The 15th annual New Zealand Certified Builders Apprentice Challenge will be starting tomorrow and about 100 apprentices will be showing off their carpentry skills.
Seventeen regions around New Zealand will hold their own challenges to test each applicant’s skill, craftsmanship and problem solving, to see if they can continue to the national competition.
Kendall Hawes is preparing for her first Apprentice Challenge as she completes her second year working as an apprentice with Co-Struct.
Having grown up in Upper Hut, Wellington, Ms Hawes was in Melbourne before finding herself in Wānaka 12 years ago.
For about five years, she worked as a ski instructor while also studying interior design, eventually becoming a full-time designer.
However, about two years ago, she began to itch for something more hands-on, which led her to carpentry.
"I was looking for something that combines interior design, but also having a job that’s outdoors and physical," she said.
As she completes the second year of her apprenticeship with BCITO, she is wanting to take on a new challenge and further inspire other women who might be interested in what has so far been a male-dominated industry.
"Obviously being a female, I’d love to do something that inspires woman in the construction industry," she said.
"It’s a little bit daunting, that’s for sure. Like, I’m a real girl’s girl, I’m not a real blokey girl."
Ms Hawes described her experience being a woman in carpentry as both rewarding and, at times, intimidating.
She felt there was a learning curve at the beginning as she navigated a relatively masculine work culture, but still felt welcomed by many of her co-workers.
"It’s not so bad. I would definitely say you have to have a bit of a thick skin so you can get along with the jokes onsite, but apart from that, like my bosses that I work for, anyone I work with has always been really welcoming," she said.
Although she was grateful for having been treated well, she hated that she often had to clarify that, as all women should feel welcomed into the construction workforce, Ms Hawes said.
Aside from her desire to show the community that women can also shine in the industry, she took on the challenge as a way to push herself and gain more independence.
"I think it would be a good way to challenge what my own field skills are without somebody there to tell me how to do something and tell me like the right way to do it. Just sort of a little bit of confidence in my own ability."
Her next steps were still in the works, but she would either like to continue working in carpentry or find a way to combine her passion for both design and construction, Ms Hawes said.
The Central Otago heat will be held at Mitre 10 Queenstown from 8am to 4.30pm tomorrow, and the national finalists from each region will compete at the beginning of June in Hamilton.
