Invercargill holds search for nation's best apprentice carpenter

Monday, 24 June 2019

Jasen Scobie builds a bird box feeder while taking part in the Registered Master Builders Association apprentice of the year competition southern section in Invercargill on Saturday.

Twelve of Southland's sharpest apprentice carpenters competed in the first stage of the apprentice of the year competition on Saturday.

Chippys from Invercargill, Gore, Dunedin and Central Otago were tasked with building a pre-designed bird feeder.

Registered Master Builders Association apprentice of the year competition was first held in 2015.

The Southern region section was held at Carter's on Forth St on Saturday.

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Association Gore president Brent Hansen said the competition helped improve more than just the competitor's job skills.

'It's a great confidence booster for them,' Hansen said.

'The calibre is right up there as well.'

Competitors will present designs for a project they have been working on to an interview panel as part the second part of the regional qualifier next month.

A winner would then be selected to compete at the national finals in Auckland in November.