Source: Whitireia and WelTec
After seven years in the workforce, two years living overseas, and plenty of life experience along the way, Declan Wilcock has found his place in mechanical engineering.
Now studying the New Zealand Diploma in Engineering (Mechanical) at Whitireia and WelTec, the 26-year-old Te Awa Kairangi (Lower Hutt) local says returning to study has been one of the best decisions he has ever made.
It was during his time living in Scotland that Declan realised mechanical engineering was more than just a family influence. It was a career he genuinely wanted. “I stopped worrying about doing something different and started focusing on what I actually enjoyed,” he says. “That’s when I realised engineering was the right path for me.”
A keen mountain biker, he began working in bike shops straight after school, spending several years learning about mechanics, design and problem-solving while helping customers keep their bikes running smoothly. “The bike industry taught me how engineering works,” he says. “You learn to look beyond the problem itself and think about why it happened and who will be using the solution.”
Engineering has always been part of family life. Declan comes from a family of engineers, with both his father and brother working in the field. “Conversations about engines and how things work were a regular part of growing up,” he says. “Those discussions sparked my curiosity and helped me understand the systems and processes that keep the world moving.”
While living in Scotland, Declan completed SolidWorks training and began helping with drafting work for his father’s engineering company. Back in Aotearoa, he now balances study with part-time work as a product development engineer, applying classroom learning directly to real-world projects. “Study has helped me understand the ‘why’ behind the work I’ve been doing,” he says. “Experience teaches you a lot, but study gives you the theory and bigger-picture thinking that connects everything together.”
While balancing assignments, work commitments and deadlines can be demanding, Declan says the support of kaiako and classmates has made a real difference. “I didn’t expect to find tutors who care so much about your success,” he says. “There are genuinely great people here who want to see you do well.”
His enthusiasm for design has already led to projects he is particularly proud of, including creating a complex CAD assembly comprising hundreds of components and producing engineering drawings for a local lifting rig project. Looking ahead, Declan is excited by the opportunities the profession offers. He has a particular interest in metallurgy and hopes to one day combine his technical expertise with entrepreneurship.
More than anything, he is motivated by the chance to make a positive impact. “What excites me most is finding better solutions to the challenges we’ve inherited,” he says. “Engineering has the power to create real change, and that’s something I want to be part of.”