Why enter?

Aside from amazing prizes, taking part in the Apprentice Challenge 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

The 2025 Apprentice Challenge has come to a close. The dates below relate to the 2025 competition. Keep an eye out on the NZCB social media pages and website for information about the 2026 competition.

Entries open: 1 February 2025

Entries close: 20 March 2025

Regional build: 12 April 2025

National final: 6-7 June 2025

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. This year the project was a modern, durable outdoor vege planter.
  • 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 one week before the regional heat.
  • Regional heats
    Entrants compete head-to-head across the country on the same day 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 submit their CV and a portfolio of work to date as an apprentice and will present at the NZCB conference, highlighting how they engaged with their local community to donate their build. They will also undertake a practical skills test and formal interview.

2025 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
  • 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:

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

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

Architectural Designers NZ (ADNZ) Design Competition

We invited design students from ADNZ to complete concept designs for the 2025 Apprentice Challenge.

This competition was run separately from the Apprentice Challenge and played a critical role in shaping the build project. We provided a design brief to ADNZ student members, and entries went through a selection and judging process.

Congratulations to Jillian Wilson – Winner of the 2025 NZCB Apprentice Challenge Design Competition. Jillian’s design was brought to life by the apprentices at the regional heats.