24 minute read
Steady, hot & strong
Abounding kindness and generosity among the Master Plumbers membership became very apparent when Rheem ran its recent Steady, Hot & Strong campaign for householders in need. Master Plumbers Marketing & Communications Executive Lisa Onland looks at some of the heartwarming stories to come out of the initiative.
Lockdown was hard for all New Zealanders. But perhaps those who felt it most acutely were the ones stuck in a home lacking the bare essentials.
Back in May, Rheem reached out to Master Plumbers saying that they’d heard of people going through lockdown with no hot water in their homes. Families that were now facing a long winter ahead. Rheem wanted to give away several units to people in need; would Master Plumbers be able to help with the installations?
We put it to our members and the answer was a resounding yes. The Steady, Hot and Strong campaign was born. Within a few days of putting out the call, we had over 75 members volunteer from across the country. Members from businesses large and small put up their hands to offer their expertise to people in their communities.
The giveaway ran for a month and received roughly 120 entries. From those, 14 winners were selected. Each week in July, we sat down to match winners with volunteers from the area, thinking it would be a simple matter of locating a Taupo plumber for our Taupo winner, an Invercargill plumber for our Invercargill winner.
Hayley and Matt from Semtex Plumbing & Gas in Palmerston North went out of their way to help this family, who were showering at the pool after being faced with costly repairs following the purchase of their first home.
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In reality, winners didn’t fit within neat predefined regions. But that didn’t stop our members from coming out to meet them. Aaron from BOP Plumbing and Gas trekked to Minginui, Mike at Gaskin Plumbing made the hour-long drive out to Kaingaroa Forest, and MacMillan Plumbing and Gas will be venturing out to Nukutawhiti.
With members still adjusting to post-lockdown workloads and several winners with limited means of contact, it was a feat of logistics ensuring jobs were scoped, the right unit was sourced and a time set for the install.
It wasn’t just members that got on board. Master Plumbers Business Partners Apex Valves and Hydroflow donated valve packs for many of the installs and several local electricians
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1. Dave at North N South Plumbing N Drainage in Gore assisted a winner living with disabilities on a fixed income to replace her old malfunctioning cylinder. 2. Jon and the team at The Lewis Plumbing Company gave the comfort of hot water to a cancer survivor living in a mobile home in Rotorua, who’s shown here with installer Dave Hodgson. 3. Henry at AKL Plumbing & Gasfitting Services stepped up to replace the hot water cylinder of a winner who’d returned from being stranded abroad and was struggling to find steady work. 4. Dale at Eco Plumber & Gasfitter in Papamoa headed out to Te Puke to install a brand-new unit for a young family living in a rural homestead.
offered their services at reduced rates to assist winners experiencing financial hardship.
If this giveaway is anything to go by, it’s clear kindness and generosity abounds in the Master Plumbers community.
“Just hearing how happy people were that they were going to get hot water again, especially those that were nominated by friends and family—it was a complete surprise to some,” says Brian McFarlane from Rheem, who spearheaded the initiative. “The absolute hardship some people had been facing, not only having no access to hot water, but serious problems of having no income and not knowing when they’d get another job.”
Ray at Baxter & Neilson Plumbers in Invercargill answered the call of a single mum struggling with a 35-yearold cylinder needing replacement and Dave and the team from Laser Plumbing Taupo replaced the cylinder of a mum-of-two whose cylinder began leaking during lockdown and was forced to turn it off. Nathan at Precision Group in Wellington ensured an elderly couple no longer had to heat their water on the stove and a solo dad looking to relocate a small house without a water heating system to Mataura will be assisted by Phil at Gore Southern Plumbing and Heating.
While some winners had been making do for some time, there were others immediately affected by the economic impact of Covid-19— including an airline industry employee who had lost his job and a homeowner who’d been stranded abroad and was now struggling to find steady work. “Definitely an eye opener about how other people are living outside your own bubble. Most certainly a wake-up call and good motivator to continue to help out,” says Brian.
Rheem has indicated their interest in continuing the initiative at branch level, where Master Plumbers Branches and Associations select two to three local recipients a year to assist.
Auckland member business Plumbuilt Plumbing helped out an airline industry employee who had lost his job. Pictured here is installer Daniel von Stetten.
A WORD OF THANKS
A huge thanks to Rheem and those Master Plumbers members and Business Partners who donated their services to the initiative—and all those who put their names forward to help out.
Thanks to Master Plumbers members:
AKL Plumbing & Gasfitting Services
Baxter & Neilson Plumbers
BOP Plumbing and Gas
Eco Plumber and Gasfitter
Gaskin Plumbing
Gore Southern Plumbing and Heating
Laser Plumbing Taupo
The Lewis Plumbing Company
MacMillan Plumbing and Gas
North N South Plumbing N Drainage
Plumbuilt Plumbing
Precision Group
Semtex Plumbing & Gas
Thanks to Master Plumbers Business Partners: Rheem Apex Valves Hydroflow
Being a good plumber is one thing but being a good business owner is quite another. In Simon Collins’ view, it’s all about being ready to learn, adapt and improve with every experience encountered.
For Simon Collins, starting his own business at just 22 was a massive learning curve. Now 35, he has grown Henderson-based Collins Plumbing, Gas & Heating in the intervening years from one man and a van to a current team of 27, including 10 apprentices. “Learning how to manage staff has been the biggest challenge,” he says. “I’m a good plumber and love being on the tools, but I hadn’t run people before setting up my own.”
Simon believes he’s come out stronger as a result and with a great team around him but says he still makes mistakes and there are always things to learn. “You have to be flexible and ready to adapt,” he says. “The current generation is so different, and you need to change your approach to get the most from them. They want a clear idea of their career development and their earning potential and they are very connected through social media with how their contemporaries are progressing.”
Business owners also have to learn not to take it personally when a team member leaves, he says. “You can have a good environment and pay your staff well but sometimes there’s nothing you can do to stop someone from moving on. With every person who has left, I have learned from the experience and looked at where we can make improvements.” Open-door policy Integrity and honesty are top values at Collins Plumbing & Gas, which has been a Master Plumbers member for over 10 years. “I believe in being straight up and doing what you say you’re going to do,” says Simon. “I don’t like talking about someone behind their back. If there’s an issue, I want to hear it from the horse’s mouth.”
He also knows the time and effort that goes into training apprentices and will never poach people from other firms. “I don’t want that to happen to me, so I won’t do it to someone else. If a person comes to me looking for a job, I make it clear to them that I will contact their employer before hiring them.”
Simon has an open-door policy for his team, despite a demanding workload that comprises a 60:40 split between being in the office and on tools. “I treat every individual as an individual, and there are some I’d do anything for, as I know they’d do the same for me. I’ve also learned that different cultures have different approaches to personal interactions, which I always try to take into consideration.”
Specialist knowledge Being on the tools is Simon’s happy place and he’s ‘on the ground’ at some point every day of the week. His mantra is always to do the job to the best of your
Simon Collins started his Auckland plumbing, gas and heating business 13 years ago, at just 22.
ability, and to take the time to do the job properly. “In my experience it can take just as long to do a job that’s not pretty as a pretty one,” he says. Leading by example, his high levels of workmanship have become known in the company as ‘the Collins way’, with the whole team striving for the same benchmark.
Simon’s particular specialty is heating and cooling using renewable technologies. The company’s skills in this area are in demand throughout Auckland and
Renewable heating and cooling is a company specialty. This Stiebel Eltron ground source heating system was set up and commissioned by Simon.
Callum McKenzie, shown here on a construction site, heads up the company’s Whangarei division.
Northland, with another division of the business based in Whangarei, headed up by Callum McKenzie. “Renewable energy systems are a growth market, but installer knowledge is essential to retain the reputation of these technologies,” he says.
At Stiebel Elton’s invitation, Simon spent two weeks in Germany training up to be an approved installer for this company’s ground source and air source heat pump water heating systems and has worked on medium- and large-scale projects of this kind for homes across the upper North Island.
“Keeping up with new technologies is my favourite part of the job and it’s why this industry needs the younger guys, who are quick to adapt,” he says. “Product technologies change so rapidly, as do business systems and marketing opportunities. When I started in 2007, there was no advertising on the internet and businesses did all their invoicing on paper— look how far we’ve come in 13 years.”
Time for the family This year hasn’t been an easy one, of course, and despite having plenty of work on and considering himself to be mentally strong, Simon admits to having some “pretty rough, dark days”. “Covid-19 has certainly put pressure on people and there’s a lot yet to come out of it,” he says.
Being a business owner can be a lonely place without a support network and Simon is thankful to have a business mentor as well as an “amazing” wife, who he can always talk to about what’s going on—though he tries to leave work at the door. “We have a little girl, who’s four and a half, and a boy who’s 18 months, and three years ago I made the decision not to work weekends anymore, so I can be with them.”
This December Mico celebrates 75 years of trading in New Zealand. We take a look at the evolution of a business that came from humble MICO PLATINUM PARTNERSHIP celebrates 75 years beginnings, founded by an entrepreneurial refugee from Palestine in 1945.
Mico founding father, Sigmund (Sigi) Hirschfeld was born in Vienna in 1901. Trained as a Master Plumber, he briefly worked in the family factory making gas water heating units.
Moving to Palestine in 1926 with his wife and young son, he established the first local Jewish-owned manufacturing business, making water heaters and plumbing equipment with his brother. In 1940 the family migrated to New Zealand, arriving with two children, modest savings of £4,000, speaking very little English but with a fierce determination to succeed.
In 1945 an opportunity to buy a half share of a small Wellington-based business importing non-ferrous metals from England came about and by 1946 Sigi became the sole proprietor of Metal Import Co.
That same year, Sigi partnered with Roy Messenger, forming Wakefield Metal Co Ltd in Christchurch, marking the beginning of a highly successful partnership. He built relationships with a range of metal product suppliers and later established strong links in the plastics industry.
In 1956 Ed Matla joined Wakefield Metal, becoming the South Island General Manager in 1962, Managing Director in 1966 and Group Chairman in 1972—dedicating almost his entire working career to the company.
“Generous in his recognition of service rendered, it was his nature to share the fruit of his life’s work with those who worked for him. Fruit not just in financial reward, but in an example of tenacity of purpose, a passion for excellence and a deep respect for his fellow man—rare qualities indeed.”
In 1980, Metal Import and Wakefield Metal came together under the umbrella of the Mico Wakefield Group and by 1991 there were 16 branches in the North Island and 15 in the South Island, including three in Australia.
In 1994, to enable expansion, Mico Wakefield became a wholly owned subsidiary of GE Crane Holdings Ltd—an auspicious partnership, as Sigi and John Crane had an affinity and friendship that had spanned many decades.
In 2011, Crane was acquired by Fletcher Building and since then Mico has continued to grow into a robust business. Growing
By 1967 Wakefield Metal had established branches in Christchurch, Dunedin, Invercargill, Timaru and Nelson and moved into modern new warehouse facilities (pictured) and offices in Balfour Terrace, Christchurch.
A lot has changed in 75 years. Mico Hamilton is pictured here, showcasing the 2020 branding.
and expanding the Branch network to better service customers, investing in new technologies, product ranges and market areas, with 67 branches from Kerikeri to Invercargill, offering plumbing, bathrooms, pipelines, laundry and heating solutions— all in an overarching drive to Make it Easy for customers.
On Friday 18 December, Mico customers and suppliers are invited to 75 year celebrations in store.
The assembled guests at the Waikato Master Plumbers Awards Evening, held in October.
Winners in the WAIKATO
It was all on in October, with 170 guests joining the celebrations at the 2020
Waikato Master Plumbers Awards Evening.
Initially postponed due to deputy mayor Geoff Taylor Covid-19 restrictions, the and local MPs Jamie Strange Waikato Master Plumbers and Tim Van de Molen. Recent Awards Evening was able to go apprenticeship graduates were ahead in mid-October, with NZ also recognised for their years back in alert level 1. of study at Wintec, with Tony
Held once again at the Wright of Laser Plumbing Wintec Atrium, the event was Matamata and Dylan Loughnan attended by Master Plumbers and Rowan Mathews of members, their partners, staff Drainage Systems all going on and apprentices—and well stage to collect their National supported by Master Plumbers Certificates in Drainlaying. Business Partners. Speakers on Congratulations to all the the night included Hamilton winners on the night!
Greig Gornano (left) and Tony Walker of Dr Plumber with their 2020 Waikato Master Plumber of the Year Award.
AND THE 2020 WINNERS ARE...
Waikato Master Plumber of the Year: Dr Plumber
Wintec Apprentice of the Year: Ryan Oliver of FB Hall Waikato Branch Personal Growth & Development Award sponsored by MM Kembla: Calum McNab of Laser Plumbing Matamata Outstanding Services to the Industry sponsored by Dux: Ngaire Scott, Office Manager at Hamilton Plumbing Industry Excellence Award sponsored by Hirepool: Wintec
Training Leader of the Year sponsored by Mico: CF Reese
Most Outstanding Plumber sponsored by Plumbing World: Mike Judd of Morrinsville Plumbing and Gas Most Outstanding Drainlayer sponsored by Marley: Hamish McKenzie of Drainage Systems Most Outstanding Gasfitter sponsored by Rheem: Kerryn Reardon of CF Reese Masterlink Best All-Round Apprentice sponsored by Masterlink: Sean Berry, hosted by Mario’s Plumbing Services Top Year 3 Apprentice sponsored by Buteline: Johan Jacobs of Laser Plumbing Hamilton West Top Year 2 Apprentice sponsored by Greens Tapware: Quintin Trott of Plumbing & Gas Works Top Year 1 Apprentice sponsored by GWA: Logan Potter of FB Hall
AMBROSE ACTION FOR CANTERBURY
The October sun shone on this year’s Canterbury Master Plumbers golf tournament, which marked 69 years for this hugely popular event. Held at the Russley Golf Club in Christchurch, the four-person ambrose saw Master Plumbers member businesses, apprentices, sponsors and visitors all come together for some friendly rivalry.
“We had a full field of around 130 players and the ambrose format went really well as it helped the non-golfers enjoy the day,” says Canterbury Master Plumbers President Michael Diver. “This was the first major event we’d had all year, since being able to come out of lockdown, and it was really good to see most people stay on for a meal and a drink.”
Thanks to the many event sponsors there were plenty of prize donations too, including golf vouchers, toolkits and chilly bins—and Michael says these were really appreciated, especially as Covid-19 meant the tournament could only be confirmed 10 days out.
He particularly wants to acknowledge Morris Ford, who has organised the event for the past 28 years. “Though retired, Morris is still highly involved with the golf day, always going out of his way to make it a success.”
The regional Masterlink team had games, food and water at their golf hole— and brought along two apprentice candidates to chat with members.
Around 130 players turned up for the annual Canterbury Master Plumbers golf tournament on a sunny day in October.
Wanganui stalwart remembered
With the passing of Wanganui Master Plumbers Association Life Member John Wadey earlier this year, John’s partner Mary Anne Sleyer remembers a man with a true dedication for his profession.
John was born into a plumbing family in 1938. The eldest child of Maurie and Marie Wadey, he spent his first years as the ‘man of the house’ while his father served in the military during WWII. John was seven on his father’s return, and had a whole new family dynamic to grow into as he got to know his father.
Maurie had studied sanitation engineering and quantity surveying in a German POW camp, and his brother Des, who had also returned from active service, was a welder. On their return, the brothers joined forces and set up their plumbing company Wadey Bros Ltd. The firm was one of three large plumbing contracting companies that installed infrastructure to many government buildings—notably the Wanganui Memorial Hall, including the copper dome.
They undertook a wide range of industrial, commercial and rural work as well as domestic dwelling work, employing 25 plumbers, sheet metal workers and office staff. They also trained many apprentices, many of whom went on to set up their own businesses.
On leaving school after the fifth form, John joined the family firm as an apprentice plumber. He proved capable with both his practical skills and his technical knowledge, gaining the top marks for New Zealand in his final Trade Certificate exams.
He purchased the family business in 1987 and was a hands-on company director. His strong work ethic and dedication to his profession carried him through the many ups and downs of the contracting business. He expanded the business to include heating, swimming pool and spa pool work, before gradually downsizing to two employees over the later years, when he worked from home. He eventually retired in 2006, largely due to a deteriorating knee problem.
Like his father, John was a member of Master Plumbers, which was always an important element of his life in the industry. An active member throughout his working years, he took up the role of local president twice: between 1984 and 1986, then 1992 to 1994. He was awarded the honour of Association Life Membership in July 2006.
John and his then wife Colleen had three sons: Michael, Glenn and Simon. Sadly, Michael drowned at the age of 16 when he was away for a weekend Scout camp.
With an interest in architecture, over the years John applied his practical skills and his eye for design to build two family houses, demonstrating his characteristic creativity.
John passed away in July 2020 after a long period of illness. He will be sadly missed by his long-term partner Mary Anne, his sons Glenn and Simon and sisters Janine and Sue.
A FINAL NEWS ROUND-UP FOR 2020 FROM THE MASTER PLUMBERS-OWNED MASTERLINK MENTORED APPRENTICE PROGRAMME. WE’LL BE BACK IN THE NEW YEAR! Upskill your apprentice for free
A new Masterlink Training Day offer is designed to take your apprentice to the next level at no cost to hosts. When your firstyear apprentice works at least 40 hours during the week, Masterlink will credit your business with 8 hours—a free Training Day—which you can choose how to use. It’s all about flexibility. Upskill your apprentice by taking them out on a job with you; getting them into the workshop/office to learn different aspects of the trade; or getting them to complete an online course without the need to charge for their time. Talk to your Regional Manager for more information. Terms & Conditions apply.
TALENTED CANDIDATES WANTED
Calling all plumbing, gas and drainage firms... Have you had good apprentice candidates knocking on your door, but no opportunities for them right now? We’re always looking for excellent candidates, so tell them to get in touch with Masterlink! If we succeed in placing them with a host business, we’ll send you a thank-you gift.
Call the team on 0800 502 102 or email admin@masterlink.co.nz
We profile all successful apprentice candidates on the Masterlink website at www.masterlink.co.nz
FROM CASUAL LABOURER TO APPRENTICE
The government’s Apprenticeship Boost funding, together with the support Masterlink provides for small businesses, convinced Kevin Scott, owner of Mangawhai Plumbing, that now was the time to sign up Jordan Stevens, who had been doing casual work for the firm.
If, like Kevin, you have a casual labourer, Gateway student or someone else in mind for an apprenticeship, let us know and we can get them signed up and started on a great career!
Casual work at Mangawhai Plumbing has turned into a Masterlink apprenticeship for Jordan Stevens, shown here with his mentor, Masterlink Northland & Auckland RM Tania Forsyth.
TOP IN THE WAIKATO!
Adult apprentice Sean Berry picked up the Masterlink Best All Round Apprentice Award at the 2020 Waikato Master Plumbers Awards, held at the Wintec Atrium in October. Sean switched from a desk job to a plumbing apprenticeship at the age of 30 and is hosted by Mario’s Plumbing Services in Hamilton. Host Mark (Mario) McMinn says one of the main things he admires about Sean is his work-life balance. “During his time with the business, Sean has bought a house, which he is renovating, has had his first child, is learning the bagpipes and likes to get out for bush walks.”
Sean’s Masterlink mentor, Central North Island RM Russell Walsh, says Sean’s contribution to the reputation of our industry is hugely positive. “He is testament to the fact that trades like plumbing can be embraced at any age. You just need passion.”
Get to know our Regional Managers
This edition, we head down south to profile:
From his sunny Invercargill base, Brendan Parker looks after Masterlink hosts and apprentices in the Southern, Otago and Central Otago regions. When he’s not catching up with apprentices on their block courses at SIT or at their regular progress appraisals, Brendan is kept busy interviewing and screening apprentice candidates, and attending careers expos and other trades events in the region.
Born and bred in Southland, he spent his school years in Oamaru and went on to complete a marketing degree at Otago University. His varied career began with the Police and then in fixedterm contract management roles before joining Masterlink.
Brendan says he is regularly inspired by the stories of Masterlink host employers who have persevered through hard times and come out better
Brendan Parker has the good fortune to live and work in his number one holiday spot!
off, and of apprentices who have found their feet after struggling early on in their training.
Describing himself as an ‘active relaxer’, he is always up and doing, with renovating a particular passion. He also admits to a love affair with food. “Love my seafood, wild meat, handmade bread, BBQs,” he says. “I’m either eating, thinking about what I could eat or preparing something to eat.”
When it comes to his favourite holiday spot, Brendan doesn’t need to go far. “Anywhere Central Otago,” he says. “The wine, the food, trails, fruit picking with the kids in summer, snowboarding in winter and then that little thing called the scenery—in the top five in the world.”
Award winner Sean Berry (centre) with host employer Mark (Mario) McMinn, right, and Masterlink Central North Island RM Russell Walsh.
GET IN TOUCH
Need an apprentice in your business? Masterlink Regional Managers are here to help.
Tania Forsyth Auckland & Northland 027 558 5441
Russell Walsh Central North Island 027 600 9929
Sam Timlin Upper South Island 021 433 615 Colin Kilpatrick Auckland 021 773 296
Bob McCoy Lower North Island 027 479 0075 Brendan Parker Lower South Island 021 644 560
Masterlink milestones
WELCOME
It’s great to have the following new Masterlink apprentices on board and we thank their host companies for their commitment to providing first-class on-job training. ■ Chavawn Matthews – Rogers and Rogers, Kaitaia ■ Oliver Aitchison – Public Drainage Systems (2018), Auckland ■ Kane Ardern – Hi Spec Plumbing & Gas, Auckland ■ Alain Bongat – Allstar Plumbing, Auckland ■ Inoke Paea – Drainage Solutions, Auckland ■ Jordan Stevens – Mangawhai Plumbing, Auckland ■ Stewart Tu’l – BDK Drainage, Auckland ■ Liam Wilson – Allstar Plumbing, Auckland ■ Eric Gruythuysen – Pauanui Plumbing, Pauanui ■ Andrew Soper – J&T Plumbing, Tauranga ■ Liam Fox – DunnRight Plumbing & Electrical, Cambridge ■ Harpreet Singh – The Lewis Plumbing Company, Rotorua ■ Jayden Turton – 100% Plumbing & Gas, Rotorua ■ Reece Saunders – Advanced Building Services, Wellington ■ Jack Leonard – Doaky’s Plumbing, Ashburton ■ Isaac Perenara – Flints Plumbing, Queenstown ■ Chase Sheridan – All Septic and Drainage, Mosgiel
YOU DID IT!
A tough year made it tougher than ever for our apprentices to complete their National Certificates—so a big shout out to all who’ve made it past the finish line in 2020.
PLUMBING & GASFITTING Kristian Karaitiana- Simon Cavey Tongia Ben Stanley Jarrod MacLean Sean Stevenson Josh Olsen Kyle Nicholas-Booth James Wairau John RyanLauren Phillips Ben DeClifford Jarrod Spearpoint Sean Conlan Connor Hamilton Pieter Russon Regan Harper Harrison Muir Joseph Benton Bradley Primmer Regan Harper Lyndon Johnston Wade Williams PLUMBING Jacob Piket Jack Swain Aidan Gregan Valentino Eyer GASFITTING Brooke Schmalkuchen (see page 23 for more about Brooke’s success story). Ezra Edwards
DRAINLAYING Kyle Thom Cameron Jaques Rueben Allen-Bennett
