Wāhine in Trades and Engineering

Urlich Plumbing, Apprentice

While in high school, Brooke developed a strong interest in learning a trade. She was encouraged to apply for the Gateway programme and completed the introductory courses in plumbing, electrical, and carpentry. Finishing this sparked her passion for plumbing and set her career path.

At the end of Year 12 in 2024, she left high school and enrolled in the Wintec pre-trade Plumbing, Drainlaying, and Gasfitting course, where she achieved the Top Plumber award.

Brooke was also able to continue work experience with the company she had connected with through the Gateway programme. By consistently showing up, building good work habits, and always being willing to learn, she was able to secure an apprenticeship with her current employer, Ulrich Plumbing Limited.

Construction Apprentice

She got into building because she decided to work for herself, then realised, you can’t teach yourself what you don’t know, credibility matters, she likes doing things properly, her mum deserved her house fixed properly, and honestly, why not. Even if choosing the most physical trade at her age was a bold move.

Her many roles before construction taught her to listen deeply, stay calm in chaos, and handle tough conversations with respect, all skills that come in handy on any job site. She’s New Zealand Māori, from Nō Poihakena Marae, with whakapapa to Waikato Tainui, Ngāti Ranginui, and Ngāti Maniapoto; all the zigzags, the detours, the “how did I end up here” moments, have shaped how she leads, works, and shows up for people today.

Wintec, Bakery and Culinary Arts Tutor

Elise Butler is a 21-year-old pastry chef whose career is already marked by ambition, discipline, and impressive experience. With three culinary schools under her belt and mentorships from renowned industry figures such as Cedric Grolet, Alain Ducasse, and Kirsten Tibballs, Elise has developed a strong foundation in both classical technique and modern pastry innovation.

Currently working as a part-time bakery tutor at Wintec while running her own business, Elise shares her knowledge and passion with aspiring chefs. Her teaching blends hands-on experience with a fresh, contemporary approach, and she is quickly gaining recognition as both a talented pastry artist and an inspiring young mentor.

Titus Engineering, Civil Engineer

Carla began her professional career as a Graduate Engineer at Titus Consulting Engineers, where she continues to develop her expertise. She specialises in three waters engineering, flood modelling, and coastal inundation assessments, applying both technical knowledge and practical thinking to deliver effective and efficient solutions.

Waikato Milking Systems, Steel Fabricator

Melinda is a mechanical engineer who has built her career using her keen eye for detail, a willingness to learn, and a drive to achieve what most people would consider impossible. This shows in her incredible achievement of becoming the first woman in Aotearoa to qualify as a mechanical engineer under the new education model delivered by Competenz in 2022.

Melinda got her start in engineering working for her father at Neil Precision 2012 Ltd. She was quickly identified as an extremely fast learner by those working around her, and before long, she was offered an apprenticeship in general mechanical engineering. In her time with Neil Precision, Melinda worked her way up to Operations Manager, overseeing production and driving continuous improvement. Today, she works at Waikato Milking Systems as a steel fabricator. Melinda’s current role perfectly combines her skill sets in welding and fabrication, with just enough machining to keep the day interesting. In Melinda’s job, tight tolerances are an everyday concern; this means each task must be carried out to perfection, often working to within 0.4 millimetres across a project spanning 25 metres in diameter. Melinda speaks three languages fluently: Afrikaans (born in South Africa), Dutch (raised in the Netherlands), and English. These languages serve as points of connection with various customers, colleagues, and apprentices she comes into contact with. Her ability to be direct (what she calls her “Dutchness”) but kind is what allows her to communicate so well with others and get the job done ahead of schedule. 

Longveld, Managing Director

Pam is the Managing Director of Longveld, a Waikato-based manufacturer and stainless steel specialist company providing precision-engineered metal solutions to customers worldwide. Longveld created the Girls in Engineering programme with Wintec in 2014 to encourage more wāhine into engineering trades through the Waikato Trades Academy.

Pam’s own tertiary training was in pure and applied chemistry, but through Longveld, co-founded with husband Les 34 years ago, Pam veered away from the science lab to become a passionate advocate for vocational trade training, particularly for wāhine.