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News

Updates from Master Plumbers and the wider industry.

22 September 2023

Safety with electricity and gas

Electricity and water is a dangerous combination. There are several things you can do to keep yourself and others safe:

If you smell gas then vacate …

11 July 2023

Supplying water for rural firefighting

When firefighters arrive at a fire, they need immediate access to water supplies to put the fire out. Fire and Emergency New Zealand give the lowdown …

Tags: water firefighting rural

11 July 2023

Give yourself the breakfast boost

Fuelling your body with a good breakfast will keep you going during those long, physical work hours, advises Kelly Hyland.

Sleep, eat, work, repeat. …

11 July 2023

Keeping time

A reminder to employers of the importance of keeping employee timesheet records.

I have recently been assisting an employer with an MBIE investigatio…

Tags: timesheet employee record payroll

19 May 2023

Get ready for winter - Heating your home with gas

As winter draws near, gas heating is a comfortable, quick and convenient way to keep your home cosy and warm.

Master Plumbers, Gasfitters & Drainlaye…

Tags: gas heating home health and safety

19 May 2023

Hawke's Bay plumber wins top national apprentice award

Hawke’s Bay plumber Tyson Kihi has been awarded the industry’s top national apprentice award at the 2023 New Zealand Plumbing Awards, held at Te Pae i…

Tags: award apprentice national

19 May 2023

Gateway leads Wellington apprentice to national scholarship success

Wellington-based apprentice Andrew Smith won a Plumbing World Scholarship at the national 2023 New Zealand Plumbing Awards, held at Te Pae Convention …

Tags: scholarship award apprentice

19 May 2023

Taupo apprentice Emma wins national plumbing scholarship

Taupo-based apprentice Emma de Salis won a Plumbing World Scholarship at the national 2023 New Zealand Plumbing Awards, held at Te Pae Convention Cent…

Tags: scholarship award plumbing

19 May 2023

Leading the way: Auckland apprentice wins national plumbing scholarship

Auckland-based apprentice Sebastian Sekene not only won a Plumbing World Scholarship but was named Overall Scholarship Winner at the national 2023 New…

Tags: apprentice awards

9 May 2023

Devine Plumbing in Napier is 2023 NZ Master Plumber of the Year

Straight after Cyclone Gabrielle raged through Hawke’s Bay, Cam Devine knew he had to do what he could to help his local community.

Cam, who runs Dev…

Tags: award plumbing

11 April 2023

Don't get caught out by a cold snap!

With winter just around the corner, it’s time to check your pipes before the very cold temperatures put your pipes at risk of freezing.

Frozen pipes …

30 March 2023

Association Influencer 2023 Award for Master Plumbers CEO Greg Wallace

Greg Wallace, Chief Executive Officer of Master Plumbers, Gasfitters & Drainlayers NZ has been selected as one of seven 2023 Association Influencers i…

Business

30 March 2023

Steps to protect subcontractors welcomed by Master Plumbers

Plumbing businesses will have greater financial protection in the event of a construction company collapse following new legislation announced by the …

Tags: retentions subcontractors

health

21 March 2023

Ditch the fads

Looking for the ultimate diet in 2023? Keep it real, advises Kelly Hyland.

A New Year often brings about that ‘new me’ attitude. The most popular New…

Tags: fads diet

drain laying

9 February 2023

No excuse for failing to plan and invest in our infrastructure

Greg Wallace, CEO, Master Plumbers, Gasfitters & Drainlayers NZ

“Someone told me long ago there’s a calm before the storm. I know it’s been comin’ fo…

Tags: apprenticeships infrastructure building consents climate change

Training

18 January 2023

Training Report Card

A report from the Waihanga Ara Rau Workforce Development Council makes a number of recommendations for improvement to the current plumbing, gasfitting…

Tags: WDC Workforce Development Council Skills Recommendations

Business

13 January 2023

HR Wraparound

The Master Plumbers HR team provide members with a 360° service to help with good employment processes.

Did you know... Over the past seven years, th…

Tags: Human resources practices team resources

Business

11 January 2023

7 Things you must do in a recession

Author: Daniel Fitzpatrick, Next Level Tradie

Business coach Daniel Fitzpatrick shows how to stay ahead of what is coming next.

All the financial ex…

Tags: recession customers marketing downturn

Apprentices

11 January 2023

Helping hand for rural apprentices

Author: JE T’AIME HAYR

Young people in rural areas can face challenges finding employment—and the Mayors Taskforce for Jobs provides funding to help …

Tags: helping hand rural apprentices Mayors taskforce

plumbing

11 January 2023

Fifty years young

Three generations of the Ryder family are involved in Oamaru family business Hiflo Plumbing, which celebrated its 50th anniversary this year.

Giant s…

Tags: Family anniversary values 3 generations

plumbing

11 January 2023

Drinking water - Supply safety

Those who supply more than one building with drinking water from roof, spring, bore or mixed use rural sources now have Acceptable Solutions they may …

Tags: drinking water supply rural areas 10 tips

plumbing

11 January 2023

10 Tips to reducing sprains and strains

Plumbing has the most strains and sprains of any trade, with 39,000+ days off due to injury in 2020.

Follow these 10 tips to lower the risk of hurt:
…

Tags: Work should not hurt 10 tips sprains strains

plumbing

11 January 2023

Flushed with success

A new ‘flushability’ standard will make it easier for consumers to see what they can (and can’t) flush down the loo.

It costs Aotearoa New Zealand at…

Tags: Flushable Wet wipes Standard Blocked pipes

Gas

11 January 2023

New website informing kiwis about the future of gas

Kiwi households will have answers to renewable gas questions at their fingertips on the refreshed Future Sure website. As well as laying out the indus…

Plastic

11 January 2023

New plastic recycling facilities

Plumbers across New Zealand will be able to reduce their plastic waste with a new $12.5m investment in construction plastic recycling facilities.

Loo…

plumbing

21 December 2022

Summer at the bach? Run the water when you arrive

The good old Kiwi bach is a summer favourite—whether you’re staying in your own or you’ve booked a holiday home. But don’t let unhealthy water spoil y…

Tags: legionella health & safety lead in drinking water

Gas

20 December 2022

Stay safe using gas this summer

Summer is here and for many of us that means enjoying a BBQ with friends, camping or heading off on holiday in a caravan or campervan.

Here are some …

Tags: safety health and safety

Apprentices

13 December 2022

Apprentice Training Fee Information

Master Plumbers has successfully lobbied Te Pūkenga to ensure fair training fees for all apprentices. As a result, some changes have been made. Here's…

18 November 2022

Transition to lead-free plumbing products

Master Plumbers has lobbied long and hard for lead to be removed from plumbing products available for sale in New Zealand, for public health reasons.
…

25 July 2022

Keeping the noise down

The New Zealand trend towards medium density developments comes with particular plumbing considerations, as Marley explains.

dBlue® is WaterMark cert…

Tags: noise reduction marley development

25 July 2022

Redundant water pipe safety

Redundant pipework left by plumbers is considered a persistent and often critical source of risk within our water systems, as the Plumbers, Gasfitters…

Tags: water pipes safety pipework

25 July 2022

Happy 40th to Englefield!

This year Englefield celebrates its 40th birthday—marking the milestone with a brand refresh and new logo. Since 1982, Englefield has been the bathroo…

Tags: birthday business partner

25 July 2022

Fuel for less

When it comes to fuel savings, the Master Plumbers Mobilcard is worth its weight in gold.

If your business is guzzling through gasoline, a fuel card …

Tags: fuel savings benefit

Business

25 July 2022

3 Steps to fuel efficiency

There are simple ways to prevent your daily driving from breaking the bank when it comes to fuel usage, as Teletrac Navman explains.

Kiwis everywhere…

Tags: fuel efficiency tracking

23 June 2022

Top national apprenticeship award goes to Hutt Valley plumber

Plumber Ryan Wilson of Hutt Gas and Plumbing was awarded the prestigious James Douglas Medallion at the 2022 New Zealand Plumbing Awards, held in Roto…

23 June 2022

Bay of Islands Plumbing & Gas wins supreme national plumbing award

Bay of Islands Plumbing & Gas (BOIPG) has won the supreme 2022 New Zealand Master Plumber of the Year Award at this year’s New Zealand Plumbing Awards…

20 April 2022

Asbestos - What you need to know

WorkSafe has an Approved Code of Practice for the Management and Removal of Asbestos.

Previous asbestos guidance in New Zealand focused only on asbe…

Business

11 March 2022

World Plumbing Day 'reminder of need to plug New Zealand’s plumber shortage'

New Zealand needs a 30% increase in qualified plumbers if we are to plug the skills shortage.

With close to 49,000 building consents issued in 2021, …

Tags: apprentice plumber plumbing new zealand

Business

2 March 2022

Applied Directorship Programme - We have a WINNER!

Master Plumbers is delighted to announce that NICK PARIS, Plumbing Today is the deserving winner of the Applied Directorship Programme from internatio…

Tags: competition director

gasfitters

21 December 2021

Stay safe around gas this summer

Summer is around the corner and for many of us that means enjoying a BBQ with friends, camping or heading off on holiday in a caravan or campervan.

H…

Tags: gas gasfitter gasfitting

plumbing

13 December 2021

Heading to the bach? Flush the water when you arrive

The good old Kiwi bach is a summer favourite. Whether you’re staying in your own or you’ve booked a holiday home. But don’t let unhealthy water spoil …

Tags: lead in drinking water water flush taps

gasfitters

1 December 2021

Carbon-neutral gas futures positive for gas apprentices

Confidence in gasfitting as a career continues to grow as New Zealand’s gas industry looks to a renewable future, with the number of apprentices choos…

Tags: apprentice apprentices apprenticeships

Business

5 November 2021

Perks of the job?

Mixing private and business transactions can complicate the accounting and lead to some unwelcome tax impacts, as Brett Crombie explains.

There are a…

Tags: perks business money

drainlayers

5 November 2021

Why worker engagement works

Are your workers a health and safety problem to be solved? Or the source of great ideas for improvement? Greg Dearsly has the lowdown on worker engage…

Tags: worker employment health & safety

drainlayers

19 October 2021

Master Plumbers joins call for mandatory vaccination in construction sector

Master Plumbers is adding its voice to industry demands for compulsory vaccination in the building and construction sector, and is asking the Governme…

Tags: COVID-19 Vaccinations

plumbers

1 September 2021

Economic recovery will be stifled due to lack of supplies

Construction work will come to a grinding stop within days unless the Government allows Auckland to distribute supplies to the rest of New Zealand imm…

Tags: COVID-19

Compliance

28 July 2021

Tapware one of main causes of lead contamination in East Otago towns

Master Plumbers is telling the Government to stop turning a blind eye to compelling evidence that New Zealanders are being put at serious health risk …

Tags: tapware lead in drinking water

Apprentices

16 July 2021

When did you last get yourself a WOF?

Let's address the elephant in the room. Many of us—our older male population in particular—avoid the doctor with the old saying ‘Ah, too busy mate!’ o…

Tags: wellbeing health & safety

plumbing

12 July 2021

New evidence shows lead still present in NZ's drinking water

TVNZ 1's Sunday programme on 11 July profiled the risks associated with lead in our drinking water and featured Master Plumbers CEO Greg Wallace.

Mas…

Tags: lead in drinking water

Member News

9 July 2021

Video Update from CEO Greg Wallace - July 2021

The latest update from Master Plumbers, Gasfitters & Drainlayers NZ chief executive Greg Wallace.

In this update, Greg covers the current market dyn…

Tags: CE update

gasfitting

21 June 2021

Master Plumbers partners with gas industry to launch 'Future Sure' campaign

Master Plumbers has partnered with other industry players in the gas sector to launch 'Future Sure' - a campaign that gives Kiwi gas users confidence …

Member News

28 May 2021

Video Update from CEO Greg Wallace - May 2021

The latest update from Master Plumbers, Gasfitters & Drainlayers NZ chief executive Greg Wallace.
An update from Master Plumbers CEO Greg Wallace cove…

Tags: CE update

awards

8 August 2023
Female plumber Billie McDonnell is a NAWIC Tradeswoman of the Year

Billie McDonnell has been awarded 2023 Tradeswoman of the Year at the National Association of Women in Construction (NAWIC) Excellence Awards.

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11 July 2023
Winning streak

Andrew Smith is not your average apprentice. He was one of 10 Masterlink Outward Bound Scholarship winners this year and one of three 2023 Plumbing World Scholarship winners.

Tags: plumber apprentice masterlink
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21 March 2023
Master Plumbers wins at 2023 Site Safe Awards

Master Plumbers has won the Kalmar Mental Health and Wellbeing Award at the 2023 Site Safe Health, Safety and Wellbeing Awards, presented in Auckland this March.

Tags: awards health & safety health and safety wellbeing
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Human Resources

21 March 2023
Engaging with your employees

Lisa Duston lays down an HR challenge for plumbing businesses in 2023. . .

Tags: HR Human resources staff employee
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gasfitters

9 June 2021
Green gas plan needed before banning new connections

Master Plumbers is urging the Government not to race into a ban on new gas connections, with even the Climate Change Commission pointing to the need for more investment in…

Tags: climate climate change
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Wellbeing on Tap

26 May 2021
Staying healthy this winter

Hello everyone, I hope 2021 is finding you well so far.

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drain laying

19 April 2021
PGD Act proposals fall short, says Master Plumbers

The Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) has completed its statutory review of the Plumbers, Gasfitters and Drainlayers Act 2006 (the Act).

Tags: advocacy
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16 April 2021
Urgent action needed on newly released recommendation to review lead levels in plumbing products

Master Plumbers welcomes today’s recommendation by the Ministry of Health to review current plumbing standards with regards to allowable lead levels in imported tapware and fittings.

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plumbers

29 March 2021
2021 New Zealand Master Plumber of the Year

Rotorua-based family-owned business BOP Plumbing & Gas has won the 2021 New Zealand Master Plumber of the Year Award at the 2021 New Zealand Plumbing Awards, held in Marlborough on 26 March.…

Tags: awards
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Apprentices

29 March 2021
2021 New Zealand Plumbing Awards winners

Congratulations to all the finalists and winners at the 2021 New Zealand Plumbing Awards, held in Marlborough on 26 March.

Tags: awards
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