With the launch of the Civil Trade certification, Tauranga's Matt Paget is one of the first civil infrastructure workers to become a formally industry qualified tradespeople.

Matt is one of 14 newly certified tradespeople from throughout the country working for industry stalwarts like Fulton Hogan, Fletchers, Downer NZ, City Care, Andrew Haulage and Higgins Contractors on projects including Auckland's Waterview Connection.

Matt Paget. Photo: Supplied.

Their achievement will be officially recognised at a presentation at Parliament today and signifies the beginning of a new era for the Civil Industry.

Matt has been working in the Civil Infrastructure Industry since he was 16. He started out as a labourer before progressing to a machine operator, then foreman/supervisor.

Today, he is an operations manager at Higgins Contractors, and is responsible for the allocation of labour and plant to all jobs undertaken by the Bay of Plenty branch.

Although Matt left school without a formal qualification, he had a good attitude and a strong work ethic. He says that the secret to his success is from taking opportunities, respecting and learning from others, and being a part of a great Industry.

Matt is a firm believer of leading by example and he will never make someone do something that he isn't prepared to do himself.

Inaugural chair of the Civil Trades Certification Board, Dave Connell, says the trade certification will fundamentally change how the civil infrastructure industry works.

"A regulated trades regime sees certified tradespeople take ownership and provide the craftsmanship required for delivery of a product or construction activity. It will be game changing for the industry and the people who work in it."

Dave says the trade certification will empower workers, who will have a recognised and transferrable trade behind them. He says for employers it means more engaged workers who are more productive and safer, and with an expected streamlining of on-site work practices.

Connexis ITO chief executive Helmut Modlik says the establishment of the Trade Certification Board is a significant milestone.

"This is very exciting for the industry and marks the beginning of a steady roll out of qualified workers with transferrable skills, which is of course beneficial to both workers and employees. Qualified people produce quality infrastructure.

"The new qualification will also help attract workers to the industry now that it offers a clear career path. Introducing a trade regime for civil infrastructure has been something that has been wanted by the industry for a long time and it's a significant step for both the industry and its workers,” he says.

Up until now - unlike building, plumbing and electrical workers - workers in civil infrastructure, in jobs such as road construction and pipe installation, have had no industry wide, transferrable trade qualification.

Now civil workers effectively have an apprenticeship available that allows them to study and work at the same time, while accumulating hours towards their trade certification.

Civil Infrastructure is one of the largest industries in the country encompassing 600 businesses and 40,000 employees nationwide, with a $20 billion annual turnover.

Earlier this year a Civil Trades Certification Board was established to oversee the initiation of the new trade regime.

The initiative has wide industry support and is being developed through Civil Contractors New Zealand in partnership with Connexis, the industry-training organisation for the infrastructure industry.