This Queen’s Birthday award was for services to engineering and the metals-based industry. Dr Scholz is known by many across New Zealand business and has contributed to the New Zealand and global metals-based industry for 35 years.

He set up the New Zealand Welding Centre in 1987 as a division of the New Zealand Heavy Engineering Research Association (HERA).

He developed an extensive program of welding engineering education and research and over 14 years he grew this HERA division into New Zealand’s centre of excellence for welding engineering.

He has produced comprehensive national training material and courses for welding to meet the requirements of NZQA and international organisations.

Through membership of the International Institute of Welding (IIW), he has helped develop Australasian and international technical standards and guidelines.

Dr Scholz was HERA Director from 2000 until his retirement in 2018 and is currently Trustee and Secretary/Treasurer of the HERA Foundation charitable trust.

As Director he oversaw research programmes in structural engineering research, development of design standards for steel buildings and for fabrication as well as sustainability assessment.

This research strengthened the competitiveness of the local industry and preserved local jobs. His ‘HERA Position on Public Policy’ document formed the basis of many productive engagements with stakeholders from industry, government and NGOs.

Dr Scholz has made a major contribution in coordinating, integrating and helping to develop metals industry sub-groups, especially in structural steel engineering and fabrication.

“Being recognised for services to engineering and the metals-based industry means that some former industry colleagues must have thought I am worthy of receiving such a recognised Honour, he said.

“It is great to see the award going to someone in a strategically important, but not so sexy, metals engineering industry niche. But also, that it was awarded across New Zealand’s multicultural landscape to a German, who after 35 years in New Zealand almost thinks like a Kiwi, but still maintains his strong German accent.

“Initially, I was called into an industry by visionaries who wanted me there to form the team with which I could realise my professional dream.

“My thanks are due to all the industry and public sector members and the many international contacts who helped shape my industry vision and deliver the now recognised services to industry.”