Mr Calteaux, who works for family firm Andrew Haulage Ltd in Balclutha, will be climbing into the cab of a 13-tonne digger, and representing Otago at the CCNZ CablePrice National Excavator Operator Competition.
He is one of 12 regional champions from around New Zealand who will test their excavator skills through a series of challenging tasks requiring mastery of their machines.
These range from tests of everyday work skills such as traversing a trench or lifting and relocating a manhole cover; to more unusual tests of precision such as popping a champagne cork using an excavator bucket, or slam-dunking a basketball into a two-storey concrete pipe.
He was the 2018 national champion, but put family before fame in 2019 to attend the birth of his child rather than defend his title.
This year he returns to battle in front of a crowd of hundreds, at the Central Districts Field Days at Manfeild Park.
"I got back into it at the regionals last year and it was just like I’d never stopped," Mr Calteaux said.
"It’s a different level of competition at the national event and sometimes the easy-looking tasks can be the hardest.
‘‘It depends on your mindset — if you can keep your composure you will most likely win it."
Civil Contractors New Zealand (CCNZ) chief executive Peter Silcock said the competition’s mix of entertainment, skill and high-tech machinery typically drew a big crowd.
"Every year the competition gets bigger and better. It’s an ideal way to showcase the outstanding skill of New Zealand’s excavator operators and the capability of the impressive machines they operate.’’
This year marks the 27th anniversary of the annual competition, organised by CCNZ.
The competition concludes on Saturday.
