Sign In / Register
Caidan Brien won the 2026 national final of the NZCB Apprentice Challenge, which included a $10,000 prize package. Photo, BCITO apprentice.
Mangawhai building apprentice Caidan Brien has been crowned the best in the country after winning the 2026 National Final of the NZCB Apprentice Challenge.
Brien of Younger Builders beat 14 other competitors to secure the win and take home a $10,000 prize package sponsored by Mitre 10 Trade and Makita.
The final was held as part of the New Zealand Certified Builders’ annual conference in Auckland on June 6, which brought together over 300 people from across the construction industry.
During the competition, finalists faced a demanding two-day series of construction challenges. First, they completed a written exam on the building code. They were then given a client brief, and tasked with designing and building a flat-pack seat before delivering a speech to hundreds of industry professionals.
Ultimately, it was Brien who impressed judges with his technical ability, communication skills and dedication.
“It was a really awesome experience; everyone there was really cool,” he said. “I was speechless when they announced that I had won. I had to go up on stage and say a few words, but nothing really came out.”
Brien’s employer, Hamish Young, was at the event and said he was “overjoyed” with his apprentice’s win.
“We are absolutely ecstatic,” Young said. “We were not overly surprised as we had an inkling that he would do well, but we are so pleased for him.”
NZCB chief executive Malcolm Fleming said the calibre of this year’s finalists reflected the resilience of the industry as it faced ongoing economic pressure.
“The construction sector has faced a tough few years, and economic pressures have been challenging across the industry. What we’ve seen through the Apprentice Challenge is that despite those challenges, apprentices have remained focused on their training and their trade, and employers have stayed committed to their apprentices. That resilience is exactly what the industry needs right now,” Fleming said.
Brien, who won the Whangārei Regional Final in April with a pātaka kai project gifted to Te Whai Community Trust Mangawhai, carried that success through to the national competition.
During the national final, he gave a speech about the building of the food cupboard and what it meant for the community.
The pātaka kai now has pride of place at the entrance to Te Whai Community House, where people who have an overabundance of produce are invited to leave fruit, veggies or non-perishable pantry staples for the community.
The 20-year-old former Rodney College student has almost finished his BCITO apprenticeship since joining Younger Builders three years ago through the Gateway programme, which helps students find a pathway into vocational work.
Brien’s dream is to keep progressing in the building industry and start his own company one day. He offered some advice for those looking to enter the awards in the future.
“If you are an apprentice who wants to do something like this, just give the regionals your all because the nationals were such a cool experience. I really enjoyed meeting so many different people. I now have a place to stay pretty much wherever I go in the country!”
