Why enter?

Aside from amazing prizes, taking part in the Apprentice Challenge, delivered in partnership with BCITO and Mitre 10 Trade can help you take your carpentry career to new heights. It’s an invaluable opportunity to meet other apprentices, industry leaders and build your network. It is also a chance to have an impact on your local community. This is more than a build; it’s about giving back.

Key dates

  • Regional heats: 22 May 2027
  • National final: 29 and 30 July 2027

Find out more about the regional heats.

Find out more and enter here
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Overview of the competition

The Apprentice Challenge tests carpentry, leadership, client relationship and community engagement skills.

Here’s an overview of what entrants can expect when they take part in the Apprentice Challenge:

  • Design concept
    The design concept is revealed when entries open. This is to give you an idea of what you will be building at the regional heat so you can reach out to your community to find a recipient. The 2026 project was a Pātaka, community sharing cupboard.
  • Community engagement
    Entrants sought out a deserving recipient in their community to donate their finished project to and documented the process.
  • Build plans
    Entrants are sent the detailed build plans ahead of the regional heat.
  • Regional heats
    Entrants compete head-to-head across the country on the same day at the regional heats and build their project. They are given an 8-hour window to complete the build and judging determines who makes it through to the national final.
  • National final
    Finalists will present their project and portfolio, highlighting their progress as an apprentice and the deserving recipient of their build. They will also complete a scenario-based and practical skills test to assess their technical ability and problem-solving.
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2026 Prizes

All entrants receive a goodie bag and prizes are awarded to regional placegetters. Finalists at the national competition will be in to win prizes for first, second and third place as well as the coveted Chairperson’s Personality Award.

Thank you to our sponsors, who make awarding these prizes possible.

Regional prizes:

  • Goodie bags for all entrants, thanks to Mitre 10 Trade
  • First place, $1,000 prize package, thanks to Makita
  • Second place, $500 prize package, thanks to Makita
  • Third place, $300 prize package, thanks to Makita

National prizes:

  • First place, $10,000 prize package, thanks to Mitre 10 Trade
  • Second place, $7,000 prize package, thanks to Mitre 10 Trade
  • Third place, $5,000 prize package, thanks to GIB
  • Chairman’s Personality Award, $3,000 prize package, thanks to Paslode
  • Goodie bags for all finalists, thanks to Sika

Build your network

“With all the support from the other competitors it was like talking to a large group of mates. After the hard work was over, we spent the rest of the afternoon getting to know each other better and preparing for the winner to be announced. It was clear that, although we had only just met a couple of days prior, there was unconditional care and support for each other.”

Alex Erickson, NZCB Apprentice Challenge National Winner 2023

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