Breaking Ground
With a background in farming, Ricki (Rick) Pei, has always had an interest in machinery. Now operations supervisor at AB Lime Limited in Winton, he’s taken that passion and forged a thriving career in the mining and quarrying industry.
“My role is quite varied,” Rick explains. “When I first started, I was learning to operate various machines and now I train other people on them. I also supervise the crews and fill in for the other departments if they're short staffed.”
Rick is one of only three people sitewide to be externally certified to train staff on quarry machinery—a distinction that sets him apart as a leader in the field. And leadership is exactly what his manager, Jack Hunter, saw in him from the start.
“Rick was already a pretty well-rounded operator when I joined three years ago,” says Jack, the Operations Manager at AB Lime. “He’s confident with more responsibility—he'll take the lead on things and make sure everyone's doing what they’re supposed to.”
In his time at AB Lime, Rick’s completed four MITO training programmes: the New Zealand Certificate in Mining and Quarrying (Level 2), both the A and B Grade of the National Certificate in Extractive Industries (Mining Administration Surface Extraction) (Level 5), and the New Zealand Certificate in Business (First Line Management) Level 4.
He says the MITO training programmes have been integral for preparing him in his role. “How the programmes are layered is quite good. I’m lucky with AB Lime because it’s such a complex site, you get to see first-hand how the modules are practically applied.
“You also get more of an understanding of why things must be done certain ways. Especially when it comes to health and safety and environmental management and all that. It gives you good technical knowledge.”
The skills of the experienced quarry workers on the site have also played a key part in Rick’s training. “There's quite a lot of people in the industry that have been doing it for a long time. If you turn up with a decent attitude, they’re happy to share their skills and experience, so you can learn a lot quickly.”
Jack says that Rick’s approach to work has been a standout. “He's calm under pressure and doesn’t rush things. Sometimes it can get crazy when you’ve a lot of pressures piling up, but he'll take his time and make the right calls.”
For those who enjoy hands-on work and have a knack for machinery, Rick says quarrying is a career worth considering. “It's a great industry to be in with a good work life balance. You’ll earn a good living too—the pay is pretty competitive with other industries.”
Jack agrees, pointing out that the industry offers a unique advantage. “Most people go to university, get qualified, and then learn the job. In our industry, you get to learn from the get-go and then do your training, so you can work your way up the ranks quickly.
New micro-credentials for the extractives industries are currently in development and will begin to roll out soon.
