Pip Buunk, NZ's only female driller, in her own words...

My teachers and careers counsellors didn’t think drilling was a good choice for me, mainly because they had no idea what it was. They said it wasn’t a job for a young lady! I responded; “My mum helps dad’s drillers on the rigs when they need an extra hand, so looks to me like it’s for everyone!”

I had my parent’s support from day one - their only rule for picking a career was that it had to be sustainable. So, I ended year 12 with three modules towards a drilling course completed by correspondence.

I called up the owner of my local drilling company and he told me I could come in and give it a go. I started doing work experience in the weekends and school holidays; learning to weld, help on piling sites and drill water wells - I loved it! Being outdoors, the physical job and the hands-on learning.

This was a shock to my dean and career counsellor as for a while I had wanted to be a hairdresser.

The morning after my last exam, my mum took me to sign out of school. My teachers couldn’t believe it, and thought I was making a huge mistake, BUT.. I knew there were piles in Blenheim I needed to test the next day so I had no doubt where I wanted to be.

Early the next morning, I was in a truck with the drilling crew, driving up to Blenheim. The first of hundreds of trips all over the country chasing work adventures. The guys from this trip I now greet with “hey uncle!”. They became the crew that taught me the ropes, worked alongside me in knee deep mud when things got messy. They helped me learn what went wrong if I messed up, and how important it was to eat the meat from my dinner first, because if I didn’t they’d “help” me eat it!

Since then, I’ve had workmates from all walks of life and backgrounds. I’ve had some that would join me for a beer after a rough day. I’ve had some who would pray for me to find the way through whatever challenges I was facing at the time. Some have ended up as drilling family- one of the guys I worked with on piling rigs now works for my dad, and calls him Dad because, he’s my brother in everything but blood.
Others introduce me to their new girlfriends, as their sister.

On the other hand, there were others that didn’t make life quite so easy…

I’ve had some interesting experiences being one of few females on site, but as more and more women choose jobs in traditionally male careers, the crap we get becomes less and less. It’s becoming normal to bump into another woman tradie or engineer on site although in most of the companies I’ve worked for I’m the first woman to have been employed in a field position.

There were some moments where things got pretty intense and I just needed a break from drilling. Luckily, getting my truck licence was a must from the beginning so I could drive my own gear to site. It also turned out to be a handy backup for when I need that time out.

I left the company I was with early last year and called up a recruitment company so see if I could get some more experience truck driving- I ended up spending 3 months driving trucks to help clear the road after the earthquakes in Kaikoura. I was reunited with the first woman I’d worked on site with (she was a concrete truck driver back then). I was lucky enough to spend a few months learning the ways of an 8 wheeler from her and the guys at the trucking company.

One night, as I was pulling up to the truck stop, my phone rang. It was this noisy English bloke who was adamant I needed to run his new drilling division at Fulton Hogan. I honestly thought it was a joke! But over a year later and I’m in a higher position and with more opportunities than I ever imagined possible. All because I worked my ass off to just get the work done and do it well.

I love the second family I’ve built over the last 15 years, but my absolute favourite part of the job has to be the travel. From geotechnical drilling on the Puhoi to Warkworth road to environmental monitoring wells in Milford Sound. From gold exploration drilling in the old Martha Mine Waihi to geotech drilling in Christchurch.

I’ve been paid to go to more places than I can name, and I can tell you, I can’t think of many better jobs than getting paid to explore your own back yard. Everyone in an office wants the corner window- what if I told you that you could literally work in the ever-changing office that is in the bush, on beaches, next to beautiful lakes and up mountains, and in every city in the country?

Drilling isn’t the only trade that travels. On all the locations I worked at, there were other tradies who came in as part of the project; Carpenters, painters, steelfixers, electricians, mechanics, welder/fabricators, surveyors, digger and dozer operators, logging crews and more. All these people work together to get the project done. It’s cool to be able to look at a bridge, a building, or a factory and think, “I helped make that!”

Two years ago, just after the NZ drilling qualifications officially came out, I applied for and won a scholarship from the NZ Drillers Federation to complete my Level 4 certificate in drilling through MITO which I now have.

I am proud to be New Zealand’s first female driller but hopefully I won’t be the only one for long….

Meet Pip Buunk, our inaugural Keynote Award winner

The inaugural Keynote Award recipient, sponsored in 2018 by Mitre 10 Trade, was the inspiring Pip Buunk of Fulton Hogan.
Pip received the award for her groundbreaking role as New Zealand’s only registered female driller. She worked with Speechmarks public speaking coach Diana Thomson to refine her story and pump up her presenting skills.

Pip did an amazing job on the night sharing her inspiring story with the attendees and encouraging them to follow their hearts and pursue the career that's right for them, not what might traditionally have been expected of them.

Pip then joined the panel discussion that followed sharing the challenges and opportunities for women considering a trades career.

Pip loved being part of the event and has taken the coaching and experience she gained and run with it. She is now the Tradeswomen representative on the national Women in Trades Committee and has spoken on other panels about her experience as a tradeswomen.

If you would love to share your own story and beef up your public speaking skills then apply for our 2019 Keynote Award.

Read about Pip's inspiring journey in her own words here.

Tradeswomen "pro tips" about life on the tools

We asked our panel what their biggest misconceptions were before they started working in a trade and the advice they wish they had been given. Because you know the saying, "if one person says it at least another dozen are thinking it"...

What is the biggest misconception you had about working as a tradesperson before you started?

The biggest misconception I found personally in the start was thinking that I would never be as good as the boys. Alana Davies - JT Plumbing

The hours. That you can work long hours to finish a job. It's NOT a 9 to 5 job. Jackie Mason - Mason Plumbing

Working in a male dominant trade/workplace, I thought I’d be treated differently because of my gender but as soon as I started everyone didn’t treat me any less or more than the opposing gender. Toni Rhind - Pacific Steel

That tradies were not well off people and there wasn't a big demand for them. Jessica Moverley, Apprentice Carpenter

That everyone thinks that only men can do this job. Yeah, I get it. It is a male dominated industry but I have met and heard of so many females in the automotive industry that are doing really well. I am the only female in my workshop but I don't think that will be the case in the near future. At least I hope not. I may not be the BEST just yet, but watch me try get there. Elaine Pereira - Trucks & Trailers

Best piece of advice that you can share with aspiring tradies?

Be brave! Be Humble! Try new things out of your comfort zone! Learn to laugh things off and not to take things so personally and at the end of the day we have the power to accomplish anything we put our minds to! Alana Davies - JT Plumbing

Enjoy your work. If it is unsafe, or you feel unsafe SAY SOMETHING. Jackie Mason - Mason Plumbing

Be brave, Be ambitious and enjoy what you’re wanting to do. It’s a lot more clearer to build a successful path. Toni Rhind - Pacific Steel

No matter what your size, big or small, there is always a way of doing a job. Jessica Moverley, Apprentice Carpenter

ATTITUDE IS KEY! If you have the right attitude anything is possible. Employers want employees that are committed to the job they are doing no matter what it may be. Elaine Pereira - Trucks & Trailers

Find out more about our panel and their fantastic employers...

Meet our panelists & find out what inspired them to get into a trade

Women in Trades are proud to be convening a panel of tradeswomen for a careers talk with secondary school students at Auckland's largest girls school.

The panel will share their training and trades journeys and provide insight to the students about what a trades job entails and the opportunities and challenges they have faced.

Here is some background on these trailblazing women and the fantastic companies' making their dreams come true...

Alana Davies - Apprentice Drainlayer with JT Plumbing

What inspired you to pursue a trade? My Dad! He's has been my biggest inspiration for getting into the trades, he's always encouraged me to give things a go, plus operating a digger and being outdoors sounded perfect!

What do you love most about your work? I love being challenged, and with Drain-laying I'm challenged both mentally and physically everyday.

Who are JT Plumbing? JT specializes in environmentally safe and sound solutions in plumbing, drainage, solar and gas to people in the Bay of Plenty.
We have a passionate crew of awesome Plumbers and Drainlayers who love what they do and are firm believers in providing services with a smile! Our team not only works enthusiastically together, but are each highly capable Plumbers and Drainlayers in their own right.

Find out more about them at: https://www.facebook.com/jtplumbingnz/ https://www.jtplumbing.co.nz/

Jackie Mason - Master Plumber at Mason Plumbing

What inspired you to pursue a trade? My dad, he is also a plumber and he and mum always encouraged me to do what I enjoyed.

What do you love most about your work? Never knowing what you are doing next and weather you are indoors or outside.

Who are Mason Plumbing? Mason Plumbing do all sort of plumbing small or big. New or repairs.

Find out more about them at: www.masonplumbing.co.nz

Toni Rhind, Apprentice Mechanical Engineer - Pacific Steel

What inspired you to pursue a trade? I have always had an interest in how machinery mechanically work and operate. Growing up around my grandfather who loved fixing things gave me the ambition to pursue a career in Mechanical Engineering.

What do you love the most about your work? Being able to work alongside people who thrive to help me learn and achieve things. Being faced with new challenges every day and maintaining or fixing machinery and their components on a daily basis.

Who are Pacific Steel? Established in 1959, Pacific Steel NZ Limited is a heavy manufacturing business which manufacturers over 250,000 tons of steel reinforcing and wire products each year to the domestic market as well as various export markets. We operate a 24/5 operation based in South Auckland and consist of 170 employees distributed between our two manufacturing sites and support teams.

Find out more about them at: https://www.pacificsteel.co.nz/

Elaine Pereira, Apprentice Light Vehicle Technician - Trucks & Trailers

Image provided by MITO

What inspired you to pursue a trade? The realisation that I could do anything if I set my mind to it. I was at home one day and I was having problems with my car. Upset at the fact that i would have to pay someone else a lot of money to get it fix I wished I could just fix it myself. That's when it dawned on me, I can fix it myself... I just need to learn how!

I was very skeptical about my decision but the very next day I enrolled in a Pre-Trade course at Unitec. I was ready to take on any challenges that were ahead of me and I had the support of my family to do so, so nothing was going to stop me from succeeding.

What do you love the most about your work? I'm somewhat addicted to solving problems. Any problem, doesn't matter what it is, I'm all in. So what I love most about my job is the fact that nearly every day a vehicle comes in with a problem. My job is to figure out how to solve the problem and get our customers back on the road as soon as possible. I don't mind getting dirty and I love learning more about every new component of a vehicle. From the engine itself to the electical components, that stuff gets me excited.

Find out more about them at: https://www.trucksandtrailers.co.nz https://www.facebook.com/TrucksTrailersNZ/

Keep an eye out for our overview of the panel discussion. If you are interested in having a similar trades career talk at your school then please get in touch!

Want to hear more from our panelists? Find out about their biggest misconceptions about life on the tools & the advice they wish they had been given.

Read all about us in Construction News NZ!

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