Luke Tahurangi

Competitor in Skill: Car Painting
Country: New Zealand

How did you get interested in your skill?
For as long as I can remember, I've always had a passion for cars and motorbikes crossed with a little artistic flare, spraypainting seem to fit perfectly.

Where did you do your training for your skill?
In the workplace.. Larsens Panel and Paint 2013 Ltd. Aprrenticeship completed through MITO.

How did you first find out about your Member organization and its programs?
Through our local paint rep from Resene Automotive (Russel Green)

Who influenced you to pursue your skill as a career?
Firstly myself, also my parents and last but not least my former employer who started me in the trade, Darren Larsen.

What is your experience in participating with your Member organization?
The overall experience has been awesome it is a very supportive and encouraging environment.

Describe your most memorable moment so far with WorldSkills?
Winning Gold at OCeania and finalizing my place in the 2015 Tool Black team.

Describe what your experience has been since your involvement with WorldSkills.
I have had a great experience since my involvement with WorldSkills, I have met many supportive, kind and caring people who are here for us competitors and just want to see us do well.


Did participating in the skills competitions and training for WorldSkills help you progress in your skill? Please describe.
No it hasn't, the fundamentals of spraypainting are the same but what you have to do to succeed in the competition do not translate to the job in the
workplace.

What do you currently do? Where do you work?
I am a qualified Automtive Refinisher Painting out of Larsens Panel and Paint 2013 Ltd.

What are your future career aspirations?
I hope to either own my own business and/or be working for myself. To move away from collision repair as such and into the more custom/niche fields that branch off spraypainting and incorporating my love of tattooing and tattoo art. For example, custom airbrushing, pinstriping and more classic/oldschool/restoration work. Applying this to any and every medi, not only cars. In summary, take the fundamentals I've gained from my trade and turn it into an art form.