Exceptional people and groundbreaking infrastructure projects contributing to the health of Otago communities and its economy were celebrated on Friday night at the CCNZ Otago Branch Hynds Construction Awards 2025.
Hundreds of people from across the region’s civil construction industry descended on the Millennium Hotel in Queenstown for a black-tie dinner and awards evening honouring the people and civil construction projects that have made a positive difference for the region.
One of the most eye-catching projects recognised was a pioneering airfield safety system installed at Queenstown Airport. The first of its kind in Australasia, the new engineered materials arresting system (EMAS) is made of hundreds of energy-absorbent cellular cement blocks designed to crush under the weight of any aircraft that overshoots the runway, slowing it to a safe stop.
Downer’s work on the safety system won the award for projects with a value over $5m, and judges Gareth Stanger, Evan Matheson and Peter Sleeman commented that the team “overcame unique challenges… including the extreme risks of foreign debris and jet blast”.
Outstanding water infrastructure was a theme of the night, with four of the five project award categories going to companies that completed exemplary work on Otago’s water network.
Fulton Hogan Dunedin won the Supreme Award, as well as the award for projects with a value of up to $500,000, for its emergency watermain repairs in the Dunedin suburb of Saint Leonards. The water main feeding the reservoir supplying the area was damaged by a slip in October 2024, and the judges commented that the company’s work repairing it promptly, in trying conditions, prevented a potentially serious water outage for residents of the suburb and surrounding area.
Fulton Hogan’s upgrade of the Vauxhall Wastewater Pump Station in Dunedin was also recognised, picking up the award for projects with a value of between $500,000 and $1m.
Judges commented that the upgrade was “a very well thought out project with innovative by-passes and management of network shutdowns”, helping to keep disruption to a minimum.
McConnell Dowell won the award for projects with a value of between $1m and $5m for its part in the Waikouaiti Water Treatment Plant Upgrade – a technically challenging project undertaken in the East Otago settlement of Waikouaiti.
Pro Civil took home the Subcontractor of the Year Award for the Wingatui Watermain Renewal, with judges applauding the work – which involved many deep excavations beside live services – as a great example of innovation and risk management.
Exceptional individuals that make civil construction projects possible were also celebrated.
Rutter Civil owner George Rutter won the Young Contractor of the Year award for his calm demeanour, infrastructure knowledge and ability to build a highly successful team built on valuing staff, celebrating success and focussing on positive outcomes.
People category judges Rebecca Fox and Andrew Dalrymple commented on Rutter’s ability to come up with solutions, build relationships, and be accountable when things didn’t go to plan.
The Women in Contracting award was won by Georgia Campbell from Whitestone Contracting. Fox and Dalrymple noted her passion for the industry, leadership ability, and willingness to listen, learn and take on new ideas among the many reasons she was chosen as this year’s winner.
Otago’s excavator operator Josh Keane was also celebrated, receiving the Regional Excavator Operator Competition Award for winning the Otago round of the Civil Contractors New Zealand Regional Excavator Operator Competition in January. He went on to represent Otago at the nationals in Fielding in March, taking home the Connexis-sponsored ‘One-Day Job Challenge’.
Civil Contractors New Zealand Otago Branch Chair Chris Hasler said the quality of entries in this year’s awards was high, illustrating the exceptional work being undertaken across the Otago region.
“Civil contractors work tirelessly, and often behind the scenes, to make an immense and hugely meaningful impact on Otago communities, so having the chance to put them front and centre at an awards ceremony celebrating the best of Otago and all their efforts is incredibly special.”
This CCNZ Otago Branch Hynds Construction Awards 2025 was sponsored by Hirepool, Hynds, CHNZ, Connexis, HEB Construction, Fulton Hogan, Downer, GPIL and McConnell Dowell.
This year’s winners
Category A: Projects with a value up to $500,000
Winner: Fulton Hogan Dunedin for the Saint Leonards Emergency Watermain Repair.
Category B: Projects with a value of between $500,000 and $1m
Winner: Fulton Hogan Dunedin for the Vauxhall Wastewater Pump Station Upgrade.
Category C: Projects with a value of between $1m and $5m
Winner: McConnell Dowell for the Waikouaiti Water Treatment Plant Intake Upgrade.
Category D: Projects with a value over $5m
Winner: Downer for the Queenstown Airport Engineered Materials Arresting System Project.
Category E: Subcontractor of the Year
Winner: Pro Civil for the Wingatui Watermain Renewal.
Supreme Award
Winner: Fulton Hogan Dunedin – St Leonards Emergency Watermain Repair.
Young Contractor of the Year
Winner: George Rutter, Rutter Civil.
Women in Contracting
Winner: Georgia Campbell, Whitestone Contracting.
Regional Excavator Operator Competition
Winner: Josh Keane, McEwan Haulage.