Site Safe marks 20 years of construction safety event
Tue, 29th Sep 2026 (Today)
Site Safe is marking 20 years of its Evening of Celebration in New Zealand. The annual gathering has grown from a graduate ceremony into what it describes as the construction industry's largest health and safety event.
The event began in 2006, when 76 graduates from 28 businesses completed the Certificate in Construction Site Safety programme. Since then, it has expanded to include graduates from the Health and Safety in Construction programme, recognition for scholarship recipients, and awards for individuals, teams and businesses.
A major shift came with the introduction of industry awards, which Site Safe described as a turning point for the event. Entries totalled 33 in 2014 and later rose to 87 in 2026, with submissions from 53 businesses across seven categories.
Attendance has also grown over time, prompting moves to larger venues on more than one occasion. More than 140 people attended in 2015, rising to more than 200 in 2018, more than 300 in 2023 and more than 350 in 2026.
Despite that growth, the event has retained its original purpose: recognising people working to improve health, safety and wellbeing across New Zealand's construction sector.
Graduate numbers from Site Safe's training programmes have also changed over the period. After the initial 76 graduates in 2006, the total rose to 130 in 2007, reached 240 in 2017 and stood at 262 nationwide in 2026.
Site Safe has also broadened the scholarship programmes linked to the event. It introduced Māori, Pasifika and Under 25 scholarships in 2011, followed later by Open, Women in Construction and Accessibility scholarships.
Awards categories
The awards now cover seven categories: Safety Innovation Award for Small to Medium Business, Safety Innovation Award for Large Business, Safety Leadership Award, Safety Contribution Award for a Team, Health and Safety Champion Award, Mental Health and Wellbeing Award, and Future Safety Leader Award.
Winners receive a trophy and a $1,000 gift card provided by each award's sponsor. The awards are intended to recognise people and organisations that have driven positive change in health and safety practices.
The Mental Health and Wellbeing Award was introduced in 2019, following Site Safe's mental health research. That year, the organisation also launched a new Health and Safety in Construction programme.
Industry role
Over two decades, the evening has developed from a programme completion ceremony into a broader industry recognition event. It now combines qualification milestones, scholarship recognition and awards for practical work in workplace safety.
According to Site Safe, the event has featured a range of masters of ceremonies and guest speakers over the years. These guests have helped shape the tone of the evening around practical issues and the people working in the sector.
Describing the event's purpose, Site Safe said: "This event is about shining a light on the individuals, teams and businesses who make working in the construction sector safer, so every Kiwi worker gets home healthy and safe."
It added: "Safety is serious business, but it's also worth celebrating the progress we're making together."