15 Sep 2025
Transpower is proud to announce the finalists for the 2025 STAR (Safety, Thanks and Recognition) Awards. These biennial awards celebrate the extraordinary efforts of individuals and teams across New Zealand’s electricity transmission sector who have demonstrated an outstanding commitment to health, safety, and wellbeing in the workplace.
This year, 18 finalists were selected from more than 50 nominations from across the sector, showcasing the dedication and innovation within our industry.
"We are thrilled to recognise these outstanding individuals and teams," said James Kilty, Transpower’s Chief Executive Officer.
“Acknowledging progress and innovation in health and safety practices is vital. It is important to celebrate our successes while knowing there is still more to do as an industry to keep people safe at work and ensure that people get home safe at the end of their working day. I am deeply committed to raising the bar for safety excellence at Transpower and working with the wider sector to lift the performance in our industry.
“In an industry that is ‘always on’, where the work is complex and risks must be well managed, a strong safety culture protects people and drives the quality outcomes that enable us to deliver the safe and reliable energy that supports our economy.
“For me, a steadfast commitment to best-practice health and safety is not just a value, it’s the foundation of everything we do.
“Recognising those who go above and beyond reinforces the importance of looking out for one another, speaking up, and continuously improving how we work. The STAR Awards are a powerful reminder that safety is an individual and shared responsibility and that leadership in this space can come from anyone, at any level.”
Category winners will be announced on Thursday 27 November at an awards ceremony in Auckland, as will the Supreme Award winner.
The categories and finalists are –
Frontline Leadership: Recognising exemplary leaders committed to health, safety, and wellbeing.
- Naki Tuapuluto – Ventia Ltd
- Wade Fallon – Ventia Ltd
- Victor Howell – Programmed FM
Future of Safety: Celebrating trainees or apprentices who show outstanding commitment to workplace safety.
- Zack Jensen – Ventia Ltd
- Callum Fowden – Ventia Ltd
- Ruby Raymond – Omexom Ltd
Hauora | Wellbeing: Highlighting initiatives that enhance physical, mental, social, and spiritual wellbeing.
- Wellbeing Ecosystem – Electronet
- People networks: looking after our people’s wellbeing – Northpower Ltd
- Fostering Culture and Connection – Programmed FM
Safety Innovation / Safety by Design: Recognising innovations and designs that improve safety industry-wide.
- Shane Coleman for Blasting innovations with a shared and holistic approach – Dialog Fitzroy
- Charlton Carney for Live cable identification – Omexom Ltd
- Clayton Henry for Improving safety for step bolt removal – SRG Global Asset Services Ltd
Team Safety: Celebrating teams or organisations that have significantly improved safety culture and performance.
- Brownhill–Pakuranga cable jointing project: collaborative safety – Northpower Ltd
- ‘Team Up for Safety’ - Achieving 'Continuous Improvement' in HSEQ on complex projects – Hitachi Ltd
- Southern Lines Team – Ventia Ltd
Thought Leadership: Honouring individuals who provide valuable health, safety, or wellbeing insights and influence.
- Tim Drake – Ventia Ltd
- Andrew Middlemiss – Ventia Ltd
- Lee Aldwood – Cake Commercial Services Ltd
For more information, please contact: Transpower media phone 021 195 8613