John Rohloff has once again topped the podium as the Bay of Plenty’s finest excavator operator after winning the Civil Contractors New Zealand CablePrice Bay of Plenty Regional Excavator Operator Competition, held at Fieldays earlier this month.

The Paengaroa man’s comeback victory was celebrated at a prize-giving in Tauranga where the scores from the event were revealed. The win – his second in the regionals – confirms his place in the CCNZ CablePrice National Excavator Operator Competition grand final at Central Districts Fieldays in Feilding next March.

Rohloff said his form slipped slightly at last year’s regional competition when he placed third, but this year he managed his time better and got through the course challenges with ease.

“Last year I added up my time wrong and really had to rush through the course at the end.”

The competition saw operators push their excavators to the limits to tackle radical challenges of precision, including painting a sign, lifting an egg into a cup without cracking it and hoisting a log over and under a wire while avoiding contact – all using their machines.

Dubbed ‘Mr Consistency’ after winning the 2024 regional event and flying under the radar to scoop second place in the 2025 CCNZ CablePrice National Excavator Operator Competition, the Bay of Plenty champion can be considered a serious contender for the national finals.

He said his experience as a machine operator for Fulton Hogan and the company’s recent project work supporting an upgrade of the water treatment plant at OceanaGold’s Waihi mining operation had prepared him well for this year’s regional event.

“The skills involved when you are digging around services are the same as in the competition – you need a lot of fine control.”

Troy Webber from CB Civil turned in a strong performance to secure second place in the Bay of Plenty competition, while Paul Edwards from Bay Civil rounded out the podium in third. 

Rohloff will join winners from 11 other regional competitions across New Zealand at Central Districts Field Days next year for the national finals, in an excavator ‘Battle Royale’ to determine New Zealand's supreme excavator operator.

“It was a bit daunting at the nationals last time I went but I was telling myself if I got another go I’d give it a good crack,” he said. “It might be easier this time because I know what I’m in for, but I came runner-up last time so now there’s more expectation. I’ll try to go one better.”

The CCNZ CablePrice Bay of Plenty Regional Excavator Operator Competition was made possible by the support of national sponsors CablePrice, Hirepool, Attach2, Connexis, Firstgas, Humes, beforeUdig, Civil Trades, Doug the Digger and Contractor Magazine.

Regional sponsors included Connell Contractors, Winstone Aggregates, King Drilling, Brian Perry Civil, Fulton Hogan, Franklin Smith Trades, Waikato Post Ramming, AON Insurance, Success Group, HEB Construction and James Lux Developments.

CCNZ CablePrice Bay of Plenty Regional Excavator Operator Competition 2026 final placings:

• First place: John Rohloff, Fulton Hogan
• Second place: Troy Webber, CB Civil
• Third place: Paul Edwards, Bay Civil
• Team trophy: Fulton Hogan

Bay of Plenty excavator operator champion John Rohloff.

Fulton Hogan won the team event. Picture (L-R): Tim Wurburton, Blake Burrows, John Rohloff.