From the tools to team leadership

Three technicians from Kinetic’s Auckland and Christchurch workshops are taking the next step in their careers after being awarded 2026 MITO Matariki Scholarships.

MITO supports on-the-job learning across New Zealand’s automotive and commercial road transport industries, working with employers to help people build their skills and gain nationally recognised qualifications. Kinetic in New Zealand works with MITO to support training and development across its engineering teams, combining practical workplace experience with structured learning and ongoing support.

Militina “Mills” Mafile’o and Mein “Alex” Millare from Kinetic’s Onehunga Workshop in Tāmaki Makaurau (Auckland), and Shiu Reddy from the Maces Road Workshop in Ōtautahi (Christchurch), have each received scholarships to support further study towards the New Zealand Certificate in Business (First Line Management) Level 4.

Now in its second year, MITO’s Matariki Scholarship programme gives graduates the opportunity to continue their development through advanced study in either electric vehicle automotive engineering or first line management.

Recipients are nominated by their MITO Training Advisors, recognising people who have already invested in their development and are ready to take another step in their careers.

For Mills, Alex and Shiu, that next step is about building on their technical experience and developing the skills to lead and support others.

Mills began his career in the heavy transport industry, developing his skills through hands-on experience and an apprenticeship. He’s currently based at the Onehunga Workshop and sees leadership and management as the next stage of his development.

“I was really grateful to receive the scholarship. It was great to have my hard work recognised and to have the opportunity to keep developing my career,” Mills said.

“I want to be a more confident leader and improve my communication and planning skills so I can help my team."

Ultimately, Mills hopes to progress into a leadership role and use those skills to help create better team environments and culture.

Alex also entered the industry through an apprenticeship, driven by a longstanding passion for automotive engineering.

Having recently completed training with MITO, he was keen to broaden his experience through First Line Management and develop new skills that could open opportunities across the business.

For Alex, the appeal of leadership is also about being able to make a difference beyond his own work.

“I want to have a positive impact not only through my own work, but by supporting and developing others,” Alex said.

Mills and Alex were nominated for the scholarships by MITO Training Advisor Phil Collings after discussions with their manager, Jason McLeod, who has also undertaken further study in leadership and management.

In Christchurch, Shiu’s career has followed a different path. He first joined the industry as a bus driver with Leopard Coachlines in 2009 before being given the opportunity to retrain as a mechanic.

Since then, Shiu has completed a range of training through MITO and recently progressed into a senior workshop role, where he now supervises and supports others, including apprentices developing their own careers.

“Management support has brought me this far in the company, and my team’s support has kept me moving forward,” Shiu said.

MITO Training Advisor Shane Marwood nominated Shiu for the scholarship in recognition of his commitment to ongoing learning and his progression within the workshop. Shane said further developing Shiu’s leadership and business skills would benefit not only his own career, but also the wider Kinetic team and the apprentices they support.

Shiu is now studying First Line Management, with a clear idea of where he wants that development to take him.

“I’m hoping to learn a lot more about the management of the workshop and hopefully manage a workshop in the future,” he said.

For someone who started his career behind the wheel 17 years ago, it’s another step in a career that has continued to evolve.

Kinetic New Zealand General Manager Engineering – Auckland & Wellington, Lee Robinson, said supporting experienced technicians to develop their leadership skills was important for both their own careers and the strength of Kinetic’s workshop teams.

“We have some incredibly capable people across our workshops, and it’s important we’re giving them opportunities to keep learning and progressing,” he said.

“Mills, Alex and Shiu have already built strong technical skills and experience. This is an opportunity for them to build the leadership skills that will help them support others, share what they know and take on greater responsibility as their careers develop.

“That’s good for them individually, but it’s also good for our workshops. When our people continue to grow and pass their experience on to others, the whole team benefits.”

MITO’s Matariki Scholarships were introduced in 2025, with recipients required to have previously completed MITO training before progressing into advanced study.

For Mills, Alex and Shiu, the scholarships recognise how far they’ve already come while giving them the opportunity to develop the skills they’ll need for what comes next.