Wintec Apprentice wins big at Master Plumbers Awards

An emerging local talent and Wintec ākonga (student) has been recognised as the Master Plumbers Wintec Apprentice of the Year at the 2025 Waikato Master Plumbers Awards.

Rhys Kimber is currently enrolled with Wintec and is in the final stages of his Plumbing, Gasfitting, and Drainlaying apprenticeship with Soda Plumbing and Gas in Hamilton.

Rhys Kimber, Wintec Apprentice of the Year; Amy Opperman, Wintec Team Manager for Plumbing and Industrial Measurement Controls; Mike Wilson, Waikato Master Plumbers President.

The awards evening was hosted recently in The Atrium at Wintec’s City Campus and provided an excellent opportunity to acknowledge and reward the outstanding achievements of the plumbing industry in the Waikato region.

Wintec's City Campus venue, The Atrium, hosted the Waikato Master Plumbers Awards event

“The Waikato Master Plumbers Awards night has been running for 11 years now and started with an Employer Partnership Group meeting all those years ago at Wintec. Wintec were more than supportive to jump on board and support this event and it has been a success since then,” said Mike Wilson, Waikato Master Plumbers President.

“It is vital for our industry to come together and recognise excellence in our industry and bring in our business partners who continue to support this great event.”

Rhys Kimber celebrates his award win with his partner and Soda Plumbing and Gas team.

Soroya McGall, Co-owner of Soda, said Rhys represented everything that is great about Kiwi plumbers.

“Technical excellence, work ethic, people skills, leadership. Rhys gets work done through his ability to connect and build trust with our clients and is making a lasting impact on the plumbing industry.”

Amy Opperman, Wintec Team Manager for Plumbing and Industrial Measurement Controls, attended the recent event and was extremely proud of all the Wintec ākonga, graduates, and kaimahi (staff) who were recognised for their efforts.

“It’s fantastic to see the calibre and drive of local apprentices and tradespersons coming through in the Waikato. The awards are a testament to the commitment each nominee and winner has to their own individual growth, and also highlights the commitment to learning each of the amazing local businesses that employ them has.”

“As one of Aotearoa New Zealand’s largest apprenticeship training providers, Wintec is extremely proud to support the outstanding mahi from within our region.”

Wintec’s Plumbing, Gasfitting, and Drainlaying team was recognised as a finalist in the Training Leader category at the awards evening.