Tegan Williams is the 2021 New Zealand Tradeswoman of the Year. She is a painter and decorator and has been on the tools for the last 5 years. She shares why she loves the trades and gives some tips on earning while you learn. Check out her kōrero.

“Prep and perfection - that’s the name of the game.”

Meet Tegan, Tradeswoman of the Year 2021

Meet Tegan, Tradeswoman of the year

Proudly supported by Waihanga Ara Rau and Hanga-Aro-Rau

From welders to big rig drivers, to builders, to engineers, from brekkie to knock-off, each episode follows these trailblazing wāhine to see how they navigate their job and celebrate their aspirations for the future.

Massive shout out to the incredible team that helped bring this series to life. From our mana wāhine stakeholder group led by Turaukawa Bartlett from Manavation, Amanda Williams and Kelly Bennett from BCITO.

Through to our brilliant and hilarious writers room stars Janaye Henry, Stevie Greeks, Te Aorewa Rolleston, Sandra Tisam, Tina McNicholas and Sepelini Muaau.

Massive shout out to Waihanga Ara Rau and the Hanga-Aro-Rau Workforce Development councils for their vision and support.

These inspiring stories of wāhine, who have found their 'why' in construction and infrastructure, will encourage many more to seek a career pathway in the sector and start their vocational training journey.



- Philip Aldridge, Chief Executive Waihanga Ara Rau

The launch of this awesome web-series Wāhine on the Tools comes at a pivotal time. We know that the Covid-19 pandemic disproportionately affected the employment of women – especially our Māori and Pacific wāhine. This web-series proves that wāhine have a strong place in our sectors, with highly successful careers full of a diverse range of opportunities. We are proud to showcase the exciting careers and talented wāhine already in our industries to provide inspiring pathways for generations to come.”

Samantha McNaughton, Deputy Chief Executive Hanga-Aro-Rau

And last but not least to our all wāhine production crew at NUI Creative, Sonara Southcombe-Wallace, Leilani Fokelau , Lillian Panapa and all the crew behind the scenes.

As an organisation led and inspired by Indigenous wāhine, assembling a completely wāhine production crew was a no-brainer. In the NUI Production crew we are mama, sisters, aunties and daughters, each of whom have their own connection to the experiences shared in the series. So it’s been incredibly fulfilling empowering wahine in the trades sector as well as wahine in the production, which is at the heart of the mahi NUI is here to do

Wāhine on the Tools is presented by TradeCareers and is supported by Waihanga Ara Rau and Hanga-Aro-Rau Workforce Development Councils and is funded from the Tertiary Education Commission Covid 19 Fund.

In this two-part webinar, participants delve deeper into the actionable steps and techniques that can be implemented to foster a culture of bystander intervention. Originally recorded in support of the launch of 

Step Up, Step In: Active Bystander Intervention Guidelines.

Paving the way for a more diverse trade industry.

Brought to you by TradeCareers, BCITO Te Pūkenga and Waihanga Ara Rau Workforce Development Council, Building Belonging dives into the barriers keeping women and minorities from entering the trades. Join hosts Genevieve Black and Chris Donnelly as they speak to industry leaders and changemakers to find out how we can create a worksite and sector that is better for everyone.

Meet Tegan, Tradeswoman of the Year 2021

Tools and Resources