An Eastern Bay woman is among four women making their mark in the trade industry and who have been celebrated as the recipients of the Bunnings Trade Women in Apprenticeships Awards.

Mikyla Wardlaw-Ruru, a mother-of-two, is a carpenter in Whakatane and a dedicated community volunteer.

She has persevered in her trade to overcome barriers, such as her position in a male-dominated workplace, committed to developing her skills and taking up the opportunities the industry offers.

When she’s not on the job site, she is often helping as a committee member for the Waimana Sports & Cultural Club and supporting with various marae projects in her community.

Alongside Ms Wardlaw-Ruru, the 2025 awards celebrated Samantha Lee (electrician, Auckland), Sasha Devia (fabrication welder, Hamilton) and Lola Williams (carpenter, Napier)

Nominations were judged on the individual’s contribution to their trade and how they innovated, inspired and made a positive impact on the industry and those working in it.

Head of Bunnings Trade New Zealand Matt Heinrich said: “We are so proud of our tradeswomen making a mark in the industry and inspiring others to follow in their footsteps. The future of the industry looks bright with Samantha, Mikyla, Sasha and Lola leading the way, and we look forward to seeing their influence and abilities grow. It's our hope that the genuine support of this award will ignite a passion in more women to join the skilled trades.”

Ms Wardlaw-Ruru and her fellow winners have each received $5000 worth of Bunnings product and materials, a 12-month mentorship with a National Association for Women in Construction (NAWIC) team member and NAWIC membership amongst other tools to support their career.