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Automotive Refinisher

Kaipeita Waka

Automotive refinishers prepare vehicle surfaces, match and mix colours, and apply paint to vehicles.

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Secondary education

No specific secondary education is required for this job, but construction and mechanical technologies and maths to at least NCEA Level 1 are useful.

For Year 11 to 13 learners, trades academies, and the StartUp, STAR and Gateway programmes are good ways to gain relevant experience and skills.

These programmes may help you gain an apprenticeship, but do not reduce the amount of time it takes to complete it.

Study fields

Study levels

  • Certificate
  • Up to NCEA Level 3

Useful experience

Useful experience includes:

  • experience with vehicles or driving
  • working in an automotive workshop or in panelbeating
  • work as a signwriter or industrial spray painter.

What you will do

Automotive refinishers may do some or all of the following:

  • discuss vehicle-painting options with customers or managers
  • sand vehicles to prepare for painting
  • select and mix paints
  • apply paint
  • buff and polish finished paintwork.

Skills and knowledge

Automotive refinishers need to have knowledge of:

  • how to prepare a vehicle for painting
  • vehicle painting techniques
  • different paint types and colours and how to apply them correctly
  • colour-matching and spray-painting.

Automotive refinishers who run their own business need small business skills.

Pay

Automotive refinishers with up to five years' experience usually earn

$23-$28

per hour

Automotive refinishers with over five years' experience usually earn

$28-$38

per hour

Job opportunities
Good
Chances of getting a job as an automotive refinisher are good due to a shortage of workers.
Length of training
3-4
years of training usually required.

Industry

Automotive

Automotive refinishers prepare vehicle surfaces, match and mix colours, and apply paint to vehicles.

Similar jobs in this industry

Entry requirements

There are no specific requirements to become an automotive refinisher. However, a New Zealand Certificate in Automotive Refinishing may be useful. 

To become a qualified automotive refinisher you need to complete an apprenticeship and gain one or both of:

  • New Zealand Certificate in Collision Repair and Automotive Refinishing (Level 3) 
  • New Zealand Certificate in Automotive Refinishing (Level 4).

MITO oversees automotive refinisher apprenticeships.

Chances of getting a job

Shortage of automotive refinishers

Automotive refinishers are in high demand due to an increase in car ownership rates, which means more demand for automotive refinishing services.

However, not enough people are completing apprenticeships in automotive refinishing to meet demand.

As a result, vehicle painter (automotive refinisher) will appear on Immigration New Zealand's Green List from March 2024. This means the Government is actively encouraging these skilled workers from overseas to work in New Zealand.

According to the Census, 1,842 automotive refinishers worked in New Zealand in 2018.

Types of employers varied

Most automotive refinishers work for:

  • specialised collision repair businesses and car painters
  • general automotive workshops that deal with cars, boats and trucks
  • motor vehicle dealerships.

A small number of automotive refinishers are self-employed.

Find out more about training

MITO
0800 88 21 21 - info@mito.org.nz - www.mito.org.nz

Progression and specialisations

Automotive refinishers may progress to set up their own automotive refinishing business.

Working conditions

Automotive refinishers:

  • usually work regular business hours
  • work in collision repair (paint and panel) workshops and in vehicle paint shops
  • work in conditions that may be noisy and fumy, so they need to use protective equipment.

Physical Requirements

Automotive refinishers need to have:

  • good hand-eye co-ordination
  • normal colour vision for matching colours
  • no breathing problems or dermatitis as they work with harmful chemicals.

Useful personal qualities

Automotive refinishers need to be:

  • punctual, motivated, responsible and honest 
  • careful, patient and accurate, with an eye for detail
  • able to follow instructions and ask questions
  • able to work independently and as part of a team
  • good at problem solving.

Industry

Automotive

Automotive refinishers prepare vehicle surfaces, match and mix colours, and apply paint to vehicles.

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