Third-generation engineer among more than 300 Ara graduates

_{Mechanical Engineering graduate Stuart Rollinson and his mother Suzie Rollinson at the ceremony}

When he was still at high school, Stuart Rollinson dabbled in the family-owned Rollinson Engineering business in Waimate in the holidays - but he wasn’t sure it was for him, long term.

Fast forward a few years and the now 23-year-old was among the those who crossed the stage at Ara Institute of Canterbury’s Timaru graduation to receive a New Zealand Certificate in Mechanical Engineering.

With his dad Mark (who was overseas and unable to attend graduation) for a boss and Ara assessor John Edmonds by his side, Stuart is the third generation of his family to take up the trade and was pleased to have got the job done through Ara.

“Growing up I never thought it would be the direction I’d head,” Rollinson said. “When I first left school, I tried studying sport science at Otago Uni for a year, but I found it wasn’t for me. Now it’s turned out great and I’m glad I’ve got a trades qualification. I know it'll open new doors.”

Mum Suzie Rollinson who co-owns the business, said Stuart was part of the “Covid generation” who’d been locked down for a lot of Year 13. She said the family initially backed him to spread his wings and head south to seek out new challenges away from home.

“It’s turned out that engineering really appeals to his precision and ability to fine tune and problem solve. He’s a hard worker and doing his apprenticeship through Ara has been smooth going,” she said. “We’ve actually got another Ara apprentice in the workshop now.”

Stuart was one of more than 300 local students eligible to graduate at Ara Timaru's April ceremony held at the Caroline Bay Hall. The cohort was called into the event by Ara Associate Director of Māori success Tate Tiatia with the mihi offered by Te Rūnanga o Arowhenua Upoko Tewera King.

Among those in attendance were Ara’s new council members including chair Hugh Lindo, Mike Rondell, Rick Hellings and South Canterbury local Andrea Leslie.

Spanning almost 30 different programmes of study, the cohort included 274 certificate qualifications (Level 1-4), 16 Level 5 diplomas, 18 degrees and a masters in health practice.

Like Stuart, 84 other graduates gained a trades qualification. These ranged from construction trades and automotive to engineering fabrication.

In his closing address Ara Chief Executive Darren Mitchell paid tribute to local employers and industry who’d been alongside Ara through a period of change.

“Thank you for your ongoing support for making what we do possible and helping Ara adapt to the new expectations of operating as an independent institution.

“We’re here for the long term, doing our best to ensure that education remains accessible, relevant and aligned with regional needs,” he said.

_{Te Rūnanga o Arowhenua Upoko Tewera King and student representative Melisha Kumar were among the speakers at the event}

Student speaker Melisha Kumar was among 18 graduate nurses celebrating their achievement. The 2025 top Pacific Achievement awardee across all Ara campuses paid special tribute to her husband and children, who she said had experienced her “physically present but mentally miles away” at times when she was in study mode.

She told her family: “This degree is a testament to your love and sacrifice as much as it is to my study. Thank you for being the foundation I built this dream on.” Kumar also paid tribute to Senior Academic in nursing, Gail Foster, who she said had been an inspiration to many.

“You saw the nurses we could become long before we could see it in ourselves, and your belief in us is one of the reasons we’re here today.”
For many graduates it will be back to work tomorrow - be it on the wards or on the tools.

Stuart Rollinson said he was glad the paperwork was behind him.
“The practical work like repairing farm machinery or helping design large projects is more my thing. But the great part of an apprenticeship is you’re earning money while you’re learning.

“It’s also something that I’ll be able to use in a lot of different workplaces. A machining job in a bigger place would be great at some stage ahead,” he said.

Mum Suzie said, as a parent, knowing Stuart has the skills to grab new opportunities was a good thing.

“We’d be sorry to lose him but pleased for him all at once. He’s done well. We’re very proud of him,” she said.