From film production to hairdressing, people from unexpected backgrounds are finding careers in trades and equipment hire.
With trade demand rising and skilled workers in short supply, more women are stepping into the trades – and the industry is stronger for it. New Zealand’s construction and trade sector is facing an ongoing challenge: a growing demand for skilled workers and a shrinking traditional talent pool. Yet one of the industry’s biggest opportunities sits in plain sight. Women currently make up just 3% of tradies across the whole construction sector in New Zealand, with the Building and Construction Industry Training Organisation stating that by 2040, the sector goal is to increase women in construction trades roles to 30%. While numbers are currently low, they’re gradually improving as more women explore careers across trades, construction and equipment hire.
For an industry that prides itself on solving practical problems, broadening participation isn’t just about representation – it’s about building a sustainable workforce. The encouraging news is that change is already happening on the ground.
Take Kelsey Holt, Assistant Branch Manager at Kennards Hire’s newly opened Whangārei Branch. Her pathway into the industry was far from conventional. Before joining Kennards Hire, Kelsey trained as a hairdresser and later worked in local government administration. Looking for a career with more variety and less time behind a desk, she joined the Westgate Branch as a Service Person Driver – her first hands-on, trade- adjacent role.
What drew her in was the diversity of the role, offering a mix of customer interaction, equipment handling and problem-solving rather than repetitive, desk-based work. Like many people entering construction-adjacent roles for the first time, Kelsey initially doubted whether she was suited to the industry. She admits she underestimated herself early on, unsure if she could succeed in a traditionally male-dominated environment. However, the combination of supportive colleagues and the opportunity to learn practical skills quickly changed that perception. With guidance from her team, she built confidence handling equipment and developed strong technical capability.
Today, she confidently handles equipment, works directly with customers and enjoys the variety of problem-solving that comes with the hire industry. Her progression into a leadership role reflects not only her technical growth, but also the trust placed in her by her team. She values creating an environment where others feel supported to learn, just as she was.
The skills she has developed have extended beyond the workplace too, from tackling plumbing jobs at home to taking on outdoor maintenance projects. She also values the flexibility and work–life balance the industry provides, along with the chance to keep learning every day. Kelsey believes the equipment hire industry can act as an accessible entry point into trades and construction, particularly for people who may find the sector intimidating from the outside. Her advice is simple: give it a go, seek out hands-on opportunities and don’t be afraid to step outside your comfort zone.
Another example is Jasmine ‘Jaz’ Davis, Maintenance Controller at Kennards Hire Westgate. Her background is equally unconventional. Before entering the hire industry seven years ago, Jaz worked in film and television and studied events management and lighting design. But mechanical curiosity runs in her family, and what began as an interest eventually turned into a career working closely with machinery and workshop operations. Growing up around her father, an automotive mechanic, she developed an early appreciation for how things work, which later translated into her role in hire.
Starting as a Service Person Driver, Jaz progressed into maintenance where she now works on a wide range of equipment and complex machinery. She thrives on the variety of the role, enjoying the opportunity to work on different types of machines rather than specialising in just one. One of her proudest achievements has been dismantling and rebuilding a six-inch woodchipper – a task that highlights just how technical and hands-on the work can be. Beyond the technical side, she also values the customer interaction her role provides, working with everyone from DIY to large commercial customers.
For Jaz, one of the biggest misconceptions about construction and hire is that the industry is unwelcoming to newcomers. “In reality,” she says, “people are genuinely happy to teach you if you’re willing to learn.” She credits the supportive, close-knit team at Westgate as a key reason she has stayed and grown with the business, describing the environment as one where knowledge is freely shared and people genuinely want to see each other succeed.
Stories like these highlight an important shift taking place across the sector. Trade careers are no longer defined by a single pathway. People are entering from diverse backgrounds, bringing different skills, perspectives and problem-solving approaches. With plenty of work coming through in housing and infrastructure, the industry is going to need more hands-on deck. That means opening the door wider than we have in the past.
Encouraging more women into the trades isn’t about quotas – it’s about making sure the industry has the people it needs to keep moving. And for those considering the sector, the message is simple: opportunities are growing, and with Kennards Hire you can take the step into a hands-on career that helps keep New Zealand building. At the end of the day, the job or project doesn’t care who’s holding the tools – it just needs someone who can get it done right.
