Member benefit

Kereama Carmody at the Master Plumbers Forum in November.

WELLBEING 0800 NUMBER Master Plumbers has a new resource to assist members with staff wellbeing—launching in a year that’s highlighted the need to look after our mental health.

Just as businesses must have health and safety systems in place, it’s essential that we address mental health and wellbeing in our industry to ensure we’re looking after our people.

As part of the Master Plumbers Wellbeing on Tap programme, we’d like to introduce members to Kereama Carmody, our resident mental health practitioner, who is available to help with your wellbeing questions and concerns on our new 0800 number.

With extensive experience in the mental health and alcohol and drug treatment field, Kereama is passionate about workplace wellbeing. He is on hand to assist with:

How to communicate with staff about difficulties affecting work and home

Navigating struggles with substance abuse Resources for creating simple wellbeing practices at work

Tips on how to build supportive relationships among your team

General queries within the wellbeing space.

Please note: This is not a crisis line. In an emergency, call 111 or phone Healthline on 0800 611 116 for your local DHB Mental Health Crisis Team. 0800 Lifeline also provides 24/7 support.

Find the new 0800 wellbeing number under HR Support in the member log-in area at www.masterplumbers.org.nz. Calls are confidential and free to members during normal business hours (9am-5pm, Monday-Friday).

Plumbers Master

45 MEMBER BENEFIT 46 BULLETIN 52 STEADY, HOT & STRONG 56 MEMBER PROFILE 60 PLATINUM PARTNER PROFILE 62 BRANCH & ASSOCIATION UPDATES 64 MASTERLINK MESSAGEBOARD

WITH THE SUMMER BREAK JUST AROUND THE CORNER, HERE’S A FINAL UPDATE FOR THE YEAR ON ACTIVITIES AT MASTER PLUMBERS.

SEEKING TRAINERS

Members in the Whakatane, Taupo and Rotorua enjoyed a breakfast BBQ and catch up with the Buteline and Master Plumbers teams in late October, as the Buteline trailer stopped off at local Mico and Plumbing World branches on a three-day roadshow. Master Plumbers 2020 survey respondents came up with a wide variety of suggestions for topics to add to the Master Plumbers Training programme. Top of the list were backflow prevention, gas servicing, AS/NZS 3500, pricing and quoting, and legal compliance.

To ensure we can deliver face-to-face courses for our members around NZ now and into the future, we’d love to hear from you if you have relevant training for our industry. Please contact training@masterplumbers.org.nz

Let us know if you’re interested in providing training

BUTELINE ON THE ROAD

for the Master Plumbers Training programme.

The Buteline trailer making its Whakatane stop.

QUOTE & TERMS OF TRADE TEMPLATES

Hourly and fixed rate quote and terms of trade templates are available to members in the website log-in area. These have been updated to reflect new privacy laws that came into effect on 1 December (see page 12). The user guides have also been revised and simplified.

These templates can be used for hourly rate or fixed term contracts for smaller residential projects when you have been given the job directly by the homeowner.

For residential building work costing $30,000 or more inc GST, use the Residential Building Contract templates, also available on the Master Plumbers website. This is because work of this value must comply with specific Building Act requirements.

Registered Master Builders CE David Kelly discussed the development of a collaborative quality assurance programme that aims to support and benefit the whole construction sector.

Master Plumbers CEO Greg Wallace provided members with an update on key advocacy projects.

A successful Master Plumbers Forum

Each year, between annual conferences, delegates from the Master Plumbers regional Branches and Associations come together in Wellington for open discussion and a progress report from the national office, which they can then feed back to members at regional meetings. This year’s event was delayed due to Covid-19, but it was great to see the Master Plumbers Forum (formerly the HalfYearly Meeting) go ahead in early November.

A packed agenda over one and a half days included advocacy, strategy, marketing and wellbeing updates, along with a Masterlink report from new GM Steve Strawbridge. Guest speakers at the event were Registered Master Builders CE David Kelly and Plumbers, Gasfitters and Drainlayers Board CE Martin Sawyers.

The event included a workshop, with delegates coming up with ideas for potential Branch and Association social activities for the 2021 calendar. New guidance and support has been developed to assist regions with running events of this kind.

Ongoing advocacy work Master Plumbers CEO Greg Wallace spends much of his time dealing with advocacy work on behalf of the membership. One main focus has been to lobby for plumbers and drainlayers to be able to self-certify their work, in line with gasfitters and electricians. With many councils having unacceptably long wait times for inspections and some relying solely on PS3 and PS4 documentation, which have no legal status, self-certification would speed up the building consent process, reduce unauthorised activity and enable a nationally consistent record-keeping process.

Master Plumbers is also pressing hard for the review of the Plumbers, Gasfitters and Drainlayers Act, which is now seven years overdue and expected to begin in 2021. “The way the PGD Board has to operate under the current Act is costly and cumbersome,” said Greg. “We want an Act that reflects modern communications.”

Apprentice training is another focus, as the Review of Vocational Education (RoVE) makes gradual progress towards a new system for apprentice training delivery in New Zealand. Despite 23% growth in apprentice numbers since the government’s Apprenticeship Boost scheme was announced, overall licence holder numbers have not increased, as the older generation retire.

“The skills shortage is the biggest challenge facing our industry,” said Greg, who expressed confidence in the strength of the plumbing, gasfitting and drainlaying sector despite a predicted economic downturn in mid-2021.

A workshop session at the Master Plumbers Forum resulted in a wide range of ideas for regional social activities in 2021.

Winning a Master Plumber for a Day

Back in February, to celebrate World Plumbing Day, we held a prize draw to offer the services of a Master Plumber for a Day. As you can imagine, the lockdown and subsequent restrictions delayed the big day but, this August, Suzannah and Thomas Wansbone were thrilled to receive 8 hours’ plumbing work for free—which started as a simple switch to gas and evolved into a whole bathroom renovation!

“There have been so many things about our wee house that have bothered us since we moved in but that we have always felt too scared and ignorant to do anything about to fix or change as complete renovation rookies,” says Suzannah. “Winning the Master Plumber for the Day was the kick in the pants we needed and it motivated us to say, ‘Well why stop there...?’”

Suzannah and Thomas were very impressed by the helpful, hardworking and friendly approach from plumber Tim at Taurangabased Pipe Masters and Brittany in the office team. “We couldn’t have asked for a better crew to take us on our first reno experience. The whole process has given us the confidence to take on other projects in the house and we could not be more grateful to have a sparkling new space to enjoy,” she says.

The couple’s visit to Mico came with a shopping list from Tim and the assistance of the store staff, who guided them in their choice of tapware, vanity and mixers, which Suzannah says was a lot of fun—though they were glad to have some help with so many options available.

The couple couldn’t be more happy with their bathroom and are now excited to take on some more challenges. “Thank you so much for choosing us as the winners and for helping us gain a new bathroom, unlimited hot water and confidence!” says Suzannah.

Suzannah had a fun time choosing fixtures and fittings for their bathroom reno at their local Mico branch.

“Having such a capable plumber to guide us through was definitely a huge part of the reason why the whole thing was so positive, easy and stress-free. We knew having a Master Plumber gave us an assurance the work would be done to a very high standard and knowing that Tim had the credentials was definitely a significant factor in our confidence. We also appreciated the amazing communication from both Tim and Brittany. We always knew what was happening and they both made the choosing of fittings much easier too!”

The couple were pleased to see the back of their “grotty and claustrophobic 1970s shower” and to upgrade their bath with new tapware. A new basin and vanity completed the “sparkling new space”.

NEW SILVER BUSINESS PARTNER: MILWAUKEE

We’re delighted to introduce Milwaukee Tool as a new Master high powered tools in various industries such as construction, Plumbers Silver Business Partner. Milwaukee Tool is an industry- automotive, mining, plumbing and utilities across North Island leading manufacturer of heavy-duty power tools, accessories and and South Island. Their local Customer Support Team services hand tools for professional users worldwide. retailers and end users alike.

Since the company began in 1924, Milwaukee Tool has led the industry in both durability and performance. With an unwavering commitment to the trades, Milwaukee continues to lead with a focus on providing innovative, trade-specific solutions. Whether it is through their leadership in LITHIUM-ION technology, as seen in the M12™, M18™ & MX™ Systems, time-saving accessories or innovative hand tool products, Milwaukee is dedicated to delivering a steady stream of advanced solutions for the trades that offer increased productivity and unmatched durability.

Based in Auckland, Milwaukee Tool New Zealand sets up its local presence, catering for the ever-growing demand of

Member survey: reporting the results

Our annual member survey was a little different this year, as we sought to understand the impact of Covid-19 on members and their business confidence levels going into 2021.

One of the main functions of the national Master Plumbers organisation is to provide members with useful, practical and relevant business resources. Employment agreements, quote and terms of trade templates, health and safety manuals, professional development courses... the list goes on. We do this best if we have a true gauge on what assistance our members need for their businesses—and this is why we conduct an annual survey.

Covid-19 & business confidence We know that business needs can change quickly when the unexpected happens, and our response must be equally rapid. Covid-19 certainly kept us on our toes as we worked quickly to provide members with the assistance they needed.

It was very heartening to learn from our survey responses that 94% of members thought the support we offered during the initial lockdown and beyond was ‘good’ to ‘excellent’, with one respondent saying: “We have been really impressed with Master Plumbers throughout Covid-19. Definitely a worthwhile membership.”

The survey showed that earnings are largely down, with 49% experiencing a reduction in earnings and 43% having less business confidence than the previous year. However, the majority of respondents (75%) noted ‘moderate’ levels of business confidence.

One respondent commented that work was steady but planning for the future was difficult. This would appear to be a common challenge, with nearly half of respondents (44%) unsure about whether or not conditions would improve in the next 12 months. According to the survey, the top three challenges facing the industry currently are a shortage of tradespeople, future job prospects and unlicensed tradespeople. The majority of members levels of business confidence. Training & learning It was heartening to see from the survey that 77% of member businesses currently train at least one apprentice. The government’s current Apprenticeship Boost scheme has encouraged 68% to take on a new apprentice, with 57% actively planning to take on a new apprentice over the next 12 months.

Learning doesn’t stop with apprentice qualifications and our survey showed that members really value ongoing training and professional development, with plenty of great suggestions for the Master Plumbers Training programme. Top five topics on the wishlist were AS/NZS 3500, backflow, gas servicing, pricing and quoting, and legal compliance. Member benefits The Master Plumbers brand and consumer guarantee were rated in the top three for member benefits, along with HR advice and resources, with 92% of respondents believing the support they receive from Master Plumbers to be ‘good’ to ‘excellent’.

In terms of the advocacy work we do on behalf of the industry, 95% of respondents felt we do a ‘good’ to ‘excellent’ job, with one noting a desire to have more input in this area as it has such importance.

Members can view the 2020 Master Plumbers Survey Report in the member log-in at www.masterplumbers.org.nz

QUICK MEMBERSHIP FACTS

According to the 2020 survey responses: 41% of member businesses have between 2 to 5 employees 10% are one-man-bands 2% employ 50+ staff 24% have been members for 25 years or more

The most common services offered by members are residential plumbing (91%), residential gasfitting (71%) and residential drainlaying (64%).

71% Gasfitting Residential

– 75% – report “Moderate” 91% Plumbing Residential

9% High confidence 75% Moderate confidence 15% Low confidence 1% No confidence 64% Drainlaying Residential

61% Plumbing Commercial/Industrial

43% Gasfitting Commercial/Industrial

42% Other (eg. Backflow Prevention Services, Roofing)

39% Drainlaying Commercial/Industrial

NZ PLUMBER #1 FOR INFO!

Members have a wide range of channels to access information, including digital newsletters, the Master Plumbers website, social media and face-to-face branch meetings. Survey responses showed that your very own NZ Plumber came out on top, with 80% getting their information from the magazine.

Meet the team...

Get to know the Master Plumbers team with our quick Q&As.

NAME: ROLE:

Cat Marshall Master Plumbers Administrator & Masterlink Payroll Officer

1. What does your day-to-day role entail? I wear two hats. My administrator role keeps me busy with updating our CRM software, making staff travel bookings, assisting some Branches and Associations where needed, and other normal admin functions. Masterlink payroll keeps me on my toes and it is quite satisfying making sure our apprentices get their wages. 2. What’s your work background? I started out in a trade, moved into admin and worked in accounts as part of a team. I have a pretty varied working background. In my last couple of roles, I was part-time administrator for a radio station while also working parttime in accounts for a retirement village. I also worked for super busy physio practice, looking after the admin for three practices and doing company account recons.

3. Can you tell us a bit about you? I moved to this beautiful country in December 2014 from South Africa. I have a very kind and thoughtful partner and three amazing children, ranging in age from 11 to 16. We have a loving and loud-talking cat named Nitro, who loves laps and announces himself when he walks in the door so you know he is home. We live in Porirua in a beautiful suburb close to the kids’ schools. We are a pretty active family and enjoy going on hikes and taking a walk and swim at the beach on the weekends three seasons a year. During the week we do cross fit, boxing, jujitsu and yoga to keep healthy all year round. We have a rather busy household.

4. What music do you like? I enjoy many genres and lots of artists and bands. I like Live, Guns N’ Roses, Foreigner, Styx, Nickelback, Maroon 5, Linkin Park, Daughtry… even boy and girl bands from my younger years, and so many more. As far as artists go I enjoy Pink, Rihanna, Avril Lavigne, Anastasia, some hip hop artists and DJs and good old Ed Sheeran—you get the picture I’m sure.

6. Where’s your favourite holiday spot? My favourite holiday spot in NZ so far is Napier. I was first introduced to Napier when my partner and I went away for a weekend to do the Tough Guy & Gal Challenge (I was a spectator, of course). I love the weather and rough coastline, and there is much to do outdoors, not to mention the bonus of having my fav vineyard in the area too.

7. What’s your favourite food? Mmmm food. Well, I have two favourites. My absolute best is a South African tradition: dried meat known as Biltong, Droewors and Cabanossi. I could easily consume this every day, and would definitely recommend giving it a try. My other favourite food is a naughty one—cheesecake. I love it so much I could eat it for breakfast, lunch and dinner. My waistline would not like it much, so I indulge myself every now and again.

8. Can you name someone who particularly inspires you? That would be my Dad. He has definitely helped mould me into the person I am today. Strong and resilient, he has taught me many life lessons and is always lending a hand. He is my very own Super Hero.

9. What do you enjoy doing in your spare time? I don’t have much free time in my life but, when I do, I chill on the couch and catch up with Netflix. At the moment, that time is being used to study. Currently I am doing a payroll course, and there are more I would like to do after this. All in the aim of progress.

NEW MEMBERS

A warm welcome to new Master Plumbers member businesses:

Northland

Fineline Plumbing and Drainage

Northland Plumbing & Gas Auckland

Boreham Plumbing

The Hot Water Doctor

Ze Plumb & Gas Waikato

Mark Above Plumbing & Gas

Mario’s Plumbing Taranaki

Koru Plumbing & Gas Wanganui

Taylor’d Gas & Plumbing Manawatu

Refined Plumbing and Gasfitting Services

WANT TO JOIN?

Master Plumbers is here to support all businesses in the plumbing, gasfitting and drainlaying industry. Members are Quality Assured and backed by the Master Plumbers Guarantee. We offer a wide range of business resources, HR & technical support, plus training and member discounts—and we advocate for our members as a collective industry voice.

Get in touch to discuss our two-year membership deal!

Steve Rushworth North Island 027 839 8398 srushworth@masterplumbers.org.nz

Sam Timlin South Island 021 433 615 stimlin@masterplumbers.org.nz

2021 NZ Plumbing Conference

We’re hugely looking forward to hosting the New Zealand Plumbing Conference in Blenheim in 2021 after having to postpone this year’s event due to Covid-19 restrictions. The conference will take place from 24-26 March at the Marlborough Convention Centre—same great venue, same inspirational speakers, same exciting social activities. See you there!

Full programme details are available at www.plumbingconference.org.nz

It’s back on! The 2021 NZ Plumbing Conference will take place from 24-26 March at the

Marlborough Convention Centre.

GET YOUR AWARDS ENTRIES IN!

The annual conference will culminate in the 2021 New Zealand Plumbing Awards Dinner, sponsored by Plumbing World. There’s still time to enter in 10 different categories—application forms available at www.plumbingconference.org.nz