New Plumbers, Gasfitters and Drainlayers Board Chair and Deputy Chair appointed

The Plumbers, Gasfitters and Drainlayers Board (Board) has appointed a new Chair and Deputy Chair at its first meeting of 2025.

Martin de Gouw has been appointed as Board Chair, and Selwyn Hikuroa appointed as Deputy Chair. Ian Olan will replace Martin de Gouw as Chair of the Audit and Risk Committee.

Board Chief Executive Aleyna Hall congratulates Martin and Selwyn on their appointments, and acknowledges Board member Diana Kuhtz-Covich, who has stepped down as Board Chair.

“Congratulations to Martin and Selwyn on their appointments as Board Chair and Deputy Chair,” said Ms Hall.

“The Board is in excellent hands with Martin and Selwyn at the helm. Both are highly respected in their industry and have made significant contributions to developing the future workforce.”

Ms Hall also expressed gratitude to Diana Kuhtz-Covich for her leadership:

“I would like to sincerely thank Diana for her dedication and commitment as Board Chair over the past three years. Her leadership has been invaluable, and we appreciate her ongoing contributions to the Board.”

Martin de Gouw is a registered Certifying Plumber, Gasfitter and Drainlayer, IQP Backflow Prevention, and holds an Associated Trades Electrical Registration. He is the Managing Director of Clyne & Bennie (1988) Ltd since 1995, and director of Walton Plumbing since 2021. In 2024 Martin won the Graeme Victor Smith Award at the NZ Plumbing Awards for commitment to the industry, running a successful business and developing young and future plumbers. A member of the Institute of Directors, Martin was appointed to the Plumbers, Gasfitters and Drainlayers Board in September 2019 and is from Christchurch.

Selwyn Hikuroa is a registered Certifying Plumber, Gasfitter and Drainlayer. Selwyn has a 40 plus year career in teaching, training, and mentoring in New Zealand and Australia. In 2019 Selwyn was awarded the Teaching Instructors Excellence Award from Energy Safe Victoria, the states gas energy safety regulator. Selwyn is currently contracting to Wintec/Te Pūkenga and Waihanga Ara Rau in assessment, teaching and mentoring roles. Selwyn was appointed to the Plumbers, Gasfitters and Drainlayers Board in April 2023 and is from Hamilton.

Martin is looking forward to moving into the Board Chair role, after serving as Deputy Chair for the past two years. “Thank you to the Board for their support in me stepping up to Chair, I’m grateful for the opportunity to lead a fantastic group of members. It’s going to be a big year with self-certification for plumbing and drainlaying on the horizon, and how the Board will interpret it for practitioners so that the health and safety of New Zealanders isn’t compromised in the process.”