Women are still underrepresented in the trades. 

Despite employing more than 300,000 people, women only make up around 16% of those working in the construction sector.  

Chair of construction firm Naylor Love, Jackie Lloyd is interested in seeing more women enter the industry and play a role in leading it as well.  

Auckland Plumbers Group’s Hera Eruera is one of only fifteen certified female plumbers in New Zealand, and told Kerre Woodham that the sector’s still a bit of an old boys’ club. 

When she first came across Auckland Plumbers Group, Director Andrew Durrans was one of the few people looking to take on a female apprentice. 

“All the other companies that I had gone to, they were just not wanting to have a bar of it,”  Eruera said . 

The stigma of plumbing being a “dirty job” may also be keeping women away from the trade, and while some elements can be, that’s not all they deal with. 

“It’s such a huge variety – you've got your hot water systems, you’ve got all your piping systems, guttering, spouting, roofing. We’ve also got gas fitting, draining.” 

“It's just a huge variety and it’s not always a dirty job like what most people would think it is, and it’s quite enjoyable as well."  

LISTEN ABOVE 

Women are still underrepresented in the trades.&nbsp;
Despite employing more than 300,000 people, women only make up around 16% of those working in the construction sector. &nbsp;
Chair of construction firm Naylor Love, Jackie Lloyd is interested in seeing more women enter the industry and play a role in leading it as well. &nbsp;
Auckland Plumbers Group’s Hera Eruera is one of only fifteen certified female plumbers in New Zealand, and told Kerre Woodham that the sector’s still a bit of an old boys’ club.&nbsp;
When she first came across Auckland Plumbers Group, Director Andrew Durrans was one of the few people looking to take on a female apprentice.&nbsp;
“All the other companies that I had gone to, they were just not wanting to have a bar of it,” &nbsp;Eruera said .&nbsp;
The stigma of plumbing being a “dirty job” may also be keeping women away from the trade, and while some elements can be, that’s not all they deal with.&nbsp;
“It’s such a huge variety – you've got your hot water systems, you’ve got all your piping systems, guttering, spouting, roofing. We’ve also got gas fitting, draining.”&nbsp;
“It's just a huge variety and it’s not always a dirty job like what most people would think it is, and it’s quite enjoyable as well." &nbsp;
LISTEN ABOVE&nbsp;

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Hera Eruera: Certified Plumber at Auckland Plumbers Group on the job and lack of women in trades

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/a29e4705-c57b-4515-935c-b40b01892863/transcript