KEY POINTS:
The country's top apprentices will be heading off to Japan for the 39th international WorldSkills contest being held in Japan next week.
The contest puts hundreds of apprentices from around the world up against each other to see who has the best skills overall. And among those taking
part are 14 New Zealanders representing a range of trades such as carpentry, printing and panel beating.
They will compete at Shizuoka within view of Mt Fuji and will be collectively known as the Tool Blacks - taking on competitors from around the world.
Over four days of competition, about 850 young people drawn from more than 45 countries/regions will pit themselves against the highest international standards in 47 key skills and technologies. The prizes will be gold, silver and bronze medals and the knowledge that they have represented their country on the world stage.
The competition, the biggest event of its kind, is held every two years and sets world-class standards. During its 50-year history, WorldSkills (formerly known as the "Skill Olympics") has come to symbolise the pinnacle of excellence in vocational training.
Every two years, hundreds of young skilled people, accompanied by their teachers and trainers, compete before the public in their various trades - representing the best of their peers drawn from regional and national competitions.
One of those taking part is Sudheer Ramjathan, a panel beater who works for Colin Waite in Auckland. His employer nominated him to take part in the regional heats last year where he came second.
He went on to the nationals and heard he had been selected to represent New Zealand at an invitation only ceremony at the Beehive in December.
"It was awesome when my name was called out," says Ramjathan. "Third place got called, then second place and I thought - 'boy I didn't think I had done that bad'. And then they announced first place and called my name. It's hard to explain how I felt. They gave me a gold medal, then a silver medal for highest marks and then we celebrated."
To make it through to the event final, Ramjathan was given half a car to repair and make presentable.
"In my case, I had to cut and replace the whole front end," he says. "I got marked on every little thing possible, not only how I did the work but what it looked like when completed.
"And, at the final, I'll be doing the exact same thing again. But under the watchful eye of the judges and 16 competitors over four days. It's going to be pretty full on and quite intense."
The Tool Blacks team will flying out on November 11 and Ramjathan says he is looking forward to the experience and having two weeks to explore the country.
One of the other finalists is printer Kieran Dale of Logick Print & Graphics. He said the task of getting through the regional finals was quite tough and involved completing a complex printing assignment where he had to work hard not to over-ink the test project.
Like Ramjathan, Dale was also at the Beehive for the announcement of the national finalists and said he was happy when he heard his name called.
"Three of us went up on the rostrum and were given medals," says Dale. "I have been doing a lot of training on the printing machine I'll be using in Japan.
"It is not the same one as I use day-to-day at work, so printing machine-maker Heidelberg has helped out and I have been doing some training at Plan and Print in Newmarket that has the latest Heidelberg.
"It means that at the final it will be a level playing field as all printers will be using the same machines."
All contestants will be put through their paces at a specially constructed Global Skills Village. At the opening ceremony, the Tool Blacks team will march in waving a New Zealand flag - much like the Olympics.
Dale says he is pretty focused on coming first and leaving Japan with a gold medal in his pocket.
"I have never been to Japan before so I am looking forward to the experience," he says. "I will soak up the culture and will enjoy seeing something new."
Among the sights all contestants will be taken to, as part of an official sightseeing tour, will be the Izumito Sea Paradise and the Izu Orchid Park - a huge greenhouse housing more than 500 different kinds of orchid.
"The trip is going to be a great experience," says Ramjathan who, like Dale, has finished his apprenticeship.
* In conjunction with the 39th WorldSkills competition, is the 7th International Abilympics that will be held in Shizuoka City. Participants with disabilities from around the world will compete in 30 skills categories.