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Bulletin
DESPITE COVID-19 RESTRICTIONS, PLENTY HAS BEEN GOING ON AT MASTER PLUMBERS TO DELIVER VALUE TO MEMBER BUSINESSES.
CODE OF CONDUCT UPDATED
This year’s Master Plumbers member survey was a little bit different. With the COVID-19 pandemic causing disruption on a global scale, we wanted to gauge confidence levels and challenges for member businesses throughout NZ, in order to provide the best possible support in the months to come. The survey ran for 10 days until 8 September and we sincerely thank all members who took part. Look out for an overview of the results in the next edition of NZ Plumber.
PROUD TO BE A PLUMBER – ANOTHER WINNER!
Congratulations to Dale Riches of Riches Plumbing in Christchurch— the latest winner of our Proud to be a Plumber mini fridge prize!
The Riches family have been taking care of Canterbury families’ plumbing needs for just over 100 years—that’s four generations— so it’s safe to say plumbing runs through their veins. “We take pride in knowing we are not only Christchurch’s oldest plumbing family but New Zealand’s oldest plumbing family,” said Dale in his #proudtobeaplumber entry. How to enter For your chance to win a Master Plumbers-branded mini fridge prize, post a photo or video on your public social media page (Facebook, Instagram, Twitter or Linkedin). Caption why you are proud to be in the plumbing, gasfitting and drainlaying industry, and use the hashtag #proudtobeaplumber
Winners are drawn at random from all qualifying entries.
For full T&C, visit masterplumbers.org.nz/membership/proud The Master Plumbers Code of Conduct and Code of Practice has been updated to bring it up to date and to make it more reader-friendly. The document outlines the standards to be observed by members at all times, and abiding by this document is a fundamental condition of membership.
Find the updated Code of Conduct member log-in at masterplumbers.org.nz (Under Rules & Strategy).
Surveying our members
& Code of Practice in the website
BEST IN BRAND
Got some smart Master Plumbers branding on your vehicles or at your workplace? Send us a snap for your chance to win a $200 Prezzy Card prize in our Best in
Email your photos to Cat Marshall by 13 November: cmarshall@masterplumbers.org.nz
Brand competition!
Dale Riches of Riches Brothers Plumbing with his prize mini-fridge.
Members and potential members can get a really good idea of the membership benefits on offer with our brand-new video, available to view on the Master Plumbers You Tube channel. Huge thanks to Jason and Kirstie Brown from Jason Brown Plumbing and Gas for letting us follow them round town to create the video. Filmed and edited in Lower Hutt using production company One Day Video, it also features cameos from Master Plumbers CEO Greg Wallace and technical helpline specialist Rod Miller. Thanks, too, to our Business Partners Plumbing World and Hirepool for letting us film on site at their Lower Hutt branches and for being so accommodating. We hope you enjoy!
A still from the new member video, available to view on the Master Plumbers You Tube channel.
OBITUARY
Graeme Mander
It is with much sadness that we report the passing of Graeme Mander in September, after a short illness.
A National Life Member of Master Plumbers, Graeme was a passionate supporter of the Society. He served on the National Council of the Society for over 25 years, between 1976 and 2004, and was National President from 1985-86.
In 1999, he was elected again to the National Board, serving for a further five years. He was also director of the NZ Plumbers’ Journal for 30 years and always took a keen interest in the publication.
Among his many other roles in the industry, Graeme was the Master Plumbers representative on the Industry Training Council from 1993 to 2000. He also served as New Zealand representative on the World Plumbing Council for nine years from 1996.
Graeme ran Wellington-based Mander Plumbing for over 50 years. He served his apprenticeship under his father and took over the business in 1965, working there until his retirement in 2019, when he handed the reins to long-term business partner Gavin Chambers.
Graeme will be greatly missed by members, colleagues and friends in the industry and we send our sincere condolences to his wife Christina and their extended family, and the Mander Plumbing team.
Meet the team...
Get to know the Master Plumbers team with our quick Q&As each edition.
NAME: ROLE:
Fleur Nicholas Project Coordinator
1. What does your day-to-day role entail? My role is extremely varied. I help members and customers to resolve complaints, and work on different issues affecting our members. I also assist with in-house legal issues, work on various projects and look after the conference. No two days are ever the same, which I really enjoy.
2. What’s your work background? My background is in law, which I practised for many years in private practice, government and as in-house legal counsel. I then did further study and spent the last few years in event and administration type roles. My current role combines lots of these different aspects, so I’m very lucky.
3. Can you tell us a little bit about you? I grew up in Gisborne and studied in Auckland. After living overseas, my husband and I moved to Wellington over 20 years ago. We have two daughters, one in Year 12 and one at university.
4. What’s your favourite music? While I love Billy Joel, Crowded House and Cold Chisel, for dancing round the kitchen, I can’t go past Def Leppard and Earth, Wind & Fire.
5. What’s your favourite book right now? So far this year it’s Girl, Woman, Other by Bernadine Evaristo.
6. Where’s your favourite holiday spot? A warm, sunny beach.
7. What’s your favourite food? I love Japanese and Vietnamese food.
8. Is there someone who particularly inspires you? Jacinda Ardern.
9. Can you tell us what you enjoy doing in your spare time? Spending time with family and friends, swimming, golfing, walking, cooking and reading. I also really enjoy doing tapestry, as I find it very therapeutic after a busy day.
ATP TRAINING WITH ETCO: DISCOUNTS FOR MASTER PLUMBERS
The Electrical Training Company (Etco) provides Associated Tradesperson courses for registered plumbers and gasfitters to gain EWRB registration. Members of Master Plumbers enjoy a 20% discount on the training, which is held at Etco training centres in Auckland, Hamilton, Rotorua, Wellington, Christchurch and Dunedin (plus an online component).
Contact Etco to find out more on 0800 275 3826. www.etco.co.nz
ADVOCACY WORK: BUILDING AMENDMENT BILL
In August, Master Plumbers CEO harmful effects of metal leaching from Greg Wallace appeared before the unregulated plumbing products. Master select committee to present the Plumbers will continue to advocate for Master Plumbers oral submission on greater regulation of plumbing products the Building (Building Products and available in the NZ market. Methods, Modular Components, and The select committee is due to report Other Matters) Amendment Bill. As back to Parliament at the end of November. things stand, the amended Bill continues to make product certification voluntary, doesn’t require third party verification of products and lacks actionable enforcement measures.
Greg argued that the amendments to the Bill do not go far enough to protect the health and safety of New Zealanders—particularly from the
Peter Jackson Plumbing on the Kapiti Coast use Web Genius for their web presence. “Web Genius has made sure that our Google online rankings are high and that way it draws a lot of traffic to our website and obviously customers,” says Sonya Jackson.
NEW Discount Partner: Web Genius
Have you ever wondered why some plumbers have a website that seems to dominate Google, while others are nowhere to be seen?
New Master Plumbers Discount Partner Web Genius have an exclusive offer for members to ensure your web presence is modern and mobile-friendly, generates consistent business and is found in Google.
With a low-cost monthly investment, Web Genius are able to provide you the very best website and marketing solution, designed for plumbers, gasfitters and drainlayers of any business size.
What’s the offer? The offering includes, but is not limited to:
A powerful lead generating website (with $0 setup fees)
Google rankings on the 1st page (to generate consistent business)
Google marketing with Ads (for your marketing).
Starting at just $499/month for the first 12 months and $149/month thereafter, this offering is a very powerful marketing solution.
To top things off, Web Genius are offering you a free website upgrade and design every 36 months, which means you will never have to invest in a new website as long as you are with them.
Learn more and access the offer at masterplumbers.webgenius.co.nz/
NEW MEMBERS
A warm welcome to our newest Master Plumbers member businesses:
Aqua Plumber
Auckland – Auckland
BOI Plumbing and
Gas – Auckland
Coast to Coast Gas &
Plumbing – Auckland
O’Neil Plumbing –
Auckland
SW Plumbing –
Auckland
Valley Plumbing &
Drainage – Auckland
Evergreen Plumbing
Group – Taranaki
Savvy Gas – Taranaki
South Coast
Plumbing – Otago
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, HR & technical support, plus training and member discounts—and we advocate for our members as a collective industry voice.
Get in touch to discuss our two-year membership deal! Steve Rushworth North Island 027 839 8398 srushworth@masterplumbers.org.nz
Sam Timlin South Island 021 433 615 stimlin@masterplumbers.org.nz
LOOK OUT FOR THE TICK OF APPROVAL
We put each and every Master Plumbers Recommends plumbing product to the test, assessing all aspects, such as ensuring replacement parts are readily accessible, they’re easy to install and they look great. Of course it goes without saying that they also come with a solid manufacturer’s guarantee. Once it ticks all those boxes, it gets our tick of approval.
