NZ Plumber December 2023-January 2024 by NZ Plumber

OFFICIAL MAGAZINE OF DECEMBER 2023– JANUARY 2024

Merry Christmas Meri Kirihimete And a Happy New Year!

Meet 2023 NAWIC Tradeswoman of the Year Billie McDonnell PAGE 28

SKIP THE TIP

Major moves to reduce construction landfill PAGE 14

WAYS WITH WASTEWATER

Pumps, channels & septic systems PAGE 48

SEEING THE BIG PICTURE

Business planning for 2024 PAGE 66

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A few words EDITOR

Volume 75, Number 6 MAGAZINE TEAM CEO Greg Wallace EDITOR Beverly Sellers 0272 923 923 bsellers@masterplumbers.org.nz PRINT Blue Star 33 Jackson Street, Petone, Wellington DESIGN SCG Senior Designer – Julian Pettitt SCG Senior Account Director – LauraGrace McFarland scg.net.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 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letters and other material forwarded to the magazine will be assumed intended for publication unless clearly labelled ‘Not for Publication’.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.

Dream vs reality When we moved into our new (well, tired 97-year-old) Whakatū Nelson home in mid-2022, we knew there was a bit of work to be done. Knocking a wall down here or there to open it up, freshening up the bathroom a little. It all sounded so easy. Here we are, 18 months later, and we’re just about ready to finally unpack all our boxes and make the place look like home in time for Christmas, when the family descends. My husband asked me this week what advice I’d give to someone else considering renovating, having now experienced the process first-hand, and my immediate response was: “Don’t live in it while you’re doing it.” That said, living amongst it all has been a real eye-opener. It’s shown me just how many different skillsets it takes to complete a residential project— builders, plasterers, painters, plumbers, drainlayers, gasfitters, electricians, glaziers, carpet layers, flooring installers, curtain makers... and the list goes on. To make everything happen in the right order and at the right time involves a huge amount of coordination and collaboration. And the number of decisions that need to be made is unreal! Everything from the big stuff, like the energy source for cooking (gas), to the small stuff, like laundry door handles (matt chrome, 230mm). What has impressed me most is how professional, friendly, amenable, considerate—and incredibly hardworking—most of the people involved have been (including, of course, our Master Plumber). This has made the whole project so much more bearable, and I’ve even got to quite enjoy the sociability of people coming and going while I work away from home each day. What hasn’t been so positive is the amount of construction waste that

goes with a renovation like this. Plastic wrapping, cardboard, polystyrene packaging, material offcuts, old fixtures and fittings etc. We recycled what we could (ReStore Nelson is amazing) but a lot still went to the dump. So, I was very interested and relieved to read this edition’s feature article on moves afoot by many New Zealand manufacturers, suppliers and businesses to reduce construction waste (see page 14). These efforts are being combined with initiatives to reduce carbon emissions within their own operations as well as to develop increasing numbers of innovative renewable technologies for consumers. It’s got to be the way to go. I’d be optimistic to say we’re nearly finished with the renovation, as we haven’t even started on the garden... but all that matters right now is to have a fun, relaxing summer break with the family. Here’s wishing you the same!

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

Ma whero ma pango ka oti ai te mahi With everyone’s cooperation, the work will be complete

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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CONTENTS

A chat with 2023 Tradeswoman of the Year Billie McDonnell, who works at South Auckland Plumbers

DECEMBER 2023–JANUARY 2024

ON THE COVER

“Every day is an adventure”

32 36

Out and about Awards night action around the regions

Masterlink messageboard Meet new Health, Safety & Wellbeing Advisor Rebecca Moss

ON THE TOOLS

41 42

WHAT’S UP

FEATURES

7 8

New apprentice qualifications Progress report

Update Industry news, including cyclone recovery workforce projections

10 02

We Good news stories for some Christmas cheer

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Waging war on plastic waste How plumbers can reduce onsite plastic and packaging waste

MASTER PLUMBERS

21 22

Toolbox tip Why trailer safety is critical

Made for comfort Join us on a tour of the Rinnai NZ Auckland facility

TECHNICAL THEME:

WASTEWATER MANAGEMENT

Take advantage of a new legal helpline

Bulletin

Platinum Partner Profile Simpro reports on its successful Simprosium

Wastewater treatment innovator How Lew Austin helped change the face of NZ wastewater treatment

Member benefit

A new Action Plan for Master Plumbers, plus the chance to apply for a Board Internship

Pushing it uphill Why APD WasteWorx pump stations make short work of wastewater

Production facility wastewater management Meeting unique drainage system demands in processing facilities

Wastewater reduction through recycling How Hydraloop technology reduces wastewater in off-grid builds

BUSINESS SMARTS

63 64 66

‘Plug and play’ water treatment

WorkSafe notifications Mental health in top 3 annual notifications

4 tips to successful incident reporting

Start big to see clearly Focus your lens on the big vision for 2024 and beyond

AS/NZS 5601.1:2022

Business loans: tips for success

Products

Seasonal marketing tips

A veritable Santa’s sackful of new products and services

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.

Scan to read NZ Plumber online!

Want to bring in international workers?

AND FINALLY...

Balancing motherhood & work Two plumbers discuss juggling maternity leave, motherhood, work... and sanity

Accidents & near misses

A pre-built endpoint water treatment system designed to meet Drinking Water Acceptable Solutions

Are you ready to comply?

CAREER STARTERS

Better apprenticeship training ahead

10 minutes with... Jerome Pampellone, plumber, drainlayer and world-class boxer

Dodgy plumbing Why licensed plumbers, gasfitters and drainlayers are legends

What the PGD Strategic Reference Group is doing to improve the apprentice experience

Here’s what you should know

Three ways to increase your chances of success when applying

Tailoring your marketing to the season

Embracing diversity & inclusion How a diverse workplace can be better for business

Drinking done right Ideas for enjoying Christmas celebrations while protecting your health—and waistline

COVER STORY Every day is an adventure, says Billie McDonnell, who is a qualified tradesperson at South Auckland Plumbing. This family business, run by Kevin Grantham, provides a service, housing and commercial division and rotates apprentices across each sector to ensure a diverse range of work experience. We catch up with Billie on page 28 about becoming a joint winner of the 2023 NAWIC Tradeswoman of the Year Award. Cover photograph: Robin Hodgkinson

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Report CEO

CEO’S REPORT

We’re running up to the annual Christmas period and the year seems to have flashed before our eyes. With the new Government formed, Master Plumbers is extremely proud of our recently released Action Plan document, available on our website. This is a busy time for advocacy, as we need to be across ministers for building and construction, energy, housing and tertiary education. Our Action Plan sets out the key challenges as we see them for our sector and also provides clear solutions to rectify the issues and increase productivity. We hope this National-led government will keep to its pre-election promise to enable plumbers and drainlayers to selfcertify using digital recordkeeping within the first 12 months of their term. In other advocacy matters, Master Plumbers is very concerned that some larger construction companies are attempting to demand both bank bonds and retentions from subcontractors in commercial contracts. Retentions came under the spotlight following the collapse of companies like Mainzeal, Hawkins Orange and Eberts. Together with the Specialist Trade Contractors Federation, we advocated successfully for change to ensure retentions are held in trust and protected in the event of a construction company liquidation or receivership. It took more than three years and a lot of work to get this amendment to the Construction Contracts Act through Parliament. The intention of the amendment was never to create a two-tiered system for subcontractors, where they would be

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expected to deposit bank bonds and be subject to retentions. I’ve heard that some main contractors are saying they are concerned about the risks of subcontractors failing. This is rather ironic when you consider that the amount of money lost by failed main contractors over the last decade pales into insignificance compared with the amount lost by their subcontractors. The ultimate effect of requiring both bonds and retentions from subcontractors is that cashflow doesn’t remain in their control or their bank account. At Master Plumbers, we strongly advise subcontractors to agree either to retentions or to bonds—not both.

At Master Plumbers, we strongly advise subcontractors to agree either to retentions or to bonds—not both.

We are disappointed to have seen some main contractors stipulate both in their contracts and we will be discussing this with relevant building associations and the Construction Sector Accord. In other news, you will see my article on page 78 about the ongoing work for the Waihanga Ara Rau workforce development council and PGD Strategic Reference Group (SRG). This has been the most comprehensive review of apprentice training

qualifications in decades and represents a huge amount of work. Public consultation on the proposed new qualifications opened in late November and a second phase will be held at the end of January, so we would like to receive all your feedback then. The most significant changes in the proposed new training regime will be formal recognition of workplace learning and ensuring apprentices are getting relevant training both on and off job. Master Plumbers is pleased to have had a good number of applications to the new Apprentice Reference Group (ARG), which will feed its recommendations on training to the SRG for consideration. We are looking to finalise this group in the next few weeks, with the first meeting to be held in 2024. We think it is critically important that this industry’s apprentices have a voice on what’s occurring with regards to training in New Zealand. Finally, I want to wish all members, business partners and associates a wonderful Christmas and really do hope you will all have an extended break over December and January. The construction sector looks positive heading into 2024 and I want to thank the teams at Master Plumbers, Masterlink and NZ Plumber for their tremendous work during the year. Merry Christmas and enjoy the beach! Greg Wallace, CEO Master Plumbers, Gasfitters & Drainlayers NZ

Meri Kirihimete, kia haumaru te noho, e hoa mā Merry Christmas and stay safe, my friends

tice! n e r p p a n a 1. Tak e on sterlink a M ll a C . 2 day 3. Plan holi

Masterlink mentored apprenticeships will help you grow the skilled workers you need in your business. Visit masterlink.co.nz

Phone us today on 0800 502 102

The preferred choice for mentored plumbing, gasfitting & drainlaying apprenticeships

Trips ofe a Lifetim . . . d e t a r b e We Cel

THE FOURTH OF JULY IN

NEW YORK CITY

“The trips are so well organised – you have enough time to do your own thing during the day and come together for happy hour. We had some really nice dinners, saw a Broadway show – I can’t say enough about the Mico team – we had an incredible time and I highly recommend these trips.” – James Cowles, Clynne & Bennie

Only Mico offers unforgettable Trade Edge Experiences as a reward for your spend. Our recent New York experience included helicopter tours, baseball at Citi Field and an epic and exclusive superyacht cruise to celebrate the 4th of July on the Hudson river complete with fireworks!

SIMPLY SPEND WITH MICO AND YOU COULD JOIN US IN 2024

BALI | 9TH AUG

MELBOURNE CUP | 2ND NOV

Ask your local Mico Team for more information 0800 101 999 | www.mico.co.nz

INDUSTRY NEWS Workplace assessments are a critical component of the proposed new PGD apprentice qualifications.

What’s up

NEW APPRENTICE QUALIFICATIONS: PROGRESS UPDATE In a significant project for the PGD industry, the New Zealand Certificate qualifications have been undergoing review and revision by construction and infrastructure workforce development council Waihanga Ara Rau.

Waihanga Ara Rau consulted with industry experts throughout the project (see article on page 78), and the qualifications and unit standards are now ready for NZQA approval. Public feedback was sought between 20 November and 11 December on the Plumbing and Drainlaying Level 4 New Zealand Certificates.

This will be followed by consultation on the Gasfitting Level 4 and PGD Level 3 (pre-trade) New Zealand Certificates between 29 January and 16 February 2024.

Go to waihangaararau.nz/pgd-reimagined to provide your feedback.

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INDUSTRY UPDATES ON RETENTIONS, BUILDING CONTRACTS, HEALTH & SAFETY AND MORE...

Subcontractors being advised not to accept bonds alongside retentions It appears some main contractors have been using bonds alongside retentions since the introduction of the new retentions regime on 5 October 2023. The Specialist Trade Contractors Federation (STCF) and Master Plumbers are concerned about this emerging trend, which is not the intent of the new regime. “We need to be clear and upfront with main contractors about adhering to the new retentions regime and expect that proper reporting will take place to subcontractors,” said STCF’s Richard Arkinstall in October. “We do not support the use of both retentions and bonds and encourage subcontractors to reject this option if the approach is made.” The new legislative requirements have imposed additional steps that help protect subcontractors,

Acceptable Solutions and Verification Methods

primarily concerning how retention monies are held, stringent reporting obligations, and the potential for substantial fines in cases of non-compliance. “The increasing preference for bonds alongside retentions is, in many cases, an unreasonable response to circumvent these legislative requirements,” said Arkinstall. “Bonds are being used to ensure the subcontractor is financially viable, whereas subcontractors don’t get to request the same bonds process from main contractors.” The reliance on bonds could inadvertently marginalise smaller players who lack the resources or leverage to negotiate favourable bond terms, he noted. STCF is working with various parties to find an industry solution that ensures a regime that works for main contractors and subcontractors alike.

Acceptable Solutions and Verification Methods

For New Zealand Building Code Clause E1 Surface Water

Acceptable Solutions and Verification Methods

Prepared by by the the Ministry Ministry of of Business, Business, Innovation Innovation and and Employment Employment Prepared

For New Zealand Building Code Clause G12 Water Supplies

For New Zealand Building Code Clause G13 Foul Water

G12

G13

NEW BUILDING CODE DOCUMENTS PUBLISHED On 2 November 2023, MBIE published updates to the acceptable solutions and verification methods for Building Code clauses E1 Surface Water, G12 Water Supplies, and G13 Foul Water. These changes support the provision of plumbing and drainage services that comply with the Building Code and help meet the safety and wellbeing objectives in the Building Act

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2004. The changes are the latest in a series of continuous improvements to ensure the Building Code compliance pathways for the plumbing sector are fit for purpose and up to date. For more information about these updates and to download the updated Building Code documents go to www.building.govt.nz/ building-code-compliance

What’s up INDUSTRY NEWS

WORKFORCE PROJECTIONS FOR CYCLONE GABRIELLE RECOVERY The PGD industry can now get a good idea of how many extra workers will be needed for residential recovery work in areas impacted by Cyclone Gabrielle. This is thanks to new early workforce projections for residential construction and infrastructure developed by workforce development council Waihanga Ara Rau, the NZ Infrastructure Commission Te Waihanga, and the Construction Sector Accord. Based on projects received, these workforce projections are broken down by occupations, such as planners, engineers, trades workers, machinery operators, and labourers, and provide a view over the coming years. By providing an early understanding of possible labour demands, the projections support affected regions in their project planning and coordination. This understanding is important, given the large scale of the recovery effort across many regions and the potential need to draw on national capability. These early projections will change, but having a view now will support affected regions in their project planning and coordination, and the construction industry to identify potential workforce needs. Go to Waihanga Ara Rau’s Emergency Response Workforce Calculator at WIP.org.nz to search up workforce projections, filtered by occupation.

100

200

300

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COMMITMENT TO USE ALL-OFGOVERNMENT SPECIAL CONDITIONS IN CONTRACTS

The practice of heavily amending standard contracts with special conditions can defeat the purpose of standardised contracts. Following a Construction Sector Accord review of how special conditions are being used by the public sector, Accord Agencies have made commitments to achieving greater consistency in their contracts. Agencies, who include MBIE, WorkSafe and the Ministry of Education, are participating in a process to update, agree and use all-of-government special conditions for NZS 3910 and CCCS contract templates. NZS 3910:2013 will be superseded by NZS 3910:2023, which was due to be published early December as NZ Plumber went to print. The new edition will include provision of editable contract schedules/forms.

Janet Carson moving on from GasNZ GasNZ Chief Executive Janet Carson is moving on to new ventures in early January 2024. “We are grateful for Janet’s leadership and thank her for her contribution over the last two years,” said former chair Ben Gerritsen in October. “Working with the Board, her drive and expertise have been instrumental in getting us to where we are today, providing a strong foundation for our future. After a successful merger of the Gas Association and the LPG Association, GasNZ has established the infrastructure we need to drive a sustainable future for gas.” At the GasNZ annual general meeting in October, Elgas GM Nick Hannan was elected as the new GasNZ chair.

New WorkSafe CEO appointed

Carpenter Painter Plumber Concrete worker Plasterer Project manager General labourer Quantity surveyor Electrician Bricklayer Machinery operator Steel framing worker Drainlayer Building installation services worker Wall and floor tiler Interior designer Flooring worker Roofer Stonemason Glazier

The number of plumbers and drainlayers expected to be needed in addition to BAU for Cyclone Gabrielle residential recovery work in the first quarter of 2024. Graph from Waihanga Ara Rau’s Emergency Response Workforce Calculator.

PEOPLE

500

Steve Haszard has been appointed as new WorkSafe NZ Chief Executive, replacing Phil Parkes who left WorkSafe at the end of 2023. “Steve brings strengths in regulatory practice, organisational change, and strategy development and execution,” says WorkSafe NZ Board Chair Jennifer Kerr. “His leadership experience will provide clarity for WorkSafe’s staff and system partners throughout this period of change. Steve’s immediate priorities will be to lead WorkSafe through its organisational change process, drive the articulation of our strategy and implement the response to the Strategic Baseline Review.”

FIRSTGAS GROUP BECOMES CLARUS

Firstgas Group has announced a name change to Clarus, meaning clear and bright. “The change to Clarus marks a new and exciting phase for our group of companies, as we look to the future of energy,” says CE Paul Goodeve. “Rest assured, while we will no longer use the name Firstgas Group, our companies Firstgas, Rockgas, Firstlight Network, First Renewables and Flexgas, are still very much here for the long-term. Clarus ties these brands together and represents the direction we’re heading in. Thanks to ongoing research and leveraging international progress, we are on a path to distributing alternative, more renewable energy sources. We are on track to deliver New Zealand’s first biogas to biomethane upgrading facility, in Q2 next year and we have made progress on New Zealand’s first hydrogen blend trial. We also continue to investigate bioLPG, which could allow our Rockgas customers to reduce their emissions in the future.” nzplumber

What’s up INDUSTRY NEWS

2023 CERTIFYING MERIT OF EXCELLENCE AWARD WINNERS

The Plumbers, Gasfitters & Drainlayers Board acknowledges high standards of achievement in the Certifying Plumber, Drainlayer and Gasfitter registration exams each year by presenting the Certifying Merit of Excellence Award to those who made the highest mark in each exam. The 2023 winners are Liam Louw in Plumbing, Jake Baigent in Drainlaying and Hamish Jeffries in Gasfitting. “The Board acknowledges the hard mahi that has gone into achieving these results and congratulates the winners on their achievements,” says CE Aleyna Hall. “Liam, Jake and Hamish are contributing to the growth of the industry and lead by example in raising the profile and ensuring the highest professional standards within the trade.”

News snippets that caught our attention this edition.

Heron Plumbing has won Employer of the Year at the 2degrees Auckland Business Awards 2023. This win means a lot, coming up against some very well-known companies, says co-owner Andrea Lovell. “It means we are doing it right, we have the right culture within our company and that’s why our staff stay with us,” says Andrea. “Our four most senior staff have been with us between 15-17 years. We love our staff and treat them as family, as family is really important to both Dale and I.” Jarvis Plumbing & Gasworks, meanwhile, was selected as a finalist for the 2degrees Wellington Regional Business Excellence Awards 2023 for Excellence in Construction, Trades & Infrastructure. And Hutt Gas & Plumbing were among four businesses to be inducted into the new Hall of Fame at the Awards.

From left, Liam Louw, Jake Baigent (accepted by family member), and Hamish Jeffries.

Plumber Chris Flannery raised $56,000 for Melanoma New Zealand at his Cockies and Tradies Melanoma Awareness Charity Golf Tournament in October—the second year for this sell-out event. Chris, who works at Foleys in Alexandra, was diagnosed with Stage 4 metastatic melanoma in 2019 and is still receiving treatment, reports the Otago Daily Times. Having worked as a farmer and now a tradie, he knows only too well the dangers of working outdoors in the New Zealand sun. Early detection is key, says Chris.

Cody Hall is the 2023 Young Plumber of the Year! Cody, who works at CF Reese Plumbing, went through to the national final as the winner of the Waikato/King Country regional final. He was among 10 contestants in the national final, which took place in Hamilton in mid-November. Congratulations to Cody and to Plumbing World for putting on another fantastic competition to showcase the high skill levels in our industry. Buteline are among the sponsors of the 2023 Toi Ohomai Charity House Project in conjunction with Foley’s Rotorua. The project sees one house per year built by carpentry students at Toi Ohomai with the support of the business community and auctioned off with the proceeds going to deserving Rotorua community groups. Each three-bedroom house is transportable and features a master bedroom with ensuite, open-plan kitchen, dining and lounge.

Send us your good news stories! Email the Ed: bsellers@masterplumbers.org.nz 10

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Scan to learn more

Making a difference that matters. As a co-operative we are passionate about sustainable development, we want to make a positive impact, for our customers, our staff, our suppliers and communities across Aotearoa, and continually seek ways to protect and preserve our planet for future generations. We are passionate about treating people with respect and creating positive, healthy, and safe experiences and environments for all the people that engage with us. Caring for our Community is important to us – we are proud to support these nationwide cancer charities: Bowel Cancer NZ, Breast Cancer Foundation, Prostate Cancer Foundation. We are proud to support renewable energy in Aotearoa and have joined Meridian’s 100% Certified Renewable Energy programme, as well as donating annually to Trees That Count.

plumbingworld.co.nz/social-responsibility

What’s up CALENDAR

NEW ZEALAND PLUMBING CONFERENCE 2024 If you only attend one event in 2024, make sure it’s the 2024 New Zealand Plumbing Conference!

10-12 APRIL 2024 TĀKINA CONVENTION & EXHIBITION CENTRE PŌNEKE WELLINGTON Registrations are now open for the 2024 NZ Plumbing Conference and you are invited! There is so much value for your business in attending: Business and supplier networking Latest products and technologies Panel discussions on industry topics Market sector updates Inspirational speakers Social activities Partner activity programme Celebrating excellence. Registration includes all catering, daytime business sessions, trade show, social activities and evening events throughout the conference. This year’s keynote speakers include New Zealand Rugby giant Sir Wayne Smith and business leader and entrepreneur Melissa Clark-Reynolds ONZM, with Jesse Mulligan as the NZ Plumbing Awards Night MC. Jehan Casinader will once again MC the Conference sessions. Panel discussions topics include State of the Sector, Women and Diversity in Plumbing, and Leadership Journeys.

Evening dinner events include the Mico Welcome night and the Marley and Dux Fun Night Dinner, which will be held at Te Papa Tongarewa Museum of New Zealand, with a theme of Night at the Museum!

“Don’t wonder what it’s like—register for the next conference—once you’ve been you will never miss another!” 2023 NZ Plumbing Conference participant

Take your pick from Friday afternoon leisure activity options of Holey Moley golf and pool, a trip to Zealandia or Ferg’s rock and kayak. A Trade Show will run throughout the event. Not been to the NZ Plumbing Conference before? Make this your first—you’re guaranteed a warm welcome. Discover the full programme and register today at www.plumbingconference.org.nz

2024 NEW ZEALAND

PLUMBING AWARDS ENTRIES OPEN!

Get your entries in for the 2024 New Zealand Plumbing Awards. With 10 categories to choose from, there are plenty of great opportunities to acknowledge this industry’s business and training leaders, employees and apprentices, projects and products. Enter at plumbingconference.org.nz/awards

For all upcoming Master Plumbers training and events, go to www.masterplumbers.org.nz/events 12

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Lead-free Hydropress pipe and fittings more than meet the standard Stainless steel is a 100% lead free solution, exceeding the new drinking water standards coming into effect September 2025, limiting the lead content in plumbing products to a weighted average of no more than 0.25%. The Hydropress piping system is designed for a wide range of applications including; plumbing, gas, fire systems

Choose Hydropress.

and solar energy, a competitive product offering which meets international quality requirements and global standards. With excellent resistance to chemical attack and corrosion Hydropress has a long service life with the added benefit of being fully recyclable. For top quality, 100% lead-free, longlasting pipe and fittings, choose the best.

Seventy percent of plastic waste was recycled at this project in New Lynn, Auckland.

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Feature CONSTRUCTION WASTE

WAGING WAR ON

PLASTIC WASTE Plumbers are being encouraged to cut down the amount of packaging left at construction sites as part of a push to make the management of plastic waste more sustainable, as NZ Plumber reports. AUTHOR: MATTHEW LOWE PHOTOGRAPHS: ENVIRONMENTAL SOLUTIONS RESEARCH CENTRE

drive to identify alternative options for plastic use in the building industry and to divert plastic waste from landfill is being spearheaded by Environmental Solutions Research Centre (ESRC), based at Unitec in Auckland. Co-founded by Professor Dr Terri-Ann Berry in 2019, the centre has audited a number of new-build construction sites to help inform the development of practical solutions to reduce plastic use and encourage reuse or recycling. She suggests if 230,000 new homes were built in Auckland, it would currently generate enough plastic waste to fill 16 Olympic-size swimming pools. “We have been working with six different contractors in the Auckland region and put in waste separation stations to collect every item of plastic,” explains Terri-Ann. “We look at all waste products, but plastic has been the main focus when it comes to looking for replacements where it’s viable and sensible. “Sometimes the plastics used are unnecessary and, where it’s plastic that isn’t suitable for reuse or recycling, we have suggested replacing it with a different type. “Transportation is still the biggest pain for removing plastic waste, but we hope that

by getting more people on board and better attitudes on construction sites there will be the volume to combine transport logistics.” She notes that generally pipe offcuts and packaging create the most plastic waste from residential and commercial sites.

The toilets came packed in a further 42 boxes, 56 pieces of polystyrene and 28 plastic bags, while mirror cabinets, vanities, kitchen taps, heated towel rails, hot water cylinders and super tub boxes added to the pile of rubbish. Project site audit Nigel Benton, a property developer and vice-president of Auckland Master Builders, recently completed a build of eight terraced townhouses in New Lynn, Auckland, and worked with ESRC to recycle 70 per cent of the project’s plastic waste. An audit of the site revealed it generated 270kg of soft plastic waste, 201kg of polystyrene and 156kg of pipe. Of those totals, 214.5kg of the soft plastic and all of the polystyrene and pipe was recycled.

The amount of leftover plumbing packaging at the end of the project was substantial, with the 14 showers across the eight homes generating 42 leftover boxes, 42 plastic bags and 168 pieces of polystyrene. The toilets came packed in a further 42 boxes, 56 pieces of polystyrene and 28 plastic bags, while mirror cabinets, vanities, kitchen taps, heated towel rails, hot water cylinders and super tub boxes added to the pile of rubbish. In terms of overall waste, 22.4 tonnes of material was collected and audited from the project, of which 18.4 tonnes was recycled or repurposed.

Changing mindsets Nigel says he has been in the building trade for 44 years and could see the large volumes of rubbish going to landfill, with packaging and plumbing offcuts at the fitout stage among the main sources of waste. “We need to change people’s mindset and get out of that bin culture, which in the past we’ve been so used to without a thought of where the waste ends up,” he adds. “As a group, we’re here to help builders, manufacturers and other people who want to get into this to come up with solutions. Companies that start early with this

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ESRC encourages the on-site separation of waste products.

type of recycling and waste management work will be the leaders as we go forward.” He encourages plumbers and drainlayers, along with other tradespeople, not to dump waste into builders’ bins but to return it to their merchants and ensure it gets reused or recycled from there. Terri-Ann adds: “My message to plumbers would be to go back to your supplier and see if it can remove some of the packaging if you don’t need it, and when you do come onsite take your waste back with you and ask the supplier what they do with it. “Alternatively, if there’s active waste separation on-site then learn to use it because it makes so much difference.”

Have a waste champion ESRC is trying to change the ‘skip mentality’ and make that shift as easy as possible through signage, education and encouraging businesses to appoint waste champions.

“We need to change people’s mindset and get out of that bin culture, which in the past we’ve been so used to without a thought of where the waste ends up.” NIGEL BENTON

Auckland Master Builders Vice-President

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All the construction waste was audited at the New Lynn project.

Feature CONSTRUCTION WASTE

One of Marley’s more than 25 uPVC drop-off points across the country.

MARLEY MAKING A DIFFERENCE

Marley NZ recycled 625,000kg of plastic construction waste last year, with much of it going back into the manufacturing of new products. This year, it has set a goal of lifting that figure to 1,300,000kg. The company, which is part of the Aliaxis group, accepts returns of used waste pipes, spouting, ducting and other plastic construction waste and offcuts, including PVC fencing offcuts. A key to the success of its project to reduce PVC and HDPE plastic waste is its partnership with Waste Management New Zealand, which collects, sorts and collates the product before sending it to Marley. The first waste drop-off points were in Auckland before the scheme expanded into Christchurch and Wellington through direct merchants. There are now more than 25 PE and PVC recycling drop-off locations across the country. Dwayne Carroll, Marley’s recycling project lead, says the amount of waste it reuses has significantly cut how much goes to landfill, as well as the amount of plastic resin that needs to be imported to make products. “The collected plastic will be used at Aliaxis New Zealand’s sites to manufacture our next generation of PVC and HDPE piping systems used in building, infrastructure and agriculture projects across New Zealand, closing the loop and reducing our overall plastic resin importation,” he explains. “We are proud to be at the forefront of the drive to recycle construction waste and hope that ever more builders, contractors and merchants will join in the efforts to reduce our industry’s impact on the environment.” Marley currently has up to 47% recycled content in some of its Drainflo products, with plans to increase this figure, and up to 30% recycled material in some other items.

Marley has up to 47% recycled content in some of its Drainflo products.

Allproof uses recycled plastics, where appropriate, for some of its products.

ALLPROOF CUTTING CARBON

Allproof Industries has set a goal of cutting its carbon footprint by embracing solar power, reducing emissions from its vehicle fleet and recycling more of the waste from its manufacturing plant. Adam Jackson, General Manager, adds that the company also uses locally sourced recycled plastics, where appropriate, for a number of its products. “These are sourced from post-consumer and postindustrial feed sources and extend the lifecycle of these plastics and provide a viable alternative to virgin materials for certain product categories,” he says. Solar panels have been installed at its manufacturing site in Auckland with the up to 1,200kWh of energy generated per day put back into powering the plant. Other green measures include collecting and storing rainwater, and generating nitrogen gas at the plant for manufacturing, with the latter eliminating the need for gas bottles to be transported to and from the premises. “We also seek to reduce onsite waste at our manufacturing facility through the recycling of soft plastics, consumer packaging, timber and metal,” he says. “We consider product packaging and waste when designing new products and seek to use products that can be recycled or have less environmental impact. We utilise biodegradable pallet wrap and packaging tape as part of this effort.” Allproof’s vehicle fleet has also switched to a mix of electric vehicles and hybrid models to further reduce its emissions.

Allproof encourages recycling of a range of items.

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Feature CONSTRUCTION WASTE

PHOTOGRAPHS: RECYCLE SOUTH

Bale wrap is one of the main plastics recycled by Recycle South.

WATER KEY TO RECYCLING

The director of Baxter and Neilson Plumbers in Invercargill has been working with the charity Recycle South since April 2022 to transform an old freezing works in nearby Makarewa into a hive of recycling activity. Bale wrap and silage covers are among the main plastics accepted by the facility, and they go through water blasting, heat treatment and wash cycles. While Nathan has done the lion’s share of the plumbing work, he has had up to three of his colleagues on-site with him at certain times.

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Some of the pure plastic resin produced from recycling agricultural waste at the plant.

“One of the biggest obstacles for us was storage of wastewater, and the filter system needed to remove bits of plastic so the water could be recycled back into the system,” he explains. “We had to work out what to do to capture all the waste plastic by filtering the water, and then pumping that water back so it can be reused. “It’s been a rewarding project and definitely been a learning curve for getting your head around operating numerous pumps at a big commercial site.” Besides working on the two recycling lines at the plant, with plans to double it to

Plumber Nathan Holdaway at the Recycle South site.

four, Nathan also installed toilets, drains and connected potable water supplies at the site. Hamish McMurdo, general manager of Recycle South, says he visited 17 different factories overseas to find the right technology to bring to New Zealand and admits the most complicated part has been the plumbing. “It turns out this process uses a significant amount of water and we needed to find a way we could recycle the water because that’s the sensible thing to do,” he says. “In association with Nathan and our engineers, we’re building a settling process where we can recirculate the water, it then settles out, gets refiltered and we reuse that water.” Hamish says the recycling operation means waste traditionally buried or burnt is now turned into plastic resin, which is exported to countries that can make it into bale wrap again. “Initially, I thought the pure resin would be used for drainage pipes but the quality we can produce is good enough it can be put back into wrap, so it’s created a circular economy.”

Among its ideas is the on-site separation of waste products— for example, having different bins for pipes, polystyrene, polypropylene, soft plastics, and all other plastics. “I would like every single builder out there to have waste separation on site and to maybe start making money out of their waste,” adds Terri-Ann. “That’s bold and it may not occur for the next 10 years, but we want to make it easy and enable everybody to do it, so it becomes part of the culture.” Nigel notes some plastics can’t be recycled and he is keen to see those designed out of use.

Plastic reduction initiatives Other initiatives to cut plastic use at construction sites include Mitre 10 no longer automatically providing timber or panels wrapped in plastic. In its first year no wrap was used on 97% of such supplies. Carters has followed suit with a similar scheme, while Naylor Love has boosted its green credentials by covering its timber packs with reusable tarpaulins instead of plastic. Meanwhile, the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment says the building and construction sector has a key part to play in helping New Zealand meet net zero carbon emissions by 2050. The sector currently accounts for about 20% of the country’s carbon emissions through the energy and materials used in buildings. Officials hope over the coming decades the embodied carbon emissions of buildings will significantly reduce through improved designs, being more efficient with construction products and materials, and reducing the carbon associated with those items. Businesses are being encouraged to appoint waste champions and have on-site separation of waste products.

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MEMBER BENEFIT Members can get the first 20 minutes on the new Master Plumbers Legal Helpline.

Master Plumbers

BETTER CALL LEGAL Needing legal support? Master Plumbers is here to help.

A new Legal Helpline is just part of the legal support and resources on offer to Master Plumbers members. Call the helpline for immediate legal guidance from law firm Duncan Cotterill if your query can’t be handled internally by the Master Plumbers HR Helpline. The first 20 minutes on the Legal Helpline are free, and members who are new Duncan Cotterill clients can also enjoy a 10% discount on hourly rates*. *Rates are reviewed annually on 1 April and are GST exclusive.

Visit the member area of the Master Plumbers website for more details: www.masterplumbers.org.nz (under Business Resources)

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THIS EDITION’S NEWS FROM MASTER PLUMBERS INCLUDES A NEW ACTION PLAN, OUTLINING PRIORITY ADVOCACY ISSUES FOR 2024 AND POTENTIAL SOLUTIONS. The new Master Plumbers Action Plan.

Time to take action In a new Action Plan document, Master Plumbers has identified the three priority actions it deems to be critical to the ongoing improvement of our industry and the safety of the communities we serve. They are: 1. Productivity and Workforce Capacity 2. Climate & Environment 3. Public Health & Safety

The past few years have tested the resilience of our industry with significant damage to property

and infrastructure from storm events; critical workforce shortages; inefficient consenting processes; and unsafe plumbing products. “New Zealand is well overdue to fix these issues and we call on all political parties and the Government to commit to our action plan to build a stronger plumbing industry and a safer industry,” says Master Plumbers CEO Greg Wallace. Read the Master Plumbers Action Plan at www.masterplumbers.org.nz

NEW NORTHLAND BRANCH

Zane Britton of BOI Plumbing & Gas in Kerikeri was instrumental in getting the new Northland Branch up and running. Zane is the new branch President and his partner Rachel Watson is Vice President.

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Master Plumbers is proud to have a vibrant network of regional branches and associations around New Zealand. They provide excellent opportunities for member businesses to network, discuss local issues, and enjoy activities, events, speakers and product presentations. That network has now grown to 19, with the recent launch of the Northland Master Plumbers Branch. This is an exciting move for member businesses in the region, who were previously part of the Auckland branch—and the new Branch owes much to the collaborative efforts of Kerikeri-based BOI Plumbing & Gas owner Zane Britton and Ben Mayne of Ben Mayne Plumbing in Auckland. The Northland Branch is busily planning its inaugural event and a calendar of activities for the year ahead.

Master Plumbers

UPDATES

Dave Strong Dave Strong is Managing Director at Morrinsville Plumbing & Gas Services (MPG). The company carries out plumbing, gasfitting, drainage, sheetmetal, light engineering and fume cupboard work along with backflow testing and surveys. Dave was elected to the Master Plumbers Board in 2009 and believes it is important to give back to the industry. He also delivers Master Plumbers training courses, carries out complaint investigations as required, and sits on the Wintec employer partnership group.

BOARD CHAIR & PRESIDENT: WHO DOES WHAT?

Martin de Gouw Martin de Gouw has been a shareholder and Director at Clyne & Bennie in Christchurch for more than 25 years and Managing Director since 2008. The business has been a member of Master Plumbers for over 30 years. Martin was elected to the Board in 2013 and believes in giving back to an industry that has supported him and his family. He has also been a member of the Plumbers, Gasfitters & Drainlayers Board since 2019.

MASTER PLUMBERS FEEDBACK ON GAS TRANSITION PLAN ISSUES PAPER During October, the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) sought feedback on issues opportunities for the gas sector as New Zealand decarbonises its economy. The issues paper considered how the country can lower emissions, including by using renewable gases like biomethane and hydrogen. Master Plumbers responded with a clear call to the Government to include renewable gases in the future energy mix. In its submission, Master Plumbers noted that gas plays a crucial role in meeting energy needs and providing affordable heating options, as well as increasing energy security and fuel diversity. Master Plumbers also recommends the development of a formal renewable gas qualification and the establishment of a specialised facility to provide installer training in biogas, renewable LPG and hydrogen. Members can read the Master Plumbers submission in full at www.masterplumbers.org.nz

Gas Transition Plan Issues Paper AUGUST 2023

With the launch of the new annual Master Plumbers New Zealand Board Internship opportunity, this is a good time to outline the different roles on a Board, including the Chair and President positions. The Chair is the main link with the CEO of Master Plumbers. The Chair provides leadership in developing an effective governance culture and ensuring strong communication flows between the Board and management. One of the Chair’s main duties is to set the agenda and run board meetings. They guide the meeting towards clear outcomes for the management team to carry out. The President is the ‘face’ of the Board, representing the Board and Master Plumbers to stakeholders by developing good relationships with regional associations and branches, and with Master Plumbers Business Partners. Alongside the Chair and President roles, the Master Plumbers New Zealand Board currently comprises six Elected Directors and one Independent Director. If you’re interested in getting involved in the Master Plumbers New Zealand Board, make sure you apply for a Board Internship. The internship includes a fantastic opportunity to complete governance training through the NZ Institute of Directors. Applications are open until 10 January 2024 to become an intern for the 2024-2025 year. Email your CV and covering letter to HR Manager Lisa Duston: lduston@masterplumbers.org.nz

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The Peter Jackson Plumbing team in their Mo Growth, Mo Good T-shirts, ready to begin the challenge.

YOU ANSWERED THE CALL!

More than $19,000 was raised for men’s health charities during Movember in the Master Plumbers and Marley NZ Plumbers, Gasfitters & Drainlayers Industry Challenge. Teams joining the challenge in 2023 included JLP (Not All) Gingers, RXP Office MoTivators, Marley-Mo's, Team Master Plumbers/ Masterlink, Marley Pro Supply Chain, Lake Wide Plumbing, Quix Auckland, Lake Wide Plumbing and Peter Jackson Plumbing. Special shout out to the Peter Jackson Plumbing and JLP Plumbing teams, who both started the month clean shaven in readiness for the challenge. “A number of staff advised their commitment to the cause only if JL did it (thinking he never would),” says JLP Plumbing General Manager Dave Norriss. “To the surprise of all, JL joined the JLP (Not All) Gingers Team, uncovering his chin for the first time this century—giving us a total of 13 staff taking part. So, on the morning of 1 Movember, we gathered in the office for a cooked breakfast (very healthy of course) and a shave off…”

Thirteen of the JLP team committed to starting the month of Movember clean shaven to try and grow the best Mo!

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Leading from the front was the ‘big fella’, John Leen (from JLP), shown here with the beard coming off.

Master Plumbers

UPDATES

WELCOME TO NEW MEMBERS

Nau mai, haeri mai to new Master Plumbers’ member businesses: Digga Drain Ltd – Auckland Haus Plumbing and Gas Ltd – Auckland PBD Plumbing Ltd – Auckland Pumped Up Plumbing Ltd – Auckland The Plumbing Lab Ltd – Auckland Tino’s Plumbing and Gas Ltd – Bay of Plenty New Vision Enterprises – Wellington Purple Plumbing Ltd – Wellington Smith’s Plumbing Services Ltd – Canterbury

The 75th anniversary of NZ Plumber magazine was acknowledged during a Master Plumbers Business Partner event in Auckland in November.

75 Years for NZ Plumber! This year marked the 75th anniversary of NZ Plumber magazine, which was launched by Master Plumbers in 1948 when the Association realised the need for a publication that could share information relevant to New Zealand member businesses. Originally called the New Zealand Plumbers Journal, the first edition was put together by a Mr Alan Muir, the elected Publicity Officer. In a book written in 1997 to commemorate 100 years for the Otago Master Plumbers, the authors note: “Today the Plumbers Journal can be claimed to be the most prestigious of all New Zealand trade publications, the envy of others and the pride of the plumbers.” The fact that the magazine is still going strong in 2023 says a lot for the support it continues to receive from

Master Plumbers and the Business Partners who contribute valuable advertising and editorial content—as well as from its readership. NZ Plumber remains committed to providing information on topical issues that impact the plumbing, gasfitting and drainlaying industry in New Zealand.

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 today!

Alana Fourie 021 985 894 afourie@masterplumbers.org.nz Or contact 0800 502 102 admin@masterplumbers.org.nz

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PLATINUM PARTNER PROFILE

TURNING CHAOS INTO CLARITY Simpro reports back on its inaugural Simprosium user conference, which showcased some exciting new features for this trades business management software.

impro held its first user conference, Simprosium, in Australia and New Zealand under the theme Turn Chaos into Clarity. The event attracted over 700 attendees, including customers, industry experts and partners, aiming to showcase the latest platform features and foster a community. Key announcements included launching the Simpro Certification Programme, new security enhancements, Stripe payment integration, business intelligence reporting, ClockShark time tracking integration and digital form improvements—all geared towards

reducing administrative tasks and meeting digital-savvy customer needs. “The Simprosium roadshow was all about meeting our customers and understanding what is top of mind for them,” says Gary Specter, CEO of Simpro. “It was important to me that we did not just talk at them but talk with them, to truly hear them, so that together we can collaborate and create a community where we can invest in each other and be successful.” The event also featured insights on inflation, staff retention, and leveraging data for company innovation, emphasising the importance of business intelligence

The 2023 Simprosium roadshow was all about collaborating with customers to build a user community.

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tools. Simpro’s API capabilities were lauded for unifying processes and streamlining operations. “Simpro transformed our approach from mere estimation on spreadsheets to a comprehensive solution integrating sales, operations and more,” said Simprosium participant Porty Ushan, director at Aloka Technology. “Simpro’s powerful API capabilities allowed us to seamlessly connect various systems, ensuring a holistic view without technological hindrance. Simpro is more than an operations manager; it became the connective tissue that unified our processes, empowering our business to thrive.” The event’s success has prompted plans for similar conferences in the US and UK markets in 2024, demonstrating Simpro’s commitment to building a collaborative customer-centric ecosystem for innovation in the trade service sector. “It was an invigorating and humbling experience to be met with such honesty, enthusiasm and excitement around the community we will be building together,” says Specter.

The customer panel at the Auckland Simprosium event in September.

VARIETY IS THE SPICE

The team of 30 at South Auckland Plumbing, including the commercial and residential crews.

South Auckland Plumbing has been providing the full range of plumbing, gas and drainage services for over three decades, now employing a dedicated team of 30, including NAWIC Tradeswoman of the Year 2023 Billie McDonnell. NZ Plumber caught up with Billie and company owner Kevin Grantham. AUTHOR: JE T’AIME HAYR

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Master Plumbers

outh Auckland Plumbing owner Kevin Grantham says the company has left its mark on projects in Parnell, West Auckland, the North Shore, and even Coromandel. “Our services encompass maintenance, commercial, housing, gasfitting and drainlaying—if water flows through it, our team can handle it,” he says. Kevin stepped into his role in this familyrun business 14 years ago, taking the reins from his father, Chris, who rejoined the business last year to oversee the residential and maintenance aspects, bringing with him decades of plumbing expertise. The company recently completed several significant projects in the commercial plumbing sector, including La Quinta by Wyndham Hotel in Ellerslie, Auckland—a massive project comprising 12 storeys and over 200 rooms. “We took over the project midway through completion,” says Kevin. “And the success of that job led to other significant ventures including the 10-storey La Quinta in Parnell, along with a threestorey, 100 room retirement village in Manurewa, DoubleTree by Hilton Karaka and the Ellerslie Sports Centre.” South Auckland Plumbing has been a member of Master Plumbers since it was founded and, for Kevin, the Master

“We have a service, housing and commercial division, and rotate our apprentices across each sector so they benefit from a diverse range of work experiences.” KEVIN GRANTHAM Plumbers logo adds integrity to their brand and is a way to emphasise their professionalism. “Master Plumbers gives our customers peace of mind that they aren’t dealing with cowboys.” In today’s market, resiliency is key to longevity, and South Auckland Plumbing has carved a niche for itself in a range of sectors. “We have a service, housing and commercial division, and rotate our apprentices across each sector so they benefit from a diverse range of work experiences,” he explains.

Award-winning tradeswoman Billie McDonnell joined South Auckland Plumbing just over a year ago and was one of two tradeswomen (both plumbers) jointly awarded the prestigious title of Tradeswoman of the Year at the NAWIC (Women in Construction) Excellence Awards this year.

MEMBER PROFILE

Billie’s journey into plumbing was unexpected, as she had dreamed of becoming a farmer. “I took a gap year after completing school, to save up for a farming course. However, I did some contract work for a plumbing company my father worked for, and I found I really enjoyed the work,” she says. So, she jumped in headfirst, starting her apprenticeship just a month later. Her dad, also a plumber, didn’t push her into the trade and stepped back to let her make the call. And she hasn’t looked back. Billie wrapped up her apprenticeship in April 2022, going on to become a Certifying Drainlayer and Tradesman Plumber and Gasfitter.

Overcoming challenges Billie’s journey into plumbing hasn’t been without challenges, though, and she acknowledges that plumbing isn’t for everyone. “If you’re considering it as a potential career path, I highly recommend work experience. That’s the way to discover if this is your calling or not.” She says people envision plumbing as just unblocking toilets, but there’s a lot more to the role. “There’s plenty of variety to the work, whether it’s working on copper water mains in a 10-storey building, or in a paddock running

Billie McDonnell, a Certifying Drainlayer and Tradesman Plumber and Gasfitter at South Auckland Plumbing, won the 2023 NAWIC Tradeswoman of the Year—one of two women plumbers selected from across the entire trades sector to win this prestigious award.

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Master Plumbers

MEMBER PROFILE

Billie is shown here with Chris Grantham, who is also an owner of the business.

a septic tank line. The kinds of skills required are problem-solving— you’ll need to figure out how to fix things and you’ll also need to be highly organised, making sure you have the right equipment and products ordered and on hand when you need them,” she says. Billie has faced two significant hurdles in her time as a plumber. The first setback is injuries. Just four months into her apprenticeship, a 440-pound water pump fell on her, breaking her femur with a compound fracture. Recovery was long and painful, and the injury still gives her trouble.

There’s plenty of variety to the work, whether it’s working on copper water mains in a 10-storey building, or in a paddock running a septic tank line.” BILLIE MCDONNELL

The second challenge is one many female tradespeople unfortunately face— sexual harassment on job sites. “Most of the people we work with from other companies are great, but from time to time someone will make things uncomfortable,” she says. How she handles it? “I stand my ground, and if needed, I’ll escalate the issue to management.” In fact, being a female on-site has unique dynamics. Billie explains that people fall into three categories when they see a female plumber on-site. “First, those who are excited and treat you the same, then there are some who are hesitant and need to see your skills before accepting you, and lastly, those who immediately don’t want you there,” she says. For Billie, the satisfaction of proving herself on the job drives her to succeed.

Unparalleled camaraderie Billie uses her Instagram account ‘That Plumber Chick NZ’ to share her experiences as a plumber and to help others make informed decisions. She often receives messages from young people seeking advice and knows of one young woman who began her apprenticeship after chatting with Billie. Despite the challenges, Billie encourages women to consider a career in the plumbing trade. “The variety of work and camaraderie on-site are unparalleled. It’s a unique job where everyone pulls together, and every day is an adventure.”

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OUT & ABOUT The latest activities from Master Plumbers branches and associations have included several awesome awards nights around the regions.

Raising funds for Wellington Free Ambulance More than $30,000 was raised for Wellington Free Ambulance through a live auction and raffle at the Master Plumbers Hutt Valley/Wairarapa and Wellington Charity Dinner in midNovember. Awesome company, awesome generosity!

Night at the Trots The Waikato Master Plumbers enjoyed a fantastic night of live harness racing action in October at the Cambridge Raceway. “We fought the TAB and the TAB won.” So say the Hamilton Plumbing Team, pictured here with Masterlink Central North Island Regional Manager Russell Walsh!

Auction items large and small got bidders engaged and ready to give for a good cause.

Getting together in Nelson Long-standing and recently joined members of Master Plumbers Nelson got together in October at the Honest Lawyer pub for a meeting, including an update from Master Plumbers CEO Greg Wallace.

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Bullseye! Wellington Branch members had a blast at the Darts Evening in October, supported by MM Brands—a fun evening at a great venue.

Master Plumbers

BRANCHES & ASSOCIATIONS

Awarding Excellence around the Regions Northland and Auckland Held at the Hilton Auckland in early November, the inaugural Auckland and Northland Master Plumbers Awards Night saw over 200 guests come together to celebrate achievement in these regions. Membership milestones and 15 awards were presented during the evening to deserving winners, including Northland Master Plumber of the Year Limitless Plumbing & Gas, and Auckland Master Plumber of the Year Auckland Plumbing Group.

Limitless Plumbing & Gas owner Blake Patrick with the 2023 Northland Master Plumber of the Year Award.

Auckland Plumbers Group, headed by Andrew Durrans (holding trophy) celebrate winning the 2023 Auckland Master Plumber of the Year Award.

Joe Calkin (left) and Mike Wilson (centre) of FB Hall are presented with the 2023 Waikato Master Plumber of the Year Award by Dave Whitfield.

Dale Lovell of Heron Plumbing was the worthy winner of the 2023 Northland and Auckland Contribution to the Industry Award.

Waikato FB Hall was the proud recipient of the 2023 Waikato Master Plumber of the Year Award at the annual awards night for the branch, held at the Wintec Atrium in September. The event is the highlight of the Waikato Master Plumbers’ calendar and was attended by Mayor Paula Southgate.

It was a packed house once again for the 2023 Master Plumbers Waikato Awards Night in September. nzplumber

Master Plumbers

BRANCHES & ASSOCIATIONS

The assembled guests at the Master Plumbers Bay of Plenty/Coromandel First Annual Awards Dinner.

Bay of Plenty/ Coromandel Pipe Masters picked up the inaugural Overall Company Award at the recent Master Plumbers Bay of Plenty/ Coromandel First Awards Night. It was smiles all round at a very successful event, which awarded the region’s top apprentices, employees and businesses. Congratulations to Craig McCord, deserving winner of the region’s 2023 Contribution to the Industry Award.

An enjoyable night for all involved.

Paul Knight of Pipe Masters receiving the Overall Company Award 2023.

The latest annual Mac McKenzie Trust Awards winners were celebrated at the Queenstown Lakes District Branch Industry Forum and Awards Night 2023 in October. It was particularly special to have Mac McKenzie’s daughter Dayle Matthews and granddaughter Francesca Jackson in attendance.

Queenstown Lakes District The Mac McKenzie Trust Awards are named after legendary plumbing, gasfitting and drainlaying tutor Mervyn ‘Mac’ McKenzie, who taught at Otago Polytech for 23 years from 1952. “Mac had that extraordinary X factor,” says Master Plumbers Life Member Ray Galt. “With his untimely death in a hang gliding accident in 1975, aged 54, it was decided to honour his memory by presenting awards to achieving apprentices.” The Mac McKenzie Trust was formally established in 1996 and continues strong today. The hosting of the awards evening is shared by Master Plumbers Southland and Master Plumbers Otago, and more recently by the new Master Plumbers Queenstown Lakes District.

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“The Trust would like to acknowledge both the Southland and Otago Master Plumbers for their recent injection of funds into the Trust to ensure these awards can continue for some years to come,” says Ray. Mac McKenzie Trustees Apprentice Award This award recognises second- and third-year apprentices in the Otago and Southland regions, who have shown huge improvement or have overcome major adversity during their apprenticeship. Otago winner: Jacob Laurent – Foleys, Ranfurly Southland winner: Nathan Wheal – RH Plumbing & Gas, Invercargill

Mac McKenzie Trust Award for Meritorious Apprentice This award recognises those who completed their apprenticeship with excellence in 2022 or Jan- March 2023 (to allow for block course and examination timings). Otago winner: Fletcher Sharman – Foleys, Alexandra Southland winner: Nathan Burt – Southland Plumbing & Pumps, Invercargill Overall Top Performing Apprentice for Otago/Southland This award recognises excellence in all aspects of training during a plumbing, drainlaying and/or gasfitting apprenticeship. Cameron Ryder – Hi-Flo Plumbing, Oamaru.

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THE FINAL MASTERLINK UPDATE FOR 2023 BRINGS NEWS OF A NEW HEALTH, SAFETY & WELLBEING ADVISOR.

WELCOMING REBECCA MOSS Masterlink is thrilled to welcome Rebecca Moss to the new role of Health, Safety & Wellbeing Advisor. Rebecca comes with extensive plumbing industry experience in safety policies, procedures, safe work practices, and safety legislation. In her new role, she will focus on the health, safety and wellbeing of Masterlink apprentices, and on assisting hosts. In the run up to Christmas, she has been working with the Masterlink team to ensure all apprentices receive sunscreen, glove clips and safety information. Look out for more about the part Rebecca plays in the overall Master Plumbers Wellbeing on Tap Programme in the next edition of NZ Plumber. New Master Plumbers and Masterlink Health, Safety & Wellbeing Advisor Rebecca Moss.

WAIKATO INDUSTRY TRAINING EXCELLENCE Congratulations to Max Drake for winning the 2023 Colin Reese Memorial Scholarship at this year’s Gallagher Rotary Awards in Hamilton, and to Rory Van Vroonhoven as the award finalist. The Gallagher Rotary Awards recognise excellence in industry training and support motivated young people embarking on their learning journeys. Both Max and Rory have begun Masterlink plumbing, drainlaying and gasfitting apprenticeships at CF Reese, with Max winning $1,000 towards his apprenticeship costs. The Colin Reese Memorial Scholarship was established in 2003 by CF Reese Plumbing in recognition of Colin’s contribution to the Hamilton plumbing industry by training hundreds of apprentices over six decades—a commitment to industry training that continues at the business today.

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Masterlink apprentices Max Drake and Rory Van Vroonhoven with their award certificates.

Master Plumbers

MASTERLINK

REWARDED FOR DOING THE MAHI Making sure apprentices return home safely at the end of each day is hugely important to Masterlink. As a reward for completing their Masterlink Health & Safety online modules, all Masterlink apprentices receive a Makita Cordless Hammer Driver Drill. Shown here is Hongshi (aka Franky), who was presented with his Makita Hammer Drill kit by Auckland Regional Manager Steve Meadows, having smashed his learning sessions with a 100% pass mark. “I always enjoy catching up with this awesome drainlaying apprentice and delivering his prize was my reward!!” says Steve.

NOMINATE A MATE Got a mate you’re sure would take to a plumbing apprenticeship like a duck to water? Send Masterlink their details and, if they pass the recruitment process, you score a $100 Prezzy Card*. It’s a win-win situation! Shown here is Masterlink drainlaying apprentice Declan Weal, hosted by Tauranga-based Armstrong Plumbing & Drainage with his Prezzy Card prize. Declan nominated mates Noah and Cody, who have proved to be excellent candidates. Noah has just started his apprenticeship at The Drainage Department, and Masterlink is currently seeking a local host company to take on Cody. Find the entry form at www.masterlink.co.nz/ nominate-a-mate. Terms and conditions apply*. Franky is all smiles as he’s presented with his well-earned Makita Hammer Drill kit.

WE HAVE A WINNER!

Jacob Smith, Operations Manager at Masterlink host business Plumbing & Gas Works in Hamilton, will be jetting off on a Deluxe Air New Zealand Mystery Break as the winner of Masterlink’s recent prize draw! The draw was open to business owners signing up a Masterlink apprentice between 1 September and 15 November, with the apprentice starting at work by 10 December 2023. Plumbing & Gas Works took on no fewer than three apprentices during this time. The two-night mystery break for two is valued at $1,500. Enjoy your travels, Jacob! Masterlink RM Russell Walsh presenting Jacob Smith with his Deluxe Air New Zealand Mystery Break draw prize.

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Master Plumbers

MASTERLINK

Masterlink milestones WELCOME A warm Masterlink welcome to

new apprentices: William Hodgkinson Heron Plumbing, Auckland Ricky Lufe A Plus Plumbing, Auckland Dallas Petersen A Plus Plumbing, Auckland Blake Bellingham Bassett Plumbing & Drainage, Auckland Brooklin Toia Plumbing & Gas Works, Hamilton Noah Payne Laser Plumbing Whanganui Quinlan Armstrong Menzies Group, Timaru Bailey Pearce Peninsula Plumbers, Dunedin HUGE thanks to all Masterlink host companies for your commitment to training the next generation!

CONGRATS TO RUSSELL WALSH Masterlink Central North Island Regional Manager Russell Walsh was surprised and honoured to win Training Leader of the Year at the 2023 Master Plumbers Waikato Awards in October. “We can all vouch for Russell,” said the Waikato branch. “He’s a top man to deal with, a great help for our apprentices and treats them with respect. He is a great mentor—not only for his apprentices but also the companies hosting them for their training. He helps hosts find the best ways to work with apprentices and knows his role inside and out.” Well done, Russell! You make Masterlink proud every day and this recognition is thoroughly deserved.

QUALIFIED

It’s a massive milestone to achieve Level 4 New Zealand Certificates. Congratulations to Bradley Thompson for qualifying in Plumbing and to Teigan Jopson in Drainlaying.

Masterlink Regional Manager Russell Walsh receiving his Training Leader award at the 2023 Master Plumbers Waikato Awards Dinner.

Apprentice winners Also making Masterlink proud are those Masterlink apprentices who have been selected for top awards at recent Master Plumbers awards nights around the regions. Congratulations to: Master Plumbers Auckland/ Northland 2023 Masterlink Apprentice of the Year Jack Smith, hosted by Auckland Plumbers Group Master Plumbers Volcanic Plateau 2023 Masterlink Apprentice of the Year Tukairangi Pitiroi, hosted by Lake Wide Plumbing Master Plumbers Bay of Plenty/ Coromandel 2023 Plumbing Apprentice of the Year Lachlan Cuttance-Dunne, hosted by Advanced Plumbing Master Plumbers Bay of Plenty/ Coromandel 2023 Drainlaying Apprentice of the Year Jack Anderson, hosted by Tauranga Hardware & Plumbing Master Plumbers Queenstown Lakes Mac McKenzie Overall Top Performing Apprentice Otago-Southland Cameron Ryder, hosted by Hi Flo Plumbing.

GET IN TOUCH Need an apprentice in your business? Masterlink is here to help.

Ryan Gooding, mentioned last edition, with his Drainlaying New Zealand Certificate. Ryan, who manages a dairy farm with 1,800 cows, says his qualification is very useful with so many farm drainage and water systems to maintain.

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Peter Shields Apprentice Training Manager 021 289 0255

Steve Meadows Auckland & Northland 027 558 5441

Colin Kilpatrick Auckland 021 773 296

Russell Walsh Central North Island 027 600 9929

Bob McCoy Lower North Island 027 479 0075

Steve Weeks Upper South Island 021 433 615

Danny Ledwith Otago/South Canterbury 021 456 934

Raewyn Meharg Lower South Island 021 356 748

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On the tools

TOOLBOX TIP

TRAILER SAFETY Why routine safety checks on trailers are essential.

A design and renovation company was sentenced in Christchurch in October for health and safety failures following the death of 52-year-old Julian Bruins Yates, whose van was struck when a trailer detached from a work vehicle in 2020. A WorkSafe investigation found the locking handle on the trailer was not engaged, and the trailer’s safety chain was not connected to the vehicle. “These are routine checks that must be done when towing a trailer,” says WorkSafe’s Head of Specialist Interventions, Dr Catherine Gardner. “If not, the consequences can be catastrophic.” WorkSafe also found staff had inadequate information, training, instruction, supervision

and experience to safely use the company vehicles and trailers. “It’s not enough to just have your workers sign a vehicle policy,” says Dr Gardner. “Businesses need to ensure drivers are competent to safely use a vehicle, especially one that is being towed. “Julian Bruins Yates was a father of two, who lost his life through no fault of his own. Any business with a vehicle fleet should heed the lessons of this tragedy because it was entirely preventable.” Ultimate Design and Renovation Ltd, which owned the trailer and tow vehicle, and its operational arm ABC Aluminium Ltd, were fined $270,000, and reparations of $130,000 were ordered.

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MADE FOR

COMFORT Whether it’s gas space heating or hot water systems, everything Rinnai manufactures at its Auckland facility is designed to make people’s lives warm and comfortable. NZ Plumber takes a tour. AUTHOR: BEVERLY SELLERS PHOTOGRAPHY: ROBIN HODGKINSON

innai has been manufacturing in New Zealand for almost 50 years and moved to its current purpose-built Auckland base in 2008. A team of around 130 is employed at the site, which comprises a 5,000 sq m manufacturing facility, 5,000 sq m of warehousing and storage and 1,200 sq m of office space.

State-of-the-art CNC equipment punches, forms, folds and joins metals before they move to the on-site powder coating and spray painting facility and assembly areas. A capital replacement programme at Rinnai ensures the CNC machines stay up to date, with 50 percent of the equipment less than five years old.

Working with metal

Products come to life on four assembly lines—two of them dedicated high-volume lines. With individual assembly areas for specific tasks, such as gas controls for the fireplaces, electrical componentry for the hot water cylinders and heat exchange componentry for the hot water heat pumps, this is the beating heart of the facility and testament to a highly coordinated process. All products are fully tested before leaving the facility, including a computer-controlled testing system for the gas fires. “This is the gas fireplace manufacturing centre of excellence for Rinnai,” says Craig. “We export

Sheet metal fabrication marks the start of the manufacturing process for many of Rinnai’s diverse product lines, which encompass gas space heating, commercial hot water systems, hot water cylinders and, most recently, woodburning fires and hot water heat pumps. “We take an agnostic, total energy approach to home and water heating, from diesel and electric to gas and wood,” says Craig Davidson, Rinnai General Manager, Operations. “Everything we do is to make people’s lives comfortable.”

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Assembly and testing

more than half of all the gas fireplaces, across 15 model ranges, to other Rinnai sites.” About two thirds of gas fire product is made to stock, with the remaining third made to order, especially large architectural models, which have a two-day turnaround to the warehouse ready for dispatch to export customers and around New Zealand. Rinnai has a reputation for quality, reliability and technological prowess, says Craig, which is upheld by heavily investing in research and development. “We do our own R&D here in New Zealand, with the worldwide resources of Rinnai to draw on as needed.”

Training provision Training is also key in ensuring everyone has a good understanding of Rinnai products, from the nationwide service network, to merchants, showrooms, installers, apprentices and training providers. Two on-site training rooms provide separate spaces for theory and hands-on

On the tools FACTORY TOUR

1. Rinnai Managing Director Ray Ferner with Heat Pump Team Leader Kazuma Kasahara by the new HydraHeat™ hot water heat pump product. 2. Rinnai hot water cylinders ready for distribution, with the company’s six values displayed above. 3. Rinnai copper cylinders being carefully crafted, checked and tested.

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PHOTOGRAPH: SUPPLIED BY RINNAI

2 1. The Rinnai team outside the Auckland facility. 2. Inside Rinnai’s 5,000 sq m purpose-built warehouse and distribution facility. 3. Rinnai gas fire components are quality checked by the CNC machine operators. 4. The Rinnai HydraHeat Hot Water Heat Pump testing and assembly area.

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On the tools FACTORY TOUR

learning, with working product allowing for training in installation, fault finding and diagnostics. The space is utilised by all North Island technical institutes that offer gasfitting apprenticeships, and is also where the nationwide network of Rinnai service agents gather on an annual basis to refresh their knowledge and learn about new products. The Auckland head office is home to Rinnai’s multidepartmental business functions, including field service technicans, marketing, IT, financial, HR, trades engagement, technical, product care, customer service, and compliance teams. Input is actively sought from Rinnai staff at all levels of the business, with two schemes in place to celebrate achievement on a monthly basis.

“We take a total energy approach to home and water heating, from diesel and electric to gas and wood.”

Rinnai New Zealand is the recipient of the inaugural Master Plumbers Business Partner of the Year Award, which acknowledges a commitment to working with the Master Plumbers membership organisation on training initiatives and a focus on sustainability, health and safety, customer service, technical expertise, and innovation. Over a two-month period in 2022, Rinnai collaborated with Master Plumbers to deliver a roadshow covering 12 locations and 66 training sessions. It also works closely with Master Plumbers branches and associations to support their members with Rinnai training events, and, in 2023, Master Plumbers has supported the promotion of Rinnai’s most

recent roadshow of 24 training sessions at four locations, held over four weeks. Training is an integral part of supporting the plumbing and gasfitting industry, and a new programme is set to be offered in 2024. With gas in New Zealand changing, Rinnai says it is committed to being part of that change by continuing to invest in research and the Future Sure campaign. “From its conception in 2021, Rinnai has been a founding partner of Future Sure,” says Managing Director Ray Ferner. “The only gas appliance supplier in New Zealand to do so, Rinnai has assisted in raising significant capital investment and resources to support this message and the sustainability of this critical sector.”

The first rewards staff who have been nominated for doing something that perfectly reflects the company’s six values of honesty, appreciation, passion, pride, innovation and pace. The second is the ROFI (Rinnai Opportunity for Improvement) award, which recognises great ideas on opportunities for innovation at Rinnai. Prize vouchers are awarded at the monthly staff BBQ, cooked for the staff by the management team.

Environmental goals True to its value of pace, Rinnai New Zealand is keeping up with our changing planet, both by diversifying its product lines and by taking significant steps to reduce environmental impacts at its Auckland facility, which is ISO 14001 certified for its environmental management systems. With a goal of reducing their carbon footprint to 50% by 2030 and being carbon neutral by 2050, actions to date have included installing LED lighting throughout the facility, and putting in place recycling streams for materials ranging from plastic and polystyrene to aluminium, copper and steel. An active reuse project also sees non-branded packaging sent off to another company to be given a second life. With New Zealand exploring the possibility of a hydrogen blend in the gas network, Rinnai is developing all its gas appliances to cope. Meanwhile, over in Japan, Rinnai has developed a 100 percent hydrogen boiler as proof of concept. “No country yet has the infrastructure for 100 percent hydrogen but we’re signalling the future,” says Craig. “It’s an active transition and we’re ready.”

In September, Master Plumbers CEO Greg Wallace caught up with Rinnai NZ Managing Director Ray Ferner and enjoyed a tour of the Auckland facility to see some of the company’s latest innovations.

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On the tools DRINKING-WATER SAFETY

‘PLUG AND PLAY’ WATER TREATMENT

UV treatment requirements under new drinking-water standards have prompted an innovative solution for suppliers from rainwater tanks or bores, as Watersmart explains.

ew Drinking-Water Standards for New Zealand impact plumbers working on drinking water supplies for defined small or rural suppliers, including marae wharekai, café buildings supplied by a rainwater tank, and any multi-dwelling buildings with their own bore water supply. Suppliers who fall into one of these categories will need to register with Taumata Arowai by November 2025 and comply by November 2028 in order to be seen to provide safe drinking water to consumers. If your plumbing business is called in to install a drinking water treatment system for a supplier of this kind, it is essential that you select an appropriately validated UV unit.

Pre-built solution Making its debut appearance at this year’s Water New Zealand Conference & Expo in Wellington was a working model of the WaterSAFE™ End-point Treatment System, designed and manufactured by Watersmart. For use by suppliers of drinking water from rainwater tanks or bore water, WaterSAFE is a complete pre-built, plug and play water treatment system that reduces on-site installation time and build costs. The system uses highest quality filtration equipment to deliver endpoint treatment for rainwater collection, or for spring/ bore supplies.

A working model of the WaterSAFE™ end-point treatment system with integrated FlowGen remote operations management system.

“WaterSAFE™ negates the need for onsite installers to source and assemble one-off specialist componentry.” ROGER ADLAM

National Commercial Manager, Watersmart

Real-time system data

Watersmart designed and constructed WaterSAFETM to be a Drinking Water Acceptable Solution to meet the requirements under the Water Services Act 2021, says Watersmart’s Roger Adlam.

Roger Adlam, National Commercial Manager for Watersmart, says WaterSAFE is designed to meet the requirements of the Drinking Water Acceptable Solutions, which comply with the Water Services Act 2021, and it also carries a number of benefits for installers and users. “WaterSAFE is a solution we have been working on to make the water treatment process for our industry easier, and to ensure health and wellbeing of our water supply,” says Adlam. “Supplied in a range of configurations to suit all end-point applications and flow rates, it negates the need for onsite installers to source and assemble one-off specialist componentry. It also reduces ongoing operational costs, with system standardisation for multi-site end users.

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Adlam adds that the WaterSAFE range of end-point treatment systems features an integrated Flowgen remote-operations management system. In environments that may be remote, and where access to trained operators is challenging, the Flowgen system means the treatment plant can be easily checked and monitored remotely, helping to ensure safe water is available at all times. “This allows cloud-based PC and Mobile App reporting with text or email fault alerts to ensure water safety and to assist with compliance with the Water Services Act obligations. The end user can securely access real-time information from anywhere in the world, giving peace of mind that the system is operating correctly, and alerting you if any service or maintenance work is required.”

Watersmart will be providing training for the plumbing industry in 2024 on how to address requirements of the new Drinking-Water Standards for New Zealand.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Roger Adlam is National Commercial Manager at Watersmart, experts and innovators in water conservation and resilience. Contact Watersmart on 0800 110 808; watersmart.co.nz

On the tools WASTEWATER MANAGEMENT

TECHNICAL THEME

The back story of wastewater treatment company Austin Bluewater is one of true Kiwi ingenuity, as NZ Plumber discovers.

Every site has its own constraints, and Austin Bluewater can help installers with solutions.

t was a move to a Canterbury lifestyle block with his young family that started Lew Austin on the journey to founding his own wastewater treatment company back in 1991—at a time when old-style septic tanks were the norm in New Zealand. Lew became concerned about the groundwater implications from the septic tank and domestic wells on his block. Being a typical Kiwi bloke, he retreated to his garage workshop and tinkered with ideas around improving the performance of the septic treatment system on his own property.

Through much hard work, research and mentoring support, Lew went on to earn a reputation as the innovator of aerobic wastewater treatment systems in New Zealand, building the business into a successful nationwide company before eventually selling to a national corporate. Always keen for a challenge, he then turned his attention to setting up a concrete precast business and establishing a commercial development in Rolleston, before ultimately returning to the wastewater treatment industry, founding Austin Bluewater Environmental Concepts in 2016. Having travelled to the USA, Europe and Australia, Lew realised that new technology was now available, resulting in a better and more efficient product. It is these new innovations that form the backbone of Austin Bluewater, he says.

Manufacturing process

With a family heritage of drainage pipe manufacture, Lew Austin has dedicated much of his life to innovation in wastewater treatment technologies.

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As installers will know, no one digs a round hole. Austin Bluewater’s concrete tanks are mostly rectangular, reinforced with internal steel mesh, and designed to be sufficiently shallow to make high water tables and hard ground less of a challenge. The manufacturing process involves pouring the concrete into moulds, and externally vibrating them to ensure all voids are filled and excess air is removed. Once cured, the concrete in the tanks has a strength of 45mpa—twice the strength of a house foundation. After the pour is complete, the moulds are covered and steamed overnight to cure.

They are then rotated, unclamped and lifted off the tank, ready for the team to assemble the required components and complete the internal fit out. This includes piston type air blowers rather than diaghragm blowers for low power consumption, longer life and lower maintenance costs.

Being a typical Kiwi bloke, he retreated to his garage workshop and tinkered with ideas around improving the performance of the septic treatment system on his own property. With a focus on respecting and caring for the environment, the company’s biologically engineered aerated wastewater treatment systems use naturally occuring bacteria and are manufactured to meet various environmental protection agency standards. True to its founder’s innovative spirit, Austin Bluewater continues to evolve and refine its products and manufacturing processes, with Lew Austin still playing an active role in its direction and supervision.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Austin Bluewater designs and manufactures and range of products for residential and commercial wastewater treatment, water storage and stormwater detention. For product selection and technical advice, call 0800 287 846; austinbluewater.co.nz

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On the tools WASTEWATER MANAGEMENT

TECHNICAL THEME

APD explains how its WasteWorx pump stations channel Kiwi ingenuity to make short work of wastewater.

f you happen to live below the public sewer line or too far away from it, relying on gravity to dispose of grey and black water is not a viable option. That’s when an efficient wastewater pumping system keeps everything moving in the right direction. For many Kiwi homes, a wastewater pump is an unglamorous but essential part of life and, while the technology is not new, innovative design from Kiwi company APD has made pump stations a lot easier to install and maintain.

“The ring at the bottom of the chamber can be weighed down with compacted gravel, which keeps it securely in the ground so there’s no need to worry about your tank rising out of the ground in soggy conditions.” “WasteWorx tanks are designed with homeowners in mind,” says APD Product Manager, Darien Warburton. “That means they fit in with the customer, not the other way around.”

Installer considerations Darien points out that WasteWorx pump stations feature a square chamber to fit into the square holes dug by excavators. “It seems pretty obvious, but in the past, fitting a pump station has been a case of jamming a round peg into a square hole. With the square chamber, there’s a lot less filling to be done by the installer.” Darien explains that WasteWorx chambers have an anti-flotation ring at the base,

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eliminating the need to fill the hole with concrete ballast. “The ring at the bottom of the chamber can be weighed down with compacted gravel, which keeps it securely in the ground so there’s no need to worry about your tank rising out of the ground in soggy conditions. It means the tank can be installed faster with cost savings for both homeowners and contractors.”

Durable and recyclable Made in New Zealand from tough, lightweight polyethylene, APD’s WasteWorx chambers are available in 700 and 1,000 litre sizes but Darien says that custom sizes are also available. The polyethylene tanks are designed with a 50-year service life and meet the requirements of AS/NZ 4766:2020 rotationally moulded buried, partially buried and non-buried storage tanks for water and chemicals. They are fully recyclable and have about 20% of the embodied carbon of concrete tanks.

Site specific solutions WasteWorx chambers are designed to accommodate a wide range of pumps to meet specific flow and pressure requirements. “Every installation is unique and we choose the right product for the job based on how high and how far the wastewater needs to be pumped,” Darien explains. “The pump station includes a pump controller, with a highlevel audible and visual alarm and built-in overload protection and if something does go wrong, the pump station is designed to be easily serviced.” With building sites getting smaller and smaller, finding a place to install

WasteWorx pump stations feature a square chamber to fit into the square holes dug by excavators, resulting in less filling to be done by the installer.

wastewater pump stations can be difficult. The WasteWorx pump stations come in two options: with a garden lid, or a trafficable lid for driveways. “Both lids have final height adjustment options,” Darien says. “So, whether your wastewater chamber ends up in the garden, lawn or the driveway, it will fit into the surrounding environment.” As well as their WasteWorx pumping stations, APD also offer a range of commercial and custom applications for large volumes and multi-pump options.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: APD are leaders in the design and manufacture of polyethylene tanks for urban stormwater management. They have applied their successful design approach to develop their WasteWorx pump stations for domestic wastewater needs. For the ultimate flexibility when designing your pumping station, call APD on (09) 263 7741 or visit www.apd.co.nz

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On the tools WASTEWATER MANAGEMENT

TECHNICAL THEME

Production facility

WASTEWATER MANAGEMENT Wastewater in processing facilities often presents unique requirements for the drainage systems, as Allproof explains.

roduction equipment in processing facilities, such as factories for food and beverage production, or even commercial kitchens, may need regular washing down, resulting in large volumes of water containing debris and cleaning agents. The wastewater drainage system will need to cope with the volume as well as the contaminants. Additionally, if the equipment operates using liquid, then the wastewater system will be required for catchment if a sudden release were to occur. A drainage system with a wide opening, such as 100mm or 200mm, allows for greater catchment in situations where a large volume of water is suddenly expelled from equipment or through a sluicing/ cleaning process. A slot drain with a 20mm opening is ideal for areas less likely to receive large volumes or where flow rates will be consistent, such as chiller openings or around workstations, where small accidental spills may occur.

This Allproof stainless steel Commercial Kitchen channel with ladder grate and sump terminal is installed at Griffins’ potato chip factory around the washing, cutting and frying machinery.

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Allproof stainless steel Commercial Kitchen channels with slip resistant ladder grate drain wastewater from a meat production facility undergoing a sluicing deep clean.

Allproof 200mm clear opening MC Series sloped joiner channel with wedge wire grate, end cap, sump and double strainer basket.

Channel depth is a factor in wastewater catchment and hydraulics. The channel needs to provide enough capacity to capture the surface wastewater so as not to cause flooding or safety hazards. An outlet, whether in a sump or channel, performs better hydraulically if there is a head of water creating pressure. This increases the flow rate and therefore the speed at which wastewater is removed from the drainage channel system. Therefore, when the flow rate of the wastewater system is a priority, a sump makes an ideal termination point for a channel. It is deeper than the channel, allowing the discharge to waterfall to the sump and increase flow rates. When selecting a customised system, the depth can be fabricated to a requested measurement as determined by the hydraulic design. A wider grate opening may be required for washing down processing facilities with larger food particles, such as butchers, fishmongers and production factories. The wider grate opening allows for larger particles to be washed/ swept into the system. Some processing facilities have a process for separating contaminants, such as particles and fats, from wastewater before entering the local authority’s system. Strainer baskets are an ideal addition to the outlets, and Allproof has the ability to produce strainers with larger perforations, as a fine strainer basket may not suit all applications. For example, in a recent meat processing plant install, the mesh was fabricated to 20mm openings, so the heavier chunks could pass through and be managed by the trade waste separator further down the outlet line to reduce blockages at the sump. Allproof also supplied strainer baskets with handles and rods that sit just below the grate, allowing for easy identification of the sump outlet for removal when the channel is full and maintenance is required. Allproof’s MC Series channels and grates are manufactured from 304 or 316 stainless steel and designed to perform under load class requirements and slip resistant tested. This ensures that the operational needs of the facility can be met with traffic such as forklifts and fast-moving foot traffic crossing the channels in a busy environment. The MC Series also comes in modular components of 100mm or 200mm wide channels in a range of depths with sumps, allowing for off-the-shelf selection, easy transportation and installation into layouts that meet the project’s exact needs. Additionally, Allproof can design and fabricate fully custom drainage channel to meet specific design requirements.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Allproof Industries specialises in plumbing and drainage solutions and stocks a built-to-last range of commercial drainage products. Contact the team on 09 481 8020; www.allproof.co.nz

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On the tools WASTEWATER MANAGEMENT

TECHNICAL THEME

The independent study showed a Hydraloop system with garden irrigation can reduce the required on-site wastewater land disposal area by 35 percent.

WASTEWATER REDUCTION THROUGH RECYCLING A new independent study has shown wastewater reduction in off-grid builds using Hydroloop technology. Watersmart provides this report.

ydraloop® is the world’s first consumer-friendly water recycling system available in New Zealand. A new independent study has confirmed its ability to reduce downstream wastewater for off-grid builds in reduced drainage fields. A property in Long Bay demonstrates independently calculated results across three scenarios: 1. without a Hydraloop system 2. with a Hydraloop system but without garden irrigation 3. with a Hydraloop system and with garden irrigation.

Volume of Recycled Wastewater (l) Resulted Wastewater Flow (l/day) Min. Disposal Area Required (as per TP58(m2)) Reduction of the Area Required (%)

The results, calculated by civil engineering specialists Airey Consultants, show that introducing a Hydraloop system can effectively reduce the required on-site wastewater land disposal area by 27% with no garden irrigation, and 35% with irrigation. The secondary treatment capacity can also be reduced by 27% or 35% depending on the irrigation requirements. Additionally, the required 24-hour emergency storage volume within the system can be reduced due to the reduction in wastewater flows, potentially reducing the overall size/volume of the treatment system.

Without Hydraloop With Hydraloop Wastewater but without garden Recycling System irrigation 0 390

With Hydraloop & with garden irrigation 504

1440

1050

936

576

420

374

27%

35%

The study also noted that the size/volume of onsite water tanks can also be reduced depending on the efficiency of the water reuse/ recycling provided by the Hydraloop system. Hydraloop uses water twice, reducing total in-home water consumption by up to 45% by recycling and cleaning water from showers, baths, and washing machines, using a patented six-step process. Treated water can then be used again for toilets, washing machines and garden irrigation, providing clean, safe, disinfected water that meets the highest international standards. “Hydraloop is a great solution for off-grid builds where a project is facing constraints of water supply and space for wastewater disposal fields,” says Philip Kingston, Watersmart General Manager.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Philip Kingston is General Manager of Watersmart, the exclusive New Zealand distributor of Hydraloop®. Contact Watersmart to discuss how they can help or work with you to ensure your plumbing project is recycle-ready for Hydraloop. Learn more about Hydraloop: watersmart.co.nz/products/hydraloop

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AS/NZS 5601.1:2022 will introduce changes for multilayer pipe installations.

AS/NZS 5601.1:2022 WHAT’S CHANGING Gasfitters should prepare for the gas installation changes in joint standard AS/NZS 5601.1:2022, which is expected to become the means of compliance in 2024.

he 2022 version of gas installations standard AS/NZS 5601.1 has been published and is already in use in Australia. Here in New Zealand, we must wait for the 2022 standard to be cited in the Gas (Safety and Measurement) Regulations 2010 before it replaces the 2013 version as the means of complying with the Regulations. This is now expected to happen in 2024, giving gasfitters and appliance and equipment suppliers plenty of time to be prepared. Gasfitters wanting to use the 2022 version in the meantime are free to do so, but must register this as part of the certified design.

severe bush fires, particularly in Australia. Multilayer pipe does not withstand high temperatures and pipe damage can cause dangerous gas leaks, significantly increasing the rate of fire spread.

Location of residential piping Where the gas supply point from the gas meter or LPG cylinders enters the building, it needs to extend at least 1m into the property. Transition fittings can then be used to move from metallic pipe to multiplayer pipe, and must be a permanent joint if behind a wall or

What’s changing The safety thresholds in AS/NZS 5601.1:2022 are equal to or greater than the 2013 version. The 2022 standard separates Section 2 into two parts—essential safety requirements and performance based requirements—to remove any confusion between the two. The standard also includes new pipe sizing tables for those working on larger commercial gasfitting of around 70kpa and 140kpa. The two most significant changes introduced by the 2022 version relate to:

1. Multilayer pipe

Multilayer piping will no longer be able to be installed above ground external to a building. This change is due to increased instances of UV pipe damage, electrical fire damage and vermin damage to multilayer pipe, as well as the growing incidence of

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The way gasfitters pipe out houses will change when the 2022 standard becomes the means of compliance. The gas supply point will be required to be underground, with metallic pipe fitted externally and extending at least 1m into the property.

On the tools STANDARDS UPDATE

inaccessible. Reversion fittings must also be installed in accessible places when using multilayer pipe to allow for other connections into the gas supply using different materials.

Piping in cavities Feeding multilayer pipework through holes in steel-framed homes can cause abrasion to the pipework. This can be avoided by installing a plastic grommet to protect the pipe.

Emergency isolation requirements New emergency isolation requirements apply to all new installations and modifications to existing installations, such as extensions. For residential buildings, where the volume of consumer piping is less than 30L, there must be some form of fire emergency isolation. An automatic gas supply shut off device must be installed in a readily accessible location, as close as practicable to the gas point of supply and prior to any multilayer pipe. Excess flow valves or under pressure shut off valves (UPSO) are suitable devices. Excess flow valves must be appropriate to the application and can be installed at branch take off points if the gas pipework is undersized for the valve. Valves must be sized to cope with the total gas consumption of the installed appliances to avoid nuisance tripping, and the gas meter must be sized larger than the excess flow valve to ensure proper operation. Installers should also consider pressure drops through excess flow valves and multilayer piping. UPSO devices shut off the gas supply at a pre-determined setting and usually have to be manually reset. Emergency isolation is not required if extending the existing multilayer pipe with metallic piping, such as copper. For commercial buildings where multilayer pipe is used as part of the piping, a single class 1 safety shut-off valve is required to ensure the gas supply shuts off when the fire safety system is activated. This must be in a readily accessible location, as close as practicable to the point of supply and prior to any multilayer pipe. The system must provide pressure proving of the downstream installation before restoration of the gas supply.

2. Cooking equipment

Rangehood clearance requirements have increased. Where no dimension is specified in the appliance manufacturer’s instructions, the clearance from the cooktop to the rangehood has changed to not less than 650mm for all new installations. If you are replacing an existing appliance after the date of the adoption of the standard, the clearance remains at 600mm. Check the manufacturer’s installation instructions, however, as they may state a 650mm clearance. The clearance for exhaust fans is not less than 750mm. Table C.2.2 in the updated standard clarifies a minimum thickness of 15mm for thermal protection of combustible surfaces

AS/NZS 5601.1:2022 states that multilayered pipe must terminate at least 1m away from a cooking appliance and the final connection must be made in copper, stainless steel or an approved connection kit.

OTHER CHANGES

Brazing prohibition: Brazing, welding or annealing must be more than 1m from a joint with non-metallic components. Installation isolation requirements: Gasfitters working in an educational institution where a number of appliances without flame safeuard systems are used (eg, school lab) must fit: • a readily accessible quarter turn manual isolation valve at the installation inlet • an electrically operated solenoid valve, controlled by a timing device • a readily accessible emergency stop button connected to the solenoid valve with a key-operated reset function • signage adjacent to the emergency stop button indicating its usage • operating instructions for the emergency stop button. The system requires pressure proving of the downstream installation before restoring the gas supply. In commercial kitchen situations, where more than one commercial catering appliance is to be connected, a readily accessible and clearly identified single quarter turn manual shut-off valve must be installed OR a readily accessible and clearly identified emergency stop button to an electrically operated valve with a key-operated reset function. Flue terminal location: • Around perimeter of building: Where a flue terminal discharges combustion products in the direction of a property boundary (eg, an external water heater), the flue terminal must be more than 450mm from the boundary. • Under a covered area, in a recess or on a balcony: Where a flue terminal is to be installed in these locations, some changes have been made to ensure ready dispersion of combustion products and avoidance of nuisance (see clause 6.9.4). around commercial catering appliances, and 6mm for other appliances. The appliance must be installed in a way that ensures the surface temperature of any nearby combustible surface (eg, a splashback) does not exceed 65°C above ambient. Freestanding commercial catering equipment with a connection point under the equipment may not be connected to that point using a hose assembly. Where the connection is at a high level and a hose assembly is used, the assembly must be certified to AS/NZS 1869 Class B or Class D. The cooking restraint must be 80% of the length of the hose. When the appliance is in position, no part of the hose assembly can be less than 50mm from the floor level. The use of semi rigid connectors is prohibited for appliance connections, unless the semi rigid connector forms part of a certified appliance. Multilayered pipe must terminate at least 1m away from the appliance and the final connection must be made in copper, stainless steel or an approved connection kit. AS/NZS 5601.1:2022 is expected to become the means of compliance with the Gas (Safety and Measurement) Regulations 2010 in 2024. A six-month transition period from the 2013 version of the standard is likely to apply.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: David Whitfield is Operations Manager at Morrinsville Gas & Plumbing. He represents Master Plumbers New Zealand on the AG006 gas standards committee, which is also reviewing AS/NZS 5601.2:2013.

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THIS EDITION BRINGS A WEALTH OF NEW PRODUCTS FOR THE PGD SECTOR AS WE HEAD INTO 2024. New from Hydroflow Maxitrol Excess Flow Valve

The Maxitrol Excess Flow Valve brings a reliable solution to residential gas flow control, with precise adjustment and compliance with new installation codes (AS/NZS5601.1, Clause 5.2.11). The excess flow valves (EFV) are designed to close, shutting off the gas flow, when a predefined flow rate is reached. Gas utilities use EFV to minimise the risk of damage in the case of a break in the gas line. SENTRY GS have been used successfully and effectively for more than 25 years in underground gas service lines and residential installations throughout the world. With a stable open position, tested operating pressure range, and patented damper function, these valves offer homeowners peace of mind and enhance safety in gas installations. Size range 20mm to 40mm. Tested operating pressure range 1.25-10kPa. Nominal flow from 1.6m³/h natural gas to 16m³/h.

Hydroflow Digital Backflow Test Kit Fluidmaster Universal Rear-Entry Inlet Valve

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Hydroflow’s Digital Backflow Test Kit is a compact portable device made for testing all reduced pressure zone backflow prevention assemblies, double check valve assemblies, pressure vacuum breakers and spill-resistant vacuum breakers. Includes: Hydroflow digital backflow pressure differential gauge with incoming supply pressure gauge and valves Hydroflow backflow test kit nipples Hydroflow hose set for HFD-DTK Rectorseal plumber’s grease 59ml (2oz) Initial annual calibration certificate Carry case.

On the tools PRODUCTS & SERVICES

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On the tools PRODUCTS & SERVICES

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Apex Valves New TV20 with Replaceable Cartridge Apex Valves is launching a new version of the TV20 Tempering Valve, now featuring a replaceable cartridge design. This innovative addition allows for hassle-free and rapid service, without the need for plumbing adjustments. The new cartridge TV20 contains: Weighted average lead content of less than 0.25%, supporting healthier water supplies Unaltered high flow, accurate temperature performance, and safety shut-off functions Identical external dimensions to the existing TV20. The new design provides the same level of performance assurance as the original TV20 model and comes with a 5-year warranty from Apex Valves. Apex Valves’ new TV20 replaced the individual valve from mid-November and will be included in combi packs in early 2024. For more information, ask your local plumbing merchant.

AquaCore: next generation in energy efficient water heating For clients seeking a cost-effective water heating solution with minimal environmental impact, the Black Diamond AquaCore Hot Water Heat Pump System is the ideal low carbon solution. Whether installed during a new home build or retrofitted to an existing hot water cylinder, AquaCore boasts remarkable efficiency and fast hot water recovery. The secret to AquaCore’s performance is how quickly it heats up the tank compared to a traditional direct electric element. Because it heats from the top down, even from a cold tank there will be enough hot water for a shower in just 20 mins! Developed and manufactured locally, the Black Diamond AquaCore is designed for New Zealand conditions, providing year-round hot water—no matter what the temperature outside. To learn how you can grow your business with AquaCore, please visit aquacore.co.nz or email help@bdt.co.nz

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RWC increase their Beeco Backflow range In response to increased demand for extended sizes in backflow devices, RWC are proud to announce they have extended their RWC Beeco range and now offer a complete range of sizes. The range now includes a 65mm, 80mm, 100mm, and 150mm, with configurations like Reduced Pressure Zone (RPZ), Double Check Valve (DCV), testable single checks, and detector check assemblies. RWC’s comprehensive range ensures that customers can easily find the right fit for their needs, establishing RWC as a reliable one-stop destination for backflow prevention solutions. Learn more about the Beeco range at www.rmc.com.au/backflow-prevention

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W O R K S A F E N O T I F I C AT I O N S

In the 2022-2023 year, WorkSafe received 906 notifications on work-related health concerns. Half (51%) related to chemical exposure, with lead, chemical injuries and carbon monoxide most commonly notified. Exposure to mental health risks, such as bullying, harassment and work-related stress, came second,

making up 29% of notifications. Third was biological exposures (20%), most commonly leptospirosis, campylobacteriosis and cryptosporidiosis.

Find out more about WorkSafe notifications at www.worksafe.govt.nz/notifications/notify-worksafe

Business smarts

MENTAL HEALTH RELATED CONCERNS IN TOP 3 WORKSAFE NOTIFICATIONS 500 450 400

458

350 300 250

264

200

178

150 100 50 0 Chemical

Mentally Healthy Work

*WRMSD = work-related musculoskeletal disorders

Biological

WRMSD

Physical

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Business smarts HEALTH & SAFETY

Vehicle-related events are currently the biggest cause of death in New Zealand workplaces, according to WorkSafe data.

ACCIDENT & NEAR-MISS

REPORTING I

Despite our best endeavours, near misses and accidents happen— and businesses can learn from them by using these 4 tips to successful reporting.

t’s a myth that low intelligence causes people to make poor judgements that lead to accidents. We are all human and EVERYONE makes mistakes. It’s how the business and management team respond to them that matters most. 1. Check your culture “I didn’t report it ’cos I didn’t want to be named, shamed or blamed.” If this is a typical response when someone in your workplace is asked why they didn’t report an accident or incident, it’s a sign that the business needs to improve its culture by changing the way failure and mistakes are viewed and managed at leadership level. 2. Identify trends “Oh sh#! that was close!” That is the definition of a near miss. A client of mine was reviewing its near miss stats and saw an increase in reporting over a period of time. The reason? Workers had been reporting driving-related incidents where they had taken successful evasive action to avoid a crash. “So what?” you might say, “Those happen multiple times a day.” Maybe they do but see a near miss as a free gift. Don’t react to the problem or look to fix it there and then—discover, listen, reflect.

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Data is a powerful tool in your health and safety toolbox. Identifying trends in your reporting can show you where to invest your efforts. In relation to the example above, vehicle-related events are currently the biggest cause of death in New Zealand workplaces*. In-vehicle cameras, defensive driver training, robust vehicle maintenance and removal of in-vehicle distractions may all be things that could lower the risk of driving-related harm. 3. Use open-ended questions Listening and curiosity are the keys to better understanding. When undertaking an investigation or trying to learn from a particular situation, use open-ended questions (eg, Why? How? What?) to elicit a response that can’t be a simple ‘yes’ or ‘no’. Open-ended questions build on the experience, prior knowledge and understanding of the person being questioned. They create opportunities for exploration and deeper investigation—and they don’t cut off possibilities. They promote diverse ways of thinking and learning from each other. Try using a format like: Please step me through the incident. Where would you like to start? Please tell me about [the particular situation]. What are the stages of the job?

HOW DO I CONNECT THIS TOGETHER?

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Create a culture where reporting near miss events and incidents does not create shame or blame for the person involved. Reporting of events should be seen as a positive response to the event itself. Acknowledge reporting with gratitude and show willingness to listen, so you can fully understand the situation. Something can be learned from every event, so treat a near miss as a free lesson. Another millimetre or millisecond and the outcome could have been very different. You could have had damaged property, injured workers or worse. Investigate with curiosity and take the time to understand the perspective of anyone involved. Use open-ended questions to understand: • the physical and observable environment • how individuals think and decide as they engage with the task and the environment • how teams think and decide collectively as they engage with the task, each other and the environment. Value the feedback loop. If you don’t keep people informed about progress, or lack of it, they will become disinterested. “I reported that and nothing ever happened, so I don’t report anymore,” will become the common way of thinking. Events should be managed in a just and fair way. The response by the business or management team is critical if you are to extract valuable data, information and organisational intelligence from the event.

4. Take follow-up actions When events are reported, make sure whoever is involved is kept up to date with any follow-up actions identified during investigations or learning reviews. Even better, involve them in addressing those actions. The thing we see most often in organisations is a broken feedback loop. Reporting dries up if people are not kept informed of follow-up actions. * https://data.worksafe.govt.nz/graph/summary/fatalities

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Greg Dearsly owns First 4 Safety Ltd, a generalist health and safety consultancy. Greg is a Professional member of the NZ Institute of Safety Management (NZISM). He is a previous past President of NZISM and has represented the same organisation as President of the International Network of Health and Safety Practitioner Organisations. First 4 Safety offers Master Plumbers tailored health and safety support and advice at competitive rates. Order through the Master Plumbers member website (Health and Safety).

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Business smarts XXXXXXXXXXX

Now is the ideal time to step past business as usual and focus the lens on your big, long-term vision to create the impact you want in 2024 and beyond. Michael Hunt of Halo Trade Group has advice on how to go about it. AUTHOR: MICHAEL HUNT, CHIEF BUSINESS ADVISOR, HALO TRADE GROUP

“We need to start with the big stuff and the long-term of where we’re going before we can build the architecture of the mid- and short-term.” MICHAEL HUNT Halo Trade Group

To achieve extraordinary outcomes in 2024, we need to create the right lens to make decisions. We can do this by looking at the long-, mid- and short-term horizons for the market and for our business. I often talk about stepping past ‘business as usual’ (BAU), and this is what I mean by that: When we’re stuck in BAU, we’re fighting fires and dealing with a myriad of significant and niggly issues. None of them are particularly big picture. They’re not about where you’re really going. The risk is that, if you live in the urgent (out of control) ahead of the important (in control), you may well find you’re in much the same place when you

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get to your period of reflection at the end of the financial year as you are right now. So again, it’s all about what you focus on and how you can move the dial for 2023/24.

Starting big Stepping past BAU and setting yourself up for the intentional impact you want to have in 2024 is all about thinking big—and I don’t mean that in a contrived, motivational speech way. We need to start with the big stuff and the long-term of where we’re going before we can build the architecture of the mid- and short-term that begins to tell us how we will get there, and what we need to start with now. So, how do we go about this? We start by crafting a long-term vision— where you want to be in two or three years. Ask yourself: How clear am I on what success would look like in two/three years? Can I picture in my mind what my business would look like if I achieved the goals I’m working on right now?

What would I need to see by then to want to celebrate? What would my celebrating mean? What is my vision about? Is it to do with leaving a legacy, achieving my dreams, some sort of impact on people, or making an exit from my business? What are some of the milestones I would need to reach along the way to know I was on the right track? This is always the most awesome part of the journey, because it’s where the big energy comes from—a clear vision is inspirational. The key, though, is to stop and spend some more time there before your brain dives back into rapid-fire decision making again.

Pause to look around I know I said the start of the year was all about finding the answers—and you will. However, I also stressed the need for the best answers and for posing enough of the right questions to mull over so you can produce the best solutions. Be aware of the

Business Business smarts smarts BUSINESS XXXXXXXXXXX COACH

‘halfway’ point. In essence, you get to this point and then hit a ‘that’ll do’. You will need to push past this point for your overall success and to ensure you don’t accept a lower quality answer. Broaden your thinking and take a moment to understand the external factors impacting your marketplace and the world, as well as your competitive environment— or affecting the people who work for you. Ideally this should be your one-year horizon, and this stuff is your best guess. You know where you’re going, but you’re not going to know with certainty what else is going to happen. There’s power, however, in being aware that certain things might happen. Here, you are readying yourself for responding; you’re preparing for agility. Because you’ve determined where you’re going, what you can see happening now and in the next few years enables you to make choices about what you do. Look at where you will play—both in terms of geography and target market customer, as well as what critical differentiating factors you can create and what you can be the best at in your world. Then consider how you will win—the unique value you can create, relative to the competition, based on your choices around where you want to play. How can you do things even better for your customers?

From decision to action Once you have a lens (strategic plan), you can look through that to where you want to go. We’ve looked already at the way that our brain filters out what it deems unnecessary to prevent information overload, enabling us to focus on the most important stuff. The other way our brains support this process is with unrivalled pattern recognition

ability. It could be argued that the human brain has evolved to recognise patterns perhaps more than any other single function. Sure, we can process logic, remember facts and make calculations, but pattern recognition is our brain’s core capability. We’re incredible at recognising many different types of patterns and transforming these into concrete, actionable steps. So, with the architecture of your longterm lens, your brain will start to see the patterns—in the behaviour of your customers and those working within your business; in social and technological trends; in environmental changes; in the moves and mistakes your competitors make that you can avoid. If you work back from the extraordinary outcomes you want to achieve, it will become really obvious what you need to do—in the first quarter of 2024 and the next—on your way to getting there. This lens helps you prioritise. It provides clarity on the subsets of activity that you will and won’t do.

HOLIDAY SPECIAL: MASTER PLUMBERS MEMBER OFFER! Set your business up for success in 2024 with this extra special offer on the Halo Profit Optimiser course. The 3-hour course shows you how to minimise leakage and optimise profit by setting up your Profit & Loss Statement to deliver the necessary insights. The course is usually available to Master Plumbers’ members at the discounted rate of $280 ex GST. During January and February 2024, Master Plumbers members can enjoy the Profit Optimiser course for just $140 ex GST! Spaces are limited, so be in quick. Scan the QR code to register.

Ask yourself: What are the things I need to fix, change or implement to start on that journey now? What are the things that I can impact immediately to make my journey towards my desired reality more likely? You might already be fighting fires or feel like you will simply want to hit the ground running and get stuck into that task list that you didn’t entirely tick off before the break, but I urge you to take some time out to plan first. The holiday break is the perfect time to do this and, because of the way our minds work when at rest, it’s an opportunity that you won’t get in the same way throughout the rest of the year.

Your home central heating & domestic hot water provider Call: +64 9-273 9191 or visit www.waterware.co.nz

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Halo Trade Group works with business owners to simplify their businesses. Halo will provide knowledge, encourage and support you while putting in place the initiatives, methods and systems your business requires to propel your business forward.

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Business smarts IMMIGRATION

WANT TO BRING IN

INTERNATIONAL WORKERS? If you’re a business that hires international workers— or wants to—here’s what you should know. AUTHOR: ARUNIMA DHINGRA, DIRECTOR AND SENIOR LICENSED IMMIGRATION ADVISER AT AIMS GLOBAL IMMIGRATION

ew Zealand businesses can hire migrant workers in areas where there are skilled labour shortages and when an employer can prove that they haven’t been able to find a New Zealander for the role. Or, if the role is on the green list, like Plumbers, Drainlayers and Gasfitters. The process of hiring a migrant worker is made up of THREE steps:

1. Accreditation Employer accreditation is the first crucial step towards hiring migrant workers. Without getting accredited, a NZ business cannot support a migrant worker on an Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV). The employer must bear the cost of getting the accreditation. Depending on the number of migrants you want to hire and the process by which you hire them, there are four types of accreditations: Standard, High-volume, Franchisee, and Triangular. It is important to choose the correct type. You will have other obligations to meet once the accreditation is received. It’ll be your responsibility to make sure those obligations are met and plan for them in advance. They’ll be required for renewing your accreditation.

2. Job Check The Job Check is the second step of the process and will only be open to an employer once accreditation has been granted by Immigration New Zealand (INZ). Here, INZ checks about the role, pay, terms and conditions of the employment, and if there are any suitable New Zealanders that the employer could hire and train before the employer offers the role to a migrant (Labour Market Test). This step is also done by the employer. A Job Check is mandatory for all jobs. However, its scope varies depending on the pay level for the role and whether a role is on the Green List.

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3. Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV) Once the Job Check is completed and approved by INZ, a token is generated which is used to apply for an AEWV for the migrant worker. Once an AEWV is granted, the migrant can only work for the employer, role and location for which they have been granted the visa. However, a variation can be applied for to change regions and employers. An AEWV holder can bring family along to NZ. However, the type of visa their partner gets—work with open conditions or not—will depend on their role and remuneration.

IMMIGRATION UPDATES

Immigration New Zealand (INZ) has increased the processing timeframe for Employer Accreditation and Job Checks to six weeks, from the initial 10-day period. These long processing times mean that both employers and workers now need to plan carefully for the visa timeframes, departure date from home country for the worker, start date etc. As of 27 November 2023, there is a maximum continuous stay of five years on an AEWV for migrants (previously three years). Before applying for another AEWV, migrants will need to spend at least 12 months consecutively outside NZ. As of 29 October 2023, employers can no longer use a 90-day trial period in employment agreements when hiring people on an AEWV. However, the new government plans on reinstating the trial period. The new 6-point Skilled Migrant Category (SMC) Resident Visa opened for applications on 9 October 2023. The Recovery Visa scheme closed to new applications in September 2023. Current visa holders will receive a threemonth extension on their visas. By 16 September 2023, just under 29,000 employers had become accredited, approximately 46,300 Job Checks had been approved, and just under 87,000 Accredited Employer Work Visas (AEWVs) had been approved.

IMMIGRATION PLANS OF THE NEW GOVERNMENT PARTIES

ECOTEC PLUS

The new tri-party coalition government recently announced its cabinet ministers. National’s Erica Stanford takes the immigration portfolio as Minister of Immigration (and Minister of Education), alongside National’s Chris Penk and NZ First’s Casey Costello as Associate Ministers of Immigration. Some proposed changes by each party are summarised below. What changes will actually take place, only time will tell.

National

A Parent Visa Boost for parents and grandparents of migrants Restoration of the 90-day employment trial periods for all businesses Attracting highly skilled and experienced individuals through new visa categories. A Unite Visa to allow parents to visit their children or grandchildren in New Zealand Subjecting major immigration policy decisions to a Regulatory Impact Analysis (RIA) Demand-based pricing for temporary work visas Modifying the Skilled Migrant Category to offer predictable pathways for migrants.

NZ First

A Population Strategy to enable immigration to address skill shortages, economic opportunities, and humanitarian responsibilities Removal of the Accredited Employer Worker Visa (AEWV) and replacement with a Skills Shortage Visa and Labour Shortage Visa. Will these proposed immigration reforms genuinely improve the existing system? Ultimately, the success of these changes will depend on their implementation, and we’ll just have to wait and watch.

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Business smarts IMMIGRATION

CASE STUDY: RECRUITING OVERSEAS WORKERS There has been a lot of media attention on the new AEWV process for recruiting overseas workers, both from the employer and the worker perspective. For this case study, NZ Plumber spoke to Sarah Jamieson of BOP Plumbing & Gas to find out how hiring migrant workers has worked out for their business. AUTHOR: DAWN ADAMS

OP Plumbing & Gas is a familyowned business fronted by Aaron and Sarah Jamieson. Covering the whole of the Bay of Plenty, they have sites at Rotorua, Kawerau and Te Puke. It hasn’t been easy for BOP to source good local workers and this led to a decision to recruit tradies from overseas. Q: Who have you recruited recently and from where? A: Over the last six months we have employed three people from South Africa. We weren’t specifically targeting South Africa but that was where these three people came from. Q: How did you source and interview them? A: They applied from our ads online. We mostly use Trade Me Jobs. However, at different times I have advertised on MyJobSpace—this seems to be a popular one for people from overseas. Once they had their qualification assessed and confirmation from the PGDB as to what licence they would be able to get, we interviewed them over MS Teams. Q: How have you found the process? A: The process wasn’t too bad. You have to get accredited—I think that was $740.

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Once you are accredited, you then have to submit a job check application, which was $610 per position. We had to have two done, as one of the applicants was a gasfitter and the other two were plumbers. We weren’t able to combine the two positions. You are, however, able to put how many of those positions you have available and then, as you offer a position you ‘consume’ the position. You are only allowed a maximum of five open positions at a time. The above fees with INZ is all we funded. We did not contribute anything towards their relocation to NZ or their skills assessments etc.

“There is a little bit of a shift starting to happen. But it is still really difficult to get local, qualified, goodquality tradespeople.” Q: Has it turned out well? A: We have ended up with some skilled staff that have fitted really well into our BOP family. They all seem to have settled in well. We have one in Rotorua and the other two are in Papamoa.

Q: Had you ever gone through the process before? A: Yes, we hired a plumber/gasfitter from the UK. He completed his mandatory two years with us and then left. He is now running his own business. Q: Do you find it impossible to fill these jobs locally? A: There is a little bit of a shift starting to happen. But it is still really difficult to get local, qualified, good-quality tradespeople. Q: Anything else you’d like to share with readers about the process? A: I think you just need to really do your research when it comes to hiring from overseas. It is quite difficult to ascertain the actual skill level through interviews and INZ have recently changed the rules around the 90-day trial period. If you have a 90-day clause in the contract, they will now decline the job check.

Master Plumbers has worked with law firm Duncan Cotterill to develop two immigration guidance documents. Find them in the member area at www.masterplumbers.org.nz (Business Resources).

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Business smarts TAX & FINANCE

BUSINESS LOANS: TIPS FOR SUCCESS Increase your chances of business loan success by negotiating these three hurdles when applying. AUTHOR: JEMMA ROSS, SPINACH

pplying for a business loan can be nerve-wracking and time consuming. Business owners want to go into the process with confidence the loan is likely to be approved. To give you some assurance as you seek a loan to fund your growth, here is a list of hurdles to anticipate. These are some of the reasons your loan could be instantly declined, so get familiar with them and head off issues before they arise.

Hurdle #1: You are not managing your monthly creditor obligations well (bad cashflow) Bad cashflow means your credits and debits are out of sync, and you are struggling to cover your creditor obligations in a timely manner. It can look like late payment of bills, dishonouring transactions in your bank statements, and unarranged overdrafts to see you through the month. Here are some ways you can overcome this before applying for a business loan: Prepare a monthly budget outlining due dates of creditor invoices and payments. Make sure money is in place to pay your direct debit payments on time

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Forecast your cashflow with your accountant to predict when there will be a shortfall, so you don’t take too much out of the business too soon Negotiate better payment terms with both your creditors and debtors so your cashflow cycles are in sync Make sure there is sufficient working capital in the transaction accounts to allow for seasonal fluctuations in your business.

Hurdle #2: You don’t have a clear purpose for the loan funds Gone are the days where you can just go to the bank and ask, “How much can I have?” Responsible lending protocols mean you need to have a good explanation for the purpose of the loan. How you can prepare for this requirement: Create a forecast to show the projected outcome of the introduced working capital, such as the increased turnover brought about by the new equipment or staff member Show invoices, quotes, or website links for the equipment you want to buy Provide settlement statements for any loans you want to refinance.

Hurdle #3: There are a large number of credit enquiries in a short space of time It makes sense that, when you are applying for credit without a broker, you may shop around a bit. However, if there are multiple enquiries in a short space of time, lenders start to have questions. They understandably might begin to ask what is going on and why you have not yet secured a loan. In addition to that, multiple enquiries can take points off your credit score. So, be mindful about the number you are making. Better yet, work with a broker like Spinach to save time and hassle.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Jemma Ross is Director of Spinach, a business lending broker that works with 26 financiers to find the best loan solutions for your specific business and situation. To have a confidential chat about your preparedness, or about the goal you are trying to fund, get in touch with Jemma on 021 358 433, email jemma@spinach.co.nz or visit www.spinach.co.nz

Business smarts MARKETING

Seasonal marketing tips While summer generally brings some free time and fun, the holiday season and long weekends can also be disruptive to business and revenue. Here are some tips for boosting your summer marketing. AUTHOR: GEORGIA GIBBONS, SIDEKIT Services and sales come in ebbs and flows throughout the year, as people’s needs change. Taking note of the season you’re in means you can plan for these changes and make the most of the opportunities arising from them. Think about your target customers and what’s going on for them during this season that might influence their buying behaviour. Then, be proactive with timely offers that fill their seasonal needs.

Summer marketing planning As a general rule of thumb, the earlier the better for any summer marketing implementation. Pay attention to past trends in customers during the summer period—what jobs do

they book, how much do they spend, and what’s the lead time? Knowing these things in advance means you can start drawing customers in early, putting your name at the top of their minds.

Keys to summer marketing success Stand out from the crowd. Look for a point of difference from your competitors—think outside the box. Remember to focus your efforts on drilling down to your key selling point. Is it customer service, price, or quality? Use the right platforms. Consider where your target customers will be, and how they will consume media channels during

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summer. Base your summer marketing efforts on where you will find your customers to get the best ROI. Prioritise customer experience. Going the extra mile to make your customers feel valued at a busy and often stressful time of the year can go a long way. Not only can you benefit from their loyalty, but also from their positive word of mouth. Personalised, quality, and prompt service often means a happy customer. The slower summer season is the perfect opportunity to ensure other areas of your marketing are up to scratch, too. Does your website need upgrades? Is it time to update your branding or photography? Plan and collect content for social media for the months ahead. Whether it’s promos, community engagement or a branding refresh, you can really leave your mark on your audience with your summer marketing when others may be dragging behind.

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Business smarts YOUR PEOPLE

Embracing diversity & inclusion

In the plumbing trade, it’s high time we recognised the value of diversity and inclusion. It’s not just about doing the right thing; it’s about making our industry better in every way. Customers come from all walks of life too— and they like doing business with companies that ‘get’ them. When we’re inclusive, we can connect with a wider customer base and give them a better plumbing experience. Now, here’s the thing. This isn’t about being ‘woke’ or politically correct. There are legal and ethical obligations to consider as well. Ignoring diversity and inclusion can land a business in hot water. We need to follow the rules and protect our reputation. That doesn’t mean we have to change all the good stuff we have in place that’s working well. It’s just a matter of keeping

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Lisa Duston from the 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

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Diversity is like a toolkit holding a variety of tools. When we embrace different backgrounds, experiences and perspectives, we’re essentially adding more tools to our kit. This diverse toolbox is incredibly handy when we face tricky problems. We get fresh ideas and creative solutions that can make our plumbing jobs easier and more efficient. And it’s not just about the work itself. It’s about getting the best people on board. When we’re open to everyone, we can attract the top talent in the field. That gives us an edge in a competitive industry.

an open mind and being ready to adapt our workplace culture. In a nutshell, embracing diversity and inclusion in your plumbing business is a game-changer. It gives a broader range of views for problem-solving, attracts top talent, caters to a wider range of customers, and keeps us on the right side of the law.

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Business smarts NUTRITION

Drinking done right ‘Tis the season to be jolly…. and how jolly we can get with a few drinks inside us. But spare a thought for your health, and your waistline, says Kelly Hyland. The summer season all too often means an increase in alcohol intake. With alcohol being a contributing factor to more than 200 diseases, as well as injuries and mental/behavioural disorders, New Zealand’s drinking culture is not one to be proud of. Whilst health reasons rarely motivate us to change our behaviour, have you considered what alcohol is doing to your waistline? Alcohol is ‘empty calories’. It contains seven calories per gram—nearly twice the amount of carbohydrates and protein—but contributes zero nutritional value. One Heineken Classic, for example, has the same number of calories as 1.8 slices of white bread. Three of those are equivalent to eating 5.6 slices of bread. Wine is no better, with a small glass of white wine similar to eating 1.6 slices of white bread. Having one extra beer every night this summer could add up to 12,684 kcal—similar to eating 171 slices of white bread! So, if you want to avoid the role of Santa Claus falling to you this Christmas, reduce your alcohol intake with these simple tips:

One Heineken Classic has the same number of calories as 1.8 slices of white bread.

 Stay hydrated with water throughout the day  Plan at least 2 alcohol free days each week  When drinking, alternate alcoholic drinks with water (1:1)  Make your own low-sugar fizzy drink by mixing 0.25 juice with 0.75 soda water  Try low-alcohol or 0% alcohol beverages  Eat well throughout the day, especially when you have a social event that evening  Downsize by opting for regular rather than large drinks, or using smaller glasses to drink from at home  Monitor your intake by stopping the ‘top ups’  Know your limits—women and men should have no more than 10 and 15 standard drinks respectively per week to reduce health risks.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Kelly Hyland (NZRD) is the General Manager at Alex Hyland Plumbing Ltd. She has a Masters in Dietetics and Graduate Diploma in Teaching. She is passionate about improving health and wellbeing in the trade industry.

Plumbing apprentice and office manager Soren Ebbett with nine-month old Samson, who joins older brothers Isaac and Noah.

Career starters W O R K & FA M I LY

Soren Ebbett and Nikita Porthouse share with NZ Plumber how they juggled maternity leave and motherhood whilst maintaining their work, study—and sanity. AUTHOR: JE T’AIME HAYR

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Career starters WORK & FAMILY

oren Ebbett is not your typical office manager and plumbing apprentice. A mother of three—9-month-old Samson, 4.5-year-old Isaac and 6.5-yearold Noah—Soren manages a balancing act between her work, apprenticeship and family life. As the daughter of Peter and Sonya Jackson, owners of Peter Jackson Plumbing on the Kapiti Coast, Soren’s path into the family business may not be surprising. Still, it’s her resiliency, determination and drive that is forging her future. Soren’s commitment to her apprenticeship isn’t just about being a plumber but adding value to the family business. “Learning the trade broadens my knowledge and skills, with a view to adding value to the business in the long-term,” she says. While on her six-month maternity leave, Soren persevered with her apprenticeship, although things were trickier with a new baby to care for. The first block course took place when Samson was just three-and-ahalf-weeks old, which saw Soren (who was breastfeeding) pumping milk into bottles during her breaks. The second course, when Samson was four months old, presented different obstacles as Samson resisted the bottle initially, which added to her stress. Returning to work when Samson was six months old, Soren’s office job and apprenticeship require a flexible schedule and much organisation. “Most days, I work from 7am to 2.30pm, ensuring I can spend time with my kids after school. I pack lunches and school bags the night before, then get up at 4.45am, leave for the gym by 5.30am and am at work by 7am. My husband gets them ready and my mum drops them off at school and kindy and looks after Samson for the day.” For some people, early mornings can be a struggle, but Soren loves it, stating that she is far more productive during those quiet hours.

“I pack lunches and school bags the night before, then get up at 4.45am, leave for the gym by 5.30am and am at work by 7am.” Along with flexible working hours, family support has been instrumental in Soren’s journey and she is grateful for her mother’s help. “I am so lucky that my children are looked after by family in my home. To be honest, due to the high cost of living today, without family support, I wouldn’t have even been able to have three children,” she acknowledges.

Nikita was awarded NAWIC Tradeswoman of the Year in 2022, while heavily pregnant with son Gordon, who’s now one year old.

Soren believes in the importance of work-life balance and feels that women add value to traditionally male-dominated fields. “There are different qualities in both genders that benefit the workplace,” she says. “I think there are a lot of complementary qualities in a woman that can be beneficial in a male-dominated sector of business.” Soren’s story reminds us that both motherhood and a career are possible with support, adaptability, and a whole lot of determination, and her journey serves as an inspiration to women who are aspiring to a career in the trade sector.

Nikita Porthouse’s motherhood journey Nikita Porthouse is a Certifying Gasfitter and Tradesman Plumber and Drainlayer at Hutt Gas & Plumbing, as well as mum to one-year-old Gordon. She had planned for a year-long maternity leave. However, Nikita’s eagerness to get back on the tools prompted her to return

after seven months, and she eased back into work two days a week, coinciding with Gordon being cared for by his grandparents. With Nikita now working full-time again, Gordon is in daycare, and grandmothers on both sides of the family provide care on alternate Mondays. “Your kids won’t hold it against you that you’re at work, and they have a great time running around the daycare eating sand and making friends,” Nikita says with a laugh. That said, Nikita acknowledges the challenges of daycare, especially during the initial adjustment period. “When he started, he spent more time at home sick than at daycare; it’s frustrating paying for a service you aren’t using. I’m lucky that the grandparents help out a lot, and my boss understands that sometimes I just have to get him.” Nikita believes employers should accommodate working parents and emphasises that it’s not just mothers who need flexibility. “Men have children too, and plenty of solo dads out there juggle work and family.”

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Career starters PGD STRATEGIC REFERENCE GROUP

BETTER APPRENTICESHIP

TRAINING AHEAD The Plumbing, Gasfitting and Drainlaying Strategic Reference Group was set up 18 months ago with the clear goal of improving apprentice training to make it faster and more efficient, while still robust and industry ready. Here, Chair Greg Wallace describes the ongoing process that aims to improve the experience of thousands of apprentices across New Zealand. AUTHOR: GREG WALLACE, CHAIR, PGD STRATEGIC REFERENCE GROUP

he Plumbing, Gasfitting and Drainlaying Strategic Reference Group (PGD SRG) was established in response to significant industry concerns around apprentice training delivery and capacity across the country. Due to a number of factors, many apprentices are taking too long to complete their training, through no fault of their own, and at a time of critical workforce shortages. Improvements are needed. This is where the SRG comes in. The group exists to ensure better outcomes for apprentices, employers and our whole PGD industry. We have been set up to provide strategic direction to meet the long-term training needs of all our apprentices.

Training providers are currently working through the workplace assessor model, which will include workplace verifiers, a digital platform to record work completed by apprentices, and independent assessors to sign off relevant unit standards. Ultimately, we are trying to create a system that offers more flexibility, and is more learner focussed than the current onesize-fits-all approach. If we can give recognition to the learning that occurs in the workplace, and have systems in place to assess and verify this, it should reduce costs for employers and make the apprentice journey quicker to complete.

Block course considerations

Key relationships

Part of the SRG’s work has included looking at the structure of the current qualifications, and making sure that apprentices are considered to be ‘commercially competent’ in all relevant topics by the end of their training. Through workforce development council Waihanga Ara Rau’s robust training provider moderation programme, we have discovered that over 80 percent of apprentice block course time is spent on assessments rather than on actual training. The current 17 weeks per year spent at block courses does not, therefore, allow enough time for apprentices to complete all unit standards to a commercially competent level. We are aware that the industry would prefer a stronger focus on practical training at block courses. This is an area that continues to be developed.

Workplace assessments Waihanga Ara Rau is currently revising the plumbing, gasfitting and drainlaying qualifications. This work will provide a clear definition of what core competencies need to be trained and assessed, and what additional subjects should be developed as specialist training courses. This clarification will allow workplace assessments to play a critical role in the new training programme, in recognition of the invaluable on-job training that occurs in the workplace. To give an example, an apprentice may install 20 to 40 hot water cylinders in a week, and be deemed competent by their employer, but must still attend a block course to learn and be assessed on hot water cylinder installation. For the industry, this makes no sense and is not providing apprentices with value for money for their training fees or meeting their individual needs.

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One of the biggest impacts the SRG has is its ability to make recommendations to the Tertiary Education Commission on funding requirements for training providers. This is done through Waihanga Ara Rau—and gives teeth to the SRG to make improvements to the training regime by increasing available funding. The SRG also liaises with other industry groups, including Waihanga Ara Rau’s Technical Advisory Group (TAG), which contribute subject matter expertise and first-hand knowledge to the review and development of PGD qualifications and unit standards.

Your views matter We hope to launch the new version of the apprentice training programme in late 2024, depending on the time taken for the NZQA approval process. Before the release of the new programme, detailed information on the proposed changes will be provided through a nationwide roadshow. We look forward to seeing many of you on the way. The second phase of consultation opens in January and we urge you to provide feedback. The SRG is here to be the voice of the industry and our goal is to provide an apprentice training regime that truly meets your needs.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Greg Wallace is the CEO of Master Plumbers, Gasfitters & Drainlayers NZ and its group apprentice training company Masterlink. He has been the Chair of the PGD Strategic Reference Group since it was established in November 2021.

ABOUT THE PGD STRATEGIC REFERENCE GROUP

The Plumbers, Gasfitters and Drainlayers Strategic Reference Group (PGD SRG) is a group that advocates for impactful change to the PGD apprentice training regime across New Zealand. The group is made up of members who are committed to excellence across the entire PGD industry. It was established by Waihanga Ara Rau—the construction and infrastructure workforce development council—which exists to ensure that qualifications in these sectors match up with industry demands. Members comprise representatives from Waihanga Ara Rau; the Plumbers, Gasfitters & Drainlayers Board (PGDB); the industry; and training providers Te Pūkenga and ICE. There is an application process for the industry representative roles in this group, which is advertised through the PGDB and other industry communications.

SRG responsibilities

As a group, there are many ways in which the PGD SRG helps to improve the experience of apprentices and the outcomes for industry. It works to: provide an understanding of the needs and direction of our industry oversee PGD assessment standards and qualifications to make sure they are relevant and fit for purpose promote attraction, retention, and succession planning across the PGD industry advocate for the industry on matters that may impact training and qualifications support and enable high standards of industry capability.

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ON THE SIDE

And finally...

Jerome Pampellone is currently ranked sixth in the world by the International Boxing Federation and hopes to be fighting for a world light heavyweight championship in 2024.

10 MINUTES WITH...

JEROME PAMPELLONE

Plumber, drainlayer and boxer Jerome Pampellone has just completed his apprenticeship with Plumber Peach in Auckland and next on the 27-year-old’s list is becoming a world light heavyweight boxing champion. AUTHOR: MATTHEW LOWE BOXING PHOTOGRAPHS: D&L EVENTS

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Jerome with trainers Isaac (left) and Boaz Peach.

And finally... ON THE SIDE

Why did you choose a career in plumbing? My boss and trainer Isaac [Peach] was a plumber and I started boxing with him about eight years ago. Around that time, I was trying to be a mechanic, but I didn’t enjoy it too much. He had his own small plumbing company and gave me a chance to join his business and start my plumbing apprenticeship. Mum and Dad always said a trade is a good thing to have and so I gave it a go. I do maintenance and go house-to-house every single day. I enjoy meeting new people and always being on the move. I’m quite an active person and always being on the move suits my personality. How did you get into boxing? Isaac was my next-door neighbour. I was playing rugby around that time and people said boxing was the way to get fit and so I started training with him and the more I trained the more I enjoyed the sport. I like the intensity of the training and fighting. It’s given me a focus every day and I love winning. What’s it like having the boss as your coach? I’m fine with it. I see Isaac as my friend, but we know when it’s time to work, it’s time to work, and when it’s time to train, it’s time to train. He’s a mate of mine, we respect each other and get along well. We have a routine and have been doing it for a while now. It works well for boxing and work.

JEROME “WILL BE WORLD CHAMPION” ISAAC PEACH, JEROME’S BOSS AND TRAINER

Tell us about your plumbing business I’m the owner of Plumber Peach, a two-man operation mostly providing maintenance for property managers. I’ve been running it for nine years and have been a plumber for 20 years in Auckland after following in the footsteps of my father. What made you start Peach Boxing too? I was a fighter myself so when I gave up boxing it was a natural progression to become a trainer. I started a gym in 2013 on the back deck of the house and it’s got bigger and bigger. I’ve now got 14 fighters across different weight divisions. How do you manage to run a plumbing company and a boxing gym? It’s a real juggling act but I can usually book the maintenance work around the boxing. The plumbing company has got me everything I have had—it’s my boxing sponsor really—so plumbing is great and will always be the thing that pays the bills. My ambition for the gym is to train world champions and I’ve already got one in Mea Motu [IBO world super bantamweight champion] and Jerome is only a couple of fights away. How good is Jerome as a boxer? He’s the best I’ve got and he will be a world champion in the next year. It’s crazy what he’s achieving while still working a full-time job. The goal was to get him set as a plumber before we go big on the boxing, so he’s got something to fall back on.

How do you fit in training around work? Evening training sessions are about two hours and I do a 45-minute session in the morning and one-and-a-half hours on Saturdays. Training is six days a week and Sunday is a rest day and a chance to regroup, get a massage and then start again on Monday. I guess it’s just what I do. I enjoy boxing and I see plumbing as something that will eventually stop because I’ve got a goal and dream I’m chasing. My goal is to be a world champion. Has being a plumber helped with your boxing? “As I got into boxing, I soon learned I had to do interviews and talk more often—it’s not just about fighting, there are other parts of the sport. With plumbing and going door-to-door meeting new people, it helped get me out of my comfort zone and I had to become more confident talking to people.

Jerome Pampellone in plumbing mode.

When you’re not plumbing or boxing, what do you do in your spare time? I’ve got a three-year-old son and partner so outside of work and boxing I’m a dad and a partner, which I love.

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And finally... DODGY PLUMBING, GASFITTING & DRAINLAYING

Handyman horror “Another handyman installation in Auckland,” says Dale Lovell of Heron Plumbing. “We were called for a leaking HWC under the house and lack of pressure to the shower. Upon inspection, found no valves on the HWC, final connection in Buteline and HWC still connected to exhaust going through roof cw with a 7.6m relief on top of it. Took a pressure reading at the inlet to the HWC and it was 12.2m head when should have been max 7.6m. Anyway, got to supply and install an external mains in place of this.”

On the bottle “There are a few things going on here,” says Marty Reid of Quality Plumbing Solutions, who sent in this beauty. You’re right there, Marty.

Why licensed plumbers, gasfitters and drainlayers are legends. Keep them coming! Email the Ed: bsellers@masterplumbers.org.nz

Waiting for trouble

Twisted Thanks to Galbraith Plumbing and Drainage for sending in this photo of a dodgy shower trap under a house.

“This installation was just waiting for trouble in so many ways,” says Aaron Smylie of Smylie Plumbing & Gas. “Close to ignition sources, bottle station inside the enclosure, appliance in an enclosure… Has been fully disconnected and installed correctly outside. Homeowner can breathe again.”

Send your dodgy photos to the Ed: bsellers@masterplumbers.org.nz. The bigger the file, the larger we can show it on the page. 84

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NZ Plumber December 2023-January 2024

Articles inside

NZ Plumber December 2023-January 2024