Tēnā koe,

Submissions for the 2026 YPOTY Branch Skills Tests are still open for our Platinum, Gold and Silver sponsors.  These are due shortly for our Young Plumber AND Apprentice competitiors.  Some points to note follow that we hope will help you in the formulation of your tests.

BRANCH SKILLS TEST

These tests should be a quick-fire practical test focused on simple, fundamental knowledge and skills from the Plumbers/Gasfitters core trade competencies.

This year you have the option of versioning your test for our Apprentice division or bringing an entirely seperate test.  This is entirely your call and we suggest versioning your test is the most practical approach for your eventing team.  Happy to discuss this with you.

The following points are worth noting when formulating your test:

• HOW: A detailed diagram and process of your skills test(s) (YPOTY & Apprentice); how they will work for each division.
• WHAT/FOCUS: what are you testing speed/accuracy, system construction, problem solving, servicing/maintenance, product knowledge.
• TIMING: Optimal timeframe to complete the test is 5 minutes in duration.  A short introduction and overview need to accompany this.
• MARKING CRITERIA: Please provide specific marking schedule criteria (timing, process etc.).

With the apprentice division we suggest taking a more coaching focus to their test and marking criteria.  Branch skill test submissions are due no later than 4pm Friday 27^th March 2026.  We will extend this if required, please let Dan know so he can work through this with you.

NEXT STEPS

Once approved you will need to create several sets of your test (2-3 in case of breakages etc.) to cover your branch events.  Given the new Apprentice division you may want addtional gear with your test kit.  We will leave this with you to work out with your team.

BRANCH EVENT PREFERENCES

We have almost finalised our full event schedule.

Your preferences have all been accommodated however until you see this we will not know where we need to make tweaks.  This schedule will be shared with our Platinum, Gold and Silver sponsors shortly. If you have any issues, revisions, or feedback please make contact with daniel.keenan@plumbingworld.co.nz.

Based on sponsor feedback the YPC team are working hard to ensure branch events are well organised compared to previous competitions.

LOGISTICS

In 2026 sponsors will once again manage the transportation of their branch skills tests and banners between allocated events.  Please bear this in mind when building your skills tests.  The Young Plumbers team will continue to manage Regional and National Final equipment logistics.

Thanks again for your support, we cannot wait to get into the competition schedule.

Ngā Mihi
Young Plumbers

TĒNĀ KOUTOU,

A warm welcome to our 2026 Young Plumber of the Year (YPOTY) family of sponsors.

Thank you for your continued support of the YPOTY initiative.  Without you, we simply wouldn’t have a competition. We are excited to once again be working with you all in this space during 2026.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION

Timeline

To view the full timeline, Click Here  The first branch events will kick off on 5th May in Palmerston North and Invercargill.  Your specific event schedule will be circulated shortly.  Please lock these dates in your teams’ diaries.

Over the next month or so our branch network will be holding launch events focusing on competition promotion and registration.  Please feel free to get involved in any of these if they fit in your schedule.

New Apprentice Division

In 2026, we are proud to expand the Young Plumber of the Year programme with the introduction of a new Apprentice division, proudly supported by Nexa.  Open to 1st – 3rd year plumbing apprentices (as at 1 January 2026), the competition will run alongside our YPOTY branch and regional events, ensuring maximum exposure and operational efficiency.  This will mean bigger events and better engagement both with our tradies and industry as a whole.

Following the regional heats, eight apprentice national finalists will advance to the National Final, competing in their own standalone apprentice competition, alongside the main event.  This will broaden our exposure and allow us to increase engagement and align with industry as the workforce changes.

Official Sponsor Logo

Please utilise this as you wish. If you require this in a different format or are having difficulties downloading it, then please let us know. 

• Download Platinum Logo
• Download Gold Logo
• Download Silver Logo
• Download Bronze Logo

Promotion

The 2026 competition will officially launch on 1st April through the Plumbing World nationwide branch network, across our dedicated social channels and in the April/May edition of NZ Plumber Magazine. 3 further appearances in NZ Plumber (June/July, Oct/Nov and Dec/Jan) will  industry.

This website will also allow comeptitors to join Young Plumbers, enter the competition and view content, event photos and links to our social/sponsor pages.

Social Media

Our dedicated YPC Facebook and Instagram channels will continue to play a pivotal role in promoting the competition. We also encourage you to utilise your social channels and tag and use our approved hashtags to help build the competitions profile.

Tag: @youngplumbersclubnz
Hashtag: #YPOTY  #YPOTY2026 #YPC  #youngplumbers

Animated GIFs are also available to use in Instagram Stories by searching ‘YPOTY’.

IMPORTANT – PLEASE USE YOUR DISCRETION WITH WHAT IS SHARED ON SOCIAL MEDIA DURING THE COMPETITION.

We welcome your support throughout the competition however please ensure branch and regional skills tests are not profiled in any way during the branch and regional stages of the competition.

Collectively we need to ensure we maintain a high level of integrity when it comes to this competition for our competitors. We need to be able to ensure all competitors are on an equal footing.

Please adhere to this request.

Collateral

This will be sent to you to utilise through your own databases and networks and includes Posters, Registration Cards and social media assets.

We will be in contact with additional updates and information as the competition progresses.

Please don’t hesitate to contact us with any further questions.