NZ Plumber June-July 2021

O F F I C I A L M AGA Z I N E O F

J U N E /J U LY 2 0 2 1

“I’ll always keep skilling up” Alan Wharton – PAGE 72

WATER INFRASTRUCTURE WOES In 15 worrying charts – PAGE 14

SLOWING THE FLOW

Stormwater drainage focus – PAGE 32

HOLDING IT ALL TOGETHER The office manager’s role – PAGE 78

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A few words EDITOR

Volume 73, Number 3 MAGAZINE TEAM CEO Greg Wallace EDITOR Beverly Sellers 03 543 2008 bsellers@masterplumbers.org.nz PRINT Blue Star 81 The Esplanade, Petone Wellington 6141 DESIGN ICG Designer – Julian Pettitt ICG Senior Account Director – LauraGrace McFarland www.icg.co.nz SUBSCRIPTIONS NZ Plumber is published six times a year by Master Plumbers, Gasfitters & Drainlayers NZ. Members and Certifying tradespeople receive all six editions. If you wish to opt out, please email bsellers@masterplumbers.org.nz To order an annual subscription, go to www.masterplumbers.org.nz MAILING LIST For enquiries, or to update your details: bsellers@masterplumbers.org.nz Non-Master Plumbers’ members with address detail changes should notify the PGD Board direct, giving their registration number here: registration@pgdb.co.nz TO ADVERTISE Contact Alton Anamani advertising@masterplumbers.org.nz

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letters and other material forwarded to the magazine will be assumed intended for publication unless clearly labelled ‘Not for Publication’.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.

People first Every now and then, I get to ask readers what they enjoy reading in NZ Plumber—and the answer is nearly always the ‘people stories’.

You may have noticed that the magazine is divided into different sections for technical information, business advice, industry news and so on. Within each, we try to ‘keep it real’ by including personal profiles, case studies and homegrown projects from all around New Zealand. We are also lucky to have regular contributions from actual businesses, who are willing to share their advice and first-hand perspectives with other readers.

On our cover this edition is Alan Wharton of Flints Plumbing & Drainage in Queenstown. Alan is newly qualified in plumbing and gasfitting and now looking to complete his certifying exams and start his drainlaying apprenticeship. This year, he added the James Douglas Medallion to a growing list of accolades that recognise his skills and determination to keep learning. With a background in hospitality, Alan also loves the people

aspect—providing great customer service gives him a lot of joy, he says.

Plumbing, gas and drainage businesses are not only about the field staff, of course. The office and admin team are often ‘the glue that holds it all together’, as Mike Foote described Plumbing & Gas Works Office Manager Sarah Avery in nominating her for the 2021 Jackson Women in Plumbing Award—which she won. We got to ask Sarah all about her role and how she manages to juggle work and family life. You can read what she has to say on page 78.

Power to the people!

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

Over to you Got feedback? A query? Or something you’d like to read about in a future edition? We welcome your emails. And remember there’s a $50 letter prize for the best we receive each edition. Email the Ed: bsellers@masterplumbers.org.nz

This publication uses vegetable based inks and environmentally responsible paper produced from Forest Stewardship Council® (FSC®) certified, Mixed Source pulp from Responsible Sources.

Paper produced using Elemental Chlorine Free (ECF) and manufactured under the strict ISO14001 Environmental Management System.

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J U N E /J U LY 2 0 2 1

14

ON THE TOOLS

29

29

AS/NZS 3500:2021

Get to know the latest plumbing and drainage Standards

TECHNICAL THEME:

STORMWATER DRAINAGE

32

Slowing the flow

Requirements for new developments

36 38

Sump sizing Getting it right

9

14

WHAT’S UP

9

Touch-free bathrooms

Trends at ISH trade fair

10 12 13

Update

News from around the industry

We

Good news snippets

Calendar

04

Industry events and training

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Proper channels

FEATURES

14 24 26

41

Our water problem...

For small bore wastewater pumps

42

Keep your head on

Are they enough?

Building a better NZ

Pump selection & sizing

In 15 worrying charts

PGD Act proposals

How Master Builders is working to help solve the housing crisis

5 things to consider for stormwater drainage systems

44 38

Water pressure questions answered

Products What’s new to market

MASTER PLUMBERS

47 48 55

47

Member benefit

Privacy Act 2020 resources

BUSINESS SMARTS

64

64

Cost-effective marketing

Bulletin

4 ways to get Google working for you

News, profiles, prizes and more

72

ON THE COVER Gold standard

What makes newly qualified apprentice Alan Wharton a top award winner

76

AND FINALLY...

82 85

Keeping it 100%

Member profile

CAREER STARTERS

72

Why Stu McIvor is a 2021 award winner

82

10 minutes with...

Black Cap and plumber Ben Wheeler

Dodgy plumbing This edition’s woeful collection

Apprentice to apprentice trainer: top tips

78 80

I could be...

An office manager

Skills column

66

Tax deductions for meal expenses

58

Branches & Associations

Out and about in the regions

How to maximise tax savings

67

Insurance advice

5 strings to safety #2: commercial motor cover

68

Resilience building

About the new National Governance Group

COVER STORY Alan Wharton of Flints Plumbing & Drainage in Queenstown has superstar qualities, which is why he was picked for the prestigious 2021 James Douglas Medallion.

Turn to page 72 to read all about Alan, the company he works for and what drives him to succeed.

Training your ‘grit muscle’

69

Set expectations, meet expectations

61

Masterlink messageboard

Apprentice upskilling opportunities

Why we need to stick to our promises

70

Investigating theft

What’s proper process?

70

Keep active!

Winter wellbeing tips

This magazine is subject to NZ Media Council procedures. A complaint must first be directed in writing, within one month of publication, to the editor’s email address. If not satisfied with the response, the complaint may be referred to the Media Council PO Box 10-879, The Terrace, Wellington 6143; info@mediacouncil. org.nz. Or use the online complaint form at www.mediacouncil.org.nz Please include copies of the article and all correspondence with the publication.

PHOTOGRAPH: ALPINE IMAGE COMPANY

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Report CEO

CEO’S REPORT

Master Plumbers is currently inundated with consultations from MBIE, the Ministry of Education, TEC, the Climate Change Commission and Standards New Zealand.

At the last count, we were working through seven different consultation documents to prepare our submissions. All these take considerable time and we use expertise from our membership as required.

We take these consultations very seriously. We want to ensure we are representing the collective voice of the industry and that tradespeople have input into our submissions, which are reviewed in depth before they are finalised.

Unfortunately, a lack of communication from government departments with the construction industry and membership organisations means we are often burdened with considering the consultation document and providing feedback within the same timeframe.

It is also disappointing when, after reviewing the feedback received, the government makes little or no change to the proposals being consulted on. An example of this is the Building Amendment Bill with regard to building products. There were more than 100 industry submissions and Master Plumbers also attended the Select Committee process. Every submission I read was against the proposals and yet the Bill is now in its final stages with few or no changes made.

This in no way means we should give up. We need to be even stronger in our advocacy work to ensure we have

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a voice and can raise opportunities for improvement in a constructive manner.

You’ll see from the article on page 16 that there has been considerable underinvestment in New Zealand’s infrastructure for the past 20 years, particularly in the water, sewerage and stormwater sector. This has now come back to bite us, with ageing pipe networks, failures and non compliance. We are liaising with local government to ensure they understand the size of the problem and have a robust 10- to 20-year plan in place for infastructure services. We can’t continue to have the basic services failures that are currently occuring.

“At the last count, we were working through seven different consultation documents.”

There is also ongoing media attention surrounding lead content in plumbing products and we have a copy of the independent review of the East Otago drinking water lead contamination event.

The report recommends a review of the plumbing standards relating to lead in drinking water.

At Master Plumbers, we strongly believe in moving to lead-free plumbing products, as Australia are currently consulting on

and likely to adopt. This is the only way forward for our industry to remove lead contamination from drinking water. We will be liaising with MBIE and the Ministry of Health to ensure we can start this consultation process.

On other matters, I have been working with the team appointed by MBIE to look at New Zealand’s consenting process and improvement opportunities in consenting and inspections. I’m pleased to announce we will be progressing with a pilot scheme for self-verification in the plumbing and drainage sector, and we are currently working through the technology required to enable this.

The ultimate goal here is to provide a higher level of evidence that local projects are compliant, but most importantly to improve efficiencies around consenting and inspection processes. We will keep you informed of progress for the pilot scheme.

Finally, I want to acknowledge Martin Sawyers’ six-year tenure as Chief Executive of the Plumbers, Gasfitters and Drainlayers Board. Martin came into the role with some challenges but was able to bring realism to the industry and achieve strong industry engagement. Martin and Master Plumbers have had a strong working relationship and we wish him well in his new role at the Transport Accident Investigation Commission.

Greg Wallace, CEO Master Plumbers, Gasfitters & Drainlayers NZ

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Freephone 0800 800 686 plumbingworld.co.nz

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INTERNAL PUSHFIT COUPLINGS Icon ‘internal’ Pushfit Couplings provide a hassle free connection solution when pipes are encased in concrete or sheared off at a wall or floor.

NO TOOLS NEEDED

Simple and speedy pushfit connection in 30 seconds or less

Step 1 Clean the internal surface of the pipe from slurry and debris.

Pipe stop to fit flush up to the pipe Tapered edge aids natural flow

Step 2 Push the Icon into pipe 1 up to the product’s pipe stop.

Step 3 Push pipe 2 onto the opposite end of the Icon.

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Rubber sleeve with ribbed design for a watertight seal

Plastic support presses against the rubber to create a seal

TOUCH-FREE BATHROOM TREND ISH, THE INTERNATIONAL TRADE FAIR FOR WATER AND ENERGY, WAS HELD DIGITALLY THIS YEAR, DUE TO COVID-19 LIMITATIONS. VISITORS WERE ABLE TO CONTACT THE 370-PLUS EXHIBITORS VIA CHAT FACILITIES AND ONLINE MEETINGS.

The Water section focused on drinkingwater hygiene and the growing trend for greater bathroom hygiene in hotels, public toilet facilities and household bathrooms.

ISH says the sanitation industry is meeting demand through dirt and bacteria-resistant surfaces, touch-free operation and hygienic electronic bidets.

The European Green Deal was among the topics discussed, with exhibitors presenting heating systems that make a contribution to achieving the EU’s climate

targets. The Technology and Energy Forum looked at the significance of ventilation and air-conditioning systems amid the Covid pandemic. By constantly filtering indoor air and purging it with large volumes of outdoor air, ventilation technology can help bring about a significant reduction in the risk of infection, said the organisers.

What’s up

INDUSTRY NEWS

The next ISH will be held at the Frankfurt Fair and Exhibition Centre, Germany, from 13 to 17 March 2023.

Source: Dornbracht.

Green Bathroom was among the bathroom trends to feature in the Pop Up My Bathroom show at the 2021 ISH trade fair, with touchless technology helping save water whilst also meeting increasing demand for greater bathroom hygiene.

9 UPDATES 12 WE 13 CALENDAR nzplumber

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NEWS AND INFORMATION FROM AROUND OUR INDUSTRY.

Reality for women on tools As the industry seeks to grow the low number of women getting on the tools, a recent survey run by the Women in Trades Collective looked to discover what would encourage more women into these jobs and what employers perceive as the barriers to hiring them. More than 1,600 responded to the women’s survey, most of them interested in working in trades.

The Trade Careers survey, which ran in April, was followed in May by a series of nationwide workshops to develop ways to engage women to try trades careers and encourage employers to take them on. Trade Careers is supported by Skills, BCITO, Connexis and Competenz. NZ Plumber will be keeping an eye on the survey results.

KAINGA ORA NOW ISSUING BUILDING CONSENTS Consentium has become the first accredited and registered non-TA Building Consent Authority in New Zealand. A standalone and independent division of Kāinga Ora, the BCA will process national building consents for Kāinga Ora for public housing of up to four levels as well as providing inspections and Code Compliance Certificates. The process covers new builds, retrofits, and any repairs and maintenance needing a building consent.

Visit the Trade Careers website at tradecareer.co.nz

CONSTRUCTION SECTOR ACCORD CHAMPIONING DIVERSITY The Construction Sector Accord is partnering with Diversity Works New Zealand, the national body for workplace diversity and inclusion.

“We want to encourage more diverse talent into the construction sector and shift away from our traditional way of attracting, recruiting, retaining and growing people—the status quo isn’t working,” says Accord Director Dean Kimpton.

“We are embarking on this project with Diversity Works New Zealand to better understand how we can improve diversity, equity and inclusion and, ultimately, to better reflect the communities who live and work in the environments we create.”

The skills shortage is one of the construction industry’s biggest challenges, impacting the sector’s capacity to deliver construction projects. Women make up only 18% of the

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construction-related workforce in NZ and Māori and Pasifika are underrepresented in skilled professions and at leadership level.

“The industry has exciting initiatives underway to meet some of these challenges through the work of the Diversity Agenda, the National Association of Women in Construction and Women in Trades, as well as organisations like Keystone Trust,” says Kimpton.

“We are looking forward to building a roadmap with Diversity Works New Zealand to transform the sector to better invest in and promote diversity.”

Diversity Works New Zealand Chief Executive Maretha Smit says one of the first steps will be in-depth research to get a clear understanding of current diversity and inclusion practices—the first time this will have been conducted across the construction industry as a whole.

What’s up INDUSTRY NEWS

DIRECT SUPERVISION OF FIRST-YEAR APPRENTICES Between 1 April and 14 May, the Plumbers, Gasfitters and Drainlayers Board (PGDB) asked the industry for feedback on its proposal to remove the requirement for apprentices to be directly supervised by a Certifying practitioner or nominated person during the first 12 months of their apprenticeship. “Instead, it would be up to the Certifying Practitioner to decide what level of control and direction is required depending on what task the Trainee is being asked to do.”

In its submission to the PGDB, Master Plumbers noted that more than 75% of respondents in its member survey on the topic believed it was critical that supervision remain in place for the first year of an apprenticeship. “We believe that otherwise there is a high risk of safety failures by inexperienced first-year apprentices attempting to complete tasks outside their competency level,” says CEO Greg Wallace. “We are also dealing with young and vulnerable apprentices who need support around health and safety, wellbeing and confidence to ensure they develop personal and technical skills.”

The PGDB made its decision on whether to proceed with the proposal on 15 June, as NZ Plumber went to print.

FEEDBACK ON BUILDING FOR CLIMATE CHANGE PROPOSALS Towards the end of 2020, the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) asked for construction industry views on its Building for Climate Change proposals: To increase the operational efficiency of buildings To reduce embodied carbon across the lifecycle of buildings.

Feedback by sector shows that barriers identified by builders include cost, homeowners not wanting to build past existing code, and entrenched beliefs within the building industry.

Building owners also thought costs of implementing the frameworks would be too high and there was concern that carbon intensive materials like concrete and steel would be banned or heavily limited.

Respondents in the broader supply chain noted that requiring councils to monitor embodied carbon during the consent process would result in increased costs and longer consent times. They also felt that including existing buildings in the initial roll-out would increase employment opportunities, as demand for energy efficiency retrofits would be significant.

MBIE is using the feedback received to develop a more detailed version of the frameworks, with plans to release a final version by the end of 2021.

You can view a full summary of submissions at www.mbie.govt.nz/building-and-energy/building/building-forclimate-change/#summary-of-submissions-report

“DIVERSE ENERGY SOURCES WILL BE NEEDED”

The final advice report from the Climate Change Commission, released in June, recognises the significant potential of alternative fuels such as hydrogen and biogas as part of New Zealand’s future energy mix.

The report acknowledges the value of having diverse energy options for New Zealand’s energy security and stresses that further work is needed to develop a comprehensive strategy for these green fuels as a viable alternative to fossil gas.

The Commission’s first draft advice to the Government recommended a ban on new gas connections in homes and businesses from 2025—but the final advice leaves it to the Government to decide how and when to phase out fossil gas.

Following the release of the original advice, Master Plumbers met with the Climate Change Commission to present the case for alternative fuels. “We are pleased to see the Commission have recognised the promise that bioenergy and hydrogen hold and we will be working with other gas sector leaders to fast-track their delivery,” says Master Plumbers CEO Greg Wallace.

Plans are already underway in New Zealand to blend hydrogen with fossil gas in the existing gas network within 10 years, and hydrogen can also be used to store electricity in fuel cells, which would provide additional security of supply as electricity demand increases due to the massive push towards electric vehicles.

“Our industry is 100 percent supportive of the move to carbon neutrality by 2050, but there needs to be a realistic plan to get there,” says Wallace. “What is needed now is investment in green gas development and urgent investment in the training and facilities for gasfitters to upskill in these alternative fuel technologies.”

Across the Tasman, Australia is investing millions of dollars in new hydrogen training facilities, as it gears up for the opportunities of hydrogen as both a major new domestic energy source and a lucrative export.

“A skilled workforce is the key to success in transitioning to zeroemission green hydrogen,” says Wallace. “By ensuring gasfitters have the skills to work with hydrogen and biofuels, New Zealand will be able to maximise the economic and environmental opportunities presented by these exciting new technologies.”

The Government now has until 31 December to decide whether to accept the Commission’s advice as it sets its first three emissions budgets out to 2035.

Read the Climate Change Commission’s final advice report at www.climatecommission.govt.nz/our-work/advice-to-governmenttopic/inaia-tonu-nei-a-low-emissions-future-for-aotearoa/

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What’s up INDUSTRY NEWS

GAS STANDARD UPDATE AS/NZS 5601.2:2020 – Gas installation, Part 2: LP Gas installations in caravans and boats for non-propulsive purposes has been amended. The amendment applies to Clauses 1.2 and 7.5 and Figures C.6.6(A) and C.6.7(B).

PLEASE NOTE: Until AS/NZS 5601.2:2020 is cited in legislation,

AS/NZS 5601.2:2013 remains the Standard to use in NZ when carrying out gasfitting on a caravan or boat. If you choose to use AS/NZS 5601.2:2020 as the means of compliance, the Certifier responsible will need to prepare a certified design when certifying the installations.

We Plastic Free July is coming up. Spanning 177 countries, this worldwide campaign focuses on reducing our use of single-use plastics.

What you can do in three easy steps: 1. Sign up at http://bit.ly/pfjj. Follow on Facebook http://bit.ly/pfjaf and Instagram http://bit.ly/pfjia for inspiration, updates, competitions and education 2. Participate during July and beyond. It can be as simple as using your own coffee cup or buying grocery items that come in glass jars instead of plastic.

3. Spread the word amongst colleagues, whānau, friends and employees. Contact debbie@debbiespeaks.com for support material, such as logos and posters.

TOILET CALCULATOR UPDATED MBIE has updated its online calculator, which helps plumbers work out how many toilet pans, basins and urinals to include in a building. Check it out at www.building. govt.nz/building-code-compliance/gservices-and-facilities/g1-personal-hygiene/ calculator-for-toilet-pan/toilet-calculator

Tom Palmer, a senior plumber and gasfitter at Foleys Oamaru, has been labelled a hero by his manager after helping catch a wanted man on the run. According to Stuff, Tom used his tackling skills as a former Wellington premier rugby league player to hold the fugitive down until police arrived. He had been at a storage unit with a couple of customers to work on the gas in their caravan when he saw a man curled up under some cushions. Suddenly, the man sprang to life and sprinted out of the caravan, with Tom and the storage unit owner in hot pursuit. The fugitive has since been arrested and charged with burglary among other charges.

Photograph: Rachel Buer

Colleen Upton of Hutt Gas and Plumbing attended an investiture ceremony at Government House in Wellington in May to receive her ONZM honour for services to the plumbing and gasfitting industry and women. Colleen is shown here with Governor-General Dame Patsy Reddy. “It was a cracker morning,” says Colleen. “I have never been to Government House before and I felt like a kid at Christmas. What a beautiful building it is, so much history.”

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Master Plumbers HR Manager Lisa Duston received a Special Merit award in the Professional Woman of the Year – Office category at the 2021 National Association of Women in Construction (NAWIC) Excellence Awards, held in Auckland in May, which was attended by Building and Construction Minister Hon Poto Williams. Lisa was nominated for driving the development of the successful Master Plumbers Wellbeing on Tap health and wellbeing programme, which includes print resources, videos and an 0800 helpline for members.

What's up CALENDAR

TRAINING & EVENTS See what’s coming up on the industry calendar.

Skills Business Advisor Programme

PGDB & Mico CPD Training Roadshow 2021

Apprentice Roles & Responsibilities*

BY APPOINTMENT – NATIONWIDE

NOW UNTIL 9 SEPT – NATIONWIDE

skills.org.nz/employers/businessadvisor-programme

ecommerce.skills.org.nz/CPD2021

6 JUL & 7 JUL – AUCKLAND 9 AUG – HAMILTON 10 AUG – ROTORUA 8 SEPT – CHRISTCHURCH 12 OCT – QUEENSTOWN 13 OCT – DUNEDIN 14 OCT – INVERCARGILL masterplumbers.org.nz/training

Etco Associated Tradesperson Training**

Image courtesy of Hydroflow

2 AUG – TAURANGA 23 AUG – CHRISTCHURCH 20 SEPT – HAMILTON 18 OCT – CHRISTCHURCH

2021 WaterNZ Backflow Conference

HASANZ Conference 2021

5-6 AUG – LOWER HUTT

1-3 SEPT – WELLINGTON

portal.etco.co.nz/courses-list

waternz.org.nz/backflowconference

hasanz.org.nz/page-conference

*Targeted at apprentices.

Masterlink apprentices attend FREE. email training@masterlink.co.nz

2021 GAS NZ Forum

BUILDNZ

‘Our Low Carbon Pathway’ 27-28 OCT – TAUPO

3-4 NOV – AUCKLAND

gasnz.org.nz

buildnz.com

**20% DISCOUNT FOR MASTER PLUMBERS MEMBERS For all Master Plumbers 2021 course dates and venues, go to www.masterplumbers.org.nz/training

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The latest state-of-the-nation water report has some tough lessons for the Government as it embarks on a massive reform of the three waters sector. Here is the problem in 15 charts.

AUTHOR: NIKKI MANDOW

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Feature WATER PERFORMANCE REPORT

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N

ew Zealand’s water problems are serious. The latest Government estimate*, from March, is we need to invest between $70 billion and $96 billion over the next 30 years to get our three waters infrastructure (drinking water, sewage/wastewater and stormwater) up to scratch (see Chart 1).

And that’s without factoring in population growth or climate change resilience.

“The total investment required once maintenance and renewals are factored in could be in the order of $110 billion over the next 30 to 40 years,” the three waters reform programme document says.

At the moment councils spend $1.5 billion a year—or $45 billion in 30 years.

It’s not enough.

The Government’s ambitious reform programme is being sold as a way to make this massive spend possible—as well as avoid

people getting sick from campylobacter in their water, and to prevent geysers disrupting the capital and sewage closing our beaches.

By mid-year, Local Government Minister Nanaia Mahuta and her team should be releasing “substantive policy decisions” around the restructuring programme, with the aim of transitioning to a new way of delivering water by 2022-2023.

We’re at a crucial juncture, and if anyone needed any help to see where the most grunty problems are, Water New Zealand’s latest annual benchmark report, the National Performance Review**, is a good place to start.

Taking part in the benchmarking process is voluntary for service providers, but 42 of the 66 bodies responsible for supplying and removing our water have provided figures for the just-released survey (July 2019 to June 2020)—representing 89 percent of population supplied.

ture deficit

place the ure

ent (in addition rs to upgrade nmental and estimate is

e the new s. The upper

Total expenditure ($NZ billion)

WICS Phase One: Estimated enhancement and expenditure growth between 2020 and 2050 CHART Estimated enhancement and expenditure 120 growth between 2020 and 2050.

le information ties found a

1

100

$16 bn 80

$9 bn

60

$34 bn

$34 bn

40

$46 bn

20

$27 bn

0

Low estimate

High estimate

Total replacement and refurbishment (new asset base) Total replacement and refurbishment (existing asset base) Total enhancement expenditure

t required to es. over the next

Source: Three Waters Reform Programme presentation, March 2021

The report is thorough: it looks at everything from economic performance to sewage/wastewater overflows, from the amount of water leaking out of our pipes, to the shortfall in capital expenditure which is causing it. As you would expect, the 64 pages contain some grunty charts.

Here are 15 of the best.

It’s a friggin’ big network We are talking about water assets worth $43 billion, including 88,000 kilometres of drinking, wastewater and stormwater pipes—enough to run up and down the country 55 times (see Chart 2). And that’s just for the water authorities taking part in the Water NZ survey. The network supplies four million people in 1.3 million homes and over 100,000 non-residential properties.

We use too much water Water use in New Zealand is on the rise— up 12 percent between 2016 and 2020, to 504 million cubic metres last year for the survey participants (see Chart 3). Of course, New Zealand’s population has also gone up over that same period, but not as much—only 6.5 percent. Water use is much higher than it needs to be, says Water NZ principal data scientist Lesley Smith, author of the report.

“In the green city of Melbourne, resplendent with trees and gardens, city residents are encouraged to target 155 litres of water use a day. In New Zealand the average is 229 litres per person per day. It is not uncommon for many districts to use another 100 litres on top of that.”

People in Southland use closer to 700 litres of water a day.

In theory, people living in cities like Melbourne or Auckland, where homes have water meters, use less water than those who live in unmetered cities. You are more likely to turn off the tap when you clean your teeth if you are paying for all that wasted water.

CHART total investment of around $70 to $96 billion is required over 30 years

GOVERNMENT POLICY

2

Assets under management.

16

Water

Wastewater

Stormwater

Total

43,062

27,057

17,989

88,108

Number of pump stations

749

3,104

260

4,023

Number of treatment plants

349

222

573

$2,599,175,885

$3,335,819,563

$5,934,995,448

Other network value

$10,732,824,389

$14,360,797,968

$11,993,223,393

$37,086,845,750

Total asset value

$13,332,000,273

$17,696,617,531

$11,993,223,393

$43,021,841,198

Length of network (km)

Treatment plant value

Source: Water New Zealand 2019-2020 National Performance Review

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Feature WATER PERFORMANCE REPORT

And sometimes it works. The darker the blue band in Chart 4, the more metering. So it’s not surprising six of the top 10 most thrifty water users are also largely or fully metered.

Or that Southland, where no one is metered, uses the most water per person in the country. But it’s not as easy as that.

Selwyn district, near Christchurch, is 100 percent metered and is the third most wasteful area in New Zealand.

Christchurch, while not as bad as Selwyn, is fully metered and residents still use around 240 litres of water per person per day—compared with Aucklanders, whose average usage would be closer to that magical 155 litre Melbourne figure.

Why? Because as well as metering your residents, you have to charge them enough to make it worthwhile saving water.

Christchurch is metered, but everyone still simply pays a fixed annual fee. In Selwyn, there is a per cubic metre component, but it’s tiny—around 50 cents, as compared to $2 in Hamilton and more than $4.20 in Auckland, including a pro rata-ed wastewater volume charge.

Just under half of New Zealanders and 21 service providers don’t have residential water meters in place, the report says.

CHART

Total water supply volumes for continuously reporting participants (m3/year)

3

Total water supplied to the systems of service providers who had contributed five years’ continuous data.

520M 504,254,258 498,633,928

500M 487,866,571 480M

460M

460,862,233 449,186,954

440M

420M

400M FY 2016

FY 2017

FY 2018

FY 2019

FY 2020

Source: Water New Zealand 2019-2020 National Performance Review

water—an increasingly precious resource.

And then 21 percent of it leaks away before it even gets to our taps. And it’s getting worse.

In 2014, Water NZ estimated 149 litres of water was being lost per property per day.

Now it’s almost 215 litres—a 44 percent increase (see Chart 5 over the page).

The global gold standard internationally for measuring water loss is the infrastructure leakage index.

A fifth of our water leaks away Consider this: ratepayers like you and me fork out our hard-earned dollars for water authorities to collect and treat drinkable

CHART

4

There are eight performance bands in the index and worryingly, of the 30 New Zealand water authorities measured, only five are doing well. A further 18 could do better, three are really awful, and four are at various levels of abysmal (see Chart 6 over the page).

Just to put the bands in perspective, Wellington Water, with its geysers and flooded streets, isn’t by any means

Average daily residential water use.

Source: Water New Zealand 2019-2020 National Performance Review

nzplumber

17

Given the level of leaks, it should perhaps not be a surprise how little information some water authorities have about the state of repair of their pipe networks. Four water authorities haven’t looked at any of their water supply pipes and nine have assessed the condition of less than half (see Chart 7).

And when they do know, it turns out lots of those water pipes are in a poor or a very poor condition, and even then the quality of much of the data ranges from “less reliable” (a 3 on Chart 8) to “highly uncertain” (a 5). Only four of the 39 bodies that took part in the benchmarking think their data is “highly reliable”.

It’s a similar story for wastewater and stormwater.

Sewerage overflows go unmonitored “When untreated sewage spills, discharges or otherwise escapes from the wastewater network to the external environment, this is referred to as a wastewater overflow,” says the Water NZ performance review.

So-called ‘dry weather’ overflows can be caused by blockages—fat, oil or wet wipes in the pipes, for example. Others are caused by tree roots, old pipes collapsing, or by plant failures. Last year there were almost 2,000 of these dry weather incidents.

Wet weather overflows happen during storms, when rain leaks into the sewerage network (through broken pipes, for example) and overloads it.

Sometimes the sewage-containing wastewater is syphoned off into the stormwater network, but often it ends up in streams, rivers or the ocean. Other times it spills out of manholes and gully traps onto roads, into gardens, or even people’s houses.

The National Performance Review graph over the page (Chart 9) appears to show that wet weather sewage/wastewater overflows have decreased over the past couple of years. But the report notes show that isn’t the real story at all. The actual situation is that Auckland has so many problems with sewerage overflows it just can’t monitor them all.

“In Auckland the very high frequency of combined sewer overflow operation in wet

18

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5

Changes in median, and number of entities reporting, current annual real loss of water in litres/property/day.

214.75 204.50

200 Median CARL (current annual real loss) (WSE1d)

Too many pipes are stuffed

CHART

190.00 192.58

192.00

150

149.00

149.00

100

50

0 FY 2014

FY 2015

FY 2016

FY 2017

FY 2018

FY 2019

FY 2020

Source: Water New Zealand 2019-2020 National Performance Review

CHART

6

Number of participants in each category of the infrastructure leakage index (=CARL/UARL) (WSE1h)

the worst performer. It falls into the “possibilities for further improvement” category. There are 17 other water authorities in that same category— presumably the leaks are less visible or the inhabitants less vocal. And there are seven water authorities which lose more water than Wellington—some considerably more.

Water loss performance summary using the Infrastructure Leakage Index.

20 18

18 16 14 12 10 8 6

5

4

3

2 0

Further loss reduction may be uneconomic (<2)

Possibilities for further improvement (2 to <4)

Poor leakage management (4 to <6)

Poor leakage management (<6)

1

1

1

1

Very inefficient use of resources (6 to <8)

Very inefficient use of resources (8 to <10)

Very inefficient use of resources (10 to <12)

Very inefficient use of resources (12 to <14)

Source: Water New Zealand 2019-2020 National Performance Review

weather presents a significant challenge in terms of reporting,” Auckland’s Watercare says, adding it is implementing a range of initiatives to resolve the problem.

“Against this, the complexity of the system and the sheer number of sites, many of which are very difficult to accurately monitor, makes reporting unreliable.”

There is similar uncertainty at a national level about just how often sewage and wastewater is overflowing into our streets and our waterways.

Different water authorities use different monitoring systems. More than half the

water service providers in the study rely completely on ‘verbal reports’—someone letting them know there is sewage/ wastewater pouring out—or so-called SCADA (supervisory control and data acquisition) monitoring systems.

The trouble is, as the report’s authors say, “Wastewater overflows tend to be underreported when based on verbal reports or SCADA monitoring.” For example, people aren’t likely to notice or report a wastewater overflow which happens overnight. And SCADA systems will not capture uncontrolled wet weather

Feature WATER PERFORMANCE REPORT

Given the level of leaks, it should perhaps not be a surprise how little information some water authorities have about the state of repair of their pipe networks.

CHART

7

Percentage of pipelines that have not had their condition assessed.

CHART

Percentage of pipelines assessed in poor or very poor condition.

Source: Water New Zealand 2019-2020 National Performance Review

8

Source: Water New Zealand 2019-2020 National Performance Review

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19

CHART

9

Wet weather wastewater overflows for those supplying five years’ continuous data.

Source: Water New Zealand 2019-2020 National Performance Review

overflow events occurring at unmonitored points in the network.

As Chart 10 shows, the more sophisticated a monitoring system is, the less likely it is to be used by water service providers.

The New Zealand Wastewater Sector report, commissioned by the Ministry for the Environment from engineering and planning companies Beca, GHD, and Boffa Miskell, says the lack of knowledge and monitoring and the wide range of approaches to regulation of wastewater overflows mean even the most basic regional benchmarking and performance improvement metrics are impossible.

“Consistency in approach across all these areas would lead to considerable benefits,” the report team said.

“Councils have varying degrees of knowledge of their wastewater networks including where their overflows occur (uncontrolled) and what events trigger them.

“There are a number of councils that do not currently hold sufficient detailed knowledge of their networks to predict where overflows currently occur.”

Two of the water authorities reporting to the Water NZ survey admit to having no overflow tracking in place at all.

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Wastewater treatment plants break the rules Meanwhile there seems to be a big problem of wastewater treatment plants breaking the rules—discharging contaminated water, for example, or operating without a resource consent—and getting away with it.

In 2019, there were 629 incidents of “non-conformance” and in only 11 cases did anyone do anything about it.

As Chart 11 shows, that improved a bit in 2020. Enforcement actions went up to 29 and reported non-compliance incidents fell to 397.

Still, it’s a massive difference.

In 2019, the Department of Internal Affairs commissioned the National Stocktake of Municipal Wastewater Treatment Plants*** from consultants GHD and Boffa Miskell.

The results were shocking.

For example, of 170 wastewater treatment plants the team looked at, only a quarter (27 percent) achieved full compliance, 26 percent had low risk non-compliance, 22 percent had moderate non-compliance and a full quarter (25 percent) had significant non-compliance.

Meanwhile, nearly a quarter of plants (73 in total) were operating on expired consents,

with the average time operating on an expired consent being four years, the report found.

Monitoring of water quality and contaminants in discharges was sometimes chaotic and varied widely from one plant to another. For example, often a resource consent approval would list contaminants that shouldn’t be released into the water, but without putting a numerical value on what was acceptable and what wasn’t.

So it was virtually impossible for regulators to take action.

Another problem was that taking a strong line against treatment plants polluting water sources was often a political no-no, the GHD-Boffa Miskell report said.

“WWTPs are typically operated by territorial local authorities with the regional councils acting as the primary enforcement agencies (most unitary authorities perform both roles in tandem). The result of this is that councils can face pressure from ratepayers who object to being required to finance both prosecution and defence.”

Water: sucking up money Water systems are expensive to build and maintain—and it’s going to get worse.

Ageing networks, tougher rules (or at

Feature WATER PERFORMANCE REPORT

least stricter enforcement of those rules), population growth and the future impacts of climate change—that’s all going to need a lot of money.

4.1.2 Wet-weather overflows Capital expenditure on water and services for the providers covered Wet weatherwastewater overflows occur during storm events, when rainfall can make itsby waythe intoWater the sewerage network and overload it. When NZ report increased significantly sewerage system capacity exceeded, from in the 2020isfiscal year,wastewater boostedescapes in particular either constructed overflow locations (to the stormwater network or by sharp rises in Auckland—one of the first other water courses such as streams, rivers, or the ocean) or from networks to take on board the seriousness of other points in the networks such as manholes and gully traps. the problem (see Chart 12). Watercare spent Figure 13 shows the approaches to track wastewater overflows. $192 million for used water supply last year, up Service providers using hydraulic models to track overflows generally from $148 million, and wastewater spend employ SCADA monitoring and verbal reports concurrently. More than went from $279 million to $391 million. half of the service providers in this report rely upon verbal reports or Still, the data suggests the amount of SCADA monitoring to track overflows. Two entities reported having no overflow money tracking inbeing place. spent on asset renewal in water networks is falling short of what Wastewater overflows tend to be under-reported when based on needs to be spent on failed and failing verbal reports or SCADA monitoring. For example, wastewater infrastructure (see Chart 13identified over the overflows occurring overnight are unlikely to be viapage). verbal critical is depreciation, an reports. SCADAThe systems will notnumber capture uncontrolled wet weather accounting representing thenetwork.The amount overflow events occurring atterm unmonitored points in the

4|

CHART

10

WATER NEW ZEALAND 2019-20 NATIONAL PERFORMANCE REVIEW

Number of participants employing various recording approaches for wastewater overflows.

Figure 13: Number of participants employing various recording approaches for wastewater overflows

Overflows recored through verbal reports [WWE9a]

Recording approach in place

Overflows recorded through SCADA montoring [WWE 9b]

Not in place

2020) commissioned by the Ministry for the Environment, notes that

Wastewater treatment resource CHART “councils have varying degrees of knowledge of their wastewater consent non-conformance and compliance actions.

networks including where their overflows occur (uncontrolled) and

what events trigger them”, and that “There are a number of councils that do not currently hold sufficient detailed knowledge of their networks to predict where overflows currently occur”.

FY 2017

FY 2018

FY 2019

FY 2020

Wastewater consent abatement notices (WWE4a)

1

6

6

20

Wastewater consent infringement notices (WWE4b)

7

4

2

6

Wastewater consent enforcement orders (WWE4c)

0

0

1

0

Wastewater consent successful prosecutions (WWE4d)

0

3

2

3

Wastewater consent letter of direction (WWE4h)

9

Wastewater consent formal warning (WWE4i)

4

Wastewater treatment plant consent nonconformance (WWE4e)

627

397

Source: Water New Zealand 2019-2020 National Performance Review

CHART

12

Trend in total capital expenditure for service providers supplying five years’ continuous data.

Capital Expenditure: Water Supply (WSF20)

Capital Expenditure: Wastewater (WWF21)

Capital Expenditure: Stormwater (SWF17)

FY FY FY FY FY FY 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020

FY FY FY FY FY FY 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020

FY FY FY FY FY FY 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020

$700,000,000 $600,000,000 $500,000,000 $400,000,000 $300,000,000 $200,000,000 $100,000,000 $0

Source: Water New Zealand 2019-2020 National Performance Review

Overflows calculated through calibrated hydraulic models [WWE 9d]

Source: Water New Zealand 2019-2020 National Performance Review

New Zealand Wastewater Sector report (Beca, GHD, Boffa Miskell,

11

Overflows calculated through hydraulic models [WWE 9c]

by which the value of different parts of the network—pipes, plants, reservoirs etc—are decreasing over time because of wear and tear or obsolescence.

By law, water authorities have to collect enough money each year to cover the depreciation of their assets—so at some point they can repair or replace them.

But over the years most councils have spent far less on water infrastructure than they have collected to cover depreciation. That decision is now coming back to bite them.

There are skills shortages So there’s a massive amount to be done, but who’s going to actually carry out all this water infrastructure work? And do these people have the skills to do a good job?

To be a plumber, you need training and qualifications. But to work in water infrastructure you mostly don’t. And that’s a problem.

Nearly 60 percent of water service provider employees have no qualifications—or at least none their bosses know about. Less than 10 percent are enrolled in continuing professional development (see Chart 14 over the page).

“The lack of information on staff training and qualifications is quite surprising and, possibly, quite concerning,” an AECOM verification audit of the report said.

“Going forward, the thought is that the regulator will be looking for assurances that the industry is employing the right people with suitable qualifications and training, and a commitment to staying up to date with the latest technologies.”

Meanwhile, vacancy levels for people building and maintaining our water

nzplumber

21

The nu

completing apprenticeships. The auditor commented (AECOM, 2021): The lack of information on staff training and qualifications is quite surprising and, possibly, quite

Feature WATER PERFORMANCE REPORT

concerning. Going forward, the thought is that the Regulator will be looking for assurances that the industry is employing the right people with suitable qualifications and training, and a commitment to staying up to date with the latest technologies. Consulting companies have

CHART

13

Capital expenditure to replace existing assets over the previous four years.

Engine

Counc

been managing this type of information for some years because it is one of the key attributes

2.3

when selling services, so there is no reason why local government organisations cannot do the

In 202

same. Similarly, there is technical information CHART lacking which is fundamental to the responsible

• 1,26

14

management of 3 Waters.

Figure 3: Qualifications

No qualifications listed, 59.02%

$1,400,000,000

Data c

Qualifications.

• 13 e

inju

mec

Staff with a relevant Bachelors degree (CB15a), 15.50%

Figure 4

$1,200,000,000 $1,000,000,000 Staff with a NZ Certificate (CB15b), 13.44%

58.83%

$800,000,000 58.39%

$600,000,000

69.53%

$400,000,000

Staff with a NZ Diploma (CB15c), 7.38%

$200,000,000 Staff with completed apprenticeships (CB15d), 4.66%

0 Water supply

Wastewater

Capital to replace existing assets

Stormwater

Staff currently enrolled in training, 17.63%

Depreciation

Source: Water New Zealand 2019-2020 National Performance Review

CHART

15

Source: Water New Zealand 2019-2020 National Performance Review

1 Figure

Disposal routes for wastewater sludges.

40

160,000

35

140,000

30

120,000 106,474

25

100,000

20

80,000

67,767 57,188

15

60,000

10

40,000

5

20,000

0

Volume of wet sludge disposed of (tonnes/year)

Number of treatment plants using disposal route

145,035

0 Disposal route: on site stockpile

Disposal route: landfill

Disposal route: composting and reuse

Disposal route: other

Source: Water New Zealand 2019-2020 National Performance Review

In New Plymouth, a ‘bioboost’ product is used to fertilise golf courses, in the Bay of Plenty sludge is the main feedstock for industrial scale worm farms. infrastructure are stubbornly high. Eight percent of roles are waiting to be filled, which is a worry as the sector faces a massive backlog of maintenance and upgrade work.

“The workforce is struggling to keep up with existing levels of growth, despite a 25 percent increase in the number of people employed in the last year,” Water NZ chief executive Gillian Blythe says.

“Only 77 percent of budgeted capital expenditure was spent last financial year, and the lack of people to deliver projects is widely acknowledged as a key reason for that gap.

Missed opportunities Sewage sludge, the solid fraction of treated wastewater leaving sewage treatment plants, is not the most sexy of products, which

22

nzplumber

is why it is often euphemistically called biosolids. But it can be super-useful—energy dense and a great source of nutrients for plants. In New Plymouth, a ‘bioboost’ product is used to fertilise golf courses, in the Bay of Plenty sludge is the main feedstock for industrial scale worm farms. Meanwhile, biosolids from the country’s biggest treatment plant, at Mangere in Auckland, are being used to rehabilitate land at the Puketutu Island regional park.

Still, lots of sewage goes to waste, so to speak. Worse, the usual disposal method is to pay to send it to landfill (see Chart 15).

The National Performance Review also promotes using wastewater to produce energy.

“It is a little known fact our wastewater contains over 10 times the energy used to treat

it,” Water NZ’s Lesley Smith says. Treatment plants in Auckland, Whangarei, Hamilton, Palmerston North and Christchurch have already begun to tap into this resource, she says, producing more than 250 gigajoules of energy last year. But that means the rest— more than 200 treatment plants—aren’t.

“The opportunities are enormous.” * https://www.dia.govt.nz/diawebsite.nsf/Files/Threewaters-reform-programme/$file/Three-WatersReform-Programme-March-Engagement-slides.pdf ** https://www.waternz.org.nz/ NationalPerformanceReview *** https://www.dia.govt.nz/diawebsite.nsf/Files/Threewaters-documents/$file/Report-1-National-Stocktakeof-Municipal-WWTPs.pdf

This article by Newsroom Business Editor Nikki Mandow first appeared on newsroom.co.nz on 28 April 2021.

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Feature PGD ACT

PGD ACT PROPOSALS: ARE THEY ENOUGH?

Proposed changes for the Plumbers, Gasfitters, and Drainlayers Act 2006 don’t go far enough, according to Master Plumbers. NZ Plumber takes a look at the proposals, what more Master Plumbers wants to see, and where to for self-certification of plumbers and drainlayers.

O

verall, the Plumbers, Gasfitters, and Drainlayers Act is working well, according to the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE). Its overdue review of the Act has resulted in a few proposals for change.

Proposed changes

Removal of exemptions for sanitary plumbing work: Current householder and area exemptions allow the government to designate areas of NZ where sanitary plumbing work can be done by people with no relevant qualifications. This would be removed though homeowners would still be allowed to do lowerrisk work, such as installing washing machines and dishwashers or replacing and repairing taps.

Removal of exemptions under supervision: Current exemptions allow unlicensed people to work under supervision would also be removed, although a new licence class would be developed to formally recognise their skills and experience.

Further work to develop a pathway to self-certification for plumbers and drainlayers: Whilst MBIE recognises that a self-certification model would increase efficiencies, it says the review found ‘gaps’ that would need addressing first. These include updating the licensing system to make sure certifiers have the required skills and implementing an auditing regime. A self-verification pilot scheme is planned as a first step.

Changes to the structure of the Plumbers, Gasfitters and Drainlayers Board (PGDB):

24

nzplumber

The recommendation is to enable a broader PGDB membership, whilst keeping the requirement for at least four members of the 10 on the Board to be registered and licensed plumbers, gasfitters and drainlayers.

Minor changes to complaints and disciplinary processes: These would

include removing the barrier to the PGDB Registrar being able to make a complaint.

Minor changes to definitions under the Act. A draft Bill for these proposed changes is expected to be introduced in early 2022. This will then be referred to a Select Committee for review and to seek public feedback.

“We want more modifications” Greg Wallace, CEO, Master Plumbers Ahead of the 2019 public consultation period on the PGD Act review, Master Plumbers was asked to contribute its views to the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) on issues for consideration.

In its submission, Master Plumbers noted it was strongly in favour of introducing self-certification for plumbers and drainlayers but stressed that this would require a well-funded auditing programme. Two years later MBIE has said it will develop a pathway towards self-certification but that gaps will need addressing first—including “implementing a credible auditing regime”.

According to Master Plumbers CEO Greg Wallace, most of the organisation’s other suggestions for consideration were not addressed by the statutory review, but Master Plumbers has been engaging with MBIE to discuss these points further. “We want to see more modifications to the PGD Act and we have been assured there is still time,” says Wallace.

Points raised in the Master Plumbers submission include the recommendation to apply a fit and proper person test at an earlier stage, when a trainee is applying for a Limited Certificate. This is because some trainees fail the current test when they apply for registration or licensing, leaving them potentially unable to pursue their chosen career despite having completed their apprenticeship.

“We also suggested that higher fines be levied against non-licensed people carrying out work, and that the revenue from these fines be used to help fund prosecutions carried out by the Plumbers, Gasfitters and Drainlayers Board,” says Wallace. “In a recent survey of our membership, 95% of respondents agreed with this recommendation.”

Other feedback in the submission related to Act definitions.

Master Plumbers welcomes MBIE’s confirmation of a self-verification pilot scheme for plumbers and drainlayers, and will drive progress for this along with further modifications to the Act.

WHY THESE PROPOSALS NOW? This March the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) released the Statutory Review Report on the Plumbers, Gasfitters, and Drainlayers Act 2006. The report was eight years overdue and makes some recommendations for change to the Act. As part of its overall review, MBIE commissioned the Sapere Research Group to conduct an independent review of selfcertification to inform its recommendations about whether or not to progress with this model.

MBIE released the Sapere report at the same time as the Statutory Review Report.

Find both reports at www.building.govt.nz/about-buildingperformance/all-news-and-updates/minor-changes-to-theplumbers-gasfitters-and-drainlayers-act

ON-FARM RETICULATION SYSTEMS As part of its statutory review of the PGD Act, MBIE considered removing the requirement for a plumber to be required for any on-farm reticulation work that shared a water source with sanitary fixtures. It now says this will be progressed once the requirement can be “sufficiently amended while still protecting public health and safety”.

“There is a risk that badly designed pipework or poorly installed protections against contamination cause contaminants to enter the potable water supply,” says MBIE. “In particular, through failure to properly install appropriate backflow preventers at the correct places or poorly designed and installed plumbing that carries foul water.”

The milking and pumping industry wants to see an exemption in the PGD Act allowing technicians to carry out sanitary plumbing on farms, but this won’t be happening imminently.

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Registered Master Builders Chief Executive David Kelly outlines the Association’s policy work to help solve the housing crisis and put an end to the sector’s boom-and-bust cycle.

AUTHOR: DAVID KELLY

M

aster Builders was pleased to see the Government taking action on housing, releasing a plan with a strong focus on stimulating the supply of new builds into the market. These measures recognise there is no quick fix.

While some will start to make a difference now, we hope they will also begin to address the boom-and-bust cycles which plague all of us in the sector.

Master Builders has been advocating for Government and the sector to work together to ensure a sustainable sector and to help solve the housing crisis, through both short and long-term solutions.

This is why last year we developed our policy document Building a Better New Zealand, outlining recommendations for Government action.

“During the GFC, the residential construction sector lost 25 percent of its workforce. It took seven years for sector employee levels to recover to pre-GFC levels. This has directly contributed to the housing deficit we have today.”

establish more consistent national regulatory policies and systems, as well as providing greater clarity and certainty to the applicant and the building consent authority (BCA). The end result would see reduced time and financial costs, and quicker delivery of commercial and residential projects.

Reviewing the LBP Scheme We are also advocating for a review of the Licensed Building Practitioners Scheme to improve its ability to support the wider building regulatory system. Strengthening the entry and renewal licensing

requirements and processes is critical to lift building standards and improve consistency across the Scheme itself. I know this is an area of real interest for Master Plumbers, which is advocating for self-certification for plumbers and drainlayers.

Supporting new home building New Zealand’s housing crisis is not new, and unfortunately, there is no silver bullet.

But the Government’s Housing Plan shows that they have been listening to the sector and are committed to taking urgent action, while also putting into place measures that will help in the long-term.

Building a better New Zealand 2020

Rebalancing the building consent system Our first priority outlined ways to improve building regulation. This is about rebalancing the building consent system to make it more efficient, easier to use, and to allocate risk more appropriately.

Rebalancing offers opportunities to

26

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1

The Master Builders policy document, Building a Better New Zealand, outlines recommendations for Government action.

Feature OPINION

We are continuing to work closely with Government to ensure we avoid this repeating. Our policy document outlined incentives as a way to stimulate the private sector, and these may still have a role to play in the future.

We believe the provision for infrastructure funding to support new homes and developments is a positive step, making it easier to build in the areas we need it most. It is also encouraging to see new builds exempt from the increased bright-line test and the tax changes. We hope more investors will work with the sector to increase the supply of new homes coming onto the market. We are already seeing more investors interested in new builds—but their focus is currently more on turnkey opportunities than development or even buying off plan. We hope this will change with these new incentives.

Providing funding for affordable housing

Removing the boom-and-bust cycle Ensuring a pipeline of work and ending the boom-and-bust cycle is still a key focus for us. While this cycle is well known, the impact is often downplayed. But the fallout causes the lack of innovation and skilled talent when we need it. During the GFC, the residential construction sector lost 25 percent of its workforce. It took seven years for sector employee levels to recover to preGFC levels. This has directly contributed to the housing deficit we have today.

Registered Master Builders Chief Executive David Kelly.

The Housing Minister is listening. Last year Minister Woods announced a $350 million Residential Development Response Fund available to underwrite stalled or at-risk developments. While the fund is not yet needed, Woods has stated it is ready to activate if required. She has agreed the focus should be on supporting the continued supply of affordable housing, which was the area that suffered most significantly following the GFC when funding was unavailable.

For now, we are focusing on collaborating with Government, the private sector, local government and iwi to address these issues. Our focus remains on helping the sector to build more houses today, while also ensuring we are more sustainable, so this building can continue in the future.

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When your client receives an invoice that has been prepared by you under the Construction Contracts Act 2002 and they intend to dispute any part of the invoice, or invoices, they must send you a payment schedule clearly explaining their dispute with your account within 20 working days or within the time stated in the contract, if there is one. If they do not provide a payment schedule within the time frame, they are be required to pay the full amount, which can be enforced. In the event that you are sent an invoice under the Construction Contracts Act 2002, you must either pay the account or submit a payment schedule within the time stated or 20 working days.

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27

AS/NZS 3500:2021

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BUILDING CODE & STANDARDS

Revisions to the AS/NZS 3500 Plumbing and drainage series of Standards were published on 28 May 2021. MBIE has information on the major changes within the 2021 Standards and when they will come into effect as a means of compliance with the Building Code.

P

lumbers, drainlayers, designers, consenting officers and other industry professionals are encouraged to familiarise themselves with the latest editions of the AS/NZS 3500:2021 Standards.

MBIE will consult on Building Code updates in April 2022 to reference the latest AS/NZS 3500:2021 editions, with the latest editions intended to come into effect as a means of compliance in November 2022.

MBIE encourage you to stay up to date with proposed Building Code changes by subscribing to Building

Controls Updates at www.building. govt.nz/subscribe

Important note The previous AS/NZS 3500:2018 editions currently remain in force as a means of complying with Building Code clauses E1, G12 and G13 (with some modifications).

If you use the AS/NZS 3500:2021 Standards before they are referenced as a means of compliance with the Building Code, you will need to propose them as an alternative solution to the relevant Building Consent Authority when applying for a building consent.

For more information on using alternative solutions for compliance with the Building Code, please refer to www.building.govt.nz/building-code-compliance/how-the-building-code-works/ different-ways-to-comply/alternative-solutions

29 AS/NZS 3500:2021 32 TECHNICAL THEME: STORMWATER DRAINAGE

41 WASTEWATER

PUMP SELECTION & SIZING

42 KEEP YOUR HEAD ON

44 PRODUCTS nzplumber

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On the tools BUILDING CODE & STANDARDS

Now is a good time to familiarise yourself with the latest editions of the AS/NZS 3500:2021 Plumbing and drainage Standards, which are expected to come into effect as a means of compliance in November 2022.

WHAT’S CHANGED? Major changes within the AS/NZS 3500:2021 Plumbing and drainage Standards include: Removal of specific product standard conformance requirements to avoid inconsistencies with the WaterMark scheme Relocation of definitions into AS/NZS 3500:2021 Part 0 Glossary of terms for consistency across the series Removal of cross-connection hazards and corresponding hazard ratings to avoid conflict between the Plumbing Code of Australia and NZ Building Code Acceptable Solution G12/AS1 Jointing requirements for plastics pipes have been clarified and expanded to allow different methods Changes to the requirements for the marking of pipes in commercial buildings to assist in the better identification of pipework and avoid cross connections Changes to the requirements for the installation of water services located in metal-framed walls Changes to the connection requirements for sanitary drains at grade The range of materials that can be used for wet wells has been expanded to encompass prefabricated wells Design rainfall intensities for stormwater drainage systems are now expressed in terms of the Annual Exceedance Probability (AEP) values to reflect the practice of the Australian Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) and align with the performance requirements of NZ Building Code clause E1 Surface water

Design rainfall intensities for stormwater drainage systems have been updated to show the latest values from the Australian Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) and New Zealand’s National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research (NIWA) New Zealand rainfall maps have been replaced by Table E.1 showing 10% AEP (10 years ARI) and 2% AEP (50 years ARI) rainfall intensities for selected locations The minimum separation distance between above-ground heated water services and electrical services has been reduced to align with the AS/NZS 3000 Wiring rules and AS/NZS 3500.1 Changes have been made to requirements for circulated heated water systems including water meters and entry points for heated water, thermal insulation for non-circulatory heated water piping, and maximum capacities of any dead leg from the branch offtake to its termination—to improve the amenity for users and reduce wastage of water and energy Heated water temperature control provisions relating to maximum sanitary fixture delivery temperatures and solutions for control of delivery temperatures have been removed to avoid conflict between the Plumbing Code of Australia and NZ Building Code Acceptable Solution G12/AS1.

The AS/NZS 3500:2021 Plumbing and drainage Standards are available on the Standards New Zealand website at www.standards. govt.nz and can also be viewed for free by licensed plumbers, gasfitters and drainlayers through the Trade Log-in on the PGDB website www.pgdb.co.nz

MASTER PLUMBERS ONLINE STANDARDS CATALOGUE An online catalogue of Standards for plumbers, gasfitters and drainlayers is available on the Master Plumbers website at discounted rates for members. Find details in the member log-in area at www.masterplumbers.org.nz (under Business Resources).

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Steady, Hot & STRONG

Rheem Mains Pressure Vitreous Enamel cylinders are designed and manufactured in New Zealand to provide the best corrosion resistance to a wide range of water conditions, including: varying pH levels, high chlorides, hard water and MIC (Microbiological Induced Corrosion); as found in parts of the country and areas with untreated bore water.

and interlinked modules with smaller individual capacity that can be installed beneath floor slabs, decks, paving, driveways or even steps. The collection area of modular tanks may be limited – for example, 350 m² in Wellington.

Installation and flow

On-site stormwater management for new developments is now a requirement in many jurisdictions. This is what you need to know about options such as detention and retention tanks, soak pits and pervious paving.

AUTHOR: ANN GALLOWAY

N

ew development places additional demands on existing stormwater systems, which increasingly do not have the capacity to handle further loads.

When permeable surfaces like grass are replaced by houses, driveways, roads and decks, rainfall that used to soak through the soil or slowly drain over land runs off the land much faster.

Stormwater detention tanks are designed to store rainwater run-off from roofs, driveways, paths and other impervious areas.

The water discharges from the tank to the stormwater system through a small-diameter pipe at a controlled rate that the stormwater system can cope with (see Figure 1).

Common systems include below-ground tanks (typical storage capacity 2,000–5,000 L)

The inlet is from downpipes with a leaf diverter and silt trap to reduce sediment build-up within the tank. The outlet is a small-diameter orifice – outlet pipe – at a specific height above flood level, regulating discharge to the stormwater network.

The overflow pipe capacity must equal or exceed the inflow capacity from downpipes and must discharge where flow is visible and does not cause a problem.

It is recommended that a mesh screen is installed over the silt trap and outlet pipes to prevent debris from entering and a first-flush diverter installed to reduce contaminants in the stormwater system.

Detention tanks should be installed by approved installers in accordance with the manufacturer’s specifications.

Detention tanks: reduce the peak flow of stormwater leaving the site are useful in urban areas with reticulated stormwater ideally discharge by gravity but some sites may require a pump do not require seismic and wind restraints for in-ground tanks are not for storage – additional tanks are required for emergency water.

Move to hydraulic neutrality

Detention tanks Detention (sometimes known as attenuation) devices store stormwater temporarily, releasing it gradually to manage peak flows in the stormwater network. Options for large areas may include wetlands or ponds, but for a residential site, the detention device is usually a tank.

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Photo courtesy of Hynds.

Both the volume of water and the peak flow are increased as a direct result of development. Many authorities now impose a requirement of hydraulic neutrality on new housing developments.

In other words, stormwater must be managed on site to ensure the peak flow rate is the same or less than what it was prior to development.

Common management techniques include detention and retention tanks, soak pits, pervious paving and bioretention devices such as green roofs and rain gardens. All require active maintenance.

Underground retention and detention system.

On the tools STORMWATER DRAINAGE

TECHNICAL THEME

Retention tanks Retention devices reduce the volume of run-off through disposal or reuse on site. Typical devices include tanks (with or without detention capability), soak pits, pervious paving and bioretention systems.

FIGURE 1: Detention and retention system.

Choosing the right size Establishing the appropriate device size is a function of several factors including the catchment area, rainfall intensity and, for soakpits, the soakage rate of the ground, which is determined by on-site testing.

Rainfall intensity curves are available for most areas from the building consent authority (BCA), tables in E1/AS1 or online from NIWA. Where differing design rainfall intensities are provided for a particular location, the most conservative rainfall intensity should be used. Design guidelines are available on some BCA websites, but the calculations are not simple and are best completed by someone with experience. A resource consent will usually be required, and all tank designs and soak pits must comply with the requirements of the Building Code. Some installations also require a building consent – check with the BCA.

Installation and flow Retention tanks are installed above ground in accordance with the manufacturer’s specifications, including seismic and wind restraints: Inlet – from downpipes with a leaf diverter.

Outlet – specific size and height above ground, connected to the stormwater network.

Overflow pipe – capacity must equal or exceed the inflow capacity from

downpipes and must discharge where flow is visible and does not cause nuisance.

A first-flush diverter and mesh screen over the inlet and outlet pipes is recommended.

Retention tanks key points: Water is collected and must be used on site, often within a specified timeframe so the entire tank volume is available for the next rainfall event.

Water is stored for use in the house for toilet flushing and in the garden, and some councils allow its use in the laundry. It can be used as an emergency water supply and must be boiled first.

Useful to reduce demand on water supply and in areas without reticulated stormwater.

The collection area may be limited – it is 400 m² in Wellington, for example.

If used in the house, a pump is required.

Backflow prevention may also be required.

Detention and retention tanks Detention and retention tanks combine the benefits of both, reducing the peak flow of stormwater leaving the site and providing water storage for on-site use.

They are only suitable for water from the roof due to contaminants from areas such as driveways and are usually installed above ground with seismic and wind restraints.

They have a small-diameter orifice part way up the side of the tank, allowing the slow release of roof run-off during and after rainfall. The volume below the orifice stores rainfall collected from roof areas for nonpotable use within the building or garden.

These tanks require: a dead storage zone – typically 150mm – at the bottom of the tank to allow sediment to settle installation by approved installers in accordance with the manufacturer’s specifications.

Minimum tank maintenance The minimum maintenance schedule for tanks is: 3 monthly – wash out leaf litter/debris diverters and first-flush diverters 6 monthly – inspect the roof gutters and clean off leaf litter, animal droppings, pollen, ash etc

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Contact Nathan to register your interest nathan@drainpro.co.nz

www.drainpro.co.nz nzplumber

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On the tools STORMWATER DRAINAGE

TECHNICAL THEME

The pavers are installed on a permeable base course with a permeable geotextile beneath Edge restraints are required around all edges to prevent displacement of pavers and geotextile In soils with low infiltration, include a perforated underdrain in a permeable gravel sublayer connected to the stormwater system The underdrain must be sized to suit site conditions A specialised design and approval is required A notice on land title may be required to inform the owner that maintenance is required.

FIGURE 2: Chamber soak pit.

annually – inspect and maintain mesh screens, orifice outlets, filters, seals, pipes and valves and silt traps for modular in-ground tanks 2-3 years – drain above-ground tank and remove any sediment and debris.

Soak pits Soak pits collect and retain stormwater, allowing it to slowly soak into the earth.

Soak pits are lined with a filter cloth and can be filled with rocks or be a solid chamber with porous sides and base (Figure 2). Soak pit requirements: Water is collected and disposed of on site Useful in areas without reticulated stormwater and with suitable ground conditions Require careful design – New Zealand Building Code Verification Method E1/VM1 Plans must be carefully followed when the pit is constructed Proprietary soak pits are also available.

Soak pit maintenance Soak pits require maintenance to prevent them becoming blocked with silt, vegetation or other matter that may cause flooding problems.

They must be cleaned and maintained annually by a specialist company.

Pervious paving Pervious paving is a specially constructed hard surface that allows water to pass through to the underlying soil layers (see Figure 3).

There are two distinct types of surface: Porous – water travels through the pavers into the underlying components Permeable – water travels between impervious blocks into the underlying components.

Pervious paving can be used to reduce run-off and flooding and help to replenish groundwater. It is limited to flat and gentle slopes and has specific requirements:

FIGURE 3: Schematic of pervious paving (adapted from Auckland Council drawing).

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Pervious paving maintenance Pervious paving requires maintenance: after storms – inspect paving to check water drains away annually – sweep pavers with wet vacuum sweeper to prevent clogging with sediment, and check joint material and top up as necessary ongoing – where areas of paving settle, lift blocks, relevel bedding material and relay blocks.

Avoid using herbicides or high-pressure water blasters on pavers.

Bioretention devices Devices such as green roofs and rain gardens require specialist design and are outside the scope of this article.

This article by Ann Galloway first appeared in BRANZ Build 183 (April 2021). Build magazine is published by BRANZ, an independent research organisation that provides impartial, evidencebased advice on building and construction issues. www.buildmagazine.org.nz

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Available in: 90 L, 135 L, 180 L, 215 L, 275 L, 340 L. To find out more visit rinnai.co.nz

SUMP SIZING When is a sump not a sump? When it doesn’t comply to code. APD outlines the requirements for Type 1, Type 2 and bubble-up surface water sumps.

AUTHOR: ROSS MILLER

A

TYPE 2 A Type 2 surface water sump needs to be 650mm x 460mm or 600mm dia, with 380mm to the base of the syphon trap. Often a concrete 450mm x 450mm sump is installed, creating a much bigger medium-term problem with faster silt build-up, as it is used for greater surface areas up to 40,000l/m2 than the Type 1.

Access caps and syphon traps The requirements for the use of removable access caps and properly-designed syphon traps are to ensure the long-term viability of the stormwater system installed. Being able to easily clean out sumps and associated pipework makes for ease of maintenance and collection of unwanted silts and debris in the system. The basic requirements outlined apply to both Type 1 and Type 2 sumps.

Rainfall requirements The Type 1 sump is deemed suitable for drainage of up to 4,500l/m2 and the Type 2 for an area up to 40,000l/m2, where the litre figure is the rainfall intensity for a storm with a 10% probability of occurring annually.

non-compliant sump is a pain for everyone: the person’s property on which it is installed, the tradesperson who has to replace it, and on occasion, the insurance agent who has to pay out on unnecessary damage.

The Building Code is very specific and clear on sumps. The fact that you can get a cheaper product that ‘will do’, or ‘the inspector won’t notice’ isn’t an excuse, and often ends up making more work for everyone and a bad name for the installer.

The requirements to comply are very clear in NZBC E1: TYPE 1 A Type 1 surface water sump must be 375mm dia wide with 300mm minimum from the base to syphon trap to ensure the silt has had time to drop out of solution. Often a 300mm dia sump is being found installed on sites, greatly reducing the capacity needed.

ABOVE: Figure 8 of NZBC Acceptable Solution E1/AS1 shows a Type 1 surface water sump, suitable for an area of up to 4,500l/m2.

Installing a Type 1 sump.

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ABOVE: Figure 9 of E1/AS1 shows a Type 2 surface water sump, suitable for an area of up to 40,000l/m2.

On the tools STORMWATER DRAINAGE

Plumbers should know the basic rainfall exposure they work in and select sumps accordingly. Note that some areas are prone to downpours, which ups the requirements for sumps. To a certain extent, the geography of the section and how it funnels surface water can be a factor.

TECHNICAL THEME

ABOVE AND BELOW: Figures 6 and 7 of E1/AS1 show requirements for bubble-up chamber systems.

TYPE 1 & TYPE 2: IN BRIEF Type 1 requirements are: Maximum 1000mm height 375mm dia Removable access cap for cleaning Submerged or trapped outlet 300mm minimum at base for silt settlement Minimum 90mm outlet pipe.

Type 2 requirements are: 650mm x 460mm or 600mm dia Removable access cap for cleaning Submerged or trapped outlet 380mm minimum at base for silt settlement Minimum 150mm outlet pipe.

Bubble ups The bubble-up sump is designed to work along the lines of a lock on a river. It allows for the situation where the collection point is slightly lower than the main system but can still be connected without a huge amount of infrastructure. The bubble-up chamber allows water to be discharged through pipes laid at the allowable minimum gradients, and for the convenient collection and removal of any silt or debris that might enter the system.

However, caveats are: The ground level adjacent to any downpipe discharging to the bubble-up chamber is at least 150mm higher than the level of the top of the chamber outlet The connections between the drain and downpipes are sealed The total chamber depth does not exceed 1m.

The bubble-up chamber allows the water to be discharged through pipes laid at the allowable minimum gradients, and for the convenient collection and removal of any silts or debris which might enter the system.

About APD: APD Ltd is New Zealand’s largest manufacturer of buried HDPE stormwater attenuation systems. For enquiries, please contact Sales & Marketing Manager Duane Rice on 0272 033910; duane@apd.co.nz; www.apd.co.nz

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On the tools STORMWATER DRAINAGE

TECHNICAL THEME

THE PROPER

CHANNELS 5 things to consider when creating stormwater drainage systems.

AUTHOR: CHRIS PATERSON, ALLPROOF

T

he primary objective of NZBC Clause E1 Surface water is to “safeguard people from injury or illness, and other property from damage”. There are many elements that contribute towards this objective. Outlined here are five key factors to consider when selecting the appropriate products for the job.

1. Application

Ensure you select the correct type of product for the job. Is a channel required or will a sump suffice? Is this a level entry into a habitable space, a channel drain in front of a drive/garage, or a collection point before going into the local authority’s stormwater system? Each application has different requirements set out in NZBC and applicable AS/NZ Standards.

A level entry scenario requires a 200mm x 150mm channel and a 12mm drip line along the joinery (plus other various details), so a standard three-sided channel is not applicable in this application. Each drainage system has been designed for a specific application. If you are unsure, it is worth discussing your project with Allproof to avoid costly delays and work involved in removing a system that isn’t compliant.

2. Performance

Ensure that the selected drainage product’s hydraulic performance meets the needs of the application. This may be a combination of the channel depth/width and grate open area or even just how the product is set up.

Understanding the topography of the area will also have a large part to play.

Installing a slot drain with a 15mm opening at the bottom of a steep drive means that during a heavy downpour surface stormwater will likely bridge the

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Polymer Concrete channel, 75mm depth with 316 stainless steel wedge wire grate (load rating: A, slip resistance: R11, open area: 47%), installed at South Wharf, Melbourne.

gap and the drain will not perform to the desired level, whilst a wider grate with more open area (eg, Allproof PC with cast iron grate) would allow the water to drain.

A channel slot drain would work well in a courtyard with a fall towards it from both sides. Best practice is to seek advice from a specialist hydraulic consultant in this area.

The majority of applications will require a load rating between A and D, which would cover commercial vehicles in areas such as loading bays. Allproof have developed in-house testing to ensure their products meet the specifications laid out by AS 3996.

This information is available in Allproof’s literature to aid product selection.

3. Load Rating

4. Environment

AS 3996:2019 Access covers and grates outlines the requirements for grate load class ratings. Grates must perform well under subjected loads appropriate to their application once installed.

The standard provides a rating of A to G, with A being “areas (including footways) accessible only to pedestrians and pedal cyclists and closed to other traffic (extralight duty)” with a nominal wheel load of 330kg, and G for “docks and aircraft pavements subject to very high wheel loads (extra heavy duty)” with a nominal wheel load of 30,000kg.

The environment plays a large factor in material selection when choosing a product.

Stormwater drainage products are exposed to large amounts of moisture by the nature of the application. It is important to understand the chemical and physical characteristics of materials in each environment.

Cast iron is an excellent material for strength with a long-life expectancy and economic price point, and its bituminous paint coating provides a degree of protection from the elements. However, unless regularly re-painted it will wear off, exposing the cast iron, and oxidation will naturally occur.

Polymer Concrete channel, 75mm depth with heelproof cast iron grate (load rating: D, open area 31%), installed through the central walkway at Commercial Bay, Auckland.

Depending on the environment, this can remain for some time but in high trafficable areas it will pass quicker and will eventually stabilise into a dull dark brown patina. This is a natural material reaction to the environment—it’s aesthetic and does not impact performance.

In some scenarios (laneways), this may be a desired aesthetic, but the lifetime appearance should be considered in projects where a consistent appearance is desired. Allproof recommends highgrade 316 stainless steel in marine environments as it has a higher degree of resistance to corrosion and reduces the need for regular maintenance. Alternatively, glass filled nylon (GFN) provides a black finish that doesn’t react to the environment.

5. Grate Design

Considerations additional to the features discussed above include the grating open area. Open areas will affect the hydraulic performance of the system. Larger open areas will generally perform better hydraulically; smaller individual open areas may be more prone to blocking from debris. However, smaller individual open areas are advisable in pedestrian zones.

Allproof have classified a range of their grates as heelproof for use in areas likely to see high levels of foot traffic. Heelproof grates are designed to resist entry of high-heeled shoes by limiting the smallest dimension for an opening to 8mm or less.

It is also advisable to consider slip resistance on grate surfaces.

This can be important in settings likely to be subjected to high volumes of foot traffic—for example, busy urban streets and commercial courtyards. AS 4586:2013 covers the requirements and classifications for slip resistance. A variety of Allproof grates have been tested by an independent laboratory with excellent results ranging from R9 to R13.

About the author: Chris Paterson is the Marketing Manager for Allproof Industries. He draws on a wealth of knowledge by working closely with a team of experts across the plumbing, drainage and passive fire categories. Contact sales@allproof.co.nz or 09 481 8020 for further information on Allproof systems.

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STORMWATER DRAINAGE

COMMERCIAL & RESIDENTIAL DRAINAGE SYSTEMS

DESIGNED FOR NEW ZEALAND CODE AND CONDITIONS

allproof.com

On the tools WASTEWATER PUMPS

WASTEWATER PUMP selection and sizing

In the second of this training series on working with small bore wastewater pumps, Saniflo gives guidance on pump selection and sizing.

C

orrect pump selection is critical to ensure an optimal result. Selecting the right pump is based on several factors including the type of application, incoming flow volumes, temperatures, how high and how far waste will need to be discharged, along with considering any possible future requirements.

Domestic applications Within domestic bathroom applications, macerators are required to take waste from toilets, basins, showers, baths and bidets or a combination of these fixtures.

Domestic greywater pumps are required to take waste from kitchen sinks and dishwashers, laundry tubs and washing machines or a combination of these fixtures.

Combined black and grey lifting stations can take waste from multiple fixtures, including whole of house, and are designed to be installed remotely from sanitary fixtures.

Commercial applications Commercial macerators are designed for larger numbers of users or when higher vertical lifts are required.

Commercial greywater pumps must be used for office fit outs or cafés where there are higher usage or higher temperature requirements.

Commercial lifting stations are to be used in situations where multiple fixtures need to be fitted to one pump, when increased discharge rates are required or higher temperatures would be encountered.

Selecting a pump for high temperature applications Domestic and commercial greywater pumps will not be suitable for the higher temperatures of a commercial dishwasher, wok burner, or a glass washer.

It is essential to select the right pump as these high temperatures can have a negative In hairdressing situations, the recommendation is to install a dedicated hair trap prior to the greywater lifting station.

effect on the pump’s vital components and may void the manufacturer’s warranty.

Depending on the pump manufacturer’s specifications, a commercial greywater lifting station would normally be selected to accept waste with temperatures up to 90°C (per cycles of appliance) and would be necessary for commercial installations.

Autoclaves Autoclaves (used for dental and medical instrument sterilisation) generate waste often far in excess of 90°C. Instrument sterilisers and autoclaves must discharge over a tundish prior to the cooling tank or in accordance with AS/NZS 3500.2 Clause 13.21.

Commercial kitchens Grease and fats in cooking can also be an issue. This can be especially detrimental for under sink greywater lifting stations with larger holding capacity or higher activation levels. These two factors may result in the cooling and solidification of fats and oils. a) Solidification can impair operation and activation b) The build-up of sulphide gases can become an odour and health issue.

In these situations, using a commercial lifting station with high temperature handling and lower activation levels in conjunction with a commercial dishwasher is crucial in the discharge of greasy wastewater to minimise solidification.

Hairdressing and beauty salons With a hairdressing or beauty salon, hair may bind with the various hair or beauty treatment products creating a ‘clumping’ effect. These clumps can cause blockages in the smaller apertures of a greywater pump.

In these situations, the recommendation would be for a commercial greywater lifting station used with a dedicated hair trap installed prior to the lifting station.

Consideration must be given to pump installation environments. Controlled usage would generally be in domestic situations where users are aware of a pump being employed and make use of fixtures accordingly. Workplaces or public amenities are examples of uncontrolled usage sites and one will need to factor this into pump selection as these elements present an increased risk for blockages.

Pumps in these situations often require features like alarms, heavy-duty grinders, backup motor functionality or vortex (bladeless) discharge capability.

Visit the Saniflo plumber portal link: www.saniflo.co.nz/plumberportal

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On the tools WATER PRESSURE

KEEP YOUR HEAD ON

In the second of this new series of domestic hot water technical tips, Apex Valves answers two common questions about water pressure.

Q: What is meant by water head and how is it calculated?

A: Head is another way of describing pressure. A water depth of 10m is the same as 1 atmosphere of pressure (1 bar) or 100kPa. If you dive under water, you will feel the pressure increase on your body. This pressure is generated by gravity acting on the depth of water above you. Exactly the same thing happens in a pipework system.

The VERTICAL distance between two points equates to the difference in pressure.

The function of the Relief Valve (RV) is to protect the cylinder from over or under pressure. There is no requirement for a Temperature/Pressure Relief Valve (TPR) on low-pressure installations.

Over pressure could occur if there was no Expansion Control Valve (ECV).

Under pressure could occur if water is drawn off faster than it can come in.

This would probably be if the cylinder was on a storey above the outlet and there was some restriction on the incoming supply. In this case, the air return flap inside the RV opens and allows air in to stop the hot water cylinder collapsing.

Q: In what applications do I use 3.7 and 7.6 Feed Valves—and what Relief Valves should I use?

**See note

150mm min

150mm min

250mm Heat trap TEMPERING VALVE (TV20)

BALL VALVE

COLD WATER INLET PRESSURE REDUCING VALVE (FV)

2. Fit a longer vent pipe (adjust up the Feed Valve and fit a 7.6m Expansion Valve if applicable).

Note: To protect the cylinder, the end of the vent pipe cannot be more than 7.6m above the bottom of the cylinder.

Insulation

4.0m Maximum height above cylinder base

Insulation

TEMPERED WATER TO BATHROOM

FILTER STOP WITH NON RETURN (FS15)

1. Change to a full mains pressure installation

PRESSURE RELIEF VALVE

DRAIN

SIDE ENTRY

COLD WATER EXPANSION VALVE (EVT)

HOT WATER CYLINDER with Thermostat and Thermal Cut-out

PRESSURE RELIEF VALVE (RV) (VBN) RELIEF DRAIN *See note

NOTE:

DRAIN BOTTOM ENTRY

1.0m minimum Recommended between E.V.T & R.V

HOT WATER TO LAUNDRY & KITCHEN

That brings us neatly to another place a Relief Valve should be used.

If the pressure of a low pressure, openvented system is to be increased to give a customer better flow from the taps, you have several choices:

*R.V and E.V drains may be combined provided discharge is via a minimum airbreak of 25mm. Drain must have a minimum size of 20mm diameter and be one size larger than the largest relief valve outlet. (Refer diagram) **1.0m minimum copper pipe length from cylinder to Tempering Valve. (Refer diagram)

ABOVE: Standard valve-vented low pressure system.

NOTE: *RV and EV drains may be combined provided discharge is via a minimum airbreak of 25mm. Drain must have a minimum size of 20mm diameter and be one size larger than the largest relief valve outlet (refer to diagram). **1.0m minimum copper pipe length from cylinder to tempering valve (refer to diagram).

A: We all know that the Feed Valve (FV, or Pressure Reducing Valve) is used to control the incoming high (usually mains) pressure to a hot water cylinder.

But did you know that the FV 3.7 and FV 7.6 have the same parts, so you can simply adjust the valve up or down to get either setting?

Low pressure cylinders are often made of copper and will only withstand low pressure, normally 76kPa (7.6m head).

The RV is set at 6.5m head. The reason for this is that there is normally a 1m height difference between the location of the RV and base of the cylinder, so if you add these two figures together you get 7.5m total head.

As you can see from the last point, providing you use the same units, you can add valve head and physical head together to get total head.

To improve hot water service when an exhaust pipe is already fitted.

Note: Do not use in wetback installation and in frost areas.

Inlet Valves required as for Valve Vented.

HOT WATER CYLINDER with Thermostat and Thermal Cut-out

ABOVE: Open-vented conversion to valve-vented.

3. On most houses, a 7.6m vent pipe is impractical or simply ugly, so a Relief Valve is fitted to the end of the vent pipe (adjust up the Feed Valve and fit a 7.6m Expansion Valve fitted if applicable).

Note: To protect the cylinder, the total head must be less than 7.6m, so it is normal to use an RV 3.7. In the image above right, the total head is: RV 3.7 + 4m static head head for bend on top of the vent pipe (say 0.1m) = 7.6m

About Apex Valves: Apex® Valves are a New Zealand based company that specialise in the design and manufacture of tank, trough and plumbing control valves. These tech tips are drafted by David Crichton, Senior R&D Manager for Apex Valves, and based on customer questions and situations. If you have a technical query, email orders@apexvalves.co.nz or call 0800 500 484.

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Backflow Conference 5 - 6 AUG Lower Hutt Events Centre 30c Laings Road Lower Hutt, Wellington The programme will include:

Tickets now on SALE www.waternz.org.nz/backflowconference

• • • • • •

Workshops Backflow Testing Refresher Water Services Bill Joint Standards Update Training Challenges Best & Worst Backflow Installation Photo Competition

*Above is subject to change until all speakers are confirmed

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THIS EDITION’S ROUND-UP OF NEW PLUMBING, GAS AND DRAINAGE PRODUCTS. New Buteline & Pexline fittings

LeVivi Elite Laundry Tubs

Buteline have been working on some new fittings to extend the Buteline & Pexline product ranges—enquire at your local plumbing merchant.

TK15B Buteline Brass PB Pipe to Copper Tee 15mm x 15mm x 1/2” BSP

The new LeVivi Elite Laundry Tubs from Plumbing World are a step above your standard steel laundry tub—with a 100% waterproof Matt White or Elm Woodgrain finish—yet fit in the standard 560 x 560 space. The tub itself has a large capacity and solid tap landing. There is a choice of cupboard or double drawers (pictured) and every unit includes a 3-way valve and pipe fittings. Cupboard options come with a free child-safety catch for installation if required, and the door is reversible. The units are sold without tapware, allowing the homeowner to select the tapware design of their choice. This will enable customers to upgrade the look of their bathroom without needing to allocate extra space for their laundry.

www.buteline.com/nz

www.plumbingworld.co.nz

RAB15C Brass Right Angle Swivel Ball Valve 1/2”BSP (chrome plated)

RAB15D Brass Right Angle Swivel Ball Valve 1/2”BSP (matte black)

FFS2 Brass Fixed 3/4” BSP x 3/4” BSP Female Swivel Straight

MFS2 Brass Male 3/4” BSP x 3/4” BSP Female Swivel Straight

PTR335 Pexline Reducing Tee 32mm x 32mm x 25mm

PTR355 Pexline Reducing Tee 32mm x 25mm x 25mm

Focus your energy on the things that matter.

The fuel card that helps you run things your way

MOB3411

To take advantage of our great offer call the team at the Master Plumbers Association on 04 801 2010.

On the tools PRODUCTS & SERVICES

Simplify sewer calls with the MX FUEL™ Sewer Drum Machine.

M

ilwaukee Tool is focused on the professional user, with solutions designed to make the lives of tradespeople easier, safer, cleaner, and more productive. The new MX FUEL™ Sewer Drum Machine with POWERTREDZ™ was made to improve the way sewer and drain maintenance professionals work by simplifying sewer calls.

“Every day, professionals on sewer calls are having to haul a 90kg sewer machine in and out of their service vehicles. To avoid strain or throwing out their backs they are bringing an extra person to help with just the transportation of the machine,” says Jim Challis, Senior Product Manager for Milwaukee Tool New Zealand.

The MX FUEL™ Sewer Drum Machine is built with POWERTREDZ™ Lift Assist technology which allows you to perform one-person transportation of the machine up and down stairs as well as in and out of a service van.

Mobility is just one of the big challenges that the MX FUEL™ Sewer Drum Machine is designed to overcome. Every aspect of the product is built to increase productivity from the moment you arrive on site until the job is complete and the machine is loaded back into your van.

The POWERSTATE™ Brushless Motor provides the power to clear roots up to 60m. CABLE DRIVE™ Automatic Feed and Retract removes the need to manually pull back the heavy cable from

pipes. The fully enclosed drum contains the mess coming back through the pipe and eliminates contact between you and the spinning drum.

The MX FUEL™ Sewer Drum machine is the latest addition to the MX FUEL™ line of cordless solutions that are revolutionising the light equipment market. The range delivers the performance, runtime, and durability demanded by the trades without

the hazards associated with emissions, noise, vibration, and the frustrations of engine maintenance.

Milwaukee Tool is committed to providing the most portable and versatile drain cleaning solutions that give plumbing professionals an easier way to get on and off the job, with less mess, so that you can service more calls.

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Our Partners Master Plumbers, Gasfitters & Drainlayers NZ thanks the following Partners for their support: PLATINUM PARTNERS

GOLD PARTNERS

SILVER PARTNERS

A Group SFA Company

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WHO’S YOUR PRIVACY OFFICER?

Master Plumbers

MEMBER BENEFIT

Our Privacy Act resources are here to help members comply with the new rules.

With so many of our business operations now conducted online, the Privacy Act has been updated to reflect the way we collect, store and use customer and company data.

A privacy breach can be extremely damaging for your business reputation— and you must notify the Privacy Commissioner of any breach that could cause serious harm to the people affected.

This is a job for your Privacy Officer, so make sure you have someone in your business to carry out this role.

Master Plumbers has a Privacy Policy template that you can use in your business to ensure your customers and staff know what personal information you collect and how you use it. We’ve also developed guidance on complying with the Privacy Act plus a data retention checklist, which shows how long you must retain specific types of employee data.

Don’t wait for a hack to happen—know what assets you need to protect and have a plan in place with the help of our privacy resources.

Find the Master Plumbers Privacy Act resources in the HR Support area of the member log-in at www.masterplumbers.org.nz

47 MEMBER BENEFIT 48 BULLETIN 55 MEMBER PROFILE 58 BRANCHES & ASSOCIATIONS

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MASTERLINK MESSAGEBOARD nzplumber

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THIS EDITION’S UPDATE FROM MASTER PLUMBERS INCLUDES A PROFILE OF MASTER PLUMBERS BOARD MEMBER SAM TYSON AND A CALL FOR MORE MEMBERS TO CONSIDER GETTING INVOLVED IN GOVERNANCE ROLES.

Considered a role on the Board?

John DeBernardo discusses the need to build skills and diversity on the Master Plumbers Board.

Having recently retired after 10 years’ service as an Elected Director of Master Plumbers, I was honoured that the Board firstly presented me with a contribution award, and secondly have co-opted me back onto the Board as a director for a further one-year term.

After chairing the Board’s Audit & Compliance and Remuneration Committees for a number of years, my key roles now are to help facilitate a smooth transition for the new committee chairs, and to assist with continued governance development for Master Plumbers.

Following that latter point, I was delighted to hear that Sam Tyson was elected as a Master Plumbers Elected Director at this year’s AGM, and it’s a pleasure to see someone like Sam at our Board table. Not only does she have a strong governance skillset and focus, but she also brings sorely needed diversity to our Board at a time when we really need to be looking beyond our traditional models and thinking.

Considering the growing number of female business owners, co-owners and leaders in the plumbing sector, and the role that Master Plumbers plays in their daily lives, it amazes me that we haven’t achieved greater gender equality on our Board by 2021. Possibly this might be due to more ‘recognised’ (read male) candidates often having been nominated for election in the past. However, our female members form a crucial part of our industry, and we need to see their leadership at a governance level for Master Plumbers to continue to flourish as a premium membership organisation.

BEST IN BRAND PRIZE “We think our vans look awesome with the blue Master Plumbers logo,” said Jade Corry in her entry for our Best in Brand competition. And we agree! A $200 Prezzy Card prize voucher is on its way to Van Dam Plumbing 2020 Ltd in Putaruru. Congratulations to the team.

Get your entries in!

Have some great looking Master Plumbers branding in your business? Send us a photo or two for a chance to win the next $200 Prezzy Card prize. Email Luke Pirie by 9 July: lpirie@masterplumbers.org.nz

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Equally, as regulatory, environmental and social issues becoming a greater part of our director roles, together with the ongoing growth of our Masterlink business, our Board must continue to develop its overall governance competence and skills, so I’m sure there will be continued impetus for professional development of our directors over the forthcoming year.

That continued professional development is important not only for Master Plumbers, but for the future of our industry as a whole, as our current and emerging directors will, over time, gravitate into further leadership and governance roles in the plumbing sector.

Master Plumbers has been a fantastic advocate for the plumbing, gasfitting and drainlaying industry for many years now, and it’s a great example of how an industry representation body should operate.

To ensure we maintain that status, we need to see more of our future leaders—both the Jacks and the Jills—putting their names forward to contribute to the governance of our organisation.

John DeBernardo has been co-opted back onto the Master Plumbers Board for a one-year term having recently retired as an Elected Director.

Master Plumbers

MASTER PLUMBERS AT CPD

UPDATES

CEO Greg Wallace enjoying the Auckland North Shore trade show.

Master Plumbers and Masterlink are sharing a stand at the tradeshow events in the 2021 PGDB & Mico CPD Training Roadshow. Members of both teams are helping man the stand as the roadshow travels around NZ and enjoying chatting with members and other visitors to the stand. By attending a CPD session, you will be meeting the CPD requirement towards renewing your practising licence for 2022-2023.

Master Plumbers BDM Gillian McGeever and Masterlink Auckland Regional Manager Colin Kilpatrick chatting with visitors to the Master Plumbers and Masterlink trade stand at the West Auckland event in May.

Book at ecommerce.skills.org.nz/ CPD2021

Master Plumbers & Masterlink calling for permanent Apprenticeship Boost Master Plumbers is joining the call for the Government to make the Apprenticeship Boost scheme permanent. The scheme, which provides financial support to employers of apprentices during the first two years of an apprenticeship, is currently scheduled to end in August 2022.

“We believe the Apprenticeship Boost could make a permanent difference to the number of trainees in the system, and we support the initiative 100 percent,” says Master Plumbers and Masterlink CEO Greg Wallace.

“Education Minister Chris Hipkins recently announced a 17 percent increase in people starting apprenticeships. This shows the significant impact that the Apprenticeship Boost is having in assisting employers to train New Zealand’s future skilled workforce. This is the best thing the Government can do to address the skills shortage.”

Masterlink General Manager Steve Strawbridge confirms that Masterlink has seen an increase in businesses taking on apprentices, and is also continuing to see increased numbers of female, Maori, Pasifika and more mature New Zealanders, including career switchers, applying to become apprentices.

“Government funding is definitely supporting employers to retain their existing apprentices and take on new ones—and free trades training (TTAF) is encouraging a more

ADVOCATING FOR MEMBERS Master Plumbers spends a great deal of time making submissions on relevant consultations as they arise.

Most recent consultations include: Updating references to Standards in the Gas (Safety and Measurement) Regulations Building Code operating protocols Building (Building Products and Methods, Modular Components and Other Matters) Amendment Bill Sustainable freedom camping in Aotearoa New Zealand.

Members can read Master Plumbers submissions in the login area at www.masterplumbers.org.nz (under News & Advocacy).

Some of the growing number of apprentice candidates for the Master Plumbers-owned Masterlink apprentice training programme.

diverse range of applicants to consider a career in our trades,” he says.

“We have more female apprentices in training than ever before. Our youngest apprentice is

16 years old, our oldest is in their forties and the average age of an apprentice is rising.

Our applicants reflect the ethnic diversity of our population. We believe that making the funding permanent would be the best outcome for our industry and for our country.” nzplumber

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What does your day-to-day role entail?

I don’t really have a typical day at work. Of course, there are tasks or processes that I do according to a pattern, but it’s always about different company, different people, new conferences, new challenges. Day to day, I am responsible for the management and development of members and Business Partner relationships.

Some days I will be on the road all day meeting customers; other days I’m in the office making calls and booking meetings for the week ahead, doing general administration or catching up with current members and Business Partners.

Where are you based for work?

I work out of the Master Plumbers Auckland office and cover the North Island region.

Get to know the Master Plumbers team with our quick Q&As. NAME: Gillian McGeever ROLE: Business Development Manager

What’s your work background?

I previously worked as a National BDM for ENZEC, a nationwide provider of design, installation and maintenance services for electrical, cabling and networking solutions. Its sister company Tradepartners facilitates and manages a member group of electrical contracting companies under a nationwide group membership programme. Back in Ireland, I worked in business development for Electric Skyline, the largest dedicated lighting contractor in Ireland.

Can you tell us a bit about you?

I am Irish, from a place called County Mayo in the west of Ireland— a beautiful part of the world. I am a country girl through and through. I have two sisters, who both live abroad as well. We are all looking forward to a visit home once Covid calms down! I have a gorgeous Bernese collie called Kodi, who I miss so much!

Currently living in Auckland and I love it!

What’s your favourite music?

Ooh, a bit of everything: 90s trance I listen to, especially when I’m in the gym.

What’s your favourite book or movie?

Formula 1: Drive to Survive Netflix series—amazing. I never watched the sport before but now I am addicted.

Where’s your favourite holiday spot?

Currently, I would say Bay of Islands. Spent some great weekends up there this summer.

What’s your favourite food?

Hmm I like everything, especially a good Malaysian mee goreng.

Can you name a person who particularly inspires you?

My mom—the strongest, most resilient person I know!

What do you enjoy doing in your spare time?

Playing GAA football with St Pats team in Auckland, going to the gym, and I do love a good hike—NZ is the best place for them. I love exercise and the endorphins it gives you; so good for the mind and helps me in my day-to-day life.

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Master Plumbers

BOARD PROFILE:

Sam Tyson This edition, we profile newly elected Master Plumbers Board member Sam Tyson.

When Sam Tyson purchased heating and cooling business Climate in New Plymouth in 2010, she came to the plumbing industry with no prior knowledge. “I embarked on a journey of learning as much as I could about the trade and establishing connections that I could turn to for guidance and support,” she says. “Joining Master Plumbers played a big role in this and led me to becoming the President of the Taranaki Association in 2014.”

That same year, Sam and husband Lee went on to purchase two of the region’s long-standing plumbing and gasfitting businesses, Plumbwell and Anchor & Ellis, enabling them to expand their service offering even further—reflected by a name change in 2016 to Climate & Plumbing.

UPDATES

Sam considers the immediate tradespeople shortage to be the industry’s biggest challenge right now. Climate & Plumbing feel it’s their responsibility to develop the next generation and currently employ three apprentices. “There are not enough quality trainers available to train the up and coming, and there’s limited access to overseas supply of qualified tradespeople at present,” she says.

Sam would also like to see more collaboration across businesses in our industry to work on solutions together for the benefit of all—and she recommends getting involved on the national Master Plumbers Board. “It is easy to sit on the outside and make comment on others’ actions. However, if you want things to be better or different, the only way to do that is to be part of it on the inside.”

Her other current industry roles include being an Industry Representative on the Plumbers, Gasfitters and Drainlayers Board Stakeholder Liaison Group, a Board member of the Industry Connection for Excellence (ICE) and representing Master Plumbers as a member of the New Plymouth District Council Business Interest Group. She is also a regular contributor to NZ Plumber magazine.

Sam is particularly grateful to her husband Lee for his care, support and “letting me be who I needed to be”. Anchor & Ellis owner Kevin Cattley, who came with his team of four to merge with Climate & Plumbing, has also been a great mentor and sounding board, she says.

Outside of work, Sam is into drawing and painting and enjoys yoga.

“I also love going for walks along our foreshore in New Plymouth, listening to podcasts about business and healthy living.”

HYDROGEN OPPORTUNITIES As a zero-emissions fuel, hydrogen could be the future for the gasfitting sector—and a skilled workforce will be one of the keys to success. Master Plumbers has provided members with a Hydrogen Discussion Paper to encourage wider discussion of the emerging hydrogen industry. This is available to read in the website log-in area, under News & Advocacy. The document was accompanied by a survey to get feedback on what members perceive as the main opportunities and challenges for hydrogen adaption in NZ. Master Plumbers CEO Greg Wallace also spoke at an Auckland Master Plumbers Future of Gas event in May, with other presenters including Rinnai NZ Managing Director Ray Ferner and Firstgas Group Manager, Strategy & Corporate Development, Angela Ogier.

Sam Tyson has been elected to the 2021-2022 Master Plumbers, Gasfitters & Drainlayers NZ Board.

For the current team of 33, customer satisfaction, professionalism and quality workmanship is at the core of all they do. “We believe everyone should live and work in a healthy and comfortable environment,” says Sam. “Our top priority is to ensure that what we install is safe to use, works well, and provides our clients with a cost-effective solution.”

People are the foundation of the business, which puts the focus on open and honest communication, care, respect and responsibility. “We will never go for profit at the expense of our people and/or our values.”

This year, Sam was elected a member of the national Master Plumbers Board—her second time in the role, having previously been co-opted in May 2018 for a one-year term. “I am pleased to be a part of the Board once again, where I can use my network, business acumen and governance experience to make a tangible contribution to the Board and the sector as a whole.”

You can watch the Future of Gas presentation on video at http://bit.ly/FutureGasEvent

Rinnai NZ Managing Director Ray Ferner was among the speakers at the Auckland Future of Gas presentation, available to view on video.

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Master Plumbers

UPDATES

S I LV E R P A R T N E R

We’re Hiring

TRIED DEBTORINFO?

Foleys are currently looking for Plumbers and/or Gasfitters in Queenstown, Alexandra, Ranfurly, Oamaru, Palmerston North, Putāruru and Dunedin. If you’re keen for a change of scenery and want to come and live the dream in one of these great locations, head to our website and click on We’re Hiring.

Debtorinfo partners with Master Plumbers to provide members with debt collection services, credit checks, terms of trade, credit application forms, payment agreements, privacy compliance, contractor terms, PPSR, Construction Contracts Act retention audits and more. With over 25 years in business, Debtorinfo is NZ-owned and provides nationwide coverage.

We’ve been around since 1934 and have 12 branches across NZ. For the right person, we can provide flexible options and possibly relocation assistance. If you’d like to chat to the Branch Manager, all their details are available online. www.foleys.co.nz

TAKE A FREE TRIAL

Go to www.debtorinfo.com or freephone 0800 734 335 and ask for your free 2-month trial.

Millars Plumbing & Drainlaying Otautau

GET IN TOUCH! 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!

Are looking for a Gasfitter and/or Plumber with current Practising Licence.

The successful applicant will have: • Good communication skills; excellent knowledge of plumbing products & practices; the ability to problem solve • Be able to work unsupervised; be honest & trustworthy.

A family business in Southland for over 32 years, we service a large country area, involved in maintenance & new work for commercial and domestic clients. 2 hours’ drive from Queenstown, 1.5 hours from Fiordland & Te Anau, and 20 min from the beach at Riverton.

Check out our business on Facebook and apply in writing with CV to: millars.plumbing@xtra.co.nz Graeme 027 434 0705

Gillian McGeever NORTH ISLAND 027 839 8398 gmcgeever@masterplumbers.org.nz

Plumbing Business For Sale This well-established business, located in Matarangi on the Coromandel Peninsula, is for sale. Owner is looking to retire.

Sound client base with great growth opportunity, locally and surrounding areas. Being a gasfitter would be an added advantage. This is a great opportunity to get away from the hustle and bustle and be your own boss. Great place to live with good community spirit, relaxing lifestyle and hunting and fishing right on your door step.

Sam Timlin SOUTH ISLAND 021 433 615 stimlin@masterplumbers.org.nz

Or contact 0800 502 102 membership@masterplumbers.org.nz

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Contact Steve on 027 789 6897 for further information.

The cost to place a classified advertisement is $60+GST for Master Plumbers members; $100+GST for non-members.

Email advertising@masterplumbers.org.nz

by

plumbingworld

$

LOOK OUT FOR THE TICK OF APPROVAL

We put each and every Master Plumbers Recommends plumbing product to the test, assessing all aspects, such as ensuring replacement parts are readily accessible, they’re easy to install and they look great. Of course it goes without saying that they also come with a solid manufacturer’s guarantee. Once it ticks all those boxes, it gets our tick of approval.

To find out more call 0800 502 102 or visit tickofapproval.co.nz

Master Plumbers

MEMBER PROFILE

Stu McIvor believes a successful business should have a family feel to it— and his company looks set to stay true to that tradition well into the future.

AUTHOR: MATTHEW LOWE

S

tu McIvor, owner of McIvor Plumbers and Gasfitters Wanaka, followed in the footsteps of his father Jim and brother Dave by entering the plumbing trade.

The three of them worked together at McIvor Plumbers in Dunedin for a number of years before Stu started his own firm in Wanaka 21 years ago. His wife, Jane, has been a key figure at both companies and their two daughters, Nichola and Ashley, have also stepped into administrative roles.

“Jane was a big part of the business, especially in Dunedin,” explains Stu. “It’s been very much a family affair all the way.

The team we have, we try to treat them all like family. I think that’s important to running any kind of business.”

Stu McIvor with his daughters Nichola Hyndman, left, and Ashley Carter, who share the office manager role at this family-oriented business. Stu says he feels humbled to have been selected as the winner of the 2021 Graeme Victor Smith Contribution the Industry Award.

“The team we have, we try to treat them all like family. I think that’s important to running any kind of business.”

Industry recognition Stu won the Graeme Victor Smith Contribution to the Industry Award at the NZ Plumbing Conference in Blenheim in March. He has been involved in the plumbing industry for more than 40 years and is described as a long-serving advocate of Master Plumbers and the Masterlink mentored apprenticeship scheme.

Stu says he feels humbled to have received the accolade and believes it is important to help develop the next generation of plumbers, gasfitters and drainlayers. “I have always loved plumbing and someone took

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Master Plumbers

MEMBER PROFILE

The team at McIvor Plumbers and Gasfitters Wanaka, and Rockgas Wanaka.

the time to train me so I think it’s important to give something back,” he notes.

“I started in 1971 and did my apprenticeship with A&T Burt [in Dunedin] before stepping into the family business.

I believe in training and I like Masterlink because there’s a mentor there for the apprentices, so they get what they need and I get what I need as well.”

McIvor Plumbers and Gasfitters Wanaka employs 10 to 12 plumbers and Stu says he aims to have three apprentices working there at any one time. He got to see one of his apprentices, Brent Ewing, belatedly collect the 2020 James Douglas Medallion for an outstanding newly qualified apprentice at the recent conference after it was unable to be presented last year because of Covid-19 restrictions.

“Seeing the aspirations our apprentices start with and where they finish up is the exciting bit of what we do,” says Stu. “Always looking to do something and asking questions is paramount to being a good apprentice. If they do go out on their own then I’m always keen to let them have a crack at that because it’s what they’re working for and it’s the lifeblood of our industry.”

Community involvement Stu’s company is heavily involved in the local community and supports a range of causes, including sports clubs and providing a free

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yearly service on community barbecues at Wanaka Mitre 10. “It’s good to support these people and we try to sponsor as much stuff as we can. If it’s about the community, we’re normally happy to back it.”

He also owns the Rockgas Wanaka franchise, which he and Jane established in 2003, is a member of the LPG Association, the Otago Employers’ Association, and the

“Always looking to do something and asking questions is paramount to being a good apprentice. If they do go out on their own then I’m always keen to let them have a crack at that because it’s what they’re working for and it’s the lifeblood of our industry.”

Otago Master Plumbers Association—where he was president from 1989 to 1991. Other roles include being a director at NZPM. Brendan Parker, lower South Island regional manager for Masterlink, nominated Stu for the contribution to industry award.

“He has always seen it as a duty to give back to the industry and leave a legacy of work

that speaks for itself,” says Brendan. “Stu’s skillset reflects that of one who is consistently wanting to learn more, teach and impart knowledge to grow the industry for the better.”

Future generations Ashley Carter, Stu’s youngest daughter, has been office manager at the Wanaka business for 11 years—a role she shares with her sister—and she also attended the Blenheim conference. It was her first visit to the annual event and she says the presentations were incredible and the networking opportunities valuable.

“We’re all one big family in the plumbing industry, so it’s good to share all that wealth of knowledge,” she adds. “At the conference you can talk to people who have different challenges and it’s interesting to learn how they get around those.”

Her husband, Chris Carter, is a plumber at the company and she hopes to eventually move into a management-style role. “I want to see the business succeed into the future.

It’s a family business that has been around for generations and we like the idea of keeping it in the family,” says Ashley.

Her ambitions will be good news for Stu, who at the age of 66 says he is now taking the time to build an exit strategy. He hopes it means he can spend more time with his three grandchildren and indulging in his hobbies of building muscle cars and duck shooting.

PGDB/MICO CPD ROAD SHOW 2021 Win your share of $21,000 Win 1 of 2 $250 Prezzy Cards at every session

TO REGISTER VISIT: https://ecommerce.skills.org.nz/cpd2021 NOTE, THE ORDER IN WHICH SESSIONS ARE RUNNING HAS CHANGED FROM PREVIOUS YEARS, STARTING IN THE NORTH ISLAND. CHECK THE SCHEDULE FOR YOUR REGIONS DATES.

WIN, EAT, LEARN, NETWORK • Attend the interactive training session

• Have a catch up with other industry members

• Your chance to ask the questions you need answering

• We’ll shout you breakfast on morning sessions

• Get the latest product updates at the trade stands • Get access to exclusive trade stand deals

0800 101 999 | www.mico.co.nz

• Have a bite and a drink on us at the Happy Hour • BE IN TO WIN! Trade stand competitions on offer.

Master Plumbers

BRANCHES & ASSOCIATIONS

OUT & ABOUT

A look-see at the latest Master Plumbers Branch and Association activities.

Wellington clay bird camaraderie Despite a couple of passing showers, all had a great day at the Wellington Master Plumbers Clay Bird Shoot event at the Wairarapa Gun Club in April. “We had 25 people shooting.

Started off with a few single clays before moving to some doubles. Then finished off with a flurry with 3 people shooting at the same time,” says President Dave Norriss. “Good hearty farmer lunch and a couple of beers afterwards.”

The main spot prizes were a sleeveless jacket from Apex and a bottle of bourbon from Plumbing World/Metrix. With lots of other goodies from Marley and Plumbing World, everyone got to take a few items home!

New President for Bay

of Pl

enty/Coromandel A handover handshak e fro m An dy De lan ey (right) as Paul Knigh took over from Andy as Plenty/Coromandel Br the President of the Master Plumbers Bay t of anch at their April meeti ng.

A couple of Master Plumbers membership milestone certificates were also presented on the night, including this one for Kevin Johnson (right), marking 40 years of membership for Plumberman (Tauranga) Ltd.

Racing in Southland

Winning the main spot prizes were Ben from Maxey Plumbing and Jason from Mana Plumbing.

and

Gas futures in Auckl Members of Auckland Master Plumbers got to enjoy a hydrogen-fireds BBQ at a Future of Ga presentation in May. Speakers at the event included Angela Ogier of Firstgas Group, whose goal is to deliver 100% zero carbon gas in its pipelines by 2050.

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This year’s Southland Master Plumbers Race Day took place in mid-May At Central Southland Raceway in Winton. “There was a good turnout of members and sponsors, and the sponsors’ input into the day was most appreciated,” says Southland member Graeme Lowen, who took these photos. “With food and drinks available, there was no need to go hungry nor thirsty. Some made a few dollars and we all lost more than a few. But it was nice to be able to have a social occasion with other members and sponsors without having to get back to work. Two of the ladies got to ride in the mobile barrier and both thoroughly enjoyed being in front of a field of horses racing toward them until they were outraced.”

BE A MASTER PLUMBER

Be the best you can be - for your customers, your staff and your business.

Branding – logo and vehicle decals Fuel discounts with Mobilcard Business Partner deals exclusive to members Master Plumbers health & safety app Health & Safety resources and support Technical support from PGD experts Job leads from our Find a Plumber search tool 12 month consumer guarantee HR resources, guidelines and support Advocating for member and industry interests Networking opportunities Professional development training Latest industry news

Find out more at masterplumbers.org.nz or call 0800 502 102

WE’VE GOT YOUR FUTURE APPRENTICE Our pre-screened candidates have a wealth of talent and experience.

Many have already worked with plumbers – either through Gateway or labouring – and they’re all keen to get started!

Whether you take on a Masterlink candidate or have your own lined up, our mentoring and training will take them to the next level.

GROW YOUR BUSINESS Call us on 0800 502 102 Talk to your Regional Manager Read full candidate profiles at masterlink.co.nz

Master Plumbers

MASTERLINK

FACE-TO-FACE COURSES AND LIVE WEBINARS IN THE NEW MASTERLINK TRAINING PROGRAMME ARE FREE TO MASTERLINK APPRENTICES—FIND OUT WHAT’S AVAILABLE HERE.

Essential Skills Seminars underway Masterlink’s Essential Skills Seminar has kicked off, with the first cohort of superstar apprentices attending the two-part series in Auckland in May and June. The training is valued at $2,100 per person but Masterlink is providing it free of charge to our apprentices! The Essential Skills course covers customer service, communication, time management and more. We have partnered with Dale Carnegie to deliver this internationally recognised Customer Service Excellence Programme.

This is just a small part of the professional development offering available exclusively to Masterlink apprentices, free of charge.

To find out more about the free face-to-face courses and online webinars for Masterlink apprentices, visit www.masterlink.co.nz/training or contact our training team: training@masterlink.co.nz

LIVE WEBINARS

For full details and to book, go to www.masterlink.co.nz/training

Managing Customer Expectations 3 HOURS Examine ways you can set, monitor and influence customer expectations—and then knock those expectations out of the park!

14 July, 2-5pm

Time Management 1 HOUR Get practical techniques to help you focus on results, establish productive habits and concentrate on your priorities.

27 July, 4-5pm 18 August, 4-5pm

Managing Workplace Stress 3 HOURS Explore ways to handle stress more effectively, convert negative reactions into positive outlooks and focus your energies to be more productive.

3 August, 2-5pm

Dealing with Complaints 3 HOURS Examine the root causes of common customer

complaints to help you find ways of reducing or eliminating them. Learn strategies to resolve customer complaints and turn a complaint into an opportunity to create a loyal customer.

1 September, 2-5pm

Outstanding Customer Service 1 HOUR In this interactive session, you’ll be given a simple yet effective 8-step process for resolving complaints plus guidelines for dealing with challenging customers. Learn the 5 approaches to engage customers, build loyalty and gain customer referrals.

5 October, 4-5pm

Communicating Effectively 2 HOURS Become a more effective communicator by learning how to build rapport and positive relationships, become a better listener, honour diversity in the workplace and adapt your message for the audience.

4 November, 4-5pm

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Master Plumbers

MASTERLINK

Masterlink milestones WELCOME

A warm welcome to new Masterlink apprentices: ■ Marcelle Petera – Rogers & Rogers, Kaitaia ■ Jamie Melvin – Laser Plumbing Te Atatu, Auckland ■ Cody Nehme – Hi Spec Plumbing & Gas, Auckland ■ Nicholas Rice – Venture Commercial Plumbing, Auckland ■ Hugh Willis – Tebbutt Plumbing, Auckland ■ James Parry – iPlumber, Hamilton ■ Christopher Linehan – CF Reese Plumbing, Hamilton ■ Alexandra Sowerby – Phoenix Plumbing, Hamilton ■ Paramvir Singh – Laser Plumbing Te Puke ■ Sheldon Suyker – Atkinson & Donaldson, Rotorua ■ Emma Fane de Salis – McBeth Plumbing & Gas, Taupo ■ Samantha Tuson – Climate & Plumbing, New Plymouth ■ Todd Cate – MT Carroll, Napier ■ Jake Beckett – Air Conditioning & Plumbing, Palmerston North ■ Fraser Gouedard – Discount Drainage, Fernside ■ Taumaloto Tiatia – DBC Building Services, Christchurch ■ Daniel Mackay – Williamson Drainage Contractors, Christchurch ■ Cody Dacre – Moods Plumbing, Christchurch ■ Sean Thompson – Matt The Plumber, Methven ■ Josh Coleman (Drainlaying) – Paul Tha Plumber, Franz Josef ■ Mark Goodwin – Alba Plumbing Gas and Heating, Wanaka ■ Ben Price – Drain Pro, Cromwell ■ Brendan Mosdell – Mike Lindsay Plumbing, Arrowtown ■ Lindsay Aitchison – Arrowtown Plumbing, Queenstown ■ Ethan Fricker – Impact Roofing & Plumbing, Dunedin ■ Georgia Simeon – Karl Boniface Plumbing, Invercargill

Alan Wharton with Andy Langford of Flints Plumbing & Drainage in Queenstown.

Tyler Richardson with Vic Nicholson of Vic Nicholson Plumbers.

Darren Mills of Graham Bond Ltd.

Cameron Isaacs and Mark Howie of Adams Plumbing.

QUALIFIED!

Congratulations to all newly qualified Masterlink apprentices and a big thanks to their host businesses!

PLUMBING & GASFITTING ■ Shem Brown ■ Louis Rogers ■ Samuel Jenkin ■ Hannah Cunningham

PLUMBING

■ Jared Zambucka ■ Phillip Penno

GASFITTING ■ Ben Ryan

Sam Jenkin with Stu McIvor and Stu’s daughter Ashley Carter of McIvor Plumbers and Gasfitters Wanaka.

GET IN TOUCH

Need an apprentice in your business? Masterlink Regional Managers are here to help.

Colin Kilpatrick Auckland 021 773 296

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Russell Walsh Central North Island 027 600 9929

Bob McCoy Lower North Island 027 479 0075

Sam Timlin Upper South Island 021 433 615

Brendan Parker Lower South Island 021 644 560

APPRENTICE ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES Face-to-face course

Popular presenter Lynn Harris will be delivering this course at seven locations nationwide until October—all 4-6pm and FREE to Masterlink apprentices ($265 ex GST member price).

6 & 7 July – Auckland 9 August Hamilton 10 August – Rotorua 8 September – Christchurch 12 October – Queenstown 13 October – Dunedin 14 October – Invercargill Register at www.masterplumbers.org.nz/training

Team Masterlink

Get to know the team that makes Masterlink tick!

NEXT GENERATION HEALTHCARE TECHNOLOGY

MANAGE RISK OF INFECTION FROM DRAINAGE WITH Grateseal® It is more important than ever that we take measures to protect ourselves from the risk of infection and superbugs.

Waterware has two types of Grateseal’s available, one is for basins and the other for floor wastes.

Kate Williams HR ADVISOR

When people get in touch with Masterlink wanting to become an apprentice, it’s likely to be Kate Williams who does their phone screening. Based in Christchurch, Kate works closely alongside HR Manager Lisa Duston. Her other roles include writing candidate profiles so host companies can get to know who’s out there looking for an apprenticeship, as well as assisting with HR issues and working on Masterlink policies or guidelines.

Kate has worked in the construction industry for a number of years, having previously held roles at Fletcher EQR and Crane Distribution.

Outside of work, she loves CrossFit—“it keeps me sane!”—and spending holiday time camping in Golden Bay with her husband Jared and two kids Hugo and Scarlett.

Installing an antimicrobial Grateseal® will prevent harmful RADIATOR SOLUTIONS bacteria and odours from escaping drainage traps into hygienic bathroom environments. The Grateseal® rubber contains antimicrobial additives, preventing bacteria growth, mould, and is self cleaning.

• Grateseal® is one piece and self cleaning • No ridges to obstruct flow or collect waste • Air tight seal to prevent odour escaping waste pipes • No fixing required as seal is secured through • Installation is easy and speedy • Anti bacterial rubber is durable and maintenance free • Suitable for 32-100mm drain sizes For further information, please feel free to call us on 0800 WATERWARE or email us at info@waterware.co.nz and we would be happy to discuss your requirements.

Business smarts

4 WAYS TO GET GOOGLE WORKING FOR YOU As most customers now search for a plumber online, make sure you’re using Google to its full potential to get yourself seen.

AUTHOR: ANTONY YOUNG, THE DIGITAL CAFÉ

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64 COST-EFFECTIVE MARKETING

66 TAX DEDUCTIONS FOR MEAL EXPENSES

67 INSURANCE ADVICE 68 RESILIENCE BUILDING

69 SET EXPECTATIONS, MEET EXPECTATIONS

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arketing your business doesn’t have to cost a lot. There are plenty of ways you can get more customers without spending a cent. In this article, we’ll look at four things you can do in the Google space to ensure you’re getting maximum online visibility and profile.

As with any marketing efforts, before you start, ask yourself what you want to achieve, who you want to reach, how long you want to advertise and how much you can afford— plus how you will measure the results.

1. Google My Business Make your business easy for customers to find online by setting up a free Google My Business listing. You’ll need to sign up your business at google.com/business.

Then add your business to Google Search and Google Maps, and add information like opening hours, website address, photos, and services offered.

THEFT

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How a Google My Business search appears on mobile view.

Business smarts COST-EFFECTIVE MARKETING

2. Google Reviews Online reviews are very important for your business. Reviews increase customers, build your credibility, improve your SEO (how high up you appear in a Google search), and drive traffic to your website.

According to BrightLocal*, 88% of consumers trust online reviews as much as they trust personal recommendations from their friends.

Google reviews appear as a gold star rating in a Google My Business search— with five-star reviews coming top of the list. So, how do you get them? First, it’s a good idea to set up a short name for your business profile in Google My Business, eg aceplumbinghastings

This desktop screenshot shows how a search for a plumber in a particular region puts the paid Ad at the top of the list—in this case the Master Plumbers national organisation!

3. Google Ads If you want to increase your online presence even further, you could try Google Ads. This gets your listing to the top of Google Search if someone is actively searching online for local plumbing services. The Ad also displays on Google Maps. You can use the Ad to drive more visits to your website or physical premises, or to get more phone calls—the best option for a plumbing business. You only pay when people click on your Ad and you can set a monthly cap. The cost is usually $2-3 a click. Go to ads.google.com to create your Google Ad.

This Insights page on Google My Business shows results for Noho Blueberry Farm, which my wife and I run.

4. Google Insights After each job, ask your customers to rate your business and leave a review on Google. Positive reviews will increase your overall gold-star rating.

After each job: send your customers a simple followup survey, asking them to rate your business from 1-10 for those who score you a 9 or 10, ask if they they’d be willing to leave a review on Google include a link to your short name URL – eg, g.page/aceplumbinghastings where they can write their review remember to reply to their review with a thank you!

So, you’ve put all this effort into Google marketing but how can you tell it’s working?

Google Insights will give you a breakdown of how customers searched for your business (for your company specifically, for a service like yours, or for a brand related to your business). It also shows what words customers used in their search (which helps you when choosing website keywords) and what actions customers took with your listing—phone call, website visit or request for directions. Find Google Insights in Google My Business.

Find video tutorials and support for all these Google functions at support.google.com/business The next article will look at how you can get the most from Facebook for cost-effective marketing.

About the author: Antony Young has worked in New York, London and Asia, running digital and advertising agencies working on global brands such as P&G, McDonald’s and Toyota. He is co-founder of The Digital Café with offices across New Zealand, managing social and digital media for numerous companies and businesses. You can find him on www.thedigitalcafe.co.nz

*https://searchengineland.com/88-consumers-trust-online-reviews-much-personal-recommendations-195803

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Business smarts TAX AND FINANCE

TAX DEDUCTIONS FOR MEAL EXPENSES How to maximise tax savings while keeping your employees well fed and watered.

AUTHOR: BRETT CROMBIE For both self-employed plumbers and companies with employees, the question of which meal expenses are tax deductible can seem a bit of a grey area. The fact that Inland Revenue has just issued a 37-page Interpretation Statement (PUB00361) on the topic suggests that it too sees meal expense deductions as a complex area of tax law.

In this article, I aim to give readers some guidance about what can and can’t be claimed as a tax-deductible meal expense, noting that every situation will depend on the particular facts.

The ‘Private limitation’ Starting with the bad news… There is an income tax rule that denies self-employed business operators a tax deduction for any expenses of a private or domestic nature. Meals tend to fit this category—the reason being that people need food whether or not they are operating a business.

Exception to the rule Despite the ‘Private limitation’, case law has shown that there is one exceptional situation where meals are indeed deductible for self-employed people. This is the where the business activity requires extra meal costs beyond what is normal.

For example, let’s say you are self-employed and have a plumbing contract in a rural part of Central Otago. There is no supermarket near the work site but there is a flash winery down the road that does lunches, making it your only option for lunch.

If the lunch costs you $30 compared to your normal lunch spend of $10, then the ‘extra’ expense of $20 is tax deductible.

Employee allowances Tax law is rather more generous when it comes to allowing businesses deductions for employees’ meal costs. Payments or allowances for overtime meals, work-related events such as

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training courses, or working away from the usual workplace, are all generally tax deductible to the employer. From the employee’s point of view, these allowances and payments are ‘exempt income’, so no tax is payable on them.

Example Top Tap Ltd’s employee Tom has a day with four plumbing jobs lined up around Auckland, all of them a fair distance from Top Tap’s base in Manukau, so he’ll have no chance to call back to base for coffee. In this case, a reasonable tax-free daily allowance (IR uses $15 as a guide) to cover the cost of buying light refreshments while working away from base could be paid. The allowance would be tax free to Tom and tax deductible to the business.

Maximising the benefits There is good reason to understand the tax law around allowances. If applied correctly, there are clear tax advantages for both business owners and employees. Beware, though, that it is an area of expenditure that Inland Revenue is likely to look at during a tax audit. The best solution is to ask your accountant to help develop a clear business policy around meal allowances that aligns with tax law.

About the author: Brett Crombie is a Chartered Accountant, qualified lawyer and former Inland Revenue tax investigator. He is the owner of Straightedge Accounting, which provides tax, accounting and business advisory services. Contact Brett on 021 301 022 or email brett.crombie@straightedge.nz

Business smarts INSURANCE

VANS & VEHICLES

You’re not the man (or woman) in the van without commercial motor cover, says Crombie Lockwood in #3 of our series on the strings you need on your insurance parachute.

The Master Plumbers insurance package has five key areas of cover.

Perhaps the one that’s least understood is Commercial Motor cover.

This is not like insuring your family car; as a plumbing pro you need the extra protection that Commercial Motor provides.

Obviously, you will cover your van or other business vehicles in the Commercial Motor cover but in this case the word ‘commercial’ is important. Your own private vehicle won’t be covered if it is being used for ‘business purposes’. If you or your partner regularly make use of the family car as an ‘extra workhorse’ for the business, make sure it’s included in your Commercial Motor policy.

And there’s an upside to it being a specialised commercial cover. For example, for a tiny additional premium, if your van (or car) is damaged and you lose the use of it, your Master Plumbers Insurance policy covers you for the rental cost of a replacement vehicle until yours is back in action. For six weeks’ cover, you pay just $180+GST—that’s a rental van for $30 a week; crazy.

On top of that is the most common claims area—windscreens.

Once again, your Master Plumbers Insurance cover goes further.

You are not only covered for your windscreen but also sunroof, headlights, tail lights, indicator light glass, mirror glass and window glass, as well as any retinting that’s required and any damage to bodywork as a result of a glass breakage.

Oh, by the way—the actual van is covered up to replacement value. It’s a commercial proposition that could save your asset: Commercial Motor cover.

We look after hundreds of plumbing businesses, so if you need advice or just help with understanding your current insurances, email vaughan.bridges@crombielockwood.co.nz or give Master Plumbers Insurance a call on 0800 866 766. Happy to help.

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Business smarts EMPLOYER PERSPECTIVES

It takes sheer grit and determination to be a success, as Sam Tyson explains.

When you first start out in business, it can take a while for your ‘business self’ to emerge. When I first stepped into my business 10 years ago, I quickly learnt to take on a sort of game face that allowed me to fake it until I could make it and, believe me, there was a lot of faking going on.

People would ask how things were going, and I would put on my game face and tell them great! In reality, I was drowning— working long hours, having sleepless nights of worry, not eating well, and drinking copious amounts of wine to console myself.

Staff would come to me with issues that needed sorting. I would put on my fake-it face, act like I was in charge, in control, and yet the voice inside was shouting at me saying, “How the hell are you going to fix this?!”

Don’t get me wrong, there were moments when all the planets aligned, everything was going swimmingly, and I wanted to shout it out to the world. But equally there have been enormous lows, where I couldn’t lift my head above water; where all I felt like doing was curling up in my bed, head under the covers, bawling my eyes out, and wanting to run far away.

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The thing that separates the business success stories from the ones that don’t make it—which is the majority—is your ability to grind it out. You need to be very, very gritty, and your grit is a muscle that needs to be trained. Little by little, you build up resilience to face the hard stuff, your grit muscle becomes stronger, you get used to it, the issues get easier to deal with, your fake-it face turns into your real face, and eventually you are rewarded.

Another contributor to your own business success is your determination.

When you initially go into business, you are generally driven by a purpose, or wanting to create change, make a difference, or meet a monetary milestone. I am definitely motivated by having all these types of aspirations for my business, but never underestimate the power of: “I’m gonna show them.” This is your hit list of the people you want to prove wrong by making damn sure you succeed. I gathered fuel from all those who dissed me and made comment along the lines of, “Who does she think she is running a plumbing business?

She knows nothing about plumbing.”

It is really hard to prepare for any of this when you are thinking of starting up your own business. It’s not until you are in the thick of it, that you experience how strong your grit muscle is and how determined you are to be successful. It has been said that behind every overnight success story is a decade of an entrepreneur chewing on glass, and this has been true for me.

It has taken 10 years of sheer grit and determination for me to feel successful as a business owner.

About the author: Sam Tyson has been Managing Director of Climate & Plumbing since 2010. She is an active member in the industry and, with a background in strategic business development, shares the knowledge and experience gained from her award-winning business to help others obtain better results in their businesses. Sam is a Director on the national Master Plumbers Board.

SET EXPECTATIONS, MEET EXPECTATIONS Don’t let your customer service levels drop when you’re flat tack, says Tracy Pleasants of Foleys.

We are lucky to be working in an industry that is busy. However, when you’re busy and thinking only in the here and now, it’s easy to let the essentials of customer service lapse. One of these is expectations, the other is communication.

It’s so easy: set the expectation with your customer and meet their expectation. If you are too busy to do their job this week/ month tell them that; tell them when you can do it and meet that time. If you say you’ll be there in the morning but then can’t make it until the afternoon, ring and let them know. Giving vague estimations to

customers about when you can get to their job and then expecting them to chase you is not a great customer experience.

We’re all customers of tradespeople ourselves, so we know there’s a lot of frustration around lack of communication: no replies to messages, turning up late or not at all, not being informed along the way. This is all easily fixable, but it requires a focus on customer service and a focus on putting customers first.

We live in a world where we’re armed with multiple devices with which to communicate. Use them to keep your customers informed of when you’re going to be available to complete their job.

Provide your staff with the necessary technology and give them the training and the scope to communicate effectively.

Sometimes even just a simple text that

you’re on your way enables your customer to know they can duck through the shower before you arrive, or that they should hold off on doing that quick job in town.

Set clear expectations of your staff and meet the expectations of your customers, but when you can’t—communicate, communicate, communicate!

The times when you weren’t so busy might well come again, and those customers who remember how well you communicate will come back too.

About the author: Tracy Pleasants is the Marketing Manager for Foleys based in Dunedin.

Foleys is a plumbing, drainlaying gasfitting, electrical and mechanical company with 12 branches across the South Island and in Palmerston North and Putāruru.

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Business smarts HR & WELLBEING

Investigating theft Theft on any level must be investigated and a proper process followed, says Lisa Duston.

The Employment Relations Authority has upheld a personal grievance claim for unjustified dismissal and ordered the employer to pay the employee $14,700. The employee took an item from the shop floor and put it in her lunchbox. Other employees saw what happened and told the store manager.

The manager approached the employee who told him that the product had expired, and that a previous manager at the store said she could have it. The employee then instead threw the product away.

The next day another manager confronted the employee. There was a brief discussion before the manager dismissed the employee.

The Authority held that the employer unjustifiably dismissed the employee. It explained that the employer failed to carry out a proper investigation of the allegations and allow the employee to have an opportunity to have the allegations put to her for comment.

Although theft is a serious matter, the Authority did not accept the employer’s argument that dismissing the employee immediately was necessary to protect the business and explained that a suspension process would have been more appropriate in the circumstances.

KEREAMA CARMODY Master Plumbers Wellbeing Guy

Hello everyone, I hope 2021 is finding you well so far...

As we move into the winter months it’s more of a struggle to of get out of bed and tempting to be less active. Try to find ways to keep up your levels of physical activity. Research shows that

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The Authority ordered the employer to pay the employee $9,500 in lost wages and $15,000 in compensation. However, the Authority reduced the award by 40 percent for the employee’s actions that contributed to the situation.

Where there are allegations of theft against an employee it is important to carry out a proper investigation process. Additionally, if an employment agreement has a clause that allows for suspension, this may be used while an investigation is performed.

This article is reproduced from Rainey Collins ‘Employment Issues’, April 2021.

If you need to work through an employee disciplinary process, it is always a good idea to seek HR advice to ensure you are on the right track. Lisa Duston from Master Plumbers HR team is available to Master Plumbers members to discuss any employee situation. Contact Lisa on 021 245 1704 or email lduston@masterplumbers.org.nz

exercising with other people leads to better outcomes because we tend to motivate each other and hold each other accountable. So, a good thing to do is to find an exercise buddy who’s on the same page around goals, schedule and level of commitment.

There are heaps of apps and websites with workout tips. Most gyms will have an app with workout plans you can tap into. They’ll usually also give you a free session with a trainer to assess what you need to focus on.

Foodwise, this is a great time for soups, stews and casseroles, which are easy to cook in bulk and freeze. That way you can take something out of the freezer in the morning and heat it up when you get home. Much better than grabbing takeaways when you’re tired and cold. Make sure you throw in heaps of winter veggies to stay healthy. If you’re stuck for ideas, put the word out to the team, who may have some tasty recipes to share.

About the author: Need to talk? Members of Master Plumbers can get in touch with Kereama on the 0800 Wellbeing Number during normal business hours. More details in the member area of the Master Plumbers website (under HR Support).

wellbeing on tap

NZ

Career starters

GOLD STANDARD

Alan Wharton is the recipient of a 2021 outstanding newly qualified apprentice award and there’s a reason for that…

NZ Plumber discovers Alan’s focus on customer service, health and safety, and high-quality skills.

AUTHOR: NICK WALKER

N

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ewly qualified plumber Alan Wharton has only been in the trade five years, but he’s already making a mark around Queenstown. Overall winner of this year’s prestigious James Douglas Medallion, awarded to an outstanding tradesperson who completed their apprenticeship the previous year, Alan stands out for both his work and attitude.

Alan was always interested in doing a trade, but wanted to travel first. Born in England, he had stints as a snowboard

instructor and whitewater guide, among other hospitality roles, and was working on the Queenstown steamboat TSS Earnslaw before taking up a plumbing apprenticeship at the age of 30.

Customer-facing buzz “What I like about plumbing is the service you provide,” he says. “I got a lot of joy out of serving people in hospitality—being able to create an experience for someone that leaves a lasting impression. You get the same with plumbing. You can give

Career starters PROFILE

Winner of the overall 2021 James Douglas Medallion, Alan Wharton particularly enjoys the customerfacing aspect of being a plumber and gasfitter.

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Career starters PROFILE

Alan with Flint’s Plumbing Manager Andy Langford (left) and Director and General Manager John Stalker.

people stuff that lasts for 10-15 years. Being customer-facing is great—I can get that hospitality buzz out of it too.”

Having gone through Master Plumbersowned apprentice placement providers Masterlink, he ended up at Flint’s Plumbing and Drainage as one of around 10 plumbers working on new house builds, commercial construction and maintenance jobs, among other unique jobs that you’d only ever see around Queenstown.

“I went to the Milford track and stayed there for 10 days on a mission to refurbish a hut.

They helicopter you in, so you have to make sure you have all the right gear, but you do all the work, stay there until it’s done and fly back out. That was really good fun,” he says.

While doing his apprenticeship, Alan worked alongside all of Flint’s senior plumbers. He believes that variety really helped his learning, including being able to read plans and understand the inner workings of 200+ room hotels.

His main job now is maintenance and servicing, a position usually reserved for a plumber with much more experience than Alan has.

“This is a challenging role, but since taking it over, Alan has exceeded our expectations in all aspects,” says Flint’s

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Plumbing Manager Andy Langford. “He has a great rapport with our customers and an outstanding ability to problem solve, but he also hasn’t been afraid to seek advice.”

a suicide prevention course too. You never know what someone’s going through and more than anything it’s just encouragement for people to reach out when they need help.”

High H&S standards

Keep skilling up

Alan volunteered to be a health and safety advocate at Flint’s, and was also Masterlink’s health and safety representative for all South Island apprentices. He acted as a go-between for young tradespeople and their managers to ensure high standards were being kept across the board.

“It’s about making sure everyone’s got what they need and no one has any concerns,” he says. “It helps being a point of contact that’s not management.

I had to spend a lot of time reading up on regulations and I tried to trickle all the important information down to make sure everyone stayed out of trouble.”

As if that wasn’t enough, Alan’s also been proactive in encouraging his colleagues to talk about their mental health, having had his own struggles since his twenties.

“It’s just about trying to take down the stigma that people can’t check in and talk about things, which is really relevant for tradies. I took all the boys to the driving range to have a mental health check in, and we did

When he’s not working, Alan’s outside as much as he can be. Queenstown is the perfect playground for him, offering hiking trails, camping spots, snowboard runs and disc golf courses. He lives in Frankton with his wife of six years, and they’re hoping to be able to build a house in Queenstown in the next few years. Now that he’s finished his plumbing and gasfitting apprenticeship and has a challenging role in a company he’s passionate about, Alan’s relishing the responsibility and variety, working with anything from boiler systems to leaky taps.

“I’ll always keep skilling up,” he says.

“I’ll be sitting my Certifying exams for plumbing and gas soon, and starting my drainlaying apprenticeship too. I want the company to be able to move forward, and hopefully help with that myself.”

He’s particularly grateful to Flint’s management Andy Langford, Andy Collingwood and John Stalker for all he’s learned, including “taking us out for a beer every now and then!”

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Career starters TRAINER PROFILE

Julian Parker (right) has gone from being an apprentice to setting up in business and taking on his own apprentice, Jayden. Hugo the dog sometimes joins them on new build jobs, where he can be set up for the day!

KEEPING IT 100% For Julian Parker, the goal was always crystal clear: to start up in business by the time he was 30. And now this former apprentice is training an apprentice of his own.

AUTHOR: KERRIE MORGAN

J

ulian Parker and his wife Shannon launched 100% Plumbing and Gas in Rotorua in 2020—just as New Zealand exited the first Covid-19 lockdown. “I knew I wanted it to happen that year but we had to decide whether to go ahead coming out of lockdown or wait until later in the year,” says Julian, who was only 28 at the time.

In the end, they took the plunge and Julian says the transition into running his own business has been daunting and exciting in equal measure. He believes the skills gained during his apprenticeship have helped him succeed in reaching his goal— from the practical plumbing and gasfitting know-how to problem solving and communication skills.

After completing his apprenticeship at Laser Plumbing Rotorua, Julian went on to work for four years at The Lewis Plumbing Company, a reputable Rotorua-based business, which gave him an extra boost of confidence, knowledge and experience. “I treated the business like it was my own,” he says, adding that he was given

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a lot of responsibility within the company and took pride in all the work he undertook there. While at Lewis Plumbing, he also ticked off a number of achievements, including winning Plumbing World’s inaugural Young Plumber of the Year Award in 2017.

Overseas experience In 2018, he and Shannon took off for a year of overseas travel, backpacking through South America for six months before making their way to Europe. Their travels eventually led them to Austria, where Julian got a job working on the other side of the industry— for plumbing product manufacturing company KE KELIT—as a direct result of winning the Young Plumber of the Year award.

Not only was this a unique work opportunity, but it gave Julian an amazing European experience and an idea of what happens behind the scenes. The couple returned to New Zealand at the end of 2019, narrowly missing the start of the pandemic and a global shutdown.

Plumber or gasfitter?

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Trainee to trainer Three months after starting 100% Plumbing and Gas, Julian took the opportunity to share everything he’d learnt in his apprenticeship by taking on an apprentice of his own through Masterlink. He says he was determined to bring an apprentice on board who would be the perfect fit for his fledgling company—and Jayden ticked all the boxes.

In Julian’s own experience, the first year of the apprenticeship was the hardest. “It started off slow, but then ramped right up as I started to ‘get it’ and understand more, which gave me confidence.” His advice to anyone completing an apprenticeship: although it might start out tough, stick with it as it does get easier and is worth it in the end.

“It’s amazing to see how fast Jayden is coming along,” he says.

“It’s also very rewarding.”

Julian and Jayden connected via the local Masterlink Regional Manager, but Julian advises anyone looking for an apprenticeship at a company to go about it the right way.

“Just sending an email or giving someone a phone call often isn’t enough,” he explains. “Go door knocking. Take the boss a coffee and actually go visit them—show them how keen you are.”

In less than 10 years, Julian has gone from being the apprentice knocking on the door of a plumbing company, to the owner of his own plumbing company, training an apprentice. The future looks bright for Julian, Shannon, Jayden and 100% Plumbing and Gas.

APPRENTICE TO BUSINESS OWNER: Julian’s top tips

• The start of an apprenticeship can often be the hardest part—but stick with it! Once you gain knowledge, experience and confidence, it will become more straightforward.

• Only you can get the most out of your apprenticeship, so aim high!

• When looking for work experience—or a company to give you an apprenticeship—go door knocking.

Showing your face, rather than simply emailing or phoning, shows how keen you are.

• Contacting Masterlink to become an apprentice candidate can make getting an apprenticeship a much less daunting task. It’s also a great way for employers to find suitable candidates.

• Look at an apprenticeship as playing the long game.

You may not get paid much in the beginning, but in the long run you’ll have lots of opportunities and be able to earn more.

• It may seem like a long time, but an apprenticeship actually goes by very quickly—so learn as much as you can, and get to know the industry and its people as much as possible.

• Set a goal and go for it!

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Career starters JOB OPTIONS

I could be...

AN OFFICE MANAGER NZ Plumber talks to Sarah Avery about the Office Manager role and the importance of flexible conditions for those juggling work and family life.

“Y

ou name it, I do it.” That’s what Sarah Avery says about her role as Office Manager at Plumbing & Gas Works in Hamilton. Sarah joined six years ago when there were six team members and that number has since grown to 27.

The company runs a large contracts team, focusing on commercial new builds, refurbishments and drainage and a smaller maintenance team focusing on day-today plumbing, gasfitting and appliance servicing jobs.

Sarah started her career in the energy sector, primarily as a business analyst and project manager, delivering customer fronting projects. “After having three children, I decided I needed to work less and focus on family life for a bit,” she says.

“I had a ‘gap year’ with the kids and during that time I was a customer of Plumbing & Gas Works. I made some comments to one of the directors—who I had worked with many moons ago—about improving their invoicing processes and it went from there.”

As Office Manager, Sarah does everything from answering telephones, booking jobs and invoicing customers to process improvement and implementing new technology.

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“Sometimes it can be challenging juggling all the tasks to be done, along with playing Camp Mother to a number of our staff members,” she admits. “I have recently been out on some work sites doing Quality Assurance Checks. This has been enjoyable as it has given me an opportunity to work with other staff members who I don’t see very often and to see what goes on at a site.”

Sarah was also involved in the creation of the company’s core values: Company Wide Team Work, Dynamic Business Culture and Strong Client Relationships.

“Underpinning these values is the belief

“The overall company benefits if you can run your office smoothly, as well as putting processes in place to help the tradesman on site. I would like to see more women in the trade, especially as tradespeople, so they can break the ‘tradie’ stereotype.”

that our company creates an environment where initiative and hard work is recognised and rewarded.

“We work synergistically to deliver consistent and quality services and build our client relationships on mutual respect, trust and understanding. These are the values I hold and expect of others, especially when working with our clients.”

At the 2021 New Zealand Plumbing Awards, Sarah was the recipient of the Jackson Women in Plumbing Award for her outstanding skills in time management, documentation and for bringing this Master Plumbers member company into the 21st century by introducing systems and processes that increase efficiencies for the benefit of the staff and customers. As the Secretary of the Waikato Master Plumbers Association, she was also instrumental in making the Association’s annual awards night the showpiece it has become.

Asked how it feels to be a woman working in this male-dominated industry, Sarah admits it was a bit of an eye opener when she first started working at the company. “I had come from a corporate background to a small, privately owned company where there were no other women.”

Since then, she has seen an attitude change to women in the industry and the acknowledgement of the capabilities they bring to the workplace. “It is great to see the that the overall company benefits if you can run your office smoothly, as well as putting processes in place to help the tradesman on site. I would like to see more women in the trade, especially as tradespeople, so they can break the ‘tradie’ stereotype.”

It can be a challenge to juggle work and family demands, and Sarah would encourage anyone employing staff members to look at providing flexible working conditions. “Your employees will be so grateful.”

She says she is fortunate that her husband Matt has always been flexible with juggling home life too, which started back when their first child went to school.

“I was adamant I did not want my children to go to afterschool care, so both of us worked full-time jobs, but different hours, or I would work late at night at home, or in the weekends.

“When I started at Plumbing & Gas Works, I came in on reduced hours to make life a bit easier—and I still work reduced hours. Another of our male office staff now works in the office during school hours and works from his home office after school, so he can juggle his wife’s career and the family.

“It seems to be more of the norm now for flexibility in the workplace and all the part-time working parents I worked with in the past were machines at work. They can get through a large amount in a limited time.”

A can-do attitude, great organisational skills and believing in your capabilities are all good skillsets to have as an Office Manager, says Sarah Avery of Plumbing & Gas Works, who is shown here discussing customer requirements for a job with team member Shawn.

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Career starters SKILLS UPDATE

NATIONAL GOVERNANCE

Skills outlines how its new National Governance Group is helping steer the future direction of plumbing, drainlaying and gasfitting apprenticeships.

N

ew Zealand’s plumbing, drainlaying and gasfitting apprenticeship qualifications and programmes will receive better strategic direction due to the set-up of a National Governance Group by Skills.

The Group’s remit includes the following: 1. Qualification and apprenticeship review 2. Sequence of learning 3. Modes of delivery 4. Modes of assessment 5. Innovation in learning and assessment resources.

The Group is made up of the following members: Lois Moran

PGD Programme Manager, Skills (Meeting Facilitator)

Greg Wallace

Chief Executive, Master Plumbers

Colleen Upton

General Manager, Hutt Gas and Plumbing

Mark Whitehead

Director, Whitehead Plumbing and Gas

Mark Oldershaw

Chief Executive Officer, Whitireia and Weltec

Neil McDonald

Head of School, Construction and Engineering, Whitireia and Weltec

Dr Shelley Wilson

Executive Director, Learner Success, Wintec

Kim Ulberg

Principal Relationship Manager-Investment, Tertiary Education Commission

Conrad Herewini

Relationship Manager-Investment, Tertiary Education Commission

Di Lithgow

General Manager, RoVE Transitions, Skills

Kharen Hope

Project Lead, ITO Transition Plan, Skills

Manu Palelei

Strategic Business and Performance Manager, Skills

Roger Rowley

PGD Programme Manager, Skills

Three meetings have been held to date this year with the following objectives and actions: 1. Off-job delivery improvements • Increase where possible the number of new groups commencing this year • Review the size of groups attending block courses • Ensure that five-day block courses are delivered effectively • Explore delivery of theory content online

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• Merge existing groups where maximum numbers have dropped to help with capacity management • Introduce a non-attendance fee for block courses • Set up a Pathways to Employment pilot for placing trainees who are waiting to enrol into a Level 3 programme directly into an apprenticeship/employment.

2. Apprenticeship delivery model • Redesign aspects of the programme for future online delivery • Create a concept design for a programme that is less reliant on block course delivery • Review the apprenticeship programmes to work towards a nationally consistent set of programmes • Review the Level 3 and Level 4 qualifications with the intention of embedding Level 3 into Level 4. This will allow pre-trade trainees to enter at year 2 of their apprenticeship.

The National Governance Group is working at pace to provide outcomes that will support improvement, uptake and completion of New Zealand Certificate qualifications and programmes.

For further information, contact Lois Moran: loism@skills.org.nz

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10 MINUTES WITH… DODGY PLUMBING nzplumber

10 MINUTES WITH...

Ben Wheeler

We talk to 28-year-old Black Cap Ben Wheeler about his decision to combine an impressive cricketing career with a plumbing, gasfitting and drainlaying apprenticeship.

AUTHOR: SAM DAY

T

ell us a bit about your apprenticeship I’m currently at the beginning of the third year of my apprenticeship in plumbing, drainage and gasfitting with Peak Plumbing & Gas in Hastings.

The range of work we do varies every day, which I really enjoy. So far we have done lots of renovations of en-suites, bathrooms and kitchens.

Before plumbing I worked in wineries throughout the winters and played cricket in the summer months.

What about your cricketing career?

I grew up playing cricket in the backyard against my two very competitive brothers.

From there I grew to love the game and have played professionally for the last 12 years for the Central Stags, one of the six first-class teams that make up NZ Cricket. I am a left arm opening bowler and have a swing down the middle to lower order of the batting line up. I still play for the Stags, although this season I only managed a handful of games after injuring my knee in the pre-season.

Ben Wheeler is in the third year of his plumbing, gasfitting and drainlaying apprenticeship with Master Plumbers member company Peak Plumbing & Gas.

And finally... ON THE SIDE

Ben bowling during the third one-day international between England and New Zealand at the Ageas Bowl in Southampton in 2015.

And the high point so far?

Winning competitions with the Central Stags has been the highlight for me.

Working hard throughout a campaign and coming out as the overall champions is an awesome feeling. Also representing New Zealand on a few occasions in One Day Internationals and T20 cricket has certainly been an awesome achievement and something I will always remember.

Who do you credit as your influence?

My dad, my brothers and former Stag Brendon Diamanti were certainly my role models growing up. All were very successful in the sports they played. My eldest brother Sam was a very good cricketer, but just lacked a little motivation at times. Joe has played rugby at the top level and for a long time but was also very good at cricket. Dad played multiple sports for Canterbury. Brendon was my coach from the age of 12 and helped shape me to be the player I am today.

Photo: Graham Morris/www.photosport.nz

How do you balance your cricket and work?

Prior to my apprenticeship I only worked the five months between each cricket season, but since starting my apprenticeship with Grayson [Allen] I find myself finishing trainings around midday in the season before heading home, jumping in the van and meeting him wherever our job is for the day. In the winter, my trainings come in the early hours of the morning before work so it certainly makes for a busy time.

What are your goals for the future?

My current goals are to get married in April next year, hopefully play more than a handful of games for the Stags this coming season, and continue to develop my skills as a plumber. I would love to own a business one day but that’s the long-term goal. For now it’s making sure I cut the pipes straight and don’t miss any crimps along the way.

Got an interesting hobby, sport or talent?

We’d love to hear from you. Email the Ed: bsellers@masterplumbers.org.nz

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This Christchurch-based lter cleaning business now being offered for sale for the rst time in 20 years. Established in 1985. South Island Filters is well known in the industry specialising in cleaning lters for the likes of trucks, excavators, bulldozers, vehicles and mining equipment. Also, selling new lters and stocks a range of specialised oils for vintage vehicles.

Excellent reputation, with no direct competition in the South Island. There is a sound client database that has been built up over many years and enjoys a high level of repeat business. · Revenue for the 2020 year was over $300,000 · In addition to the working owner, there is one other full-time employee · Ideal loocation, close to main arterial routes in and out of the city The current Owner has owned the business for 20 years and is looking to retire. Here is a terric opportunity to be your own boss! linkbusiness.co.nz/CS00639 David Pigou 022 305 6024 david.pigou@linkbusiness.co.nz

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And finally... DODGY PLUMBING

My only sunshine “Customer called to report there was a leak on his solar system he wanted us to remedy,” says Karin Keith of EG Glennie & Co. “Clearly his repair attempts were not working!”

Age before beauty “Leaking HWC I attended,” says Michael Blakiston of Gorge Botica Plumbers. “Been in 85-plus years— old Hardie’s feed from header tank.”

From stormwater drains to sinks and solar systems, this edition’s bumper dodgy collection has it all.

Learning curve Sent in a photo and haven’t seen it yet? Please bear with us as we work our way through all the entries!

“A nice straight stormwater drain,” says Murray Rigby of Laser Plumbing Napier.

Blown apart

Down the gurgler “A customer rang up complaining about a gurgling kitchen sink,” says Shane Middleton of Coastal Plumbing.

“A customer came home to smell gas around his property and found this hose connected by hose clamps had blown apart due to the high gas pressure coming directly from a cylinder,” says David Whitfield of Morrinsville Plumbing & Gas Services, who sent in this photo. “Fortunately he isolated the gas safely.” nzplumber

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And finally... DODGY PLUMBING

Rollercoaster run “This pipework is running a bit like it’s on a rollercoaster,” says Steven Kirk of this photo he sent in. “The super-heated hot water melted these pipes pretty well and we got called to this job with wet carpet and water all over the shop floor.”

A tight spot “The owner tells me the last plumber only replaced the headworks of the cold water expansion valve. It’s obvious why,” says Shaun Rosacker of Bell Plumbing.

Unsanitary & rough “Currently upgrading my own ensuite bathroom,” says Gary Selfe of Aspen Plumbing.

“My wife always said there was a musty smell— lifted the shower tray and found this plumbing.

This was done by an overseas plumber that worked for the spec builder. I have also had a lot to sort out in the main bathroom. At least I know it is now all correct.”

Out of reach

Smelly bathroom Heron Plumbing were asked by a customer to look at a recurring smell in the toilet while doing a tap replacement in the kitchen. “Nice tidy job but no trap on the tundish waste,” says Dale Lovell. “All they had to do was drill through the outside wall and would have been fine as there was a garden outside.”

And another one from Dale Lovell at Heron Plumbing.

“Amazing what you see when you go and do a site visit at a mate’s house for work that needs to be done,” he says. “Saw this gas instantaneous water heater approx. 6m up on the outside of the next door house. Only way to get to this is to go into the yard of my mate’s place with an extendable ladder and try to stand on the roof to service. Wasn’t too much thinking going on here.”

Send your dodgy photos to the Ed: bsellers@masterplumbers.org.nz. The bigger the file, the larger we can show it on the page.

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