Behind every roading, water and civil construction project are the skilled and determined people building New Zealand's future. 

Our new-look website celebrates these stories, featuring two inspiring professionals and an employer whose journey's showcase the invaluable power of Civil Trades certification and investing in people.

Rob Ruru – certified civil tradesperson

Site Supervisor Rob Ruru is a bitumen surfacing worker and leader who has built a strong career in road construction from the ground up.

The proud Ngāti Kahungunu man, born and raised in Wairoa, said he started with little more than a car license. But he has since achieved all his licenses from level 1 through to level 4, and became Civil Trades certified in bitumen pavement servicing, leading to his current role as a site supervisor in Wairoa.

"Civil trade certification means a lot to me. It means I'm recognised in this industry, my time and hard work has all been noticed, and it gives confidence to everyone – our teams, our customers, our clients. I’ve taken a lot of leadership skills away from this.”

Jahnaka McIntre – working towards Civil Trades certification

Jahnaka McIntre started in the industry with just a car licence, but she has since transformed her career through the training opportunities her employer QRS provided. She now works as Site Traffic Management Supervisor after QRS invested in her development through wheels, tracks and rollers training, enabling her to operate loaders, diggers and traffic management sign trucks.

“My long-term plans for education would be to achieve level 4 in civil infrastructure. And the golden star for me would be civil trade certification to prove to myself that I can do it.”

Jahnaka's ambitions extend beyond personal achievement – she sees Civil Trades certification as a way to demonstrate what's possible for women in an industry where the majority of the workforce is male.

Jeremy Harker – the employer

 
As CEO of a company with around 140 employees in Wairoa, Jeremy Harker knows the importance of investing in staff development, particularly in an isolated location where growing talent from within is essential. 

Civil Trades certification is the top level of qualification QRS invests in, and Jeremy says certified staff provide huge value on a range of different levels, from the development of the individual to supporting QRS as a mark of quality that proves to clients that civil tradespeople have the skills to get the job done.

“For us as a company, it's a really positive and well-known qualification that we use in our tender bids… it's gets good buy-in from the client.”

What else is on the site?

Our new website has been designed to make Civil Trades certification more accessible than ever. Visitors will find comprehensive information about our accreditation programme, along with a streamlined application process for workers ready to take the next step in their careers.

The site also features stories of certified professionals and employers who are embracing the programme and seeing tangible results, from improved tender success rates to enhanced team confidence and capability.

Whether you're a skilled worker seeking professional recognition, an employer looking to invest in your team's development, or someone exploring career opportunities in civil construction, the new Civil Trades website has you covered.