pipeline projects in Alberta.
BRETT MENEFY, who attended Central Hawke’s Bay College, started
a cadetship at Opus in 2005. In 2009 he completed his NDCE and
subsequently an NDCE (Applied), through NZIHT. Brett then decided to go
to university; Opus gave him a study grant, and he was accepted into second
year of a BE (Hons) (Civil) at Canterbury in 2011. While at university, he was
employed by Opus during the summer holidays. After graduating he worked
as a geotechnical engineer for Opus in Christchurch, where he was involved
in site investigations and the foundation design for the new Christchurch
Central Library, testing and monitoring of the new piles for the replacement
wharf at the Lyttelton Port, and a preliminary study for flood remediation of
the Flockton Basin. Brett is now on a working holiday to the UK and Europe,
intending to gain additional experience as a civil engineer.
CHRIS CHAPMAN, who attended Dannevirke High School, started a
cadetship at Opus in 2007, and completed his NZDE (Civil) and National
Diploma in Civil Engineering (Applied) in 2012. Chris now works as an
Infrastructure Asset Management Consultant for Opus in Palmerston North, providing guidance and assistance to
various clients to optimise infrastructure management and investment, as well as managing a team of Civil and
Structural Engineers.
CIVIL ENGINEERING CADETSHIPS
EARN WHILE YOU LEARN
After BRYLEE THOMSON left Wanganui Girls’ College she
started a cadetship with Opus in the Auckland South office in
2015. She’s been studying part-time towards an NZDE (Civil)
since February 2015, and will complete it in June 2017.
In Auckland, Brylee was a member of the design team, where
she designed a number of new road layouts, intersections and
carparks all around Auckland. In January 2016, she was offered
a transfer to the Napier office, where the opportunity for
geotechnical, laboratory and survey experience was available.
“Since moving to Napier I have spent the majority of my time
in the geotech team, where I do ground testing for building
foundations, slope stability and liquefaction assessments. I
have done water sampling and monitoring, as well as designing
retaining structures, most recently for a property on Napier hill.
I have been out with the Lab team to do a range of testing in the field and collecting samples for further testing
back at the lab, and the land surveyors to carry out topographical surveys on roads and carparks, and do some
maintenance of trig stations.”
Asked why she chose to do an engineering cadetship, Brylee says: “I like the idea of getting the practical
experience while doing the study and earning while I’m learning. The experience and understanding you gain
while working and learning is invaluable, nothing beats learning something one day and going out to put it into
use the next day. Opus as a company and the people in my office are so supportive, making the whole cadetship
experience even better.
Working in the engineering industry is awesome as there is always a new challenge and a range of different
situations to work in. Doing the study while working has turned out great for me, as I have the practical
experience while learning the theoretical side of the work. Working in a male-dominated profession is very
rewarding from the impressed responses you get when you tell people your occupation and the respect for your
choice.”
CAMPBELL YOUNG, a past pupil of Taradale High School, started a cadetship at MWH in 2014, and is studying parttime towards an NZDE (Civil). Campbell currently works in the Roading Asset Management team, which manages all
of the assets on the road, from the seal, markings, signs, bus shelters, retaining walls and bridges, for the Gisborne
District Council, Porirua City Council and Kaipara District Council. One of Campbell’s jobs is to analyse the data
from traffic counters (those two black tubes across the road you sometimes drive over); this data enables Campbell
to calculate the average number of vehicles a day, what speed they were going and what sort of vehicle they were
e.g. truck, bus, car, car with trailer etc. This data assists the local council to plan road maintenance and replacement.
DANIEL FRASER, ex Napier Boys High School, started a cadetship at Opus in 2007, and completed his NZDE
(Civil) in 2012. In 2009 Daniel moved to the Greymouth office, where he worked on the State Highway network
contract. He is now based in Opus’ Christchurch office, where he manages
High Productivity Motor Vehicle permits for Canterbury / West Coast.
GAVIN CHONG, a past pupil of Tamatea High School,
studied and worked in graphic design for 8 years after
leaving school, before deciding he wanted a different
career. In 2007 he started a cadetship at the Napier City
Council, working as an Engineering Cadet. He completed
the NZDE (Civil) in 2012, and is now employed as a
Design Engineer, which involves designing projects,
putting contracts together and project management.
He was involved in the playground extension, junior bike
track and gym area on Marine Parade, and the Napier
pump track (see: www.vimeo.com/126774485).
CIVIL ENGINEERING CADETSHIPS
EARN WHILE YOU LEARN
ISAAC AITKEN, ex Wairoa College, started a cadetship at
Opus in 2010, and completed his NZDE (Civil) in 2013. During
the 4 years he worked in Napier, Isaac worked in Network
Management, CAD Design, Engineering Surveying and the
Laboratory, which carries out geotechnical investigations.
Isaac had completed one year of an extramural Bachelor
of Engineering degree through the University of Southern
Queensland, when he was given the opportunity to transfer to
Opus’ UK office, to take up a two year position as part of an
Integrated Transportation Projects Team, delivering projects
on behalf of the Hertfordshire County Council. Isaac is now
the lead engineer of the design and construction of various
projects, some worth upwards of NZ$1.5 M. When his two
years are up, Isaac will return to NZ to complete his degree;
meanwhile he has had some amazing life experiences, while
getting to explore Europe.
JONTY UNDERHILL left Taradale High School at the end of 2012, and started a civil engineering cadetship at
Lattey the following year. Jonty was interested in building things; he considered a 3 or 4 year engineering degree,
but decided on the cadetship, as it meant he could earn while he learnt, and avoid a student loan. Jonty is in the
third year of his cadetship, having chosen geotechnical engineering and engineering surveying as his electives
this year. Next year he’ll be doing papers on engineering projects and engineering management, and, all going
well, will complete his NZDE (Civil) at the end of 2016. He’s been involved in the manufacture of the precast
concrete panels for the Delegat Winery and two water bottling plants in Tomoana and Awatoto, as well as a
new 8 storey building in Wellington. Jonty is enjoying the challenge of his cadetship. “I enjoy the practical work,
doing something different every day and the reward of seeing something I’ve been involved in transformed into a
building. I’m the first cadet Lattey has taken on, and all the staff have been really supportive in mentoring me and
sharing their experience.”
JORDAN PALLESON, a past pupil of Napier Boys High School, started a cadetship at Opus in 2009. In 2013
he completed his NZDE (Civil), then went on to complete an NDCE (Applied) in 2015. Since June 2013, Jordan
has been working for Opus in Australia, in the Survey Team based in Adelaide. He has spent the last 18 months
travelling around every corner of Australia for work, mainly working for the State Departments of Infrastructure/
Transport on civil projects. This work has included surveying roads in Queensland following the 2013 floods,
surveying land in the Northern Territory for a multi-billion dollar Liquid Natural Gas processing facility in Darwin,
and surveying the Manly stormwater network in New South Wales.
JOSH PAKU, a past pupil of Wairoa College and Napier Boys High School, started working for Higgins
Contractors as a labourer in 2008, then left to work in Australia for two years, as a Laboratory Technician for SGS.
Josh returned to Higgins in 2013 as a Project Engineer Cadet and is now studying part-time towards an NZDE
(Civil). Josh is now project managing a multitude of projects for Higgins Contractors Ltd.
KURT SAMSON, who was home schooled in Hawke’s Bay, started a cadetship at Opus in 2007, at the age of 27.
He completed his NZDE (Civil) in 2012 and National Diploma in Civil Engineering (Applied) in 2014. In 2011/2
Kurt was based in Opus’ Waipukurau office, working for the Central Hawke’s Bay District Council on repairs to
infrastructure damaged by the April 2011 floods. Since 2013 Kurt has been in the Napier office, where he is now
Senior Engineering Technician, designing/draughting and managing roading and bridge projects for a range of
clients, including the NZ Transport Agency and district councils.
MATTHEW DONK, ex Hastings Christian School and Havelock North High School, started a cadetship at Opus in
2007, completed his NZDE (Civil) in 2012, and his NZDE (Applied) in 2013 through NZIHT. In 2012 Matt moved from
Hawke’s Bay to Gisborne, to advance his career with Opus. In 2014 he joined Downer in Gisborne, as a Contract
Manager, responsible for managing construction projects. Matt says “there are so many opportunities in the civil
engineering industry, set your heart on where you want to go, own it, pursue it, and nothing will stand in your way”.
MICHAEL ASSENMACHER, a past pupil of Karamu High School, started a cadetship at MWH in 2013, and is
studying part-time towards an NZDE (Civil) through the NZIHT. Michael is working in “the three waters” area of
civil engineering – which covers infrastructure related to drinking water, storm water and waste water. His work
includes the Margaret Avenue water main extension, Avenue Road water main renewal and the Havelock North
relief sewer. He also does environmental sampling at the Omarunui Landfill, for the Hastings District Council,
which manages the landfill. This involves monitoring the quality of the ground water, storm water and surface
water surrounding the landfill, to provide evidence that the Council is complying with the resource consent it has
from the Hawke’s Bay Regional Council.
CIVIL ENGINEERING CADETSHIPS
EARN WHILE YOU LEARN
SAM GREEN, who attended Havelock North High School, started
a cadetship at Napier City Council in May 2011, working as a
Design Engineer Cadet. In 2015 he completed his NZDE (Civil)
through NZIHT, and is now doing a B EngTech (Civil) degree
part time, which he plans to complete by 2018. Sam has been
involved in designing and managing several projects to improve
the inner city, including the Marine Parade / Browning Street
roundabout, the Hastings Street Stage 2 Redevelopment from
Albion Street to Tennyson Street, and the Prebensen Drive Four
Laning Project.
SAM MORONEY, a past pupil of Napier Boys High School,
started a cadetship at Opus in 2006, and completed his NZDE
(Civil) in 2011. Sam spent 3 years working in the Opus Wellington
office, and in 2012 returned to Napier, where he is currently a
Survey Technician. Sam’s work includes structure monitoring of large bridges and retaining walls in the Gisborne
/ East Coast region, and land surveying for the Romanes Drive BMX track and adjacent soccer pitch, and the
Tauroa Valley subdivision in Havelock North.
SAM RIDDELL, a past pupil of Napier Boys High School, started a cadetship at Opus in 2010, and completed his
NZDE (Civil) and NDCE (Applied) in 2014. In July 2011 he moved to the Dunedin office, where he was involved in
managing the inspection and maintenance of up to 650 bridges in Otago and Southland, for the NZ Transport
Agency. Since March 2014 Sam has been working for Opus in the UK; after a stint in their Birmingham office, he’s now
in their London office, doing transport assessments and highway design for new developments and the Hertfordshire
County Council, and travelling around Europe whenever he gets the chance. Sam says “The past two years have been
an interesting adventure; I’m glad I have had the opportunity and flexibility to work in the UK for Opus.”
SHAARAI HARRIS, a past pupil of Hastings Girls High School, started a cadetship at the Napier City Council,
in 2008. She worked full time and studied part-time through the NZIHT, and in 2014 graduated with an NZDE
(Civil). Shaarai says “Since starting the cadetship I have learnt so much and had no clue what to expect. It’s been
quite an eye opener, especially being a female working in a male dominated industry. The skills I have gained
range from topography surveying, road design, CAD drafting, contract administration, project management
and stormwater design. Also dealing with council employees, contractors, consultants, service providers and
local residents has been good with my work/people relationship skills.” She’s currently working on a full road
reconstruction and drainage design for Te Awa Avenue, south of Napier Boys High.
JULY 2016