Zinnia, who’s currently studying for a NZ Certificate in Carpentry at Unitec, is using any spare time she has between now and the June final to prepare her presentation for the judges, including travel time between Waiheke Island, where she’s currently working, and her West Auckland base.

Zinnia took out the top honours at the recent North Auckland heats of the apprenticeship competition and will move on to the national final being held in Hamilton in early June.

Nineteen participants from around the country will be vying for the top prize package worth $10,000, submitting a portfolio of their work as an apprentice, as well as undertaking a formal interview, a trade exam and a timed building project.

It was Zinnia’s planter box designed for her old kindergarten, Glamorgan Kindergarten in Torbay, that scored her top honours in the regional competition.

As well as building the planter box over the course of the day-long competition, participants had to nominate a deserving recipient in their community to donate their finished project to, and document the process.

“I wanted to give something back to a place that meant a lot to me,” says Zinnia. “It was so cool to see the young children digging away in the planter box, sewing their vegetable seeds, and a great hands-on way for them to learn about sustainability and the environment.”

It was when Zinnia was a Year 11 student at Auckland’s Long Bay College that she decided to try her hand at building – her mother had previously worked for a construction company, and Zinnia had taken to the vibe and activity of the industry from a young age.

She completed a Gateway foundation course in Year 12 and started at Unitec the following year, just as the country was coming out of the global COVID lockdown. She took the necessary online study in her stride, but says she prefers face-to-face learning, and the camaraderie of engaging with fellow students at Unitec’s state-of-the-art trades training facility, Mataaho.

“What I like about the course is the hands-on experience and time spent in the workshop,” she says. “I knew from a young age that homework isn’t for me – I much prefer doing things in person.”

She was inspired to enter the national apprenticeship competition when a former student came and presented to the class.

“I looked at her, and thought – I can do that,” says Zinnia. “The teaching staff got right behind us –

“Chris Stoddard and Angus Roberston in particular, have been incredibly supportive.

“You can message them at any time of the day, and they always get back to you. You really feel like they care.”

Ross Maskell, Unitec carpentry lecturer and on-site assessor, has been supporting Zinnia in her apprenticeship. He says her determination and commitment to excellence has played a large part in her success.

“Zinnia’s precision, hard work, and passion for carpentry truly sets her apart,” he says. “Like a lot of tradies, she likes to let her work do the talking.

“As Zinnia prepares to represent Unitec at the National Final in Hamilton, the whole of the Unitec carpentry apprenticeship team are right behind her – we’re extremely proud of her and think she has a very bright future.”

When she’s not working or studying, Zinnia is renovating a house she and her partner – also a carpentry student at Unitec – have bought in Glen Eden, West Auckland.

She’s looking at further study at Unitec once she has completed her carpentry certificate at the end of this year, possibly moving into Architecture where she can utilise her interest in design concepts.

Zinnia will be taking part in the NZCB Apprentice Challenge National Final, held alongside the NZCB Conference and Expo  at the Claudelands Event Centre, Hamilton, from 6-7 June.