Exceptional civil construction projects that have rebuilt and strengthened infrastructure for Hawke's Bay and East Coast communities were recognised on Friday at the 31st Civil Contractors New Zealand Hawke's Bay East Coast Branch Construction Awards, held at Toitoi Events centre.
More than 240 industry professionals gathered at the black-tie event to recognise outstanding infrastructure achievements and people across both regions, with many award-winning projects showcasing the civil industry’s critical role in the recovery from Cyclone Gabrielle.
Fulton Hogan won the Supreme Award for its Kererū Gorge Culvert project, an innovative emergency response that restored a vital transport link devastated by Cyclone Gabrielle.
Faced with remote terrain, logistical challenges and tight timelines, Fulton Hogan's team constructed a 15-metre-wide arch culvert, working around the clock over four months.
The project also won the award for projects valued over $10M, with judges Greg Lumsden and Richard Jardine impressed by the “technical excellence, teamwork, and community-focused infrastructure delivery under adversity”.
CCNZ Hawke's Bay East Coast Branch Chair Mike Wilson said the awards highlighted how the region's civil infrastructure specialists had worked together to overcome challenges and support their local communities.
“From emergency cyclone responses to long-term flood protection infrastructure, our industry’s contractors across Hawke's Bay and the East Coast have risen to the task, tackling major projects and working hard to keep their communities safe and connected.”
Cyclone recovery measures featured prominently across multiple categories, with Quality Roading and Services winning the award category for projects with a value between $1M to $3M for its work on the Mangapoike Redi Rock retaining wall project.
The team stabilised a cyclone-damaged 12-metre-high slope in rugged terrain on the remote Mangapoike Road, with its efforts keeping the vital route open for residents, farmers and forestry operations throughout the 10-month construction period. Judges said the project “exemplifies local skill, resilience, and community-driven problem-solving at its best”.
Earthwork Solutions secured the award for projects with a value between $3M to $10M for stages 1-3 of the Waipaoa Stopbanks Project, delivering critical flood protection that will safeguard the Gisborne region against 100-year flood events. The result is a “testament to resilience, technical excellence, and enduring community impact,” judges noted.
AMC Contracting won the projects with a value between $500,000 to $1M award category for renewing the paving at Hastings' iconic Civic Square and around the Ngā Pou o Heretaunga taonga, demonstrating how civil construction can contribute towards cultural connection.
Precision under pressure characterised Galbraith Earthmovers' winning entry in the projects valued at less than $500,000 category. Over the course of a single weekend rail line closure at Pakipaki, the team upgraded a stormwater line beneath the Palmerston North to Napier rail line, ensuring the major rail link could reopen on the Monday morning without delay.
The people awards recognised standout individuals making a mark in the industry through their impressive mahi. Doug Cushing from Fulton Hogan won the Outstanding Individual of the Year Award, while Pierce Ward from Tūpore Infrastructure claimed The Hunter Donghi Memorial Trainee of the Year Award after demonstrating clear leadership capability and a drive to learn and excel in his career.
Marcus Ingram from Galbraith Earthmovers was revealed as the winner of the Regional Excavator Operator Competition, after placing in the top three at the event in October. His victory earns him the prestige of representing Hawkes’s Bay East Coast at the national finals in March 2026.
Quality Roading & Services (Wairoa) won the Training Company of the Year, recognising its outstanding commitment to workforce development and creating pathways for its people to expand their careers.
“The projects and people we celebrated tonight demonstrate the resilience and capability of our people and the collaborative spirit that has been essential to the recovery effort across both regions. I take my hat off to all of them,” Wilson said.
On behalf of CCNZ Hawke’s Bay East Coast Branch, he thanked event sponsors; Aptella, Fulton Hogan, QRS, Ritchie Civil Ltd, Currie Construction, Osborne Road Markers, TW Civil and Infrastructure, Toitoi, AMC Contracting, Goodman Contractors, Brian Perry Civil, Humes, OneStaff, ACM, Tairāwhiti Contractors, Hirepool Ltd, Hi-Viz and Connexis for making the evening possible.
This year's winners
Projects valued less than $500K: Winner – Galbraith Earthmovers for the KiwiRail, Pakipaki Stormwater Improvements project
Projects valued between $500K and $1M: Winner – AMC Contracting for the Paving Renewal of Civic Square and Ngā Pou o Heretaunga project
Projects valued between $1M and $3M: Winner – Quality Roading and Services for the Mangapoike Redi Rock project
Projects valued between $1M and $3M: Highly commended – Currie Construction for the Wai Kahua Waka Bridge project
Projects valued between $3M and $10M: Winner – Earthworks Solutions for the Waipaoa Stopbanks project
Projects valued more than $10M: Winner – Fulton Hogan for the Kererū Gorge Culvert project
Supreme Award: Winner – Fulton Hogan for the Kererū Gorge Culvert project
Outstanding Individual of the Year Award: Winner – Doug Cushing, Fulton Hogan
The Hunter Donghi Memorial Trainee of the Year Award: Winner – Pierce Ward, Tūpore Infrastructure
CCNZ CablePrice Hawke’s Bay East Coast Excavator Operator Competition: Winner – Marcus Ingram from Galbraith Earthmovers
Training Company of the Year Award: Winner – Quality Roading and Services (Wairoa)