Unitec|Te Pūkenga automotive graduate Jae Kim has been awarded the bronze medal in the Hyundai National Technician Competition 2023, held in Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland this week.

Jae was one of only six Hyundai technicians from throughout Aotearoa New Zealand to qualify to compete in the national final, with successful qualification an achievement in itself.

The top competitor automatically qualifies for a place in the global Hyundai World Skills Olympics in October. Finalists were tested on a series of diagnostic and practical tasks, including the latest Hyundai electric vehicles.

Since completing his New Zealand Certificate in Automotive Engineering at Unitec | Te Pūkenga last June, Jae has worked for Hyundai as an automotive apprentice. Jae credits the structure of Unitec’s automotive engineering course with equipping him with the skills he needed to secure a job at Hyundai, along with the support and encouragement of the teaching staff at Unitec Te Pūkenga.

“I couldn’t be more proud of Jae,” says automotive lecturer Bevan Redpath, who represented New Zealand in the Hyundai World Skills Olympics in South Korea in 2013.

“To make it into the top three of this competition is a massive achievement, especially considering he has only had two months’ of full-time experience in the industry.

Jae added, “I’m very honoured to have experienced the Hyundai Skills Olympics alongside incredible technicians.

“I’d especially want to thank my mentor Bevan Redpath, who introduced me to Hyundai and trained me in preparation for the competition, service manager John Sargent, and Bryan Davis from the School of Trades and Services. Without these people, I wouldn’t be where I am today.”