“When I first got my job here in New Zealand five years ago, technology had moved so far ahead of Zimbabwe that I had to learn things like complex electronics completely from scratch. Fortunately my bosses and the company have been really helpful sending me on a number of training courses.”

Heavy equipment automotive engineer Ajit Jogi grew up helping his dad fix tractors on their farm. “Doing an apprenticeship was the logical thing for me after finishing school, as I was sick of full-time study. I briefly thought about becoming a vet, but the training was a lot longer – and unpaid!"

After working for several years as a qualified heavy equipment automotive engineer in Zimbabwe Ajit brought his skills to New Zealand. “I decided to come to New Zealand because the cost of living became so high in Zimbabwe that I couldn’t afford to live. Also, at the time New Zealand had a shortage of qualified diesel mechanics so it was easy for me to immigrate.”

Ajit says he mainly works on the general maintenance or servicing of trucks and trailers. This involves things like changing oil and fuel filters, and taking trucks to testing stations for warrants. “We get a nice variety of work here; I can work on up to 15 different trucks a day.”

Ajit also works on call one week out of every seven. He enjoys getting out and about to fix breakdowns, but also finds it can be tough. “I recently had a call out to the top of the Rimutakas and didn’t get home till 4am! And conditions in winter can be pretty bad when you are out on the side of the road fixing a vehicle.”

Still, Ajit says his hard work always pays off. “The most satisfying thing is fixing a truck and knowing that thanks to you it’s not going to break down again anytime soon. It’s good because you really know you have done something right and you have something to show for all your hard work.”