Josh's story

Josh Nanai - Mechanical Engineer

Graduate - New Zealand Certificate in Mechanical Engineering 

Māori and Pacific Trades Training (MPTT) scholarship recipient

Learn more about Josh

Josh jumped between many career paths before he finally found his passion.

Now a Mechanical Engineer at the Wellington railways for Hyundai Rotem, Josh says his decision to study WelTec's Level 3 Certificate in Mechanical Engineering was pivotal in fulfilling his sense of purpose and securing employment.

Josh's experience at the railways first began when he was hired as a track worker by KiwiRail, but after a five-year stint he was faced with redundancy. Following this, Josh picked up a few bits and pieces but mostly worked as a security guard for Work and Income NZ. This period was a struggle financially and overall unsatisfying for Josh, saying he was “sick of people asking me what I do and all I could say was security guard. I wanted to be something that I’m proud of."

Seeing the engineers in action at KiwiRail while he was labouring was a huge catalyst towards his decision to study and upskill, "You see some of these guys at work and what they can do and you’re just like wow, I want to be like that,” Josh says.

Now 37-years-old,  Josh says the learning environment at WelTec was built to support students of all walks of life and credits his tutors and the Pacific team for his success in the industry.

The structure of the engineering programme allowed Josh to get a taste of all aspects of mechanical engineering before deciding which path to go down, saying “Most people who came in had no idea what area of engineering they wanted to branch off into. At WelTec, you get to experience all of it first and see what you enjoy most.” But above all, Josh says receiving the Māori and Pasifika Trades Training scholarship was the biggest enabler for him, funding his whole year of study. 

Josh says the skills he learned at WelTec have really fed into his career and continue to inform his everyday work. Now able to train others entering the industry, passing on his skills is one of the most rewarding aspects of Josh’s job, saying “Sometimes you don’t realise how far you’ve come and how much you know until you’re teaching it to someone else."

With another two years left in his contract with Hyundai Rotem, Josh is eager to continue learning and develop his skills further. In the future, Josh hints that one day he might like to take his skills back to KiwiRail where it all started. 

Study Mechanical Engineering Trades at WelTec

Take the first step towards a rewarding career with a Mechanical Engineering qualification. Get hands-on skills in welding, machining and fabrication. 

Explore our Mechanical Engineering Trades programmes here.