Electrician apprentice Kees Fels-Henderson works for two hours every fortnight testing and tagging donated electrical appliances to be rehomed. Photo / Michaela Gower
Electrician apprentice Kees Fels-Henderson works for two hours every fortnight testing and tagging donated electrical appliances to be rehomed. Photo / Michaela Gower
A Hawke’s Bay electrical apprentice is volunteering his newfound skills to ensure appliances donated to Re-Source are safe to be rehomed.
Kees Fels-Henderson, who started the apprenticeship in 2025 with Anvil Construction and is completing a NZ Certificate in Electrical Trade, tests and tags electrical appliances donated to Re-Source.
The centre is a local waste reduction organisation that rehomes household items to families in need.
From 2025 to 2026, 250 electrical items were rehomed.
Fels-Henderson works two hours every fortnight and checks items such as toasters, heaters and slow cookers, are safe.
“It feels good helping the community by reducing waste and providing safe, affordable equipment.”
Kees Fels-Henderson (left) with Julia Carmichael and Nadine Gaunt. Photo / Michaela Gower
Re-Source and Anvil Construction were connected via EarnLearn account manager Julia Carmichael, a long-time supporter of Re-Source.
“My involvement with apprentices through Re-Source allows them to gain hands-on experience and valuable evidence for their apprenticeship,” Carmichael said.
Re-Source founder and general manager Nadine Gaunt said Carmichael saw an opportunity that suited everyone involved.
“It provides hands-on experience for apprentices, while helping support our community and sustainability goals.”
Previously, all testing was carried out by a retired electrician who volunteered his time.
“We would have quite a mountain waiting for him, because it’s essential that every electrical item is tested.
“This new arrangement with Kees working to test and tag items, under supervision, helps balance the workload and ensures we don’t overwhelm our wonderful volunteers.”
Re-Source is currently seeking funding so it can buy its own test and tag equipment, with the goal to open the initiative up to other apprentices.
“It’s proving to be an ideal arrangement for everyone. It’s meaningful for the apprentices and hugely helpful for us,” Gaunt said.
Anvil Construction owners Carla Kilmister and Damian Pitman also saw the benefits for their apprentices to gain further experience.
“The work with Re-Source gives Kees a good understanding of plug-in electrical appliances and how they work. They look at what part is faulty and if it easily replaced.”
Pitman, who previously tested and tagged Hawke’s Bay Hospital equipment, said he knew the importance of the work.
“Tagging and testing really means performing electrical safety checks to make sure the items are safe to handle, and nobody is going to get electrocuted using them.”
Carmichael said she was working with other electrical apprentices to take part and grow the initiative.
Michaela Gower joined Hawke’s Bay Today in 2023 and is based out of the Hastings newsroom. She covers Dannevirke and Hawke’s Bay news and loves sharing stories about farming and rural communities.
