The annual National Excavator Operator Competition will be held at Central Districts Field Days in Feilding from 20-21 March 2026
Prepare for excitement as New Zealand’s finest excavator operators battle it out to be crowned National Excavator Operator of the Year in the CCNZ CablePrice National Excavator Operator Competition!
The National Excavator Operator Competition will be held at Central Districts Field Days in Feilding 19-21 March 2026
Competition days are Friday 20 and Saturday 21 March.
Meet this year's regional champions
Each year, top excavator operators from across 12 regions of New Zealand compete for the right to compete at the CCNZ CablePrice National Excavator Operator Competition.
This year's champions so far are:
Bay of Plenty
Andy Morris, Bay Civil
Tauranga local Andy Morris was
named the Bay of Plenty’s top excavator operator following his victory at Fieldays in Mystery Creek, earning him a coveted spot in the CCNZ CablePrice
National Excavator Operator Competition grand final in Feilding.
The Bay Civil excavator
operator and foreman said this year’s event was the fourth regional
competition he had competed in, although it had been almost a decade
since his last appearance.
“It’s a changed a lot since the last time I was there, the amount of
tasks you have to do is a whole lot more and there’s 100% a lot more
time pressure.”
He put his success down to good time management, as well as the skills
he used every day, particularly the “meticulous drainage work” he was
often involved in.
Read Andy's story>>
Waikato
Zahnn Hedges, Connell Contractors
Hamilton man Zahnn Hedges was
announced as Waikato’s best excavator operator at a prize-giving in
Hamilton following his outstanding performance at Mystery Creek Fieldays.
The Connell Contractors
earthworks supervisor and foreman said he was “rapt” to have taken top
spot after finishing third in three of his past four attempts at the
regional competition.
“I honed in a bit more this year and tried really hard not to rush some
of the tasks I might have in the past – it’s all about being fine on the
levers.”
Hedges’ victory over the 21 other Waikato operators at the event was
determined after comprehensive scoring across the range of
precision-operating tasks and a health and safety test.
Read Zahnn's story>>
Thanks to our awesome sponsors
This year's event wouldn't be possible without our awesome sponsors, especially our Platinum and Naming Rights Sponsor CablePrice.
Other major competition sponsors include Attach2, BeforeUDig, Civil Trades, Connexis, Contractor Magazine, Doug the Digger, First Gas, Hirepool and Humes Pipeline Systems.