The annual Young Apprentice awards were held in Auckland on Friday night, with the aim of encouraging more people to get involved in trades.
Current numbers aren't where they should be - and that's got those in charge worried.
In downtown Auckland, promising apprentices competed to be New Zealand's best by making playhouses, which will be donated to local schools.
"This is a really good career choice, a lot of these people that are here today, and others, will go onto run their own business," Master Builders chief executive David Kelly said.
Mr Kelly says the construction boom is now.
"It's a fantastic time right now to get into a trade - we've got a booming construction industry, it's never been better, so we want people to recognise that and hopefully make the choice."
Apprentice Jack Pardoe's halfway through the third year of his building apprenticeship, with the aim of being completely finished by next year.
He says the idea of a trade came to him somewhat unexpectedly.
"I was gonna go to uni and I started working with my Granddad to get funds - but I loved it so much so I stuck to it and asked for an apprenticeship," Mr Pardoe said.
And apprenticeships aren't just for those fresh out of high school.
Just ask former All Black Chris Jack, who took up a building apprenticeship at the age of 34, after his international rugby career had finished.
"It's a sense of achievement again. For a start it was a bit funny coming in as a 34-year-old and getting told what to do by 22-year-olds - but I got around that and thoroughly enjoyed it," Mr Jack said.
After six gruelling hours of sawing, nailing and sanding, the title of best apprentice went to Palmerston North carpenter Callum Bryson.
But there's far more work to do for the industry to raise its profile and inspire more future tradies.
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