Casey’s trucking along

A new career: Trucking is proving just the ticket for Casey Kirk who is part of the Tairawhiti Redeployment Programme. Photo by The Black Balloon

Truckie-in-training Casey Kirk can't say enough about how much she is loving her involvement in the Tairawhiti Economic Support Package Redeployment Programme.

The 46-year-old mother of eight from Te Puia Springs is over the moon to be embarking on a new career.

She's worked plenty over the years but this is proving to be something else.

Casey had her grounding and early training with Dave Pardoe at Tairawhiti Road Transport and is now working with a Fulton Hogan crew on Mata Road, which took a pounding during recent bad weather.

Casey is familiar with trucking. Partner Hori Riwai has more than 30 years in the industry and it was his boss Kevin McKay who suggested the redeployment programme to her.

“I thought ‘yeah, why not',” she said. “and my partner was right behind me. I just love it. I am so enjoying the work and training.”

Casey is doing traffic management on the Mata Road after completing her traffic control qualifications.

She has also gained her class 2 learner's and full truck licences, will be doing class 4 this month and has class 5 in her sights.

“They are awesome,” she says of Dave Pardoe and others on the programme.

“Dave is the bomb doing this and giving us all this opportunity.

“They are pulling me along and helping me achieve. I want to drive trucks in civil construction or cartage.”

Her whanau are also right behind her. Her children, who range in age from 26 down to 10, are more than happy to help at home to ensure mum gets the support she needs to do her job.

“The four older ones tend to things at home. They are all really awesome kids. They know they have to do it so I can go to work now. I should have done this years ago but the time was never really right.”

Her contract with Fulton Hogan is for 12 weeks but she is hopeful that could be extended to full-time.

“There are a lot of women in trucking now,” says Casey. “It is good to see. It is great to be outside and doing things.”

Having lived on the Coast her whole life, she knows the roads can be challenging.

“I am going to be working on them and making sure our communities can get where they need to be.”

She has plenty of respect for those working on the Mata Road with her.

“It is really good to see that road getting done and to be a part of that,” she said.

“This whole thing seems a bit surreal. I always said once it was my time I would be out there . . . that time is now.”

The re-metalling project is one of five that are part of the $23.755m Redeployment Programme established in response to the impacts of Covid-19 and aimed at providing work and training for up to 200 people.

It is funded through the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment, administered by the Provincial Development Unit and managed by Gisborne District Council. All those on the programme come through the Ministry of Social Development, with the goal to ensure they not only find work but pick up new skills, qualifications and the opportunity of meaningful, long-term employment.