For 18-year-old Owen Thornton, a job in the mining and quarrying industry was always in the back of his mind, but he wasn’t quite sure how to get his foot in the door until RockUp®.
Mining and Quarrying industry
The mining and quarrying industry is the backbone of New Zealand’s infrastructure, supplying the raw materials that keep our economy moving.
This sector offers hands-on careers with strong demand, great earning potential, and opportunities to grow.
Ready to dig into a future full of possibilities?
career opportunities
Some potential career options include:
- Weighbridge administrator (accurately record the weights of incoming and outgoing vehicles, traffic management, and maintenance)
- Quarry operator (extract, process, and transport material, operate machinery, and maintain equipment)
- Site supervisor (oversee all operations, ensuring safety and adherence to regulations, while also delegating tasks and managing staff).
RockUp—School Micro-credential Programme
If you're still a student, ask your school about RockUp®, MITO's secondary school programme for the mining and quarrying industry.
RockUp offers students the opportunity to work one day a week at a quarry, earn micro-credentials approved by NZQA, and credits towards NCEA.
You will learn what it’s like to work at a surface extraction site, from extractions and supply, to crushing and delivery of aggregates.
Finding a Job
Apprenticeships are training done on-the-job, so you can earn while you learn and kick off your career without student loan debt!
Once you leave school, you can start an apprenticeship, but you'll need to find a job in the industry first.
on the job stories
After being awarded a MITO 2021 Business Skills scholarship, Kristian Otto's now on his way to complete MITO’s New Zealand Certificate in Business (First Line Management) (Level 4).
"Having apprentices is an opportunity for our industry to offer people a rewarding career pathway, which supports their safe and effective work activities through structured learning."