Premier award floors apprentice

A Masterton man who left school at 14 has been named the flooring industry's Apprentice of the Year.
Christopher Johnston, now 26 and fully qualified, was terrified of having to return to bookwork when he took on his apprenticeship at McKenzie's Carpet Court five years ago.
His last contact with study had been in the fourth form, when he left school to work at an Upper Hutt sawmill.
Parental permission had been needed and Mr Johnston's Mmm "didn't want me to leave without a 40-hour-a-week job, so I got me a 60-hour-a-week job; that should keep her happy".
Now Mr Johnston has finished stage three of his flooring training with the highest grades, and the Supreme Award for sustained excellence in the industry. The academic side of his training had initially scared Mr Johnston, but once he began, "I loved it; the tutors were awesome".
One of his early jobs in Masterton had been as a rubbish collector, and McKenzie's Carpet Court assistant manager Kyran O'Hara said Mr Johnston's positive work attitude had been evident there.
"Anyone who runs at the back of a rubbish truck and does it every day with enthusiasm has got to be a good employee."
New Zealand Flooring ITO chief executive Greg Durkin said Mr Johnston was always keen to help out his peers and with his "well organised approach and exceptional achievements", had a bright future.
Success seems to be contagious at McKenzie's Carpet Court, with Mr Johnston also taking the Apprenticeships Wairarapa Outstanding Achiever Award this year, and the business taking Cavalier Bremworth Supreme Customer Service Award.
Mr Johnston said seeing his name on the trophy "really chuffed me; I haven't had anything with my name engraved on it before". His advice to any young apprentices is: "Go hard, don't hesitate; put everything in and you'll get the rewards."