The first-ever Cat Global Operator Challenge event in New Zealand took place over the weekend at
Wheels at Wanaka, bringing together some of the country’s most skilled machinery operators. Among them was Greymouth’s Mark Morley from
MBD Contracting, who not only showcased his expertise but claimed the title of New Zealand Champion after an intense and closely contested final.
The competition kicked off on Friday with 23 operators tackling three demanding challenges using top-of-the-line Cat equipment: the 325 excavator, 962M wheel loader, and 255 compact track loader. Mark’s strong performance earned him a spot in the top six, securing his place in Saturday’s final. As the competition heated up on Saturday, Mark rose to the occasion. After a nail-biting finish, he was announced as the overall winner.
“It’s still all sinking in!” said Mark. “I was really stoked with myself and the performance I put forward on both days of the competition but didn’t really know it was going to be enough. I was surprised and shocked when they called out my name as the winner.”
Mark expressed gratitude to his employers, Darren and Ben, for nominating him to compete, and thanked Terra Cat for organizing the event. He also acknowledged the high calibre of his fellow competitors, commending them for making the challenge a truly rewarding experience.
Mark now has the opportunity to compete in the next stage of competition, set to take place in Japan this October.