Bay of Plenty Polytechnic apprentices top at MTA awards

The skills of four Bay of Plenty Polytechnic automotive apprentices and Bay Auto service manager Phil Lowe have been recognised at the biennial MTA Tauranga Branch Awards held at Mills Reef Winery.

First year student, and Eurotechnic Automotive employee Richard Ross won the Best Automotive Apprentice Award. The other nominees in the category were fellow Polytechnic apprentices Cory Stollery (Mike Deane Motors), Henk Wassinik (Mike Deane Motors) and Jonathan Saducas (Pacific Toyota).

Richard won the award for “consistently going above and beyond the duties expected from an apprentice, to the point that he is trusted to oversee the workshop operations and is obviously a true asset to the team at Eurotechnic Automotive,” MC Tim Batt announced on the night.

Long-standing Polytechnic Bay Auto service manager Phil Lowe was a finalist in the Best Service Manager Award. It was the first time Phil had been honoured at the regional awards.

The event was attended by 220 local MTA members, partners and staff from a wide range of Western Bay of Plenty automotive businesses. Bay of Plenty Polytechnic was the major sponsor this year, having sponsored award categories in previous years.

Polytechnic automotive group leader and Tauranga MTA president Sean Squires says the 12 awards presented on the night help recognise and celebrate the best in the local automotive industry.

“The healthy competition and recognition of award winners within our region’s MTA members, not to mention the networking and social opportunity, ensures members remain connected and the MTA brand stays at the top.”

“Whether an award winner or a sponsor, a business owner, partner, or a staff member - Bay of Plenty Polytechnic is proud to be involved with the top tier of our region’s automotive industry,” says Sean.

MTA Award winners:

Best Car Detailer (sponsored by MTA): Brad Greenwell from Farmer Auto Village
Best Office Administrator (sponsored by MTA): Heather Dempsey, Portside Auto Services
Best Automotive Parts Person (sponsored by SPARK): Cory Mathieson, Farmer Auto Village
Best Sales Representative (sponsored by MTA): Gary Arnold, Repco Tauranga
Best Automotive Apprentice (sponsored by Repco): Richard Ross, Eurotechnic Automotive
Best Automotive Technician (sponsored by Q8 Oils): Paul Watson, Eurotechnic Automotive
Best Service Manager (sponsored by Pacific Toyota): Dave Dijk, Farmer Auto Village
Best Service Station (sponsored by The Hits 95.0 FM): Z Omokoroa
Best Specialty Repairer (sponsored by Apparel Master): Phil Buckland Motors
Best Small Business (sponsored by Wynns): Tony’s Auto Clinic
Best Medium Business (sponsored by EFTPOS NZ): Portside Automotive
Supreme Business Award (sponsored by Bay of Plenty Polytechnic): Phil Buckland Motors