14 September 2007

Auckland airport project takes flight for young engineer

Auckland project manager and engineer Tyrone Newson was announced a finalist in the 2007 New Zealand Engineering Excellence (NZEE) Awards Young Engineer of the Year.

The New Zealand Young Engineer of the Year Award is awarded to a young engineer, aged 35 years or under, who is judged to have made the most excellent contribution as an engineer and leader through their professional role and community involvement. The winner will receive a trophy and a cash prize of $2,000.00. Two runner-up winners will each receive $500.00

Tyrone is a Project Manager with engineering consultancy Beca. He project managed the Domestic Terminal Retail Development connecting the existing Air New Zealand and Qantas domestic terminals at Auckland International Airport. Tyrone led a multi-disciplinary design and construction management team. His successful management of this $10 million project has led to his appointment as Project Manager on the expansion of the International Arrivals area. Tyrone, of Te Rarawa descent, is passionate about promoting engineering to Maori and Pacific communities, especially in his home town of Mitimiti in the Hokianga as well as in Tonga. He is also a founding member of the South Pacific Island Engineering Students (SPIES); Whai-a-tihi, a Maori staff group at Auckland City Council and; South Pacific Professional Engineering Excellence Inc (SPPEEx).

The judges have already marked 80 per cent of the finalists’ scores from their applications; the final 20 per cent will be determined by an audience of judges, family, friends and peers at the live presentation.

“The high standard of entries for this award signals that the future of New Zealand engineering is in very good hands”, says Steve Gentry, Convenor for the NZEE Individual Awards judging panel. “These finalists represent the cream of the young professional engineering crop”.

The New Zealand Engineering Excellence Awards are staged by a consortium of five partners and 10 contributing organisations. The founding partners are: Centre for Advanced Engineering (CAE); Association of Local Government Engineering New Zealand Incorporated (INGENIUM); Electricity Engineers Association of New Zealand (EEA); Association of Consulting Engineers New Zealand (ACENZ); and the Institution of Professional Engineers New Zealand Inc (IPENZ).

For more information contact:

Verona-Meiana Putaranui, IPENZ Media Co-ordinator, 04 473 2028 / 021 479 885