A good business understands its levers. As we all know, the Government’s Road Transport Budget Spend remains largely curbed, bringing further stress to the industry, particularly for SMEs. Despite being in survival mode, many civil construction businesses are continuing to evolve in their resource management, Health & Safety efficiency and staff support, which is bearing fruit and will continue to as an upward trend in work promises to arrive in 2026.
Efficiency & Safety Gains
🔧 Mutu: Smarter Resource Use
- What it is:Centralised tracking of plants, equipment, and surplus materials
- App-based location tracking for reusable materials
- Live dashboards to monitor sustainability metrics, including emissions avoided and cost savings
- Benefits: Internal efficiency of resource management, while also providing sought-after metrics which strengthen tenders.
🛠️ Tōtika — Streamlined Health & Safety Pre-qualification
Benefits:
• Saves time & reduces duplication for suppliers
• Provides clients with real-time confirmation of safety credentials
• Improves trust and can give you an advantage in bidding processes
What It Is:
Tōtika is CHASNZ’s national Health & Safety pre-qualification scheme. It gives contractors, suppliers, and buyers a single standard that’s accepted across many clients, reducing the burden of multiple, duplicative safety audits.
How It Works:
• Contractors/suppliers register for free and upload evidence of assessments or certifications.
• Existing certifications like ISO 45001, member-scheme assessments, and other recognised audit results are cross-accepted.
• It consolidates what used to be many different pre-qualification requirements into one system.
Staff Support
- Clearhead Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
Various civil companies have registered for their employees to have access to a confidential, digital mental health & wellbeing service via Clearhead. Staff can access therapy, resilience tools, and mental wellbeing support at their own pace. - “Extraordinary Card” Benefit
A contractor also adopted a new debit-card style benefit that helps cover costs for GP visits, pharmacy items, chiropractic care, etc. Designed to remove financial barriers to essential health care.
Why It Matters: Investing in employees’ wellbeing helps boost morale, reduces stress, and supports retention. When people feel looked after, everything else flows more smoothly. Construction as an industry has some of the most challenging mental health statistics, so this transcends beyond work and it is great to see initiatives such as MATES NZ.
Value Add: Ask Your Clients
What are they offering their staff in relation to their health? EAP & “Extraordinary Card” is a win-win for employers and employees. Staff feel cared for and are able to be at their best, which maximises operating efficiency for employer.
Whether they are resource tracking — there is time, money and opportunity at stake!
Whether they are Tōtika registered, or ensure existing certifications are uploaded & recognised. Tier one contractors can quickly establish (or disestablish) your client based on their registration.