The top three apprentices from the Bay of Plenty/Central Plateau and Upper South Island regions have been announced for the 2021 Registered Master Builders CARTERS Apprentice of the Year.

Building apprentice Kaleb Hyndman from Tauranga was named the Bay of Plenty/Central Plateau 2021 Registered Master Builders CARTERS Apprentice of the Year.

The 21-year-old was trained through BCITO and is employed by Calley Homes.

Finn Eden from Nelson was named the Upper South Island 2021 Registered Master Builders CARTERS Apprentice of the Year, Finn is 21 years old from Nelson, trained through NMIT and employed by Tasman Homes Nelson.

The Apprentice of the Year competition recognises excellence among carpentry apprentices and raises awareness of career opportunities in the building and construction industry. The competition tests our future sector leaders' project management, business, presentation, and practical skills.

For the regional competition, each apprentice had to initially submit a building project. They then took part in a two-hour practical challenge where they were tasked with building a shoe rack. The top 10 from each region then progressed to the interview stage with a judging panel and an onsite visit to discuss their project.

The top apprentice from each region will then go on to compete in the Master Builders National competition. This includes a 45-minute interview with the national judging panel and an additional six-hour practical skills test.

Judges comments

Bay of Plenty/Central Plateau

1st Place - Kaleb Hyndman, Calley Homes, BCITO, from Tauranga

'Kaleb scored extremely high in his written application – his understanding of his project was excellent, and he has clear goals for the future. His practical build was very tidy, and his site visit stood out, particularly in the way he handled himself and explained the build. Whilst the competition was very tight this year, Kaleb showed that he is an outstanding apprentice and a deserving regional winner.”

2nd Place - Damien Quarrie, Diack Homes, BCITO, from Tauranga

'Damien consistently displayed sound knowledge of the industry, which landed him in the top-scoring section. Two of the areas where he stood out were his teamwork and reliability during the site visit and the quality of his project submission. Damien is working in a young company called Diack Homes where he is really showing his value – we look forward to seeing him continue to grow and succeed.”

3rd Place - Angus McNicol, Lilburn Builders Limited, BCITO, from Taupo

'Angus displays many strengths- during the interview, he was able to skilfully articulate to the judges the importance of teamwork and told a great story of his project and its challenges. He understands the importance of health and safety, and his team spoke very highly of him. During the practical, it was clear that Angus had prepped himself well, and during the site visit he had a tidy tool kit.”

Upper South Island

1st Place - Finn Eden, Tasman Homes Nelson, NMIT, from Nelson

'Finn Eden can be very proud of his project, which he showed such great enthusiasm and passion for. The home he submitted was of a very high standard and his knowledge on this project was immense.

'He has great skills and is a problem solver. The clients now consider him part of the family and are delighted that Finn got to build their home.

'Overall, Finn has an infectious personality which is hard not to like. The build showed his personality, professionalism, and his eye for detail. Finn has a strong future in the industry, and has all the attributes to, one day, become a leader and role model.”

2nd Place - Jack Sawyer, Cunningham Construction, BCITO, from Nelson

'Jack Sawyer should be very proud of his project. He is a very competent young man and has a great eye for detail, as well as a good understanding of all things building. He is also an excellent communicator, has a keen eye for detail and is a quiet achiever. Jack is a team player, and he has the ability to help others and demonstrate what is required to assist them.”

3rd Place - Alex Hannah Blac Design & Build, BCITO, from Tasman

'Alex Hannah is a very accomplished apprentice and has many strings to his bow. He has a comprehensive knowledge of the building industry and has even gained his own following on Instagram.

'He has great leadership skills, which were shown on his project. He has an eye for detail and a desire to help others to succeed.”

For more information about the competition, visit https://www.apprenticeoftheyear.co.nz/