Engineering apprenticeships in New Zealand
In New Zealand an engineering apprenticeship means a trade: making, fixing and maintaining machines and metalwork, paid while you train. It is a different road from a university degree, and for many people a quicker one to good money.
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How long did your apprenticeship take?
Put it on the record. Anonymous, about two minutes.
Add your timelineWhat counts as an engineering apprenticeship?
Mostly mechanical engineering, in four broad kinds of work. Fitting and turning: building, machining and repairing parts and machines on lathes, mills and CNC gear. Fabrication and welding: cutting, shaping and joining steel and aluminium into structures, trailers, tanks and boats. Maintenance engineering: keeping the plant running in dairy factories, sawmills, meat works and food processing. And the engine trades next door: heavy diesel and refrigeration, which share a lot of the same skills.
Whichever you choose, the work is practical and precise: reading drawings, measuring to fractions of a millimetre, and working safely around heavy machinery. If you liked metalwork or hard materials technology at school, or you are the person who takes things apart to see how they work, this is the family of trades to look at.
Which engineering trade pays what?
These are the ranges Tahatū Career Navigator publishes for each job once you are qualified, not what you earn as an apprentice.
| Trade | Training | Starting out | Most common | Experienced |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fitter and turner | 3–4 years | $54,000 a year | $69,000–$113,000 a year | $146,000 a year |
| Welder | 0–3 years | $50,000 a year | $62,000–$97,000 a year | $119,000 a year |
| Diesel mechanic | 1–4 years | $54,000 a year | $70,000–$113,000 a year | $136,000 a year |
| Refrigeration and air-conditioning technician | 0–3 years | $24 an hour | $29–$48 an hour | $60 an hour |
| Automotive technician and mechanic | 0–4 years | $24 an hour | $28–$41 an hour | $50 an hour |
While you train, your legal floor is the training minimum wage if you are 20 or over and your agreement requires at least 60 credits a year; otherwise the adult minimum wage applies. Engineering employers often pay above it, especially for apprentices with some workshop experience. How apprentice pay works →
How do you get an engineering apprenticeship?
Employer first, as with every trade. Engineering workshops, fabrication shops, manufacturers, dairy and meat processors, and port and transport companies all take apprentices. What helps you get the job:
- NCEA Level 2, with maths and any workshop subject you can fit in.
- A pre-trade or entry-level engineering or welding course at a polytechnic, if you have no workshop experience yet.
- A driver licence, and being ready to pass a drug test, which many plants require.
- Turning up to ask in person. Many smaller workshops never advertise an apprenticeship; they take on someone who has asked.
Once you have the job, the training is arranged around it. Ask whether your employer will claim Apprenticeship Boost, and who pays the training fees. Starting later in life? Adult apprenticeships covers what changes.
Common questions
What is an engineering apprenticeship in NZ?
An on-the-job trade apprenticeship in mechanical engineering: fitting and turning, machining, welding and fabrication, or maintenance engineering. You are employed by a workshop or plant, paid while you train, and work towards a New Zealand Certificate in Mechanical Engineering. It is not the same as a university engineering degree.
How long does an engineering apprenticeship take?
A fitter and turner apprenticeship usually takes 3 to 4 years. Welding can be quicker, at up to 3 years, depending on the certificate and the work you do. The time depends on how quickly you complete the training alongside the job.
Do I need NCEA maths for an engineering apprenticeship?
NCEA Level 2 is the usual starting point for fitting and turning. Maths, physics and any workshop or hard materials technology subjects help, because you will be reading drawings, working to tolerances and calculating speeds and feeds.
Who runs engineering apprenticeships now?
Since 1 January 2026 the Manufacturing and Engineering Industry Skills Board sets the standards and, during the transition, manages existing work-based training that moved from Te Pūkenga. From 2028 delivery moves to polytechnics and private training providers. Your employer is still the starting point.
Pay, training length and entry requirements from Tahatū Career Navigator, linked on each trade page. Wage floors from Employment New Zealand — Minimum wage rates and types, checked 2026-09-18. Industry Skills Boards: see who runs apprenticeships now.