Master Plumbers is celebrating its 125th year of operation, a milestone that chief executive Greg Wallace describes as representing far more than organisational longevity. For more than a century, the association has worked to shape the standards, legislation, and professional culture that underpin New Zealand’s plumbing, gasfitting, and drainlaying sector — work that Wallace says has “quietly kept communities functioning and, most importantly, healthy.”
The anniversary was marked with a special event at Government House, attended by more than 250 guests including Governor General Dame Cindy Kiro, Minister Penny Simmonds, and Wellington Mayor Andrew Little.
A Century of Legislative Impact
The organisation was formally established in 1901. One of its earliest and most significant achievements came in 1912, when its advocacy contributed to the passage of the Plumbers’ Registration Act, the legislative predecessor to today’s Plumbers, Gasfitters and Drainlayers Act. That legislation established the licensing and registration framework that continues to govern the sector.
The connection between skilled plumbing and public health is direct: safe drinking water, functional sanitation, and drainage systems that meet modern standards all depend on tradespeople who are properly trained and regulated. Master Plumbers has spent 125 years making the case for why that regulation matters.
Members Who Have Stood the Test of Time
The anniversary also highlights the depth of history within the association’s membership. FB Hall and Co Ltd in Hamilton has operated since 1923, with a portfolio that includes work on Waikato Hospital, Waikato University, The Base Shopping Centre, and the Tristram Precinct. Brockelsby’s Plumbing and Gasfitting Ltd in Lower Hutt has been a member since the 1940s, as has Mander and Co Ltd in Johnsonville, which has operated from the same site for over 70 years.
Current Priorities
The association’s current advocacy focus includes lead-free product legislation taking effect in May, and self-certification reform for plumbers and drainlayers expected later in 2026. Both reflect ongoing efforts to align New Zealand’s regulatory framework with international best practice and evolving public health standards.
Wallace expressed optimism about the pipeline of new entrants coming into the sector, describing the current cohort of apprentices as talented young people entering the trades with real ambition and capability. That optimism sits alongside acknowledgement of the pressures the sector faces: housing demand, ageing infrastructure requiring renewal, climate resilience requirements, and persistent workforce shortages that make recruitment and retention a continuing challenge.
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