Maz

OK... I am cringing as I type, as I'm expecting the nay-sayers to come out in force. Please try to be objective.

Hubby is a mo(u)ldmaker in plastics injection mo(u)lding. We've looked for that type of job, or tool & die maker jobs / machinist jobs all over the NI, and there aren't a whole bunch.

I know it's really specialised, but does anyone know if there's much of this kind of industry in the NI, especially around Wellington? We're looking more at Wellington as the type of IT work I do is much-used in government agencies. Unfortunately I've read that 40% of manufacturing is in Auckland.

Anyone care to comment? Thanks.

jueinnz

If there is not...and I can't help I have no idea....maybe its time for a career change...what would be his dream job? this could be an ideal opportunity to do something different...
except not much call for astronaughtes, but maybe we need brain surgeons, or maybe one of those people that dig up fossils??? Bus drivers?

Maz

Hee hee actually he'd love to be a kept man. LOL!!! He's also a blues musician, and would love to put a band together and play out 2-3 times a week. Not too sure about the blues scene out there either!

Kippers

There's one or two around Lower Hutt.
Have you tried the yellow pages for addresses and email etc?

Kip

edit: plastics not bands

cottageinthesky

The good news is I had coffee with a tool maker recently. The bad news is that he was made redundant from South Pacific Tyres in Upper Hutt - they announced closure in July 2006 - same thing happened in Australia. Will ask him about plastics injection moulding prospects but suspect there might be a few already here looking for similar work.

cottageinthesky

Rodger Fox is a stalwart of NZ blues scene www.rodgerfox.co.nz and often works in conjunction with Midge Marsden, who is jazz orientated www.strawberryfields.co.nz

Maybe you could arrange to meet when you come over in April

Maz

Thanks so much Kippers and CITS! Excellent information.

neilw71

No experience of injection moulding, but deal a lot with the extruded plastics industry, which is very strong in NZ, but restricted to 3 companies:

www.marley.co.nz
www.iplex.co.nz
www.rxplastics.co.nz

None of these are in Wellington. These guys all import the injection moulded fittings from China - as per the way with a lot of this type of mfg now!

Neil

Maz

Thanks so much for these links, Neil, very much appreciated. Yep, hubby's employers are constantly battling the competition from China. They just cannot compete, it's simply a matter of time before they go under. There is work in the Chicago area, however he'd have to commute about 40 miles each way on the ever-busy motorway system, which can take up to 2 hours each way, and be prepared to work 55+ hour weeks. For our quality of life and having family time in the evenings as well as the weekends, we're just not prepared to even contemplate that kind of change. We'd rather have less money and more time together.

Thanks again for those links!

cottageinthesky

Duly asked my tool maker - he is actually a plastic injection mould maker - says there are only 7/8 in Wellington and most jobs are found through word of mouth. His advice was to get in touch with Drake International www.drakeintl.com which will save you loads of time and hassle.

Maz

You are a PEACH!!! Thank you so much CITS! xxx

cottageinthesky

You're welcome