The Maintenance Engineering Society of New Zealand (MESNZ) has unveiled a major new initiative for the advancement of New Zealand engineers, the MESNZ Scholarship. As part of the MESNZ objective “To encourage New Zealand training into tertiary education and technology”, a MESNZ scholarship worth up to $5,000 is to be offered each year, for the specific purpose of assisting engineering tuition fees.

Designed to assist engineering students advance their studies, the MESNZ Scholarship is available to assist students commencing study towards any MESNZ/IPENZ accredited engineering degree, diploma or certificate from any year level. Applications are sought from candidates interested or participating in maintenance engineering as a career.

While the scholarship is restricted to candidates who are New Zealand citizens or permanent residents, the brief for applicants is wide ranging and designed to assist anyone from apprentices and cadets through to tradesmen, engineers and professionals in the engineering field. Candidates from anywhere in New Zealand are encouraged to apply for the MESNZ scholarship. Students with links to MESNZ through work or other avenues are urged to apply.

Candidates are required to submit a simple written application. Applications will be reviewed by a society Selection Committee.  Short-listed applicants may be required to attend an interview in September/October with the winner to be announced at the National Maintenance Engineering Conference in November 2009.

Scholarship coordinator and society treasurer John De Bono urges employers to nominate staff who they think worthy of the scholarship. Employers are often keen judges of staff with the potential to develop and the society is keen for employers to prompt potential candidates to take the first step towards improving their career.

Details on the scholarship, pre-requisites and the selection process are available on the society website www.mesnz.org.nz

In other society news, incumbent chairman Mike Killick has resigned his position due to his current business commitments and his role has been temporarily replaced by Barry Robinson. Mr. Killick has selflessly committed many years of input into the growth of the society and will continue to participate behind the scenes. Three new committee members have been welcomed on board, Christo Vanniekerk (Carter Holt Harvey), Jeremy Wilson (Mighty river Power) and Andrew Ouwejan (Metlab)The society AGM is held during the National Maintenance Engineering Conference in November and with the strength and depth of the committee it is very much business as usual until then.

The National Maintenance Engineering Conference, easily the cheapest 2 day event in industry will be held at the Bayview Wairakei (Taupo) on November 11/12 2009. The two day conference based around the theme of “Re-Engineering Your Maintenance to Survive the Global Recession” features a well proven measure of holistic maintenance management papers presented by experts, industry providers and peers. The 2009 event, which sees the return of event sponsor Hydac, continues the well proven and popular format with thought provoking papers on preventative maintenance, health and safety, human resources, energy efficiency, engineering and employment law. Registration forms and background details can be found on the society website at www.mesnz.org.nz/nmec/

The $680 +GST pp attendance fee strikes a nerve with engineers, normally prevented from attending comparable 2 day events by costs far in excess of this amount. A better bang for your buck will not be found anywhere else for such an inspiring and informative event. Exhibitors too, will be pleased with the opportunity to get in touch with engineers over the 2 day event and the pre-conference Trade Expo.

For further details, contact

Leanne Powley (09) 296 1333  info@adminoncall.co.nz  or

Craig Carlyle (09) 299 3357 craig@transform.net.nz  or

Or www.mesnz.org.nz 

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