Original article published by Hamilton Girls High School, Te Puāwaitanga: Term 4 2025 Newsletter
All school newsletters can be viewed here:
https://www.hghs.school.nz/te-puawaitanga-community-newsletter/
Gateway: Waiboys Work Placement
Maria Pearce — Nov 14, 2025
This year Dayna took part in the Waikato Trades Academy Manufacturing & Technology programme.
During the plumbing component of the programme Dayna discovered that she may want to do this as a possible career! She then went on to complete a plumbing work experience placement at Waiboys Plumbing. Read more about Dayna’s experiences below. We wish Dayna all the very best for her future in plumbing. Ngaa mihi, the Careers Team!
"This year, I took part in a five-day Gateway plumbing work placement at Waiboys Plumbing. During this time, I gained a real understanding of the plumbing industry and got to experience many different aspects of the trade.
Day 1 and 2: Drain Laying
We took out a cracked drainpipe and replaced it with a new one. A lot went into this job - from cutting up the concrete and digging out the dirt with a digger to reach the pipe, to removing the old one and installing the new one, and finally refilling and preparing for new concrete. During this job, I got to drive the digger down to where the pipe was and also operate the whacker to compress the dirt on top of the new pipe. This made sure it didn’t move and helped reduce the chance of it breaking again. This was a really fun and interesting job, and I was so happy to be able to take part in it.
Day 3 and 4: On site at a new retirement village
We spent our days in the rain on the plant deck, putting together all the water cylinders for the new building. My tasks included cutting copper piping, crimping copper, hemping fittings, and cutting stainless steel rods. This job was very different from installing new pipes, but I enjoyed it just as much. While working here, I got to know a lot of the other staff and form bonds with them. Being able to help and assist them with their tasks was a really good feeling.
As well as doing all the copper piping, I got to experience the cleaner side of plumbing. I installed new toilets and shower drain covers. This was a fun job that I really enjoyed, and knowing that I could complete it successfully gave me a great sense of accomplishment and boosted my confidence. All my workmates were very impressed with my work, which was an amazing feeling and made me proud to know my work was appreciated.
Day 5: Maintenance day
We checked on completed jobs to make sure everything was working as it should, and we had a call-out to a home where I fixed a running toilet!
Overall, my placement with Waiboys Plumbing was an amazing experience, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. From this experience, I’ve become more confident in myself and know what I want for my career. For me, that’s plumbing. I’ve developed a love for the trade that I never thought I’d have, and I can’t wait to start my career in this industry!"
