Competitors in action at last year’s national finals. Photo / Civil Contractors New Zealand
Competitors in action at last year’s national finals. Photo / Civil Contractors New Zealand
Tauranga’s Andy Morris is gearing up for a mechanical showdown like no other as he heads to Feilding to compete in the Civil Contractors New Zealand Cable Price National Excavator Operator Competition.
The event, held at Manfeild Park during Central Districts Field Days on March 20–21, will put the country’stop operators to the test in what has become one of New Zealand’s most unusual and captivating sporting spectacles.
Morris, an excavator operator and foreman for Bay Civil, earned his place in the national finals after clinching the Bay of Plenty regional title in June. It’s been a hard‑won achievement - his fourth attempt over more than a decade.
Asked how he hoped to fare on the national stage, the veteran competitor kept things characteristically understated.
Bay of Plenty champion Andy Morris with 1-year-old granddaughter, Ivar, at Fieldays after winning the Bay of Plenty regional event. Photo / Civil Contractors New Zealand
A test of precision and nerves
This year’s competition will see operators perform an extraordinary range of precision challenges, from slam‑dunking basketballs and pouring cups of tea to painting pictures - all using their excavators.
In past years, competitors have even faced off in a giant Connect Four‑style challenge, a spectacle tested by Prime Minister Christopher Luxon during the 2024 event.
But beyond the showmanship lies a serious test of industry‑critical skills. Competitors must complete health and safety quizzes, pre‑start machine checks, and the Connexis One‑day Job Challenge, which assesses planning, scoping and execution of a job from start to finish.
Northland’s Steven George, who claimed the national title in 2025, returns as the man to beat after securing his latest regional victory - his third consecutive Northland win. The self‑styled “King in the North” is chasing a rare consecutive national championship.
Competition with real‑world impact
Civil Contractors New Zealand chief executive Alan Pollard said this year’s competition carried added significance following the devastating floods and landslides that struck the upper North Island in January.
He said skilled excavator operators were among the first on the ground clearing debris, reopening roads and supporting isolated communities - work that is both vital and often overlooked.
“Their work in the aftermath of those events was nothing short of heroic,” Pollard said. “It’s a side of their profession that often goes unrecognised.”
An EPIC Careers Hub will run alongside the competition course, giving the public a chance to learn more about careers in civil construction at a time when demand is expected to surge.
With major projects such as the Government’s Roads of National Significance and significant water infrastructure upgrades on the horizon, more operators will be needed around the country.
Inspiring the next generation
Crowd favourite Doug the Digger returns for his 20th anniversary at the national finals, offering a “mini dig” experience for children keen to try their hand at the controls and mimic the skills on display.
