Northland's top NZCB building apprentice is Kyron Vette-Wright

Northland NZCB Apprentice Challenge winner Kyron Vette-Wright with NZCB President Pete Brown.

Whangārei apprentice Kyron Vette-Wright has claimed victory against six other skilled apprentices, winning the title of Northland's top building apprentice at the NZCB Apprentice Challenge.

The competition was fierce as this year's Apprentice Challenge received a large number of entries nationwide, including a record number of entries nationwide from female apprentices.

Apprentices were given just eight hours to create a park seat from detailed construction plans. The park seats were assessed by a panel of expert judges on workmanship, measuring, cutting and assembly, with Vette-Wright's park seat receiving the highest overall score.

The park seats crafted by apprentices will be donated to their respective regional Cancer Society divisions, including the accommodation services offered by the society.

Vette-Wright, aged 20, is in the third year of his building apprenticeship at CJ Building Ltd.

As the regional winner, he takes home a range of trade tools courtesy of sponsor ITM, and will move forward to represent Northland at the NZCB Apprentice Challenge Final, to be held at the NZCB Annual Conference in Christchurch on June 14-15.

Vette-Wright will face 19 other regional winners from around the country to compete for the Ken Read Memorial Trophy and $50,000 in prizes.

NZCB chief executive Grant Florence was impressed with the skill, talent and passion the carpentry apprentices demonstrated – a testament to their dedication, employer support, and the comprehensive training provided by the ITAB (Industry Training Association Building) scheme.

"The future of New Zealand's building industry is dependent on a robust pipeline of top-quality apprentices. Fostering and encouraging young talent is a responsibility NZCB takes seriously.

"We encourage our member builders to take on apprentices, as it creates a pathway into the industry and ensures the sector can meet the increasing demand for trade-qualified, highly-skilled and well-rounded building professionals," says Grant.

More comprehensive than other apprentice training schemes and programmes, the ITAB apprenticeship scheme provides over four years of extensive practical experience and solid theoretical training, setting apprentices up for a successful career in the building industry with a broad set of professional skills.

Meanwhile, entries are now open for the Registered Master Builders Carters 2019 Apprentice of the Year competition, which Northland apprentice builders can enter.

All carpentry apprentices are eligible to enter the competition online at http://www.apprenticeoftheyear.co.nz/ with entries closing on May 20.

Apprentices can be in the running to win a share of more than $100,000 in prizes, as well as the sought-after title of 2019 Registered Master Builders Carters Apprentice of the Year.