Top excavator has dig at national title

Michael Smith

Champion excavator operator Michael Smith is preparing for a further bid to bring the National Excavator Operator title home to Northland. 

Hailing from Te Hana, the current Northland champion will represent the region at the famously tough contest which is organised by the New Zealand Contractors Federation and will be held at Central Districts Field Days from March 7-9. 

Michael, who works for Wharehine Contractors and enjoys dirt car racing in his spare time, last reached the final in 2011. He will face stiff competition from nine other regional champions.

The competition is famous for its surprise challenges including contestants having to perform delicate tasks using the buckets of 12-tonne Hitachi machines provided by major sponsor CablePrice – pouring a cup of tea or flipping sausages on a barbecue. 

However, the rest of the competition is deadly serious, with contestants undergoing two days of rigorous construction, planning and loading challenges designed to test their operator skills and industry knowledge to the limit.  

“It’s a very fulfilling career, where you can have real input into developing New Zealand’s vital infrastructure,” says NZ Contractors’ Federation executive officer Malcolm Abernethy. “Not only is the competition a very popular and hugely entertaining audience spectacle, it’s a way to highlight the career opportunities for young people.