For Adam Gaskin, becoming a builder now seems a natural progression

Adam Gaskin grew up on the family farm outside the tiny East Wairarapa settlement of Tinui, and says working outside with his hands was a way of life that put him in good stead to become a carpenter. “I think growing up on a farm has helped with my building a huge amount – being involved in fencing and other practical skills involved with farm work.”

While Adam’s path to becoming a carpenter now seems a natural one, when he finished high school he was unsure what he wanted to do. “I did my Seventh Form year at Mackenzie College in Fairly in the South Island, where I did  a whole lot of outdoor pursuit activities like kayaking, rock climbing and mountain biking. I spent summer in the Wairarapa and then headed back down to work on the luges in Queenstown during the ski season.

“After six months in Queenstown I returned to the Wairarapa and for three months worked on my parents’ beach house with their builder. It gave me a good insight into what the building industry was like. I worked for this builder and decided I wanted to do an apprenticeship.”