Wellington fire protection technician Hyrine Cabral treats every property he works on as though it were his own - an approach that has earned him national recognition as New Zealand’s Fire Learner of the Year at the FPANZ FIRE NZ Awards dinner last month.

The Argus Fire Protection senior technician completed his apprenticeship in March, earning the New Zealand Certificate in Fire Detection and Alarm Systems (Level 4).

The award celebrates excellence in learning and development across New Zealand’s fire protection industry.

Hyrine received the award at a ceremony in Christchurch last month, with Raymond Pagsanjan of Chubb New Zealand and Harry Wells of Property Brokers Compliance named runners-up.

For Hyrine, 48, there is no standout project. Every job deserves his best.

“I’m doing my job as if it’s my own property,” he says. “If you are building your own house, how do you build it? Of course, good materials, good installation.”

He checks every finished job against the standard he would expect for himself.

“I’m not expecting someone to recognise whatever job I’m doing. I’m just doing my job because that is my job.”

That modest outlook also shaped his reaction to winning. Hyrine travelled to Christchurch without fully understanding the event’s significance, thinking it was connected to recognition he had already received within Argus. He certainly wasn’t expecting to be named the country’s best fire learner.

“I just wanted to finish this Competenz qualification without expecting something in return,” he says. “Give me the certificate, that’s it. I’m happy.

“If you’re giving me this award, it’s a bonus. Thank you.”

Originally from the Philippines, Hyrine worked in Saudi Arabia and Dubai before moving to Wellington in 2015. He now balances a demanding technical role with raising his son and daughter as a single dad.

He began his apprenticeship through Competenz in 2018, building on deep technical knowledge and extensive overseas experience with fire alarm systems in multi-storey buildings and complex projects. After pausing because of personal circumstances, he returned in 2024, determined to complete his New Zealand qualification.

Competenz’s training support and pastoral care helped him navigate that journey. Training Advisor Malcolm Pearce visited every three months to keep his learning on track, understanding when he needed to pause and encouraging him when he returned.

With support from Competenz and Argus, Hyrine completed around one module a month - compared with the two to three months he says apprentices typically take - and finished his remaining requirements in approximately nine months. He studied at home after work, drawing on detailed evidence from his projects.

Argus Wellington Manager Matt Clark says Hyrine’s knowledge and supporting evidence are exceptional.

“The examples, depth of knowledge and supporting evidence I have seen from him are the best I have come across.

“His quiet technical excellence, deep product knowledge, and the very high standard of his installation practices stand out.”

That care extends to thorough documentation that helps colleagues and customers understand each system.

“The job reports, planning, and information he provides to the office are second to none and make others’ lives much easier, as well as providing real value to our customers,” Matt says.

Argus says Hyrine’s work reduces rework and call-backs while strengthening customer confidence.

His work illustrates the care behind systems people may rarely notice until they need them. New Zealand’s Building Code sets requirements to protect people from fire, limit its spread and support firefighting and rescue. Building alterations and changes of use can also require fire safety upgrades.

Hyrine is equally committed to developing other technicians. Matt’s nomination describes how he independently organised a classroom session for colleagues and managers to share lessons from a complex Wellington alarm project.

“I want to help them grow,” Hyrine says. “You teach one person, and then you encourage them to share it. My colleagues know my expectation is that once they’ve learned something new, they have to share it with others.”

Argus is also a family connection: Hyrine’s brother Oliver works in installation, while he works in service. The two support each other across projects.

With his apprenticeship complete, Hyrine hopes eventually to move off the tools into training and supporting technicians. Happy at Argus, he is content to take that step when the right opportunity arises. For now, he is already passing on his knowledge and encouraging others to do the same.

The awards also recognise runners-up Raymond, of Chubb New Zealand in Christchurch, and Harry, of Property Brokers Compliance.

Property Brokers Compliance General Manager Dave Coenders says Harry has become a trusted problem-solver.

“Harry can always be trusted to get the job done correctly and has become our go-to guy for difficult problems, regardless of the system type, manufacturer or system age,” Dave says.

“He has a wider understanding of what is required and why, not just because the rules say so.”

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