Oliver Wooles from the Auckland region has been named the 2026 Master Builders CARTERS Apprentice of the Year.
Lachy Hughes from the Taranaki & Whanganui region came second. Dokyun (DK) Kim from the Central & Upper South Island region came third.
Nine regional champions reached the national final from a field of 95 apprentices. Each got there through written submissions, a regional practical challenge, interviews and site visits.
The finalists had seven and a half hours to build a wooden truck from plans, instructions and a materials list. Past national winners helped develop the challenge, which tested planning, accuracy, safe working and problem-solving under pressure.
A 45-minute interview with the national judging panel followed. It covered building practice and the Building Code, along with communication and project management.
The finished trucks are going to early childhood centres across Auckland.
Wooles works for Harrison Lane and trained through BCITO. He’s already a qualified joiner and is the apprentice representative on the Master Builders Southern Sub-Branch Executive in Auckland.
The judges said he “embodies the qualities of a future leader in our industry”. What stood out most was how he sees qualifying.
“Rather than seeing qualification as the finish line, Oliver views it as the beginning of a lifelong commitment to developing his skills and knowledge,” they said.
“His performance in the practical challenge was exceptional. He approached the task with a clear plan, strong process and meticulous execution. Throughout the competition he remained focused, calm and highly detail-oriented, demonstrating both technical excellence and a strong work ethic.”
He gets the use of a new ute for a year, a $5,000 CARTERS grant and $10,000 from the Master Build 10-Year Guarantee.
This is the first year the competition has had cash prizes, worth $23,000 across the top three.
Hughes is already qualified as a boat builder and aluminium joiner. The judges said he has “clearly found his place in carpentry”, and praised his analytical approach to learning and his focus on team culture.
Kim left South Korea at 17 to study overseas and learn English on his own. In the same year he trekked to Everest Base Camp.
He trained as a boat builder in Auckland and spent time in cabinet making before moving into building.
In the practical challenge, the judges said, he showed “excellent planning, a thoughtful and structured approach, and a strong standard of workmanship”.
Master Builders chief executive Ankit Sharma said the competition recognised the employers and mentors behind the apprentices as well as the apprentices themselves.
“Reaching the national final is an achievement in itself. To stand out among this calibre of apprentices takes real skill, sound judgement and the ability to deliver quality work under pressure,” Sharma said.
Master Builders’ 2026 State of the Sector survey found 68% of members had a strong or steady pipeline of work, up from 64% last year.
“Continuing that investment through challenging market conditions is essential to building the skilled workforce New Zealand needs,” Sharma said.
CARTERS has backed the competition for all 23 years it has run.
“Apprentices are the future of our industry, and it’s fantastic to see the passion, commitment, and pride they bring to their work,” CARTERS chief executive Craig Banfield said.
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