Nominations are now open!


The Stuart Tolhurst Memorial Award recognises an outstanding maintenance engineering apprentice in the third or fourth year of their qualification, who has shown dedication, growth and excellence throughout their training journey. The winner will be presented with a trophy at the
MESNZ Excellence Awards Dinner on Wednesday 7 October.

Nominations close at 12pm on Tuesday, 8 September 2026

Eligibility

The nominees listed below are in the third or fourth year of their maintenance engineering apprenticeship and are eligible for the award. Nominations will be assessed against the following criteria:

A positive, can-do attitude and genuine eagerness to learn

Strong understanding of the theory and knowledge behind their training programme

Completion of training within the expected timeframe

A consistent work ethic and high standard of workmanship

Reliability, including strong attendance and punctuality

Initiative in the workplace and willingness to seek guidance

Ability to adapt to change, including new processes and machinery

Leadership potential and ambition to progress in their career

Submit your nomination and help celebrate industry excellence.
Can't see the nominee you're looking for? Get in touch with us.

Learner's name
  Company
  Region
  Training advisor
Lance Makowharemahihi
Taranaki Pine
Central
Angus Ryburn
Bevin Joiner
Godfrey Hirst NZ Ltd
Southern
Austin McCarthy
Max King
Fonterra - Edendale
Southern
Brendon Wood
Thomas Muir
Open Country Dairy
Southern
Brendon Wood
Adam Ormond
Defence Force - NZ Army
Central
Byron Alve
Carlo Keil
Defence Force - NZ Army
Central
Byron Alve
Donlivi Kulupa
Defence Force - NZ Army
Central
Byron Alve
Joseph Pitcher
Riverlands Manawatu Ltd
Central
Byron Alve
Patrick Sutherland
Defence Force - NZ Army
Central
Byron Alve
Tawera Tahi-Martin
ANZCO Foods Rangitikei
Central
Byron Alve
Anthony Hutcheon
Cookie Time Ltd
Southern
Chris McCulloch
Cole Taylor
Matamata Industrial Machinery Imports Ltd
Southern
Chris McCulloch
Daniel Jack
Goodman Fielder - Christchurch t/a Meadow Fresh
Southern
Chris McCulloch
Jamie Lawrence
Goodman Fielder - Christchurch t/a Meadow Fresh
Southern
Chris McCulloch
Wayne Simpson
Cookie Time Ltd
Southern
Chris McCulloch
Vainepuapii Ongoua
ANZCO Foods Canterbury
Southern
Dave Bond
Jianrong Wu
Meadow Mushrooms Ltd
Southern
Euan Main
Andrew Neilson
Alsco Auckland
Northern
Gavin Irving
Benjamin Tanielu
Autex Industries Ltd
Northern
Gavin Irving
Oliver Thornton
JMP Engineering Ltd
Northern
Gavin Irving
Brandon Dynan
Fulton Hogan Ltd - Wellington
Central
Grant Holcroft
Ivan Du Plessis
MJH Engineering Ltd
Central
Grant Holcroft
Gene Conrad Heperi
Te Whatu Ora
Northern
James Mcrae
Daniel Hyatt
Windsor Engineering
WAIBOP
Joe Nuku
Ravinder Kumar
Comgroup NZ Ltd t/a Franklin Foods
WAIBOP
Joe Nuku
Samuel Cleave
International Waste Ltd
WAIBOP
Joe Nuku
Taylor Neueli
Visy Rigid Packaging NZ Ltd
WAIBOP
Joe Nuku
Nathan Dsouza
A W Fraser Ltd
Southern
John Nortman
Ockert Schoeman
Talley's Ltd
Southern
John Nortman
Albert Penehuro-Alepati
Anderson & O'Leary Ltd (PinePac)
Northern
Jonathan Newsome
Conrad Samuels
Hawkes Bay Protein Ltd
Central
Matthew Durham
Ethan Carrington-Hingston
Kiwi Lumber Gisborne Ltd
Central
Matthew Durham
Starford Eukaliti
Matamata Ind Mach Imports Ltd
WAIBOP
Nathan Lawrie
Stuart Wharekawa
Winstone Wallboards Ltd
WAIBOP
Nathan Lawrie
Louis McLean
Prowood Ltd
Southern
Nigel Robinson
Austin Millar
Claymark Group Ltd Partnership – Katikati
WAIBOP
Peter Solia
Caleb Hazelton
Silver Fern Farms - Te Aroha
WAIBOP
Peter Solia
Jamal Cherrington
Apex Engineering Services Ltd
WAIBOP
Peter Solia
Kosol Sok
Inghams Enterprises - Waitoa
WAIBOP
Peter Solia
Nathan Hinton
Inghams Enterprises - Mount Maunganui Feedmill
WAIBOP
Peter Solia
Benjamin Te Rangiita
Genesis Energy (Turangi)
WAIBOP
Phil Jones
Logan Beere
Alto Packaging Ltd (Hamilton)
WAIBOP
Phil Jones
Peter Carter
Tenon Clearwood Ltd Partnership
WAIBOP
Phil Jones
Richard Gardner
Tenon Clearwood Ltd Partnership
WAIBOP
Phil Jones
Aaron Crayford
Progressive Leathers
Central
Richard Sussmilch
Andrew Mair
Woolyarns Ltd
Central
Richard Sussmilch
Benjamin Allen
Goodman Fielder New Zealand Ltd
Central
Richard Sussmilch
Brayden Elmaz
Kiwi Lumber Dannevirke Ltd
Central
Richard Sussmilch
Matthew Dickenson
Progressive Leathers
Central
Richard Sussmilch
Sean Eagles
Taylor Preston Ltd
Central
Richard Sussmilch
Daniel Holt-Pedersen
Royal New Zealand Navy
Northern
Rick Oliver
Daniel Tiki Tiki
Juken New Zealand Ltd Triboard (WP) - Kaitaia
Northern
Rick Oliver
Jacques Meech
Royal New Zealand Navy
Northern
Rick Oliver
James Witanga
Carter Holt Harvey - Lvl Plant Marsden Point
Northern
Rick Oliver
Kori Brown
Royal New Zealand Navy
Northern
Rick Oliver
Matilda Sales
Royal New Zealand Navy
Northern
Rick Oliver
Roy Rusbridge
Silver Fern Farms Ltd- Dargaville
Northern
Rick Oliver
Ryan Watts
Northpine Ltd
Northern
Rick Oliver
Samantha Skovlund
Fonterra - Kauri
Northern
Rick Oliver
Tyson Soutar
Juken New Zealand Ltd Triboard (WP) - Kaitaia
Northern
Rick Oliver
Samuel Roberts
GEA New Zealand Ltd
Northern
Ryan Nethercott
Yu-Cheng Ko
Coca Cola Europacific Partners NZ Ltd
Northern
Ryan Nethercott
Connar Brunton
Fonterra - Hautapu
WAIBOP
Samuel Bay
James Carroll-McLeod
Miraka Ltd
WAIBOP
Samuel Bay
Joga Aujla
Inghams Cambridge Further Processing
WAIBOP
Samuel Bay
Oliver Storey
Fonterra - Lichfield
WAIBOP
Samuel Bay
Cory Allen
Total CNC Products Ltd
Northern
William Malloy
Harpreet Singh
VISY Glass Operations (NZ) Ltd
Northern
William Malloy
Johann Pieterse
Oji Fibre Solutions (NZ) Ltd - Paper Bag (Auckland)
Northern
William Malloy
Te Waero Takarei
VISY Glass Operations (NZ) Ltd
Northern
William Malloy