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Plumber, gasfitter or drainlayer in Kenya? Why New Zealand needs about 1,450 of them

News · 2026-08-31 · 4 min read

New Zealand is short of people who fix pipes, gas lines and drains. Forecasters estimate that roughly 1,450 plumbing, gasfitting and drainlaying roles will need filling over the coming year alone. The reasons are an ageing workforce, a wave of departures to Australia and a construction sector that is starting to pick up again. For tradespeople in Nairobi, Mombasa or other Kenyan towns, it is worth understanding the whole picture before you decide whether it affects you.

The training pipeline is thin

The gap is not only about demand. Fewer than one in five plumbing businesses take on apprentices, and across construction as a whole the share falls as low as 10-15 percent. New apprentice numbers fell sharply again this year, on top of a steep drop the year before, because tighter margins during the recession made it hard for small firms to carry trainees through their unproductive early months.

Veterans describe an apprenticeship as a slow investment, often five years before a business sees a real return. That is why it is among the first things cut when work dries up and among the last to recover.

The people leaving

Those pay figures describe New Zealand-trained plumbers moving across the Tasman. They are not a promise of what a newly arrived overseas plumber will earn.

Who is missing from the trade

Women make up under one percent of the licensed plumbing, gasfitting and drainlaying workforce in New Zealand, even though female candidates say they struggle to get interviews. Training institutions face their own problems too, including inconsistent course availability, tutor shortages and ageing equipment. Industry voices see two fixes: widen who gets a start in the trade, and look outward to skilled migration.

Why employers are watching

For construction and trades employers in New Zealand the message is to explore skilled migration channels instead of competing only for a shrinking domestic pool. For qualified tradespeople abroad, particularly plumbers, gasfitters and drainlayers, it points to a market with sustained demand and an industry looking for experienced hands. Migration is moving from a side conversation to a central part of workforce planning, which makes it sensible to prepare early and carefully.

What this means for a Kenyan tradesperson

Demand is real, but a demand story is not a vacancy and it is not a licence. Plumbing, gasfitting and drainlaying underpin drinking water safety, sanitation and gas supply, which is why the work is licensed in New Zealand. A NITA trade test certificate or a KNEC qualification never automatically equals a New Zealand licence, skills assessment or registration. Do the following in order:

1. Find out what licensing or registration your exact trade requires in New Zealand.
2. Collect proof of experience, certificates and references, and if a police certificate is requested, the Certificate of Good Conduct from the DCI.
3. Speak to a licensed immigration adviser, or a lawfully exempt person, before you pay anyone.

Common mistakes for Kenyan tradespeople

Many applicants quote the Australian pay figure as if it applied to them, or assume a licence from home will be accepted unchanged. Another is sending a CV that lists a job title and nothing else. List the systems you have worked on, the standards you followed and your training. If you want help, you can draft a trade CV with Build AI CV and keep it up to date as you gather documents.

Frequently asked questions

How many plumbing roles need filling?

Roughly 1,450 plumbing, gasfitting and drainlaying roles over the coming year.

Why are so few apprentices being trained?

Fewer than one in five plumbing businesses take apprentices, and the return on training can take around five years.

Does the pay gap with Australia apply to migrants?

Not necessarily. It describes New Zealand-trained plumbers who relocate.

Is my Kenyan certificate enough?

Not automatically. Licensing or registration is a separate step.

Where can I read more?

Our posts on the tradie shortage and the trades and technician pathway go further, and the jobs page lists live roles.

Key takeaways

• About 1,450 plumbing, gasfitting and drainlaying roles need filling in the coming year.
• Fewer than one in five plumbing businesses take apprentices.
• The average certifying tradesperson is 49 and around 1,000 are past 65.
• Pay figures quoted relate to New Zealand-trained plumbers moving to Australia.
• Check licensing and get advice from a licensed immigration adviser first.

#plumbing #gasfitting #drainlaying #new zealand #trades