New PRP Mike Ensor was looking for a change when he joined LPC, and after 26 years as a Barber, he has definitely come to the right place.

With a passion for the outdoors and the ocean, Mike was open to something new and applied for a position here.

He did have some insider knowledge, cutting the hair of the LPC team at the Mankind Barbers at The Tannery.

“I heard how great it was here. I’m excited to be part of the team,” says Mike.

Mike is also influenced by his family, with his father, a diesel mechanic and his uncle, a marine biologist.

“Working here is a mix of the two. It is great to be working with similar equipment as my dad, as he worked for Caterpillar.

“My uncle travelled the world with his work, like tracking whale migrations in the Antarctic; he was always near the water.”

He also has a strong connection to the harbour, with his grandparents having lived in Governors Bay.

“My dad and his siblings went to the school there, and now I live in the old Headmaster’s House, which is 155 years old.

“That’s what I like about the Port, too; there is tradition here. It’s well established, and the work we do really means something.”

Mike has now finished his two weeks of training and is part of the pool of part time cargo handlers.

“I’ve had a few people say they will put a barber’s chair in the corner of the break room for me – but I just want to focus on the job at hand.

“I just got my class two license, I’m looking forward to the chance to get up in a straddle and drive the big machinery here.

“I plan on being here for a while; there’s a lot of career advancement and a chance to make really good friends.”

When he’s not here, Mike will be doing anything to get outside, whether that’s on the boat in the Banks Peninsula or snowboarding down Mount Hutt.

“I lived in Australia for 10 years, and you really don’t appreciate what you have till you move away.”