Dylan Johnston of Tonks Residential Construction has been named the Lower North Island’s 2026 Master Builders CARTERS Apprentice of the Year. Second place went to Richard Carroll of Western Builders, while Craig Stevens of J. Grae Building placed third. All three apprentices were trained through the BCITO.
Johnston impressed the judges with his ability to combine strong technical knowledge with clear, confident communication. His submission demonstrated a thorough understanding of the materials, methods and building requirements behind his work, as well as the reasoning behind key construction decisions.
That depth carried through to the practical challenge, interview and site visit, where his careful planning, organisation, and high standard of workmanship were evident. His passion for building and genuine pride in his development as an apprentice made a lasting impression.
Now in its 23rd year, the Apprentice of the Year competition, delivered in partnership with CARTERS, is New Zealand’s leading competition for construction apprentices. It recognises and celebrates apprentices who are building strong skills and showing promise as the next generation of industry leaders.
Master Builders chief executive Ankit Sharma says the competition provides an important opportunity to recognise apprentices who are building strong foundations for their careers.
“As our sector continues to evolve, skilled apprentices remain at the heart of delivering the high-quality homes and buildings New Zealand needs,” Sharma says.
“Apprentice of the Year gives emerging builders the chance to demonstrate not only their practical ability, but also the professionalism, knowledge and leadership they are developing throughout their training. It is encouraging to see such strong talent coming through the industry, and the standard displayed throughout this year’s competition gives us real confidence in the next generation of builders and our future industry leaders.”
Across New Zealand, 95 apprentices from nine regions took part in the 2026 regional competition. Each apprentice submitted a detailed overview of a building project they were working on before completing a two-hour practical challenge, which required them to build a project box revealed on the morning of the competition.
The top 10 regional competitors were then interviewed by a judging panel and assessed during an on-site visit to their project, where they were tested on their technical understanding, communication, project involvement and wider industry knowledge.
The leading apprentice from each region will now progress to the national competition, which includes a 45-minute interview with a national judging panel, and an intensive six-hour practical challenge. The national competition will take place on October 7-9, 2026 at The Cloud in Auckland.
All regional winners will have the opportunity to attend a 16-day Outward Bound course, receive a ticket to the National House of the Year gala event including travel and accommodation, and a place at the National Final. The national winner will receive a CARTERS Career Advancement Grant, and the use of a brand-new ute for one year, courtesy of CARTERS.
For more information about the competition, visit apprenticeoftheyear.co.nz.
Judges’ comments
1st Place: Dylan Johnston (Tonks Residential Construction)
Dylan delivered an exceptional entry, with an articulate and engaging written submission that combined clear, thorough explanations with a strong understanding of the materials, methods and building requirements behind his work.
He demonstrated an impressive ability to explain not only what he had done, but why and how, alongside a sound understanding of the Building Code and industry standards. His compelling personal story further showcased his commitment to the trade, willingness to learn, and pride in his development as an apprentice.
Dylan reinforced this strong impression throughout the practical challenge, interview and site visit. The judges praised his careful planning, excellent health and safety practices, organisation and high standard of workmanship, as well as the depth of knowledge he demonstrated across his project.
He confidently discussed everything from demolition through to finishing details, clearly explaining construction methods, challenges and the solutions used along the way. His passion for building and genuine pride in his work shone through, leaving the judges in no doubt that his technical ability, professionalism and commitment to quality mark him as an exciting emerging talent with a very bright future in the industry. Well done!
2nd Place: Richard Carroll (Western Builders)
Richard’s submission demonstrated an excellent understanding of his project, with detailed plans and examples helping to clearly communicate the work involved. During the judging process, he presented with confidence while remaining humble about his achievements, and his ability to reflect on his own development made a strong impression.
The project itself represented a significant achievement for Richard. He had taken on a leadership role from start to finish, managing the site team alongside subcontractors and suppliers while maintaining oversight of the build.
During the site visit, he spoke confidently about the different stages of the project, the challenges encountered and how they were overcome. He carried that same composed approach into the practical challenge, where his calm manner and well-presented toolkit reflected a professional approach to his work. Richard’s maturity and growing leadership ability mark him as a highly capable apprentice. Great work!
3rd Place: Craig Stevens (J. Grae Building)
Craig brought plenty of enthusiasm to the competition and quickly settled into an engaging interview, where his passion for the building industry came through strongly. His submission outlined the work involved in his project and the challenges he had encountered, while also showing his commitment to continuing his learning on and off the tools.
During the site visit, Craig impressed with his knowledge of the project, and the pride he takes in achieving quality results. His workmanship was of a very high standard, with a keen eye for detail evident throughout.
The judges also valued the way he spoke about his teammates, and recognised the contribution of those around him.
In the practical challenge, Craig approached the build with a clear plan and a well-presented toolkit, showing that he had thought carefully about how to work through the task. His capability and drive to keep improving give him a strong foundation for the future. Bravo.
