NZ LPG instructor trains operators in Nauru

Campbell Hope (left) with Nauru’s LPG handling trainees

4 December 2025

GasNZ independent LPG trainer Campbell Hope travels to the tiny Micronesian island of Nauru every two years to provide training and certification for local LPG handling staff.

The third smallest country in the world, Nauru is just 21 square kilometers (similar in size to Kapiti Island) with a population of less than 11,000 people. 

With his most recent trip to the island in early November, Hope says he's always delighted with how the local staff welcome and appreciate the training, which follows standard New Zealand LPG training practice.

He’s normally in Nauru for three days, but it can take up to three days just to get there and another three to get back.

The 11 trainees were in two teams - a filling team and a distribution team. “Enthusiasm is huge,” Hope says.

The training takes usually two half days, with theory on the first day and then a test at the beginning of the second day. “And then we do a series of [practical] scenarios up at the compound on the second day.

“There's fire, leaking, breakdown, mechanical, electrical, that sort of thing.”

Hope says the local fire brigade, which operates from the airport, helps with the training, with sessions timed around the infrequent flights.

The fire brigade bring water, and hose it all over an old 5000 litre tank, “pretending we've got a leak in it”.

The fire brigade also supplies expired fire extinguishers for the training.

“We have a fire on a cylinder, and they [the trainees] attack that with their dry powder.

“And at the end of the training, the gas trading company, Capelle and Partner Ltd, puts on a big barbecue for the boys and some of the management on the night before I come home usually.

“We have a presentation and the managing director comes down and together we present each one with their certificate.”

Campbell Hope's company, Hope International Holdings Ltd, does the health, safety and environment monitoring, site inspections and all training for Capelle and Partner, while Matson Shipping sells and delivers the LPG and other fuels to Nauru and other Pacific islands.