Daniel Padua

New Zealand Diploma in Construction (Quantity Surveying) graduate, Daniel Padua, says he’s “living the dream!”

While completing his quantity surveying qualification at Toi Ohomai Institute of Technology’s Tauranga campus, Daniel worked locally as a Junior Quantity Surveyor at Master Plumb and Gas. Now having graduated, he’s secured a new, more senior quantity surveying role in Auckland, and he can’t wait to get stuck in.

“I can’t wait to smash the Auckland market!” Daniel says. “The construction sector is amazing. It’s such a privilege to work with great players in the industry. Master Plumb and Gas is one of the best in Tauranga, and I’m excited about my next step at Fox Plumbing in Tāmaki Makaurau.”

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Daniel transferred to study at Toi Ohomai from another polytechnic, to better align his work and study schedules.

“Looking back, transferring to Toi Ohomai was the best decision I made! The quantity survey programme here is very practical, with great support from tutors and strong industry connections which really helped me grow in my field,” Daniel says. 

The New Zealand Diploma in Construction (Quantity Surveying) (Level 6) programme provides ākonga with comprehensive knowledge of construction principles and methods, construction law, dispute resolution, contract negotiation, cost planning, procurement, environmental sustainability, and construction economics. 

Daniel’s day-to-day routine during the course involved attending lectures, completing practical assignments, and working on project-based tasks. His tutors, all experienced industry professionals, used real-world examples and standard quantity surveying tools to support practical learning in the classroom. 

“Toi Ohomai introduced us to industry-used software, which was amazing and helped us a lot in understanding real quantity surveying work,” Daniel says.

“Every day at Toi Ohomai was really enjoyable because tutors taught in a way that was very easy to understand, making complex topics simple. I also got to connect and collaborate with experienced quantity surveyors in the industry, which gave me valuable real-world insight. Plus, the peaceful campus made it a great place to focus and study.”

Daniel says his interest in construction began at an early age, having spent time on-site growing up because his uncle owned a building company.

“I was always fascinated by tall buildings and how they were built. Now, quantity surveying lets me be part of that process,” he says.

At Fox Plumbing, Daniel’s responsibilities will include reviewing project plans, estimating materials and completing tenders, conducting site visits and attending project meetings, as well as coordinating with contractors and suppliers and preparing quality assurance documentation. 

Over the long term, Daniel’s goal is to gain further experience by working with a main contractor on large-scale projects across New Zealand, before hopefully one-day, owning his own quantity surveying business.

Toi Ohomai Academic Leader, Rachel Beaton, says the Toi Ohomai Construction, Architecture and Engineering Technology Faculty is incredibly proud of everything Daniel has achieved and can’t wait to see what he does next.

“Watching Daniel grow over the course of his studies was such a pleasure. As his confidence grew, he really came out of his shell and started to thrive - not just in the classroom, but in how he approached challenges and connected with others. He became a dedicated, curious learner who took every opportunity that came his way. Having a part-time role alongside his studies really helped him bring theory into practice, and you could see how much that real-world experience enriched his learning,” Rachel says.