Dunedin carpenter nails top building apprentice title

A Dunedin carpentry apprentice has been named the Registered Master Builders 2008 Apprentice of the Year.

Joe Dobson, 22, beat out nine other apprentices from around the country for the title.

Judge Paul Mitchell, from the Building and Construction Industry Training Organisation, said he was impressed by Mr Dobson's "get stuck in" approach and his belief that apprentices should take responsibility for their learning.

Second place went to Tauranga's Shane Swan, 25, and third to Blenheim's Roger Townley, 23.