Carpentry apprentice regional winner

Palmerston North apprentices have dominated the regional final of a national carpentry competition.

Carpentry apprentice Callum Bryson has taken out the top spot for the Central North Island Registered Master Builders Carters 2016 Apprentice of the Year.

Nathan Hill, a 22-year-old apprentice, was second.

Bryson, 24, trained through the Building and Construction Industry Training Organisation (BCITO).

He is employed by Mcmillan & Lockwood PN Limited.

He said he was ‘‘pretty chuffed’’ with the win.

‘‘It’s cool that I can repay work and the people that showed a lot of faith in me.’’

As part of the competition, Bryson entered information about the BNZ building in Waipukurau which he had built.

Along with the other finalists, he then had to impress the judges during a 45 minute interview and a practical carpentry challenge.

The practical challenge will be open to the public and involve building a playhouse to be donated to local schools.

For winning the regional competition Bryson was given a range of new tools, $2000 to spend at building supply store Carters, and a spot on an Outward Bound course.

The competition’s judges said Bryson was a worthy contender for National Apprentice of the Year.

‘‘Callum’s building knowledge allowed him to speak with an excellent level of confidence and maturity during the judging.

‘‘He demonstrated the ability to deal with a wide range of people including clients, project managers, other carpenters and sub-contractors as well as the public,’’ they said. ’’He had a proactive and easy manner, and a great sense of humour.‘‘

Bryson will now move on to compete against the other nine regional winners at the national competition in Auckland this November.