Park seat challenge for building apprentices

A109 Light Utility Helicopter flight with mayor Gisborne City from the air in November 2023.

Gisborne’s carpentry and building apprentices are preparing to go hammer to hammer in an apprentice challenge on Saturday.

Entrants in the New Zealand Certified Builders (NZCB) Apprentice Challenge compete to become Gisborne’s NZCB Apprentice Challenge winner and progress to the national final.

This year’s challenge gives apprentices eight hours to build a park seat. The task aims to put the apprentices’ skills, attention to detail, and time management to the test. Competitors will be provided with trade-quality timber and materials, and their projects must meet minimum safety standards.

Apprentices’ work will be judged by a panel of building practitioners and industry educators. Top place will be awarded to the apprentice who demonstrates the greatest quality of workmanship, accuracy of measuring and cutting, assembly, and ability to work to a detailed plan. The winning apprentice will be crowned Gisborne’s 2019 NZCB Apprentice Challenge winner.

The challenge begins at 8am on Saturday, under the canopy at Home Plus, 390 Gladstone Road, and is open to the public. The best time to attend is from 3pm, say organisers. Gisborne’s 2019 Apprentice Challenge champion will be announced at about 5pm.

The Gisborne event on Saturday is one of 18 NZCB Apprentice Challenge events held around the country in association with building suppliers ITM, the Industry Training Association Building and with support from Apprenticeship Scholarship Trust. Each regional event’s winners will go on to the NZCB Apprentice Challenge final which will be held at the NZCB annual conference in Christchurch on June 14-15.