Recognising High Achievers
We are very proud to announce that Mastercraft Kitchens locations were recognised at the glitzy 2023 Master Joiners Awards night. Mastercraft Kitchens Palmerston North (Kitchens by Healey) and Mastercraft Kitchens Kapiti (Kapiti Kitchens) took home excellence awards, recognising their high-achievements in the kitchen joinery industry.
The New Zealand Joinery Manufacturers Federation celebrate professional excellence through its Annual Master Joiners Awards programme. The awards programme recognises commitment to standards and craftsmanship. This program is valued as part of the Master Joiner professional membership and realises a high level of participation each year.
Master Joiners encourage the pursuit of excellence through two award programmes, the Registered Master Joiners Awards and the Master Joiner Apprentice Awards. It is in the former category that Mastercraft Kitchens Manawatu and Kapiti received their recognition.
Kristine Holmes, General Manager, Mastercraft Kitchens by Healey and Kapiti Kitchens, accepted the Myles Sellers Memorial Award presented to the Palmerston North based family business in recognition of Outstanding Culture in their workplace. In Kristine's words, "we are super proud of the awards we won." Constantly working on retaining a family culture within the business Kristine (the daughter of Sue and Peter Healey who have owned the business for 20 years) leads the way in promoting work life balance, job security, birthday recognition, a family first culture, teamwork, high standards and a fun working environment.
Amber Downie, Designer/Sales Manager at Mastercraft Kitchens Kapiti collected the Best Regional Award - Wellington for a stunning kitchen she designed in Paekakariki. The stunning L-shaped kitchen with a geometrically matching L-shaped island brings together a perfect harmony of black cabinetry in part of the kitchen paired with a warm woodgrain in another, all tied together with black waterfall tops boasting gold-veined marbling. It is one of those kitchens that is equally perfect for family moment making or a welcoming hub for party night! Scroll down to see the full kitchen project below.
Amber is renowned for her stylish, stunning and functional designs, and this award is just the start of what we are certain will be many more to come.
Mastering the Craft of Functional Kitchen Design
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_bISF-PP-Rs
A beautiful kitchen is about much more than cabinetry, colours and benchtops. Behind every successful kitchen is careful planning, good design, experienced trades and an understanding of how the people who live in the home will actually use the space.
In this episode of the Trends Property Insight Series, Mastercraft National Operations Manager Dave Wilson joins Andrew Johnson to discuss what homeowners should consider before starting a new kitchen or renovation.
Drawing on the experience of Mastercraft designers and specialists across New Zealand, Dave explains why engaging a kitchen designer early can make such a difference. From understanding how your family uses the kitchen and planning practical working zones, through to coordinating plumbing, electrical and installation, many of the decisions that determine the success of a kitchen happen well before the cabinetry is installed.
The conversation also explores how kitchen design has evolved beyond the traditional “work triangle”, the growing role of sculleries and specialised zones, developments in benchtop materials, lighting and hardware, and why good design should always balance appearance with practicality.
One message comes through clearly: the earlier you start planning and bring the right expertise around the table, the better the outcome.
Watch the full conversation to hear Dave’s practical advice on planning a kitchen that doesn’t just look great, but genuinely works for the way you live.
Mastercraft Kitchens promotes move to zero crystalline silica
It has been widely reported that if workers inhale respirable crystalline silica (RCS) dust when fabricating engineered stone, they may develop silicosis, a chronic disease which can cause a scarring of the lungs and have a major effect on people’s lives. The Ministry of Health reports that accelerated silicosis may occur after a person has been exposed to large amounts of RCS dust. Traditionally, engineered stone has contained high concentration of crystalline silica.
Mastercraft Group General Manager, Kevin Belz says, “It is important to us that all engineered stone fabricators that supply Mastercraft Kitchens locations, meet the strict WorkSafe New Zealand standards with regards to working with respirable crystalline silica dust in the workplace. However, Mastercraft supports an accelerated move towards zero silica for the general safety and well-being of workers in the first instance, and for added environmental benefits when it comes to disposal of engineered stone products. “
On 1 July 2024, the Australian Government imposed a ban on the manufacture, supply, processing and installation of engineered stone benchtops, panels and slabs in that country. Although there is no such ban imposed in New Zealand yet, Mastercraft Kitchens wants to focus on accelerating the move towards zero crystalline silica once rigorous testing is complete. Mr Belz says, “All engineered stone suppliers to Mastercraft Kitchens have stated that zero crystalline silica products are ‘on their way,’ but there is still significant scientific testing to be done to ensure high-quality, durable products.”
Whilst it will take some time to phase out engineered stone products containing crystalline silica from the New Zealand market, and some darker colours might take longer, Belz is confident that WorkSafe New Zealand standards are keeping workers here safe.
“There will always be some benchtop products that contain some levels of crystalline silica, such as natural stone, but engineered stone is the major focus due to its affordability, and therefore far greater volumes being manufactured.”
Mastercraft Kitchens is New Zealand’s largest network of residential kitchen design and manufacture specialists, and with immediate effect, all Mastercraft locations will commence removal of high crystalline silica (greater than 40%) engineered stone samples from their premises.
“It is expected that only low silica [less than 40%] or zero crystalline silica engineered stone products will be promoted by Mastercraft Kitchens by the end of the year, with a move to zero only in 2025,” says Mr Belz. “Whilst we applaud the highly safe practices of the New Zealand based fabricators supplying Mastercraft Kitchens, it is important that we lead the charge to improve the safety and outcomes for anyone manufacturing engineered stone for the New Zealand market.”
Electrical Renovation Guide
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As exciting as renovating may be, it comes with a lot of information, planning and decision making. Getting these right will help ensure that your expectations are met. Begin with the end in mind. Your Mastercraft Electrician has the knowledge and experience to help you plan your electrical renovation. Time spent on planning your project will save you a lot of heartache later.
We’ve set up this guide to help you through the electrical planning process. We’ll take you through room by room and tell you what you need to consider to avoid getting yourself in a pickle or ending up in the dark.
Electrical Guide
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Fill in the form below to download the Electrical Solutions Guide courtesy of our mates at Schneider.
