For too long, our industry has been a men’s domain but we are out to change that! Hydrovac is an equal opportunity employer and has female representation across the entire company. In addition to the four schedulers, one accounts and payroll administrator and two divisional managers, Hydrovac also employees female field staff in various roles throughout the company. Today we profile three of them. Meet Caitlyn, Alieta and E!
Caitlyn Heke-Tautai…
Caitlyn Heke-Tautai has worked in the field for just over 2 years and is a highly regarded assistant operator working on our diverse fleet of trucks. The drivers and our customers value her work and have no hesitation in requesting her on site again.
I have worked with HydroVac truck division for just over 2 years now. I love my role at HydroVac because it gives me the opportunity to learn and gain new skills. It also gives me the sense that I can do anything that I put my mind to.
The team here is great. They encourage me to push myself further and because most of the jobs we do are challenging, when they are completed it’s awesome to feel like I’ve accomplished something. As a woman out on the field in a male-dominated industry, I feel empowered that I can not only keep up with the guys but I can run jobs on my own as well. I enjoy challenging the men out on the field to keep up with me which is a good laugh some days!
I come from a family of six siblings. I definitely get my strength and determination from the women in my family and I am proud that I have grown up to appreciate that things aren’t just handed to you — instead, you have to put in the hard work in order to succeed. I’m going against the grain and challenging the stereotypes and I love it!
I look forward to getting my Class 2 license in the near future and continuing the great work we are doing out there.
Alieta Leviti
Alieta Leviti has joined the HydroVac CCTV team as a trainee camera operator and has set her career goal to become a highly skilled operator in this field.
I am new to the CCTV division where I am training to become a CCTV Operator. I love working in different environments and enjoy the outdoors which is why I enjoy my job so much. Every day is different and every job is different out on the road so the variety is great and you are constantly learning.
The reason I joined the team is they are all very welcoming. I used to work in the same industry doing temping work which I really enjoyed and wanted to explore further. HydroVac hired me and are supporting me through my training where I will eventually be running a van on my own on some exciting and big projects.
The two main things I love about working for HydroVac is the team I work with are all very driven and hard workers and the second reason is the culture here is something I haven’t experienced before. Everyone has that care factor about the job and others, everyone has shared values and it’s a really positive work environment.
Once I have completed my training I will be the company’s first female CCTV Operator. I hope when other women see me out on the road it puts an idea in their head that they too can do anything the guys can do.
Eda Te Rore — “E”
E previously worked as a postie for NZ Post and more recently at an Academy preparing at-risk youth for the military. She is currently carrying out on-the-job training to be a wastewater tech and will be operating in the West Auckland area.
At the moment I’m in training as a wastewater technician. What I enjoy about the job at the moment (besides learning all the ins and outs) is that I’m part of really helpful and fun team who are here to support me at every step. I also really enjoy working outdoors — it gives me that mental freedom away from the crash-and-bash fast life of the city.
When the opportunity came up to work in wastewater I was a little unsure but I went out one day with some of the boys and saw what the job entailed. It was fine and not as bad as some perceive it to be. Now, three weeks in, I’m really enjoying it.
Working in a male dominant industry doesn’t faze me at all, if anything gives me more determination to ace my role in wastewater.
To any other woman who is considering working for HydroVac or in wastewater, I would 100% encourage you to give it ago. Us women can do anything we want to, even if it’s in a male-dominated workforce.
We are proud of all our female staff and encourage others to join us for a diverse and interesting career change — if you like working outdoors, a good challenge and are looking for a career path at a stable company, please get in touch with us!