108 | Winning apprentice shows focus and skill Pascal Gisler won the Waikato/Coromandel regional heat of the 2026 competition after building a pātaka in just over seven hours. BUILDING Grant Family Homes T T Russell Fredric “The passion probably lies in the people more than any other individual part. If you take care of the people you deal with – staff, subcontractors and clients – then they’ll take care of the business in a sense.” CAMBRIDGE 07 823 0053 trade.cambridge@mitre10.co.nz Proudly Supporting: • Transport Engineering • Light Structural Engineering • General Engineering Proudly supporting Grant Family Homes 027 439 2767 www.cspengineering.co.nz cspengineering@outlook.com Pressure and precision brought out the best in a Grant Family Homes apprentice during a recent NZ Certified Builders Apprentice Challenge. Pascal Gisler won the Waikato/Coromandel regional heat of the 2026 competition after building a pātaka in just over seven hours, finishing with the top score and advancing to the national finals in Auckland. For Grant Family Homes director, Cameron Grant, the result reflected more than technical ability. “It was a representation of the skills and ability that he already has, which was really cool and a great testament to him and the work that he’s put in,” Cameron says. “I can certainly see those attributes that got him the win being used on-site each day.” The Cambridge-based residential building company was established by Cameron and wife Molly Grant after Cameron’s long-time employer retired following nearly a decade working together. Rather than inheriting an established structure, the couple largely started from scratch, gradually developing systems and building their own client base across Waikato. “There’s been a couple of jobs that came out of that previous goodwill and those relationships, but it was still a reasonably fresh start,” says Cameron. “We didn’t really take over systems or processes, so it’s been a bit of a cold start in a way.” Today, the business comprises a tight-knit team of three builders focused mainly on residential renovations, alongside some new builds and light commercial work. Cameron says relationships are at the centre of how the business operates, both on-site and internally. “The passion probably lies in the people more than any other individual part. If you take care of the people you deal with – staff, subcontractors and clients – then they’ll take care of the business in a sense.” That approach has resonated with Pascal, who joined the business at the start of the year after previously working for other building companies and spending time farming as a shepherd. The Apprentice Challenge required competitors to construct a pātaka – a community sharing cupboard – within eight hours, after studying plans and developing their own build strategy. Pascal approached the event with a clear plan and strong focus throughout the day. “He looked at the day and broke it up into portions so he knew what milestones he had to reach by certain times,” Cameron says. “He was very focused, and wasn’t distracted by what others around him were doing.” Pascal was also the first competitor to finish, leaving enough time to tidy and refine his project before judging concluded. While the competition environment brought extra pressure through public viewing and strict time limits, Cameron says many of the same qualities transfer directly into day-to-day building work. “It wasn’t necessarily about learning something new from the challenge. It was more a reflection of the skills and work ethic he already had.” An active member of New Zealand Certified Builders, Grant Family Homes provides both practical support and reassurance for its many clients. “There’s the backing of a bigger organisation, and people can trust that when they see that logo, we’re the real deal. It shows we have pride in our work and standards.” Despite ongoing uncertainty around pricing and confidence within the construction sector, Cameron says residential activity across Waikato is still gradually improving. For Grant Family Homes, however, the focus remains less on rapid expansion and more on building a sustainable business around trusted relationships, craftsmanship and the right people.
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