Seven Tauranga building apprentices will be among 100 nationwide spending eight hours this Saturday, April 12, putting their carpentry skills to the test and ultimately boosting their confidence.

The NZCB Apprentice Challenge, in partnership with BCITO, will take place from 7.30am-4.30pm nationwide – and at Tauranga’s regional competition at Toi Ohomai it will be six blokes and one lady under the pump.

Lucy Brailsford-Hun is the first female apprentice in the Tauranga heats, and will compete alongside Scott Davies, Cody Eden, Liam McFarlane, Mason Bollee, Matthew Terry and Rhys McKinnon.

Certified Builders Tauranga president Shane Hutchinson said whoever takes glory this Saturday will head to the national final on June 6-7 in Hamilton, where they’ll compete against fellow regional winners for the national title.

“Each contestant will have eight hours to build a planter box that was designed by the junior winner of the recent 2025 Architectural Designers NZ’s Design Competition.”

Materials for the planter boxes are sponsored by Mitre 10 Mega, with each planter box worth $500. Three judges will judge the NZCB Tauranga Apprentice Challenge – including last year’s competition winner, a local building inspector and a building supply manager.

“So our seven apprentices will have to be on their game to build a planter box each within eight hours – they have to find a worthwhile organisation to donate the product to, upon completion, too.”

From his perspective of running his own building company, Hutchison said the biggest benefit to the challenge participants is their growth in confidence.

“I’ve had three apprentices who’ve taken part in the Apprenticeship Challenge and you can’t put a price on the confidence they get from it. It’s amazing watching these apprentices at the challenge – they’re scared when they start but when they’re finished eight hours later they’re just grinning.

“The look on their faces, it’s like they’ve won a marathon.”

Tauranga’s entrants are second or third year apprentices. “Our seven entrants are close in range in terms of age and ability, which makes the competition fair.”

Hutchinson said apprentices are given a list of instructions and measurements, and judging is uniform across New Zealand. “Apprentices will be judged by their measurements. Millimetres will count as the judging is precise and accurate. This makes judging very specific and creates equal opportunity.”

There are prizes for first, second and third and up to 22 finalists will head to the national final where they’ll compete for $10,000 worth of prizes for first place. Hutchinson said friends and family of apprentices – and anyone interested – is welcome to watch the NZCB’s Tauranga Apprentice Challenge at Toi Ohomai from 7.30am-4pm on Saturday. “Having spectators means each contestant will have some cheerleaders, which is great.”