Never assume

Have you ever formed a first impression of someone that proved totally wrong?

Each edition of NZ Plumber, our design team at SCG put the newly laid up pages on the office wall to see how the magazine looks before it goes out to readers.

In a recent edition, we ran an article entitled “Would you hire a woman?”. It caused a stir in the SCG office, where a high proportion of the designers and account managers are women. For them, the question seemed an insult—of course you’d hire a woman!

Pūkenga also sees a new column from Te Pūkenga in NZ Plumber, starting this edition. Turn to page 77 for an introduction to their new EarnLearn division. We hope this column will help keep readers up to date on developments in this space.

NZ Plumber is the official magazine of Master Plumbers, Gasfitters & Drainlayers NZ Inc. Contact details for the Master Plumbers board, staff, branches and associations are available at www.masterplumbers.org.nz

©NZ Plumber 2013. Registered as a Newspaper, GPO, Wellington, ISSN 0111-4379. NZ Plumber is subject to copyright in its entirety. The contents may not be reproduced in any form, either in whole or in part, without written permission of the publisher. All rights reserved in material accepted for publication, unless initially specified otherwise. All letters and other material forwarded to the magazine will be assumed intended for publication unless clearly labelled ‘Not for Publication’. Views expressed in articles in NZ Plumber magazine are not necessarily those of Master Plumbers, Gasfitters & Drainlayers NZ Inc, or of the Editor. While every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information included in this publication, the publisher and the Editor take no responsibility for errors or omissions or for any consequences of reliance on this information. Publication of advertising material implies no endorsement of either a product or service.

But for the plumbing industry, the numbers of women (particularly on the tools) have only recently started to grow from a very low base, and some employers still have their reservations. Which is why I particuarly enjoyed having a yarn with Phoebe Coers, who has set up her own Rotorua-based business, Rose Line Ltd, at the age of 27. Phoebe, who features on our cover, has a fair bit to say on the subject— including the importance of not making assumptions about people of whatever age, gender, ethnicity or learning style.

Turn to page 28 for the article on Phoebe, which includes some awesome messages from two of her good friends, who are also plumbers in the region. The transition of PGD apprentice training delivery from Skills to Te

Beverly Sellers Editor, NZ Plumber, bsellers@masterplumbers.org.nz

PS: As this edition went to print, New Zealand was bracing for the worst from Cyclone Gabrielle. This, after flash floods in the upper North Island just weeks earlier. Many months of remediation work lie ahead and we wish all our readers well.

He aha te mea nui o te ao? He tangata he tangata he tangata! What is the most important thing in the world? It is people, it is people, it is people!

COVER

People at the top of a business have a moral responsibility to establish a respectful, inclusive culture, says Phoebe Coers. Phoebe, who features on our cover this edition, set up her own Rotoruabased plumbing, gasfitting and drainlaying business last year—and is quick to acknowledge all the support she’s received along the way. No matter what gender, ethnicity, religion or learning style, everyone should feel welcomed into our trades and be given the same treatment, she says. Turn to page 28 to read Phoebe’s thoughts on how our industry can become more inclusive.

Unfortunately, the upper North Island has had a very rough start to 2023, with torrential rain, flooding, and damage to property and infrastructure. As this edition went to print, Cyclone Gabrielle was also set to hit our shores and wreak more damage. These are significant events and highlight the need for better infrastructure across our major cities.

As per usual, we think there is a lot of opportunity for the industry this year and, with an election later in the year, it’s going to be interesting to see how the political landscape plays out.

Although there are some signs of an economic slowdown, there is still a massive shortfall of construction workers to deliver the current workload, so we are confident that the year will still be strong for the sector.

A couple of priorities for Master Plumbers will be making sure the training delivery changes that have been occurring with the transition to Te Pūkenga are industry led—and that outcomes for apprentices, particularly now that training fees have recommenced, meet the satisfaction of apprentices and employers.

As we spoke about last year, Master Plumbers is very pleased with MBIE’s decision regarding changes to lead level requirements for plumbing products. We would like to see suppliers being proactive in making these changes as quickly as possible to ensure products available to consumers are safe for use.

We responded to the consultation on proposals for change to the DrinkingWater Standards for New Zealand by water services regulator Taumata Arowai late last year and we expect to see decisions on this in the first half of this year. It is our strong consumers with carbon neutral gas fuels for the future. Master Plumbers is working collectively with our counterparts at Master Plumbers Australia to ensure we have a joint Standard and training regime that is practical and aligned, which will provide efficiencies for both. cities.” expectation that drinking water suppliers across Aotearoa will eventually need to ensure pipes and fittings supplying water to households are lead free.

We are confident that the gas sector will remain strong and vibrant into the future, and that it will meet the government’s climate change requirements.

Master Plumbers has also been working with Manatū Hauora Ministry of Health, who are in close alignment with our view that New Zealand should be lead free from source to point of use from a public health perspective.

You’ll see from page 42 that there is a great deal of work happening in the gas sector in regards to providing New Zealand

You will see that we have launched the 2023 New Zealand Plumbing Conference website and registration. We are making some changes to the conference format this year, including more group forums to discuss key issues. We will be putting out a state of the nation survey prior to the event, so we can address key industry issues during the conference. We are very keen for all members and Business Partners to complete the survey on its release.

In the meantime, here's to a successful 2023 and we look forward to seeing you in Ōtautahi Christchurch in May.

Greg Wallace, CEO Master Plumbers, Gasfitters & Drainlayers NZ

Me mahi tahi tātou mo te oranga o te katoa We must work together for the wellbeing of all

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