10 minute read
Bulletin
THIS EDITION’S NEWS FROM MASTER PLUMBERS INCLUDES AN UPDATE ON THE SELF-VERIFICATION PILOT FOR PLUMBERS AND DRAINLAYERS.
Business Partner Forum held online
Due to the Omicron surge in New Zealand, the annual Business Partner Forum and Member Forum were both held successfully online in late February and early March. Master Plumbers CEO Greg Wallace opened both events with an update on the work the organisation had undertaken to support members through the ever-changing workplace impacts of the Covid pandemic, including a recent video resource to help members apply for critical worker status.
He followed this up with an overview of the updated Master Plumbers strategy 2022-2025 and member feedback from the latest Master Plumbers annual survey, which showed that the shortage of qualified tradespeople, consenting delays, and issues with the current training system were the three main challenges facing our industry.
Greg finished his presentation by outlining key advocacy projects at Master Plumbers, which include the removal of lead from drinking water products; self-verification for plumbers and drainlayers; ensuring the gasfitting sector is trained and ready to take advantage of viable alternative fuels to natural gas and LPG; and representation on the Construction & Infrastructure Workforce Development Council as a voice for the training needs of the PGD sector.
Guest speakers included Ross Wakefield, Senior Advisor, Plumbing and Hydraulic Services at MBIE, who advised of upcoming consultation on plumbing and drainage systems and standards as part of the annual Building Code update (see page 24); and Gareth Kiernan, Chief Forecaster at Infometrics, who provided a construction outlook, predicting continued strong construction activity for the next 18 months, with capacity pressures and material constraints presenting the biggest challenge.
Members can find the updated Master Plumbers strategy in the member log-in area of the website www.masterplumbers.org.nz, under Rules & Strategy.
In his economic forecast presentation, Gareth Kiernan noted that a squeeze on household budgets, high interest rates and a very tight labour market were causing a drop in consumer spending behaviour.
5,000 FACEBOOK FOLLOWERS!
Thank you to each and every follower of the Master Plumbers Facebook page, which has reached the milestone of 5,000 followers. We’re so grateful you’ve connected with 19. us to keep abreast of exciting activities, competitions and initiatives coming up at Master Plumbers. Great to have you with us. www.facebook.com/masterplumbersnz
SELF-VERIFICATION PILOT PROGRESS
With slow inspection and consenting timeframes continuing to hold up building projects—particularly in Auckland, Waikato and the Bay of Plenty—Master Plumbers is making good progress on its initiative to enable selfverification for plumbers and drainlayers.
Tuhura Partners have been appointed to manage the project, which is being funded by Master Plumbers and the Ministry of Business, Innovation & Employment (MBIE).
“Our aim this year is to roll out a successful pilot in Hamilton, Christchurch and Tauranga, with the eventual goal of being able to extend self-verification throughout the regional Building Consent Authorities,” says Master Plumbers CEO Greg Wallace.
The pilot will use digital technology to speed up inspections and consent approvals, utilising the existing Artisan app developed by BRANZ for the building industry.
The process would see plumbers and drainlayers taking photos of their work as they go and submitting these to the Building Consent Authority for a pass/fail. Any necessary remediation work would then be completed and the changes resubmitted for approval.
Two workshops have been held to date to discuss the pilot rollout. NZ Plumber will bring more updates as we have them.
Don’t forget to register for the 2022 NZ Plumbing Conference in Rotorua from 15-17 June. www.plumbingconference.org.nz Details on page 13.
APPLIED DIRECTORSHIP PROGRAMME WINNER
Many Master Plumbers member businesses have developed a board structure or are on the directorship journey.
So, it was no surprise that we received significant response to our competition to win a free place, worth over $6,000, on the Sirdar Applied Directorship Programme, which is licensed for delivery in New Zealand by Skills Consulting Group.
Congratulations to deserving winner Nick Paris of Plumbing Today in Auckland. Nick began the 11-month programme in mid-March, which will see him completing monthly four-hour sessions on topics ranging from organisational culture to effective leadership and financial results.
The judges were impressed by Nick’s commitment to continuing his professional development and fulfilling his career aspirations. A Certifying Plumber, Gasfitter and Drainlayer, he also has a Diploma in Marketing and a Master’s Degree in Business. Working with his wife Sarah, their Plumbing Today business offers full service plumbing, gas, electrical, drainage and heating.
Nick Paris, winner of our competition for a free place on the Sirdar Applied Directorship Programme. Nick’s first monthly four-hour session was held on 17 March.
Powered by
Your journey to being more
than just another director starts here.
MT. TARANAKI (MT. EGMONT), NEW ZEALAND
EDUCATE Applied Directorship Programme
Find out more about the Applied Directorship
Programme at skillsconsultinggroup. com/what-we-do/organisationaldevelopment/governance-development/ sirdar-applied-directorship-programme
Get to know the Master Plumbers team with our quick Q&As.
NAME: Alana Fourie ROLE: Business
Development Manager
What does your day-to-day role look like? As the Business Development Manager, I am responsible for recruiting new members and expanding existing business relationships. This can happen in a variety of ways! My job allows me to spend a lot of time meeting new people, going to events and travelling (as soon as Covid allows)… Just the type of role I was looking for! What’s your work background? Relationships are an important element of my role, and years of sales experience have equipped me well. I spent nine years in high-volume sales across a variety of businesses, from vehicle sales for Kia—where I was named the 2016 national elite sales executive of the year—to fleet manager for the brand. My most recent position was as a key account manager for a wholesale building/ plumbing supply company.
Can you tell us a bit about you? I relocated to New Zealand in 2019 after falling in love with the country while on vacation the year before. They say that, as an immigrant, where you first lay your feet in your new country sets the tone for the rest of your emotional rollercoaster. Fortunately for me, I chose to settle in the beautiful Beachlands, east of Auckland—a hidden gem few people are aware of, and I’d like to keep it that way
I moved here with my husband and son and, while we will always miss our South African home, we have all adjusted beautifully—and we are fortunate to have family and friends around us. As a sports fanatic, I had previously played netball for provincial colours and have recently joined our local netball club.
What are you listening to right now? The exact song is So Far Away (how ironic) from one of my favourite bands Staind—I love me some good old rock. What’s your favourite book, TV show or movie? I’m not sure if I should say this, but Fifty Shades of Grey! Also the whole Harry Potter series, both as books and films. The most amazing show I’ve ever seen? The Handmaid’s Tale is haunting and powerful.
Where’s your favorite holiday spot? In New Zealand it’s definitely a tie between Taupō and Kai Iwi Lakes. Well, so far at least.
What’s your favourite food? Oh gosh, I love foods in general, but good spaghetti bolognaise is always a winner.
Can you name a person who particularly inspires you and why? It’s probably a cliché, but my son motivates me. He inspires me to be a better version of myself, a better human, every day. To perform random acts of kindness, to talk positively to everyone you meet, to have ambition and to believe you are capable of anything, and to never limit yourself. After all, he learns from me.
What do you enjoy doing in your spare time? I usually read or dance. Both of these things, I believe, keep me engaged in a really creative way. I can go through space and time to an entirely different zone of bliss and peace. For me, it’s more like therapy. Aside from that, it can be any outdoor or sports-related activity.
ONLINE FORUM FOR INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY
The theme for this year’s International Women’s Day on 8 March was ‘Break the Bias’. To mark the day, Master Plumbers held an online discussion with three inspirational and successful women who work within or on behalf of the plumbing industry.
Hutt Gas & Plumbing General Manager Colleen Upton ONZM, Deborah Hart of Deborah Hart Consulting, and Master Plumbers HR Manager Lisa Duston shared their experiences, struggles and successes, as well as inspiration and insights.
Given that women make up around 50% of the New Zealand population, there is so much more opportunity for growth in the numbers of women working in plumbing, gasfitting and drainlaying businesses, whether it be on the tools, in office administration, or as business owners and directors.
Read about an inspirational female apprentice in this edition of
NZ Plumber (starting on page 76)—the first-ever female winner of Plumbing World’s Young Plumber of the Year competition.
MILWAUKEE TOOL PACK PRIZE WINNERS: WORLD PLUMBING DAY
World Plumbing Day on 11 March has been fixed on the calendars of the global plumbing community since it was established by the World Plumbing Council in 2010.
This year, to celebrate, we ran a World Plumbing Day Master Plumbers’ prize draw to be in to win one of three amazing Milwaukee Tool Packs. Well done to our winners:
First Prize, valued at over $5,000:
Turepu Keenan, CF Reese Plumbing
Second Prize, valued at over $1,800:
Phillip Penno, Mana Plumbing
Third Prize, valued at over $1,700:
Kris Stokes, Flow On Plumbing. Win a Master Plumber for a Day
To raise awareness of World Plumbing Day amongst New Zealand homeowners, we also ran a prize draw to Win a Master Plumber for a Day! One lucky winner will receive 8 hours’ free plumbing labour on their project. We look forward to featuring the winning project in an upcoming edition.
Masterlink apprentice Turepu Keenan with his First Prize stash of Milwaukee goodies!
GET READY FOR PINK SHIRT DAY: 20 MAY
Master Plumbers and Masterlink have signed up for Pink Shirt Day again in 2022—how about you? Pink Shirt Day works to put an end to bullying and create workplaces, schools, communities and whānau where everyone feels safe, valued and respected.
Register at www.pinkshirtday.org.nz to receive information and updates in preparation for the day. You’ll also find some great resources on the site, including the workplace bullying prevention guidance shown here.
WORKPLACE BULLYING PREVENTION
SPEAK UP, STAND TOGETHER, STOP BULLYING
NEW MEMBERS
A very warm welcome to new Master Plumbers member businesses: Allday Plumbing Ltd, Auckland IMC Plumbing and Gasfitting Ltd, Auckland Leak Solutions Ltd, Auckland PGD Works Ltd, Auckland Rinnai NZ Service Agent, Auckland CC Plumbing Services Ltd, Waikato Connect Plumbing Ltd, Wellington Mana Plumbing Kapiti Ltd, Wellington Alpine Plumbing & Gas Ltd, Southland
WANT TO JOIN?
Master Plumbers is here to support all businesses in the plumbing, gasfitting and drainlaying industry. Members are Quality Assured and backed by the Master Plumbers Guarantee. We offer a wide range of business resources, health and safety, 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!
