Action central

Keynote speaker and out-of-the-box thinker Sir Ian Taylor, sponsored by Iplex Pipelines, said he was blown away by the innovation on display at the plumbing conference trade show.

Adversity is the catalyst of growth, said Dr Paul Wood in his keynote presentation, sponsored by MM Brands. The importance of diversity and inclusion in the plumbing industry was the topic at this year’s Women in Plumbing panel discussion, sponsored by Rheem.

The chance to network, socialise, and hear from first-rate speakers is what makes the annual NZ Plumbing Conference such an industry drawcard.

The Mico Welcome Night Dinner was held at Te Puia, where guests could enjoy a spectacular illuminated view of steaming geysers from the restaurant balcony (below).

More than $20,000 was raised for children’s charity Make-a-Wish at the live and silent auctions held during the Mico Welcome Night Dinner.

With the Mico Welcome Night Dinner at Te Puia, the Marley and Dux Fun Night Dinner at Skyline Rotorua and three Friday afternoon leisure activity options, there was no shortage of good fun, food and friendship to be enjoyed at the 2022 NZ Plumbing Conference.

Keynote speaker Dr Paul Wood had the audience absorbed by his story of delinquent to doctor and mental fitness coach. Paul had heaps of practical tips to share on how to build resilience and make personal changes for the better. “The brain’s capacity to change itself is mindblowing,” he said.

Sir Ian Taylor was equally engaging, explaining how the footsteps we lay down in his past create the paving stones where we stand today. For Sir Ian that began as a singer in a rock ‘n’ roll band and led to becoming one of New Zealand’s foremost innovators, developing computer animation technologies that are used by sporting events around the world.

Here’s just a snapshot of some of the action from the three-day conference, held at the Rotorua Energy Events Centre in June.

Setting off for a boat cruise on Lake Rotomahana in the geothermal wonderland of the Waimangu Volcanic Valley. Hosts with the most: Kirby Maxwell and Emma Ngatai of Marley NZ at the ‘70s-themed Marley and Dux Fun Night Dinner, held at the fabulous Rotorua Skyline. Among the best-dressed prize winners were Kiss, aka Hayden Maxey of Maxey Plumbing & Gas and Lance Bennett of Aquatherm, and Elton John, aka Andrew Durrans (below).

Thrills (and spills) on the mountain biking adventure in Whakarewarewa Forest.

Enjoying the Canopy Tours ziplining experience.