Three women compete to be first female national excavator operator

Thursday 13 March 2025 · 3 outlets · 3 reports · updated Thu 13 Mar 2025, 5:00pm

Three women are competing to become the first female national excavator operator at this weekend's annual competition. Waipukurau's Tanya Claxton is among the competitors after winning the Hawke's Bay East Coast regional title. No woman has reached the finals in the event's 31-year history.

How they headlined it

5h

11:33am5pm

1. RNZThu 13 Mar 2025, 11:33am

   The women competing to be crowned first female top National Excavator Operator (opens in new tab)

2. Stuff via RNZThu 13 Mar 2025, 11:41am

   Three women competing to be crowned first female National Excavator Operator (opens in new tab)

3. NZ HeraldThu 13 Mar 2025, 5:00pm

   Waipukurau excavator operator among first women digging for national title (opens in new tab)