Nelson Marlborough’s top excavator operator found

24 Nov 2025

Golden Bay’s Daniel Bruning earned the title of Nelson Marlborough’s top digger operator on Saturday after winning the Civil Contractors New Zealand CablePrice Nelson Marlborough Regional Excavator Operator Competition.

The event, held at Richmond Showgrounds as part of the Nelson A & P Show, saw 11 of the region's finest excavator operators demonstrate nerves of steel to tackle a unique set of challenges, including performing sport-themed tasks in their 13-tonne machines.

Bruning said he had been feeling confident of a strong finish after coming second in his debut competition outing last year.

“I felt pretty good, there were some new challenges but I wasn’t as nervous this time around.”

Among the new tests of skill were a crowd-pleasing task requiring operators to use their excavator buckets to ‘tee off' in a mini-golf challenge and dribble a football through cones before scoring a goal. Other precision tests included a ‘thread the needle' challenge requiring operators to insert a 100mm flexible pipe inside a 225mm concrete pipe, and a beer bottle opening task using their excavators.

Participants were also tested on practical skills and knowledge of health and safety protocols.
Bruning said the experience he had developed operating excavators for his business Diggs Ltd helped give him the edge, as well as keeping calm when the pressure ramped up.

“I’m doing house sites, water tank pads, road maintenance and vegetation work usually so there are a lot of skills that come in handy for the competition. I’m working slow, steady and close to buildings and around people so you have to do things gently.”

Bruning’s win qualifies him for the national finals at the Central Districts Field Days in March next year, where he will compete against 11 other regional winners for the title of New Zealand’s best excavator operator.

Matt Henderson from Taylors Contracting was the runner-up in Saturday’s closely fought contest, while Chris Coulston from Donaldson Civil rounded out the podium in third place.

CCNZ Nelson Marlborough Branch Chair Luke Donaldson congratulated Bruning on the victory, commenting that the calibre of competition had been exceptional.

“The expertise on display from our region’s operators helps showcase civil construction career options to people who may never have considered them. While it’s a competitive event, the comradery between participants and the smiles of those watching is what makes it great.”

A separate 'Fun Class’ competition ran alongside the main event, allowing company managers and industry supporters to test their excavator-operating skills without the pressure of the regional championship event.

A guided ‘mini dig’ also featured, giving children and young people the chance to get behind an excavator’s controls and raising funds for the Child Cancer Foundation via a gold coin donation.

The CCNZ CablePrice Nelson Marlborough Regional Excavator Operator Competition was proudly supported by sponsors including CablePrice, Hitachi, Attach2 Equipment, Connexis, Firstgas, Hirepool, Humes, Nelmac Kūmānu, Nelson Forktrucks and Construction Training & Assessments.