Some Background

Proprietor Bio: Although our background involves over 50 years in the Information Technology sector, the largest proportion has involved Transport Systems, followed by Communications and Banking Systems. It started with a school holidays job at a major Vehicle Dealership, progressing to the NZPO in Telephone Exchanges, then onto what was EDP at Databank Systems Ltd, virtually the Inter-Trading Bank clearance system of the day.

A stint at Plessey NZ, looking after the systems at the Christchurch-Lyttelton road tunnel, traffic and PABX systems, plus clock systems at Christchurch International airport followed. Back into I.T. at Shell Oil, an excellent employer that rotated all new staff through their various departments, to get a proper feel for the business. This gave a first-hand appreciation of what was done at the Seaview Laboratory, management of the tank farm, and even how the Bituman Wharf facility operated at Miramar.

Next, back in Christchurch, programming a tiny little IBM System/3 in RPGII at Trans Tours H.O., provided close insight to the running of a tourism coachline, and hotel chain. Back again in Wellington at Dulux/ICI, time on the same site that produced tankerloads of paint for the likes of General Motors, for their vehicle assembly plant, then onto P&O Shipping where we set up and ran the systems necessary for running the OCL (Overseas Containers Ltd) ships for the Europe-New Zealand runs, as well as the Swire Line to/from Japan.

A year or so at the NZPO site at Herd Street, working in Network Control, for the Banking and Telco systems, followed, then to The State Services Commission computer centres, running systems for nearly all Govt Departments, including Inland Revenue, Social Welfare and Customs. Customs established their own facility, involving me with the CAPPS Airport Systems. This had to be available whenever an International Flight was either coming or going, and the International Freight Mgt systems (Casper, then Cusmod).

Back in place at what had spun off the old NZPO, to become Telecom NZ International for five years, in Operational Support & Webmaster roles, involved lots of foreign interaction with various Telcos around the world. From 2006 contracting to a trucking operator 20 hours a week followed, developing all manner of reporting systems that ran every aspect of road transport.

Retirement included driving Buses for schools and charters part-time, making some pocket money and filling in time doing something useful. It did give a further appreciation of what life is like at the coalface, dealing with heavy traffic in large vehicles, on Wellington's sometimes challenging hill roads, and dealing with passengers.