2025 Health, Safety & Wellbeing Award Winners & Finalists

This award is open to a company of any size that demonstrate a new idea or initiative to drive improvements in health and safety systems or behaviours, address or manage a specific hazard or risk, create a design solution to address a problem, or to improve productivity.

• Beon Energy Solutions: Beon’s new Pile Extractor revolutionises solar farm construction by safely and efficiently removing piles. Unlike traditional methods, which are dangerous and inefficient, the Pile Extractor is operated by one person, applies controlled forces, and eliminates the need for heavy machinery. This innovation enhances worker safety, increases productivity, and promotes a safer work culture within the renewable energy sector.
• Fulton Hogan: The SH1 Brynderwyns Recovery Project faced challenges due to the terrain, environmental concerns, and a major slip. Despite these obstacles, the team innovated, employing remote-controlled machinery to safely clear unstable slopes. This approach ultimately ensured a safer and more efficient recovery effort.
• WINNER - The safety team at Traffic Safe NZ: Traffic Safe developed a robotic system to eliminate the dangerous manual placement of road cones. This system uses cameras, sensors, and a robotic arm mounted on a truck to automatically deploy and retrieve cones, significantly reducing worker risk.

This award is open to a company of any size and person in a leadership role where of any size where an initiative has been implemented that involves organisational leaders in driving health and safety performance through visible and active involvement in health and safety activities. This could include developing safety culture, making safety positive or demonstrating leadership.

• The DEI team, New Zealand Defence Force: Defence Estate and Infrastructure (DEI) manages health and safety for all contractors across the NZDF Estate, nationally. DEI developed the Construction Health Environment and Safety Specifications (CHESS) framework, outlining minimum H&S requirements for all construction and maintenance contractors, with a focus on high-risk work. This framework is successfully implemented and fully supported by NZDF leadership. DEI values and prioritises H&S in all construction and maintenance projects, striving to ensure everyone returns home safely each day.
• Yolanda Oosthuizen – Horizon Energy Group: As the Horizon Energy Group GM for HSEQ, Yolanda has led safety, wellness, quality, and sustainability. She champions their ESG agenda, fostering a Switched-ON safety culture. Her focus is on visionary leadership, aligning safety with organisational goals. Effective communication and measurable impact drive initiatives like the implementation of the ecoPortal Safety System. She also mentors’ future leaders, positioning Horizon as an industry leader in safety and sustainability.
• WINNER - Jamie Greentree - Kinetic Electrical Wellington: Jaime started an electrical business with minimal health and safety focus initially. However, post-COVID, Jaimie prioritised compliance, investing in staff training and achieving a NZ Certificate in Workplace Health and Safety Practice (Level 3). As the sole director, Jaimie led this change, influencing other franchisees. As a small business, he adapted to the economic climate by diversifying.

This award is for a team who has demonstrated an outstanding contribution to health and safety in construction. This award acknowledges the team who lights the spark in other people’s minds and inspires positive change and action in health and safety.

• Canterbury Aluminium Ltd: Chris and Nicky Averill acquired Canterbury Aluminium in 2022, prioritising staff health and safety. They believe a strong health and safety culture leads to happy staff and satisfied clients. The company's Health & Safety Committee fosters a collaborative environment where all employees are encouraged to prioritise safety in their work. This award nomination recognises the committee's efforts to improve health and safety outcomes for all staff.
• Mason Clinic Project – Southbase: Southbase Construction implemented numerous safety initiatives on the Mason Clinic project, fostering a strong safety culture. These measures included Wellbeing and Suicide Prevention, Health15 Program, Collaboration with Safety Brands and Organisations, Working at Height/Dropped Objects, Emergency Scenario Drills, and Health and Safety Recognition.
• WINNER - Tradestaff Group Ltd: Tradestaff's Safety Team has successfully fostered a safety-first culture within the construction sector. They've addressed challenges specific to on-hire labour, including short-term placements and diverse demographics. By focusing on candidates, clients, and consultants, they've implemented initiatives that promote safer onsite outcomes and drive cultural change in health and safety.

This award is for an individual that has demonstrated an outstanding contribution to health and safety in construction. This award acknowledges the individual that lights the spark in other people’s minds and inspires positive change and action in health and safety.

• WINNER - Glen Sturgess, Naylor Love: Glen is a dedicated Health & Safety Champion. He consistently goes above and beyond to ensure site safety. Glen excels in logistics, effectively communicating safe movement of vehicles and personnel. But one of the most notable aspects of Glen's work is his leadership during Toolbox Talks. His ability to engage workers on safety issues and communicate effectively with them is unparalleled. His passion for health and safety resonates strongly with the team, and his leadership has set a high standard across the site.
• Shelley Compston – Apprentice Training Trust: Shelley is a Health & Safety Co-ordinator and excels in improving workplace safety. She fosters a strong safety culture, inspires colleagues, and drives continuous improvement. Through effective collaboration and communication, she encourages best practices among hosts, staff, and apprentices. Shelley's leadership, innovation, and dedication to protecting workers are exemplary.
• Mark Nicholas – Accent Construction: Mark utilises weekly toolbox meetings to upskill his construction team beyond basic safety. He develops workshops and bulletins on diverse topics like site access, hot works, and mental wellbeing. These initiatives enhance worker awareness and knowledge, leading to a stronger safety culture within the company and among subcontractors. Workers are better equipped to identify and manage hazards onsite.

This award seeks to recognise a company, organisation, team or individual that has developed, implemented and championed outstanding approaches in supporting the mental health and wellbeing of construction workers, colleagues and friends.

• Workforce Central Dunedin: Dunedin Hospital Outpatients workers enjoy exceptional onsite care. Services include free haircuts, health screenings, physio, GP consultations, and mental health support. Recreational activities like cornhole and billiards are provided. The site promotes a positive work-life balance and worker well-being through initiatives like Maori Language Week and Suicide Awareness Day. Workers consistently praise the unique and supportive environment.
• Anita Teo-Tavita – Programmed: Anita leads the Programmed Mental Health First Aid training, both internally and in the community. She's a key figure in promoting worker wellbeing, taking a holistic approach. Anita not only facilitates training but also supports workers with initiatives outside of work hours, demonstrating her commitment to their overall wellbeing.
• WINNER - Tūpore: At Tūpore, prioritising mental wellbeing is core. They have created a supportive whanau culture, with initiatives like the "Raranga Oranga" role and the Big Buds programme. These efforts, combined with tikanga Māori practices and community partnerships, foster a thriving and connected workforce. This focus on mental health has significantly improved employee wellbeing and reduced the impact of high suicide rates in Hawke's Bay.

This award seeks to recognise an individual who has been in the industry less than five years but in this time has shown promise and initiative, contributed significantly, and demonstrated the ability to inspire positive health and safety change in construction - a future safety leader.

• Aimee Daw, Programmed: Aimee, initially a HSEQ Administrator at AIMs, quickly advanced to HSEQ Coordinator at Programmed, providing key HSEQ support. ​Despite her short tenure and lack of HSEQ background, her contributions have been significant, particularly in improving safety systems and processes. ​She is recognized for her dedication, resilience, and impactful safety leadership.
• Fern Harper – Naylor Love: Fern’s outstanding contributions to health & safety and her dedication, leadership, and commitment to safety excellence have inspired others. Fern's inclusive approach and proactive nature make her an exceptional Emerging Practitioner in the field of health and safety.
• WINNER - Fiona Brabant – Cook Brothers Construction: Fiona, or Fi, is a passionate Health & Safety leader at Cook Brothers Construction in Queenstown and Wanaka. Joining recently, she prioritises team wellbeing, viewing colleagues as people, not just workers. Her background in health drives innovation and motivation. From onsite care to wellness initiatives, Fi strives to ensure everyone returns home safely, despite the challenges.