When Whangarei car painter Shaun Dean tested himself earlier this year against Auckland apprentices to make it to a national trades competition, he thought he would do okay.
He won.
Mr Dean will head to Hamilton on September 30 to compete in the national WorldSkills contest, with the ultimate prize a place on the national Tool Blacks team.
By the time of the competition, however, Mr Dean will be ineligible for the team as he is too old.
Organisers are still letting him compete, and he says he is there to set a benchmark for other competitors.
Top apprentices and trainees will duel it out in categories ranging from automotive technology to plumbing and heating to hairdressing and floristry.