Journey to the Regional Heats

The regional heats are the first stage of the Apprentice Challenge competition.

After submitting your entry, our team will be in touch to finalise your entry and make sure you have everything you need to complete your entry application. Once entries are closed, we’ll confirm the location of the regional heats and provide more information about what to expect on the day.

A week before the regional heats, entrants will receive the build plans and tools list to allow them to prepare for the big day.

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

The scores for all the winners and placegetters at the regional heat stage are compared to determine the finalists for the Apprentice Challenge, who will go on to compete at the national final at the NZCB Conference and Expo. Finalists will be contacted by our team with everything they need to know about the national final at the conference.

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 as part of the competition.

The winner will be announced at the gala dinner on the second night of the NZCB Conference and Expo.