Master Plumbers

Ross Hanna has been named the 2026 New Zealand Plumber, Gasfitter or Drainlayer Employee of the Year!

This award recognises an outstanding Certifying Plumber, Gasfitter or Drainlayer who demonstrates technical excellence, leadership and a commitment to raising standards across the industry.

Ross has built his career from the ground up, progressing from working on the tools to leading some of Aotearoa's most complex commercial projects. Today, as Contracts Manager at Foleys Christchurch, he leads a team of trade staff and project managers, helping build capability and delivering high-quality outcomes on every job.

What makes Ross stand out is the way he leads. Having worked his way through every stage of the trade, he understands what it takes to succeed and is committed to helping others do the same. Through mentoring his team, supporting the next generation and leading by example, Ross has earned the respect of colleagues across the industry. Congratulations on a well-deserved award!

Rhys Kimber is the 2026 James Douglas Medallion recipient!

Awarded annually since 1948, the James Douglas Medallion recognises an outstanding recently qualified tradesperson who has demonstrated hard work, commitment and determination to achieve success in New Zealand's plumbing, gasfitting and drainlaying industry.

In 2025, Rhys completed all three trade qualifications in plumbing, gasfitting and drainlaying while balancing full-time work at Soda Plumbing, family life and the demands of being a young father. His commitment to excellence saw him achieve an impressive 86% in his plumbing registration exam.

What makes Rhys stand out is the professionalism and leadership he brings to the job every day. He regularly manages projects from start to finish, mentors apprentices, and has stepped up to oversee the day-to-day operations of the business when needed, demonstrating maturity and accountability well beyond his years.

Congratulations, Rhys, on this outstanding achievement.

Paul Stephens is the 2026 Mark Whitehead Training Leader of the Year!

This award recognises an individual who has gone above and beyond to educate, mentor and support people entering New Zealand's plumbing, gasfitting and drainlaying industry.

For almost 50 years, Paul has been dedicated to developing the next generation of tradespeople. Throughout his career, he has generously shared his knowledge with countless apprentices and tradespeople, and remained a trusted source of advice for colleagues across the King Country and beyond.

What makes Paul stand out is the way he invests in people. He believes the best way to learn is through hands-on experience, encourages curiosity, supports apprentices through every stage of their training, and is passionate about inspiring the next generation to join the trade through initiatives like Gateway and local careers expos.

Thank you for the decades of dedication to our industry and for the lasting impact you've had on so many careers.

🏆 Congratulations to the recipients of the 2026 Plumbing World NZ Scholarships!

Awarded to outstanding Masterlink apprentices, these scholarships recognise those who work hard, keep learning, step up when it counts, and make a real difference to their Host business.

This year's recipients are:

🔹 Rory Read (McIvor Plumbers & Gasfitters, Wānaka), whose high-quality workmanship, problem-solving skills and positive attitude have seen him excel on some of Wānaka's most technically challenging architectural homes.

🔹 Sam Baldwin (100% Plumbing & Gas, Rotorua), who has earned the trust of his team and customers by stepping up early in his apprenticeship, taking on greater responsibility, and mentoring fellow apprentices.

🏆 Overall winner: Eric Gruythuysen (Kumeū Plumbing, Auckland), whose determination stood out after he continued progressing his apprenticeship while recovering from ankle surgery, completing his studies and qualifying as a plumber, gasfitter and drainlayer.

Ka pai Rory, Sam and Eric!

🏆 Sarah Jamieson is the 2026 Jackson Women in Plumbing Award winner!

Sponsored by Allproof Industries, this award recognises a woman who has made an outstanding contribution to New Zealand's plumbing, gasfitting and drainlaying industry through leadership, innovation, advocacy and a commitment to strengthening the profession.

As Chief Financial Officer of BOP Plumbing & Gas Ltd, Sarah has helped build a thriving business through strong leadership, financial expertise and a genuine commitment to people.

What makes Sarah stand out is the impact she has beyond her own business. She is a passionate advocate for the industry, serving on governance groups, supporting young people into the trades, and creating opportunities for industry women to connect, learn and lead through Te Ara Wahine, which returns for its second time this October.

Congratulations Sarah on this well-deserved recognition!

OptiPlumb has been named the 2026 New Zealand Master Plumber of the Year!

In just five years, founder Duncan Leask has grown Optiplumb Ltd from a one-person operation in a home garage to a thriving team of 16.

The award recognises excellence across customer service, marketing, business performance and leadership, and is considered one of the industry’s highest honours.

What stands out most is the way Duncan has built the business around developing his people.

Having trained more than 20 apprentices throughout his career, Duncan has built structured training, mentoring and development into the core of the business. Regular coaching, goal setting and hands-on support ensures their team continues to grow in both technical skill and professionalism.

It’s no surprise Duncan is described as proud, passionate and deeply committed to the plumbing industry. Congratulations to Duncan and the entire OptiPlumb team on being named the 2026 New Zealand Master Plumber of the Year.

And that’s a wrap! 👏

The 2026 NZ Plumbing Conference is done and dusted for another year, with three days of ideas, conversations and catching up with fellow members from across Aotearoa.

Day 3 featured another great line-up of speakers before we welcomed Minister Chris Penk for a sit-down discussion on the issues shaping our industry.

During the session, we also announced the pilot of Toby – our new AI-powered NZ Standards tool. Thanks to MBIE’s support, 200 members will be able to take part in the pilot, helping us refine the tool that makes accessing the standards quicker and easier for practitioners who use them every day (check out yesterday’s post to learn more!).

Congratulations as well to our lucky prize winners, thanks to Nero Tapware New Zealand and Rinnai New Zealand 🎉

The conference finished in style with the NZ Plumbing Awards, celebrating the people, businesses and apprentices making a real difference across our industry. We also crowned this year’s Master Plumber of the Year… but you’ll have to stay tuned - we’ll be sharing all the winners soon! 👀

Thanks to everyone who joined us in Hamilton. We’ll see you again next year!