There comes a time in everyone’s working career when a decision has to be made regarding their retiring from work. The time has now come for our I&QC Centre Manager Peter Hayward who has decided to retire at the end of March 2010.

Peter came to New Zealand from England with his family in 1983 to work at the Marsden Point Oil Refinery expansion. He was responsible for the inspection of all structural and storage tank fabrication and the inspection and installation of pressure equipment including piping. In 1984 he was approached and subsequently employed as Technical Manager by the newly established Certification Board for Inspection Personnel (CBIP), an initiative of the New Zealand fabrication industry with the support of HERA to establish a level of industry confidence in the competence of persons who carry out inspections.

Peter, while employed by CBIP was contracted to HERA in a training and advisory role working closely with the staff at HERA. Through his work CBIP prospered, established many examination panels and Standards of Proficiency (SoPs) and applied those to CBIP examinations covering: Surface Methods (SMOCERT), Radiography (RADCERT), Ultrasonic (UOCERT), Limited and Specific (LIMSPEC), Welding Inspection (CWI), Crane Inspection, Passenger Ropeway Inspection, Lift Inspection, Pressure Equipment Inspection and Elevating Work Platforms (EWP). By 2004, over 500 certificates of competence were held by inspection personnel. The above personnel certifications became nationally and internationally known and embodied into various AS/NZS Standards. CBIP became the Qualification Issuing Agency under the PECPR Regulations.

Peter represented CBIP’s interests at international conferences, NZ and Australian standard committees and major organisations, such as the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and brought international recognition of CBIP. His vision was to see CBIP as a major personnel certification body in the Asia - Pacific region and ensure that CBIP could offer internationally recognised certification.

Following a successful career with CBIP, Peter joined HERA in 2003 as Manager of the newly created Inspection & Quality Control Centre (I&QC). Under his direction, the I&QC Centre assisted both the fabrication and the inspection industry. A key role was the provision of skilled inspection and quality control personnel. He has established and conducted many training courses in inspection disciplines and to-date he has trained over 1,000 people.

Peter also offered technical support and advice to industry on a daily and always approachable basis. He is a Professional NDT Level III and his certification helped several HERA member companies meet and maintain their ‘Written Practice’ to ASNT-SNT-TC scheme requirements. He has also assisted various companies in the preparation of their quality control systems.

He has presented papers at both national and international conferences. He assisted HERA in becoming an NZQA Private Training Establishment (PTE). He was and still is a member of several committees including WD 003 Welding of Structures, MT 007 NDT of Metals and Structures, ME 001 Pressure Equipment and is Chairman of ME 001 – 15 Pressure Equipment Welding and Brazing Committee and an Executive Member of the NZNDTA.

Peter believes that New Zealand, as an international exporting country, must keep up with international developments to ensure future growth and conformance. This vision, as well as his strong sense of integrity and his willingness to help others have made him a well-respected figure in the inspection and NDT industry in New Zealand and internationally.

However, Peter tells us it is time to let another take over allowing him to pursue his interests and spend more time with his wife Pauline and grandson Joey. Thank you Peter for your exceptional contribution over these years. Your presence in the industry will be missed.