2026 Fencing Industry Awards Winners Announced
Now in its fourth year, the 2026 Fencing Industry Awards, formed part of the proceedings of the FCANZ Conference, held in Nelson during August.
Awards were presented for Emerging Talent, Trainee of the Year, Level 4 Excellence, FCANZ Legends, Women of Influence and Industry Contribution.
Murray Graham, from White Fencing in Clevedon, won the Emerging Talent Award for under- 25-year-olds in the industry who have shown a commitment to fencing as a career and demonstrated growth and excellence in their workplace. One of three finalists, the judges said Murray was passionate about the industry, and knowledgeable about differing ground conditions and the fencing techniques required.
The Trainee of the Year award recognises a worker who was enrolled in an NZQA National Certificate in Fencing Level 3 course during 2023 and has demonstrated to the tutor that they have excellent knowledge and skills in fence line installation. Martin Tomars from Whangarei took out the honours, with the judges saying, “Martin actively participated well on course days, he listened well and followed instructions. His quality of workmanship has improved since the start of the course with an eye for detail and Health and Safety.”
The Level 4 Excellence Award was new for 2023, recognising the graduate of the NZQA National Certificate in Fencing Level 4 who consistently displayed excellence across their coursework. Canterbury fencer Scott Heasley of Heasley Fencing was the winner, submitting work that constantly improved as he advanced through the programme, demonstrating his willingness to learn and implement knowledge gained.
Sarah Foley-Smith was presented with the first Industry Contribution award for actively advocating for the students within her school who have shown an interest in and aptitude for the fencing trade.
This award was created to recognise and acknowledge individuals who go above and beyond to champion and support the fencing industry’s growth and development.
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The award for Women of Influence recognises the achievements of women who have proven their mettle in what is a traditionally male-dominated industry. Recipient Debbie White has been heavily involved in many areas of fencing for some time. She has been on the FCANZ Board multiple times and is a stalwart within the NZ Fencing Competitions organising team.
