Health & Safety

Half of workers reported pain, illness, or disability in the 2025 MATES in Construction Industry Well-being Survey, more than double the national adult rate. Supported by ASB, MATES were recently joined by Minister for Mental Health Hon Matt Doocey to launch the results of the industry survey on World Suicide Prevention Day. The report reveals […]

As part of a broader package of health and safety reforms, the Government has announced a significant shift in the role and culture of WorkSafe New Zealand. Workplace Relations and Safety Minister Brooke van Velden says the changes are aimed at transforming WorkSafe from a heavily enforcement-focused regulator into one that engages early with businesses […]

Continuing its crackdown on road cones, the Government is soon to force local councils to adopt a risk-based approach to minimise spending on orange witch hats. “New Zealanders have become increasingly irritated by the too-frequently over-the-top use of road cones and costly temporary traffic management around roadworks,” Transport Minister Chris Bishop says. “This approach causes […]

Many New Zealand households face problems with condensation, drafts, and mould. But is a drier home necessarily a healthier home? A new study has shed light on how we understand indoor humidity and its link to ‘drier’ homes. It urges green building rating tools to clarify how humidity and dampness are measured and understood. Researchers […]

The New Zealand Trucking Association is calling for action after a roadworker was fatally struck by a 20-tonne unroadworthy truck. With the company boss of the Auckland business admitting to manslaughter, the association says the tragedy exposes wider systemic failures beyond the news media’s focus on the individual now facing justice. The Trucking Association holds […]

Since the devastating Christchurch earthquake in 2011 and the 2016 Kaikōura event, New Zealand’s approach to concrete building safety has changed dramatically. These disasters exposed weaknesses in many structures and inspired a wave of research, updated rules, and practical solutions designed to better protect lives and property. Evolving Building Codes and Assessment Standards New Zealand’s […]