Gisborne’s Seth Hall going for his family’s second win at Young Plumber of the Year

Seth Hall took out the top spot in the Bay of Plenty/Central Plateau regional final of the Plumbing World Young Plumber of the Year 2024 competition. Photo / Mango NZ

A young Gisborne plumber aims to be the second member of his family to win the national final after topping his regional event in the Plumbing World Young Plumber of the Year 2024 competition.

Seth Hall, of Hallrite Plumbing and Gasfitting Ltd, won the Bay of Plenty/Central Plateau final, earning a place in the national final.

The 26-year-old beat branch winners from Mt Maunganui, Papamoa, Tauranga and Whakatāne.

Hall and his brothers Cody and Brad are the third generation of plumbers in their family. Seth and younger brother Brad work for the family business.

“Grandad [Brian Hall] originally started the business and Dad [Mike] bought it off him a couple of years ago,” Seth said. “My older brother, who also used to work here, and my dad trained me up, and my younger brother also works here and I am training him.”

Cody won the national event last year and Seth hopes to replicate that achievement.

Cody, who lives and works in Hamilton, said he was looking forward to watching Seth take on the challenge.

Hamilton-based Cody Hall, pictured, won the top prize last year and Gisborne-based younger brother Seth hopes to replicate that feat this year. Photo / Mango NZ

“The final is up in Hamilton, so it will be quite easy [to watch],” Cody said. “It is usually multiple days once they get everything done. They have a practical, which is usually three or four hours, so we can go and watch that, which is quite entertaining.”

Cody said there was still a little bit of a rivalry between the siblings, but it was “bloody awesome” to have been involved in the competition together over the last few years.

Seth has been a plumber for 10 years.

“Originally [I wanted to] be an electrician, but then I realised I needed more knowledge in electrical and I wasn’t too keen on that.

“During high school, I was doing after-school work here, went out [on jobs] with a couple of guys and enjoyed it, so I thought ‘alright, when I finish school I am going to do that’.”

It was “good fun” training and working alongside his brothers.

Seth said there was no reason not to enter the competition, with free prizes up for grabs, and he saw it as a nice opportunity to mixing with others in the industry.

“It is just a good time meeting a whole lot of other young plumbers because you may not necessarily engage with other plumbers that often, except for when you see them at the merchant every now and then.”

The competitors at the regional event, all aged 31 or under, did a series of different timed practical challenges from various suppliers, followed by a written test.

“One task might be pulling a shower mixer apart, putting a part in it and putting it back together, or identifying where different valves should be on a hot water system,” Seth said.

The winner of the national event will get a share of the $70,000 worth of prizes up for grabs, including a trip for two to the 2025 NZ Plumbing Conference in Brisbane, subscriptions to industry magazines, premium equipment, a medal certificate and NZPM co-operative redeemable preference shares.

James Pocock joined the Gisborne Herald as chief reporter in 2024 after covering environmental, local government and post-cyclone issues in Hawke’s Bay. He has a keen interest in finding the bigger picture in research and making it more accessible to audiences. He lives near Gisborne. james.pocock@nzme.co.nz.