The 2024 Apprentice of the Year Winner is..

12 November 2024

The final leg of our Apprentice of the Year competition took place last week in Auckland.

We are delighted to announce Hunter Moon as the 2024 Apprentice of the Year winner. Hunter is from Hamilton and is employed by Foster Construction, he trained through BCITO.



The judges were particularly impressed by Hunter’s exceptional level of dedication, skill, and craftsmanship throughout all stages of the competition.

“As a member of the territorials and former Head Boy of Hamilton Boy's High School, his natural leadership qualities and ability to problem-solve shone through in his interview, practical challenge, and submission. Hunter’s structured approach to challenges and consistent discipline was clear throughout the competition, and his commitment to quality and passion for the industry impressed the competition judges.”

Across two days, nine exceptional apprentices competed in the final stages of the competition.  Kicking off at CONZTRUCT Auckland North, the apprentices went head-to-head in a six-hour practical skills test and a 45-minute interview with the national judging panel. The apprentices were tested not only on their technical abilities, but also on their understanding of building practices, knowledge of the building code and communication and project management skills. For the practical component, the apprentices were tasked with crafting a garden house which was donated to early learning centres through Evolve Education Group.

The Apprentice of the Year competition continues to celebrate the talent and skill of carpentry apprentices, and we’d like to extend a massive congratulations to all the apprentices across the country who participated in the competition.

 

Runner-up went to Daniel Smith from Auckland (pictured left), and Adam Harford from the Canterbury region (pictured right) took out third place to round out a talented podium. 

Daniel is employed by Structured Builders, and trained through Manukau Institute of Technology. The judges said: “Throughout the competition, Daniel demonstrated a remarkable ability to stay composed under pressure and plan ahead — qualities that will serve him extremely well in the industry."

Adam is employed by Trent Builders and trained through BCITO. The judges said: “Adam's passion for building began at just five years old, inspired by watching Bob the Builder on TV. Since then, his passion and skill has only grown, demonstrated by his impressive level of commitment and dedication throughout the competition. His focus and determination was especially evident during the practical challenge.” 

 

Every year, the team at Master Builders are blown away by the level of confidence and competence of these budding apprentices who we are sure will go on to do great things in our sector.

A strong pipeline of talent
The Apprentice of the Year competition is a platform to showcase the future leaders of the construction industry.

Registered Master Builders Chief Executive, Ankit Sharma, said the importance of having a pipeline of skilled tradespeople is critical to addressing New Zealand’s growing housing deficit and infrastructure demands.

“Affordable housing is much needed in New Zealand, and the Government has been trying to boost our sector’s productivity through various regulatory reform. This includes the proposed streamlining of the Building Consent Authorities, allowing virtual inspections and a self-certification scheme for accredited and trusted builders,” Sharma said.

“However, as it becomes easier for our sector to get on and build these homes, we need aspiring, talented young people learning the building craft, so that we can take advantage of the opportunities becoming available.

“By investing in training, we are building a workforce ready to meet the future growth of New Zealand’s towns and cities,” Sharma said.

This year’s competition also marks the second consecutive year with a female apprentice among the top nine finalists, reflecting the steady progress towards increased diversity in the building and construction sector.

Continued support from our sponsors

“CARTERS is proud to partner with the Apprentice of the Year competition, supporting our next generation of skilled builders as they make their mark in the industry. It’s inspiring to witness apprentices from all around New Zealand putting in the hard work and dedication to excel in this competition; being part of it allows us to celebrate the future talented leaders of our trade.”

-       Mike Guy, Chief Executive, CARTERS Building Supplies





“The Apprentice of the Year competition is a powerful example of the talent, skill, and awesome potential of our carpentry apprentices. BCITO is proud to support these future industry leaders as they refine their craft and make their mark on the building sector. Congratulations to all the finalists for their exceptional achievements and thank you to Carters and Registered Master Builders for their commitment to fostering excellence in apprenticeships.”

-          Greg Durkin, Director BCITO




Builders Academy is dedicated to ensuring the sector is equipped with skilled tradespeople, who want to get out there and build a better New Zealand. This is why we’re proud to support the Apprentice of the Year competition. Well done to all the apprentices for their outstanding efforts—seeing you demonstrate your passion, and commitment is inspiring and shows the future is in good hands. 

-          Philip McCracken, Head of Marketing – Builders Academy

 




For more information go to apprenticeoftheyear.co.nz