Hamilton plumber, gasfitter, and drainlayer, Rhys Kimber, of Soda Plumbing and Gas Limited, has been recognised as the Waikato/King Country Young Plumber of the Year.

As well, third-year apprentice Paige Samuel, of Tauranga Hardware and Plumbing Limited, claimed the inaugural regional title for Apprentice Young Plumber of the Year.

The pair emerged victorious after competing in a series of practical and theoretical challenges designed to replicate the real-world pressures of the trade, including technical installations and fault-finding.

After winning the Waikato/King Country regional final, Kimber and Samuel will head to the national final in Hamilton in October.

For Kimber, who has competed in the event since 2021, taking out the regional title was the culmination of years of hard work and learning.

Navigating ADHD, he was drawn to the hands-on nature of the trades.

He says he is now eager to represent Soda Plumbing and Gas and the Waikato on the national stage.

Soda Plumbing and Gas said on social media that they were proud of Kimber.

“Your Mates in Plumbing are grinning from ear to ear,” the post reads.

“What an absolute testament to your resilience Rhys. You gathered yourself, dug deep to find your inner determination and absolutely crushed it.

“This is a reminder to anyone reading this post: Our life journey will always throw us curve balls, big and small.

“Those curve balls lead to growth and transformation. Empowering us to face challenges with courage and hope.

“Congratulations Rhys. You inspire us everyday with your positivity and ‘every day is a new day’ outlook on life.”

The 2026 Young Plumber of the Year competition marks the inaugural year of the Apprentice Young Plumber of the Year category.

It is open to first, second, and third-year plumbing apprentices nationwide, with competitors advancing through branch events to eight regional finals and each regional winner earning a spot at the national final.

Samuel was originally meant to compete in the Bay of Plenty/Central Plateau regional competition but was accommodated in the Waikato/King Country event because of scheduling conflicts with her apprenticeship block course.

Her win is also a significant milestone as she is one of just 11 women nationwide to advance to this year’s regional finals.

The competition comes as trades continue to grow in appeal. Recent research undertaken by Plumbing World found that 76% of New Zealanders believe a specialised trade offers greater long-term career stability than a corporate-focused university degree.

According to the research, 70% also say they are now more likely to encourage a young person into a trade than they were five years ago.