Full throttle
Zoe Connolly hasn’t always been a tradie, but taking a chance a few years back set her on a new path, one she doesn’t regret for a second.
“I was working in a pharmacy, but post COVID, I was so burnt out. I just needed a complete overhaul and to jump into something different. I've always liked cars and have been around cars all my life, so I thought it’d go hand-in-hand.
“I went for a job interview on one of my breaks—showing up in my work blazer and lipstick. They took a chance on me, and I’ve been here at Brook’s Auto Painters in Nelson for almost three years now.”
Despite not having much experience beyond basic tools, the support from Zoe’s workplace gave her a solid base to learn and start a new career—one she was passionate about.
Owner Brook Heslop says that Zoe’s interest in the work was a standout from the start. “She was eager to learn and genuinely interested. She’s communicative and thorough—seeing jobs right through to the end. It’s not just a job for her, she really wants to be here.”
Photo credit: BM Photography
Not only does Zoe work in a panel shop, but she’s spending her free time on the track as a stock car competitor.
“I've always really wanted to give speedway a go, so when my partner bought himself a production saloon, I had a turn and got hooked, so got one for myself!
“Things progressed to me wanting a stock car. I've had two stock cars since, and this will be my eighth season racing speedway.”
At her job, Zoe says no two days are the same. “We get such a variety here because we cover machinery, heavy automotive and transport, motor homes and caravans, cars—you don't know what you're going to work on next. You could be doing a basic bumper job on a car, and next thing you know, there might be a big, smashed up truck rolling in. There's such a variety of things that we do.”
She’s now nearing the end of her apprenticeship training, completing MITO’s New Zealand Certificate in Collision Repair (Non-Structural Repair) (Level 3 and 4).
“The programme is really good, straightforward. It's all laid out well online so it's easy to find where and how to upload things. The mixture of learning online and being around and doing the physical task, you can really cement and understand it, and it sort of just falls into place and makes sense.”
Zoe’s MITO Training Advisor Paul Booth is always on hand too if she needs any help: “Paul's awesome. He'll send a text of congratulations if I pass another assignment. When he's here, he’ll give me a hand with things and he’s super easy to get a hold of.”
That support matters because, as she admits, there’s always a new challenge to tackle. “There's so much to learn. Even though I've been in the job for three years now, I'd say I'm still pretty green at some things. I'm excited to keep learning and finding new skills, and getting more creative with it, maybe do some perk jobs for my friends.
“I would one day like to do the painting side of the trade as well, just so I can do a job from start to finish. The painting side of it has always really been interesting to me as well.”
While Zoe is focused on her future goals, she’s also proud of the progress she’s made in a traditionally male-dominated industry. “There's a bit of a stigma around women in trades, but in the three years I've been here, I've never had any issue. I've never felt like I'm any different to the other workers.”
For Zoe, taking a chance changed everything—and she encourages others to do the same. “Life is far too short to be spending the majority of your time in a job that you hate. You don't know if you're going to like something until you give it a go, and definitely do give it a go!”
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Photo credit: BM Photography
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Zoe Connolly with her New Zealand Certificate in Collision Repair and Automotive Refinishing (Level 3)
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