Why Study / Key Benefits

• Understand the basic processes and requirements involved in constructing quality asphalt and chipseal pavements.

• Develop awareness of bitumen safety, hazard identification and safe surfacing-site practices.

• Understand the roles of different construction personnel, machinery and equipment.

• Learn how to plan surfacing jobs, including materials, equipment, subcontractors and transport.

• Improve understanding of asphalt mix selection, temperature control, laying and compaction.

• Learn about quality assurance, records, hold points and client satisfaction.

• Gain practical industry knowledge that can help new construction personnel understand how individual tasks fit into the complete pavement-construction process.

Programme Structure and Subjects/Topics

The course covers the following subject areas:

1. Bitumen safety and hazard identification

• Basic bitumen safety.

• Identifying hazards associated with surfacing work.

2. Chipseal and asphalt surfacing

• Different types of chipseal and asphalt surfacing.

• Understanding the basic characteristics and uses of surfacing types.

3. Planning a construction job

• Selecting appropriate materials and asphalt mixes.

• Choosing pavers.

• Selecting roller types and determining the number required.

• Matching trucking capacity to production and laying rates.

• Understanding the role of milling equipment.

• Planning subcontractors and equipment requirements.

4. Job measurement and preparation

• Marking out and measuring the work.

• Planning construction activities.

• Maintaining quality records and identifying hold points.

5. Asphalt construction basics

• Traffic control, hazard identification and pre-start procedures.

• Preseal treatments.

• Asphalt type, thickness, density and quantity calculations.

• Asphalt concrete supply, manufacturing and delivery.

• Coordinating trucks with production and laying rates.

• Controlling asphalt mix temperature.

• Marking out paving runs.

• Tack coating and membrane sealing.

• Setting up the asphalt paver.

6. Compaction and quality control

• Selecting the correct roller.

• Understanding mix-laying temperatures.

• Knowing when to start and stop compaction.

• Quality assurance.

• Line marking.

• Client satisfaction.

Disciplines/Specialisations

The course is relevant to the following professional areas:

• Civil engineering.

• Road construction and infrastructure.

• Asphalt pavement construction.

• Chipseal and bituminous surfacing.

• Pavement maintenance and surfacing operations.

• Construction planning and quality assurance.

• Roadworks safety and site operations.

Programme Highlights

• Half-day professional training.

• Three published 2027 course locations: Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch.

• Designed for both new and novice construction personnel.

• Covers bitumen safety and hazard identification.

• Includes planning, equipment selection and job measurement.

• Introduces asphalt laying, temperature control and compaction.

• Covers quality assurance and client satisfaction.

• Presented by Adam Nichol.

• Minimum participant numbers apply before a session is confirmed.

Career Outcomes

This course is intended to improve participants' understanding of surfacing construction processes. It is not advertised as a qualification that independently prepares graduates for a particular licensed occupation.

The knowledge may be useful for people working in roles such as:

• Road construction worker.

• Asphalt paving crew member.

• Chipseal or pavement surfacing crew member.

• Road maintenance worker.

• Civil construction site worker.

• Construction supervisor or team leader.

• Civil engineering technician.

• Roading engineer or consultant.

• Pavement quality-control support personnel.

Latest Updates/Special Requirements

• The current WITT brochure is dated 5 October 2026.

• The next published intakes are in March, April and May 2027.

• The course is offered in Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch.

• Minimum participant numbers apply before a course is confirmed.

• The course presenter is listed as Adam Nichol.

• WITT does not publish a formal academic qualification, credit value or IELTS requirement for this short course.

• Students should confirm the exact venue, daily timetable, cancellation policy and certificate arrangements before registration.

International Student Visa Requirements

This course lasts only half a day. It is therefore important to distinguish the visa requirements for short-course attendance from those for a longer academic programme.

1. Short-course study in New Zealand

Immigration New Zealand allows people holding an appropriate visitor visa, work visa or visa-waiver visitor permission to study for up to 3 months in a 12-month period, subject to their visa conditions. Some short courses must be approved or exempted by NZQA to qualify for the relevant short-course arrangements. The student should confirm the course's status and their own visa conditions before travelling.

2. Likely visa route for an Indian applicant

• Indian passport holders are not included in New Zealand's visa-waiver country list.

• An Indian applicant travelling to New Zealand for this half-day course would generally need to obtain an appropriate Visitor Visa before travel.

• The current Visitor Visa page lists an application cost from NZD $441 and 80% processing within 2 weeks. Actual processing times and fees may vary.

• A Visitor Visa allows study for up to 3 months, but does not permit employment in New Zealand.

3. Visitor Visa requirements

Applicants should be prepared to provide:

• A valid passport and required identity documents.

• Evidence of the purpose of travel, such as course registration or confirmation from WITT.

• Evidence of sufficient funds for accommodation, food, transport and other living expenses, or an acceptable sponsor.

• Evidence of plans to leave New Zealand at the end of the visit.

• Any required health and character information.

• Any other documents requested by Immigration New Zealand.

The final decision is made by Immigration New Zealand, not WITT.

4. Student visa

A Fee Paying Student Visa is generally intended for longer full-time study with an approved education provider. Immigration New Zealand currently lists the visa cost from NZD $850, with 80% of applications processed within 7 weeks. It allows study on an approved course and may allow work up to 25 hours per week, depending on the visa conditions. However, this half-day course does not by itself establish a need or eligibility for a student visa.

5. Important visa warning

Do not travel on the assumption that course registration alone grants permission to enter or study in New Zealand. Confirm the appropriate visa and whether the course meets Immigration New Zealand's short-course requirements before making travel arrangements.