Twenty-one-year-old carpentry student Zinnia Gurden was one of 19 apprentices from throughout the motu who took part in this year’s NZCB Apprentice Challenge national final in Hamilton last weekend.
As part of the competition, Zinnia, who’s currently studying for a NZ Certificate in Carpentry at Unitec, had to give a presentation on her building career to date and construct a saw stool that was judged and graded by the judging panel.
Last month, Zinnia had taken out the top honours at the West and North Auckland heats for the planter box she designed, built and donated to her old kindergarten, Glamorgan Kindergarten in Torbay.
“In her speech at the final, Zinnia spoke eloquently about her carpentry journey,” says senior carpentry lecturer Chris Stoddard, who together with fellow lecturers Angus Roberston and Lenisiloti Fifita travelled to Hamilton to support Zinnia.
“However, the photo of her at the kindergarten busily drilling holes with her plastic drill said it all.”
“Although she wasn’t placed in the medal selection of the national competition, the Level 4 Carpentry teaching team are immensely proud of what Zinnia has achieved as she nears the completion of her apprenticeship,” he says.
Zinnia first decided to try her hand at building as a Year 11 student at Auckland’s Long Bay College – her mother had previously worked for a construction company, and her daughter 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 preferred 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 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.”
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.
Zinnia is 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.
