Masterlink messageboard

MASTERLINK WELCOMES A NEW REGIONAL MANAGER— AND A RAFT OF NEW APPRENTICES RARING TO GET STARTED.

Georgia Simeon, a Masterlink apprentice at Karl Boniface Plumbing, gives encouragement to a young student completing the pipe challenge at the Invercargill Girls in Trades event.

Promoting a plumbing career

Masterlink has been out and about at secondary school careers events, spreading the word on the benefits of an apprenticeship in plumbing, drainlaying and gasfitting—and where it can lead. The team also took part in the Girls in Trades event in Invercargill in July, with over 65 young wahine from schools around Southland turning up to hear from other women nailing their chosen trade—including Masterlink apprentice Georgia Simeon of Karl Boniface Plumbing.

Masterlink would like to thank Plumbing World Invercargill for their support of the event. They provided some awesome prizes for participants who completed the pipe challenge that Plumbing World very kindly built using a Masterlink design.

CONGRATS TEIGAN!

Last edition, we mentioned that Teigan Jopson was among the finalists for the 2022 NAWIC Excellence Awards, which are open to women working in all areas of the construction industry. We’re thrilled to report that Teigan was awarded Highly Commended in the Apprentice Excellence category—one of just 28 award recipients on the night and an amazing achievement considering there were a record 190 nominations for this year’s awards!

Teigan is a fourth-year Masterlink plumbing, drainlaying and gasfitting apprentice at Otago University Property Services. Well done to Teigan and to the Property Services team!

Masterlink apprentice Teigan Jopson was Highly Commended in the Apprentice Excellence category at the 2022 NAWIC Excellence Awards.

MEET REGIONAL MANAGER Steve Meadows

Steve Meadows, Masterlink’s new Northland and Auckland Regional Manager, joined in June.

Steve comes from a sales background and says he is very passionate about people and building great relationships. “I enjoy taking time to listen, share knowledge and find solutions to any problems as they arise.”

It is always rewarding to place good, motivated apprentice candidates with equally motivated hosts, adds Steve, who has already matched several young people successfully with host businesses, including Auckland Plumbers Group. Company director Andrew Durrans says the industry is screaming out for new people, and it is great that Steve has identified someone who he is sure will fit well into the team and be an asset to the industry.

“Most hosts have been apprentices themselves and enjoy sharing their knowledge and guiding their apprentices through the training journey,” says Steve. “Getting the right fit is paramount—it’s a long time to be working together. The ultimate goal is always to place the apprentice in a happy and safe learning environment with a visible future career pathway.”

Outside of work, Steve has a real appreciation for the outdoors and time spent with family, friends and adventures.

Turn to page 62 to read all about Eti Sauvao, 2022

Masterlink Apprentice of the Year, and to page 80 for a report back on the Masterlink Outward Bound Scholarship winners’ adventures in the Marlborough Sounds!

GET IN TOUCH

Need an apprentice in your business? Masterlink is here to help.

Pete Shields Business Development Manager 021 289 0255

Steve Meadows Auckland & Northland 027 558 5441

Colin Kilpatrick Auckland 021 773 296

Bob McCoy Lower North Island 027 479 0075

Russell Walsh Central North Island 027 600 9929

Sam Timlin Upper South Island 021 433 615

Brendan Parker Lower South Island 021 644 560

Abbie Buchanan Otago/South Canterbury 021 456 934

Masterlink milestones

WELCOME

Kyle Shields – Karl Boniface Plumbing, Invercargill Levi McBride – Papamoa Plumbing & Gas Ltd Blake Jones-Downes – McBeth Plumbing and Gas, Taupo Pieter Uys – Hamilton Plumbing Jeremiah La’ulu – J&M Group Ltd, Christchurch Kyan Avery – Plumbing & Gas Works, Hamilton Blake Broughton – Aquapoint Plumbing, Awanui Connor McCarthny – Rawlinson Plumbing 2022 Ltd, Rotorua Caleb Patterson – Flints Plumbing & Drainage, Queenstown Bria Noble – Free Flow Plumbing and Gas, Wanaka Rosa Thompson – McIvor Plumbers & Gasfitters, Wanaka Liam Bentley – Hi Flo Plumbing, Oamaru Brody Duncan – Alba Plumbing Gas and Heating, Wanaka Grant Woodman – Collins Plumbing, Auckland Ben Achilles – Plumbing Services Nelson Oliver Elkington – Advantage Plumbing, Queenstown William van Sprang – Menzies Group Ltd, Timaru Benjamin Erceg – Impact Plumbing, Dunedin Oscar Pedersen – Peter Diver Plumbing & Drainage, Christchurch Sam McCarthy – Laser Plumbing Rangiora Blake Taylor – Aquacraft Plumbing Ltd, Christchurch Taeo Mortimer – AC Plumbing Ltd, Rotorua Liam Taplin – Whitehead Plumbing & Gas, Christchurch James Charteris – Team Aqua Ltd, Waihi Beach Kegan Weir – Cunningham Plumbing, Waimate Liam Kelly – Water to Waste, Auckland Antony Posa – Morrinsville Plumbing & Gas Max Madgin – Ben Mayne Plumbing, Auckland Josh Bakker Reynolds – iPlumber, Hamilton Ethan Walker – Go Fox Plumbing Queenstown Jack Smith – Auckland Plumbers Group Carl Reber – BT Plumbing and Gas Ltd, Auckland Jidong (Bruce) Wang – David & Lu Plumbing Ltd, Auckland

QUALIFIED

Congratulations to Daysharn Asomua-Faatili and Shane Luke for completing in Drainlaying!

Jack Smith enjoying the start of his plumbing, drainlaying and gasfitting apprenticeship with host buisness Auckland Plumbers Group.