Temuka operator wins Canterbury Westland excavator title

Temuka drainlayer Steve McHaffie is Canterbury Westland’s top excavator operator for 2026, after winning the Civil Contractors New Zealand (CCNZ) CablePrice Canterbury Westland Excavator Operator Competition on Saturday.

The competition ran at Road Metals Quarry in Rolleston. Steve, who works for Thompson Engineering 2002, beat 15 of the region’s operators and earned a place at the CCNZ CablePrice National Excavator Operator Competition finals in Feilding next March.

He’d entered the regional event twice before without placing in the top three, and called this year’s result “third time lucky”.

“The first and second time it was for fun and this time I sort of put my best foot forward. I feel like everyone should just give it a go, you don’t know until the day really. Just enjoy it – it’s a good day out.”

Teapots, eggs and logs

The tests rewarded fine control of a heavy machine. Operators played a giant game of excavator golf and poured tea into a cup from a teapot attached to the bucket.

They also had to place an egg on top of a pile of sand without breaking it, and complete a log swing challenge, spinning 360 degrees while staying balanced on two logs.

Alongside those, judges assessed health and safety, a standard pre-start check and a truck-loading challenge.

Jarrod Cook of Henry Adams Contracting took second place, and his colleague Ethan Roberts came third.

A novice category for operators with less than five years in the industry was won by Casey Flett of Greg Donaldson Contracting. CCNZ says Casey impressed the judges with a near-perfect score in the truck-loading challenge. Kieran Davie of Roughan Holdings received a special mention for full marks in the health and safety quiz.

A mini-dig session gave children a hands-on try of excavator operating.

On to Feilding

Matt Austin, a member of the Canterbury Westland competition sub-committee, said the 24 entries across the experienced and novice categories showed the depth of operating skill in the region.

“We had a great turnout from West Coast operators, as well as operators from all around the Canterbury region, which was fantastic to see again this year,” he said. “I’ve no doubt Steve will do Canterbury Westland proud at the national finals.”

At the finals, Steve will compete against the winners of 11 other regional competitions for the title of New Zealand’s top excavator operator.

He’ll have help close to home. His workmate Sam Burleigh won the Canterbury Westland title in 2025 and went on to compete at the nationals, and Steve said he hoped to pick up some tips from him.

“I’m excited right now but definitely know I’m going to be nervous coming closer to the time.”