Interest in Civil Trades heating up

I’m pleased to be able to share some exciting news about the expansion of Civil Trades eligibility criteria to include some qualifications that didn’t previously qualify.

This change, approved by the Civil Trades board in April, opens the door to the industry’s gold standard certification for people who completed their qualifications before the contemporary NZQA framework was introduced (read all about it below).

It’s another step forward for Civil Trades, which has been gathering steam in recent months. In the first quarter of the year, the number of new certifications was double that of the same period in 2025, and the number of new applicants has been looking strong in the second quarter too.

We’ve still got work to do, but it’s fantastic to see more companies getting on board. Supporting team members to gain certification is a great way to recognise their skill and having more certified civil tradespeople on your team can also provide a helpful edge when bidding for new work.

Last, but not least, this month’s newsletter is a great time to acknowledge outgoing Civil Trades board member Graeme Couper, from Downer, who has made a fantastic contribution as the tier 1 company representative over the past few years. 

Graeme finished up in April, and David Hall from HEB Construction has been appointed to join the board in his place.

Enjoy this edition of the newsletter and all the best for the winter season.

Ngā mihi, Jeremy Dixon Chair, Civil Trades

The forward thinking companies embracing Civil Trades

Some people associate Civil Trades certification with big national players and trans-Tasman contractors, but a growing number of smaller and mid-sized companies are quietly building it into their workforce development – and reaping real rewards for doing so.

Civil Trades expands eligibility criteria

The range of prerequisite qualifications necessary to apply for Civil Trades certification has been broadened, giving experienced civil contractors who hold legacy qualifications the opportunity to gain the industry’s gold-standard mark of excellence.

The expansion adds a suite of National Certificates achieved under the NZQA’s previous framework to the list of eligible qualifications recognised under its current system.

Civil Trades proposed for Water Networks authorisation framework

Our Civil Trades Workforce Development Manager Rebecca Fox attended a Water NZ workshop on the proposed new water sector authorisation framework due to take full effect in 2031. This framework will identify relevant certifications that should be required to demonstrate a worker is appropriately competent and qualified to work on critical water infrastructure. It's early days, but we're pleased to say that Civil Trades has been put forward by CCNZ as a potential platform to support eligible qualifications and certifications for the future authorisations to work on water networks. We will keep you in updated as discussions progress.

CPD changes coming next year

From January 2027, the Civil Trades certification process will be updated with a requirement that applicants keep evidence they have completed 15 hours of continuing professional development (CPD) each year.

This will further cement the quality of Civil Trades and a wide range of CPD activities will be eligible, ranging from workshops and webinars through to training from suppliers, attendance at CCNZ branch meetings, or mentoring others in the industry. A list of eligible CPD can be viewed in our downloadable Civil Trades CPD workbook.

The forward-thinking companies embracing Civil Trades

We've crunched the numbers and the results are positive! In the year to March the number of companies with at least one civil trades certified team member increased by 55%, when compared to the previous year. Isaac Construction currently has the largest number of Civil Trades certified team members, followed by Fulton Hogan in second and Downer and HEB in third-equal position.

Photo of the quarter

Our photo of the quarter shows Utilities Infrastructure New Zealand team member Matt Moore on the job. Matt is one of the many expert infrastructure tradespeople across the country currently in the process of becoming civil trades certified – we can't wait to have him join the club!

Follow us on social media

Check out our LinkedIn, Facebook and Instagram and follow these accounts to stay up to date. It's a great place to hear the latest news, get reminders, and connect with others across the industry who hold or are interested in gaining Civil Trades certification.

One for the road: Winter works