Wood splitter wins Thomas top prize

HELP: Thomas Nikolaison got a lot of support along the way from his parents helping fund materials bought off the internet. PHOTO/LYNDA FERINGA

A love of playing with toy diggers in the sand pit was just the beginning for Wairarapa College student Thomas Nikolaison who now has his eyes and heart set on fixing big boys' toys.

The 18-year-old is hoping to get an apprenticeship as a diesel mechanic and if his success at building an hydraulic wood splitter worth about $10,000 is anything to go by, this teenager has a successful career path for his future.

Thomas who built the wood splitter towards his NCEA Level 3 Engineering marks, was awarded the 2014 Technical Progressive Engineering Cup and second in Technology Pathways to Engineering for Year 13 students.

He completed work experience with Danny Reiri at Master Repairs last year and said he wasn't 100 per cent sure about what next year held for him but really wanted a career as a diesel mechanic.

"I really love fixing things and working on things. I like working with big machines like big diggers ... I'm going to talk to some people and hopefully get an apprenticeship."

Between work experience and school he has spent every spare minute "hundreds of hours" designing and making the 37 tonne hydraulic wood splitter, which he intends to sell once "he's finished splitting next winter's wood" for his parents, Anne-Maree and Pete Nikolaison.

The hardest part wasn't actually building the towable piece of equipment but planning it and putting it down on paper for the NCEA accreditation, Thomas said.

"It wasn't too difficult to do ... the hassle was just fitting it out along the way and all the paperwork and designing involved.

"I knew what I wanted to do but it was just the showing how I got there that was the hardest part of it."

Thomas got a lot of support along the way from his parents helping fund materials bought off the internet to technical support from engineer Dave Hignett to the Toolshed and Gary Wishnowsky from ENZED who "did a lot" to help him.

"It was a real challenge," he said. "I had to try different things to get there. A lot of logic ... but I got there in the end."

As for Thomas' parents, they are both extremely proud of their son.

"We are very proud and excited for him. It's just incredible what he has made."