In this October update, celebrate the Waikato Masterlink Award winners, find out how to join NAWIC with your membership covered, check out the latest summer Masterlink merch, and see opportunities to get involved in Movember — plus news on a South Island Regional Manager role and more! |
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CONGRATULATIONS WAIKATO MASTERLINK APPRENTICES |
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Congratulations to all the apprentices who were nominated for awards at last month’s Master Plumbers Waikato Branch Awards in Hamilton. The branch event had awards to celebrate apprentices in every stage of their journey — from first-year to fourth-year — recognising hard work, progress and promise across the board. Former Central North Island Regional Manager Russell Walsh summed it up perfectly, commenting that the winners are “genuinely four remarkable young men who fortunately are the future of our industry.”
Pictured:
Top left – Alex Bae; Top right – Raphael Smith; Bottom left – Jared Mark;
Bottom right – Mason Tombleson. |
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The Masterlink Award Winners ⭐ Best All Round Completed Year 1 Apprentice
Jared Mark of Morrinsville Plumbing & Gas ⭐ Best All Round Completed Year 2 Apprentice
Mason Tombleson of CF Reese Plumbing ⭐ Best All Round Completed Year 3 Apprentice
Raphael Smith of Plumbing & Gas Works ⭐ Best All Round Apprentice for 2025 Award sponsored by Masterlink
Alex Bae of C.J Cant Plumbing |
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Masterlink apprentices can now join NAWIC (National Association of Women in Construction) and have their membership covered by Masterlink. NAWIC branches across Aotearoa host meetings and fun events — from site visits in the Bay of Plenty, to paint and sip nights in the Wairarapa, and building predator traps in Wellington. Members come from all corners of the construction industry, from tradies and crane operators to engineers, project managers and business owners, making it a great place to meet others in the field.
If you’re a Masterlink apprentice interested in joining, get in touch with Lisa Duston. |
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APPRENTICE TRAINING WORKSHOP: QUEENSTOWN |
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The date has been locked in for the final Apprentice Training Workshop in Queenstown for 2025: Date: Tuesday 25 November
Time: 8:30am - 4pm
Location: Queenstown Events Centre |
| Register to Attend |
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Summer’s coming — and so is our new Masterlink summer merch! ☀️ Apprentices (and a few lucky hosts) will soon get their hands on a fresh lineup to keep you cool on site and off. Think water bottles (perfect for the gym or beach), sunnies, and even a retro legionnaires hat — the ultimate summer work fit! Keep an eye out for these dropping soon. |
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👨🦰 MOVEMBER: CHANGING THE FACE OF MEN'S HEALTH |
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It’s almost Movember — that time of year when those fuzzy upper lip caterpillars appear across workplaces in November. Movember raises funds and awareness for mental health and suicide prevention, prostate cancer, and testicular cancer. Not everyone can grow a mo, but everyone can get involved. This year, CJ — our Business Administrator and the friendly voice you may have spoken to when ringing Masterlink — is taking on a 60km fitness challenge for the 60 men lost to suicide each hour, and shaving off his dearly beloved beard to "bravely expose his chins to the world" in support of men’s health.
If you or your team are joining in, we’d love to share your efforts!
Send us your photos (before, after or mid-moustache) or fundraising events —
and we’ll help spread the word on our socials. |
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We’re sad to announce the upcoming departure of Steve Weeks, our much-loved Upper South Island Regional Manager. Since joining in September 2023, Steve has built great relationships with his hosts and been a strong advocate for his apprentices. His contributions and humour will be greatly missed. His last day with us will be Friday 24 October. We’re now on the lookout for a stellar team member based in Christchurch to continue the great work Steve has done in his region. Our Regional Managers are passionate about the PGD industry, supporting apprentices, and building strong relationships with hosts. If you know someone who fits the bill, send them the link below! |
| View the SEEK Job Listing |
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READ: Personal Growth Through Outward Bound 🚣 |
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The next issue of NZ Plumber (October/November) features something special — stories from our apprentices Phil Webster and Noah Raymond, who took part in the Outward Bound experience earlier this year. Over three pages, they share their adventures, challenges, and lessons learned — in their own words, accompanied by fantastic photos from the trip. 🗓️ Out 23 October — keep an eye out! |
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A big congratulations on completing your gasfitting apprenticeships:
Caleb Foster Shane Hazelden A special mention to those who have also qualified in the following:
Bria Noble, Joshua Marshall and Jared Mark in Drainlaying Hera Eruera, Tukairangi Pitiroi and Jordan Dibley in Plumbing Ash Jackson, Matthew Leishman and Jacob Hooker in Plumbing & Drainlaying |
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Lawrence Lemana (third from left) receives his plumbing and drainlaying certificates at John Ryan Plumbing in Paremata, Wellington. |
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WELCOME |
Nau mai, haere mai to our new or returning Masterlink apprentices:
Joseph Poto - Plumbcraft, Auckland Victor Ah Yuck - PGD Plus, Auckland Ciaran O'Berg - Te Aroha Plumbing & Drainage, Te Aroha Christopher Du Plessis - Bassett Plumbing & Drainage, Auckland Pita Hufanga - Bassett Plumbing & Drainage, Auckland Reekie Konelio - Bassett Plumbing & Drainage, Auckland Oliver McCulloch - Mains Plumbers, Dunedin Joel Megraw - Tauranga Hardware & Plumbing, Tauranga Caide Bezuidenhout - Justin Time Plumbing Services, Dunedin Anaru Te Maro-Bryant - Bowen Plumbing & Gasfitting, Wellington - Max Henry - Aqua Pro Plumbing & Drainage, Christchurch
- Jacob Bentley - Elite Home Plumbing, Auckland
- Corey Betham - Haszard Plumbing and Gasfitting, Auckland
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Nau mai, haere mai to our new Masterlink host companies: |
Bowen Plumbing & Gasfitting in Wellington, Elite Home Plumbing in Auckland and Haszard Plumbing and Gasfitting in Auckland. |
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