Jet Te Aho

Ingoa: Jet Te Aho
Iwi / Hapū: Ngāti Porou, Ngāti Kahungunu ki Te Wairoa
Ahumahi: Automotive Collision Repair
Tūnga mahi: Apprentice Collision Repairer
Organisation: Cavanagh Panel, Paint, Glass

Jet Te Aho – Accelerating towards success.

Just 18 months into his Level 3 & 4 Collision Repair Apprenticeship, Jet Te Aho has achieved what takes most apprentices years — completing all theory and practical assessments for both levels in just 10 months. While he still has hours to log before officially qualifying as a panel beater, his speed, skill, and dedication have set a new benchmark.

The 3–4 year apprenticeship blends on-the-job learning with assessments, and Jet’s determination has already earned him a nomination for the Collision Repair Association’s Golden Hammer Award — a prestigious honour recognising exceptional apprentices for skill, passion, and their ability to inspire others into the trade.

Cars have been part of Jet’s life since childhood. His parents own a collision repair workshop, and from the age of 11 he spent weekends helping out, learning the ropes. At Rotorua Boys’ High School, he completed automotive micro-credentials through MITO, covering safety and basic repairs — credits that gave him a head start when he began his apprenticeship. An early entrepreneur, he also ran a $5 haircutting business for friends.

A serious femur injury from school rugby became a turning point. “I didn’t want to be walking around with nothing to do” he says. Recovery inspired him to focus on building a future in trades. Less than three years later, he’s back on the field, winning the 2025 Baywide Colts Rugby competition with Te Puke Sports.

In the workshop, Jet thrives on problem-solving and hands-on learning. He’s restored a 1997 Honda Prelude from the ground up — panel and paint, interior, exhaust, and engine — and is always keen to master new techniques. His supervisor encourages him to work independently, a style that fuels his curiosity and confidence.