Andrew Jackson competed against five other apprentices earlier this month to secure a spot in the national New Zealand certified builders finals in June.
Mr Jackson said the day, held at Mitre 10 in Wānaka, was intense from start to finish.
He did a lot of preparing beforehand and mock building in his head.
"The most challenging part was the pressure of the time constraint.
"The build was pretty complex, so you’re making mistakes and having to toss up how much time to put into fixing them or just carrying on," he said.
The apprentices were tasked with building a pātaka (community sharing cupboard) in an eight-hour challenge.
Competitors were judged on workmanship, joint accuracy, material efficiency, safe working practices and the ability to follow a detailed plan.
Mr Jackson said he was "over the moon" to have won.
"It was a good, full-on day and I’m looking forward to nationals."
The apprentices showed potential to become industry leaders.
Against the backdrop of a difficult few years in the sector, the challenge was a reminder the industry had a bright future and needed to keep investing in apprentices, he said.
Building and construction industry training organisation chief executive Jason Hungerford said the challenge was a real world testament to the hard work invested by both employers and apprentices.
"The challenge gives apprentices the chance to test their skills, sharpen their craft, and stand out in the industry.
"It also reflects the dedication of the employers, training advisers and whānau who have put their time and resources into developing the next generation of tradespeople," he said.
Second place went to Quinn McMahon, 51, of Queenstown and Carlee Moulton, 36, of Wānaka took third place.
The national final will take place at the NZCB annual conference on June 5 and 6.
Finalists will compete in Auckland at an hour-long build and present to leaders of trade.
The overall winner will take home a $10,000 prize package.
