A project to install a runway safety system at Wellington Airport without disrupting a single flight and a complex wharf upgrade protecting the lower North Island’s refined fuel supply were among the winners at an awards night in the capital on Saturday.

Hundreds of infrastructure professionals flocked to Wellington’s Te Papa for a black-tie gala dinner at the Civil Contractors New Zealand Wellington Wairarapa Construction Awards, where outstanding projects and exceptional people in the industry were celebrated.

CCNZ Wellington Wairarapa Branch Chair David Philipson said the evening highlighted the impact of civil infrastructure projects on the capital and surrounding area.

“From complex transport works coordinated around critical underground services to impressive airport infrastructure upgrades, tonight's winning projects are a testament to the planning, innovation and collaboration skills of civil contractors.”

Downer’s installation of an ‘EMAS’ safety system including 3,000 specially engineered crushable concrete blocks to bring aircraft to a safe stop if they overshoot the runway at Wellington Airport won the award for projects valued more than $5 million. The project was completed during nightly runway closures between flights, and also delivered taxiway modifications, lighting, drainage and navigational aid upgrades.

“The biggest challenge was delivering the work within a live international airport. Construction was restricted to five-hour nightly runway closures, with every work area required to be completed … and handed back before flights resumed,” judges said.

Another of the night’s winners was the Riverlink Power Diversion Civils project, which received the award for projects valued between $1 million and $5 million. The project to improve the flood resilience of electrical infrastructure alongside the Hutt River near Lower Hutt saw infrastructure company G P Friel Ltd install 1.3 kilometres of ducting for power and communications cabling, including on a 180-metre section under Ewen Bridge.”

The judges noted that a “complex traffic management plan and extensive stakeholder engagement” were required. 

“G P Friel Ltd delivered a high-quality product achieving very positive feedback from key stakeholders.”

McCormack Group won the award for projects valued up to $1 million for its work on the Kauri Street Bus Improvements project, which involved construction of a new intersection to improve pedestrian safety and integrate with a new electric bus depot on Kauri Street, Miramar. 

Judges were impressed with McCormack Group’s delivery of the project, which required excavation alongside a high-voltage power-supply cable and the jet fuel pipeline running to Wellington Airport, while working around an active bus depot.

The Multi Civil Contractors John Carson Memorial Award for Health and Safety Excellence was secured by Brian Perry Civil for its delivery of the Seaview Wharf Energy Resilience Project to upgrade the wharf to meet modern seismic standards and accommodate larger vessels. A bespoke safety and planning tool prioritised pro-active risk management throughout the project to optimise safety in the high-risk environment, with the site remaining operational to allow the ongoing off-loading of refined fuels.

Pritchard Civil claimed the Hynds Pipe Systems Contractor Image Award for its exemplary professional standards, while BNZ was recognised with the Associate Member of the Year Award for its support of Wellington and Wairarapa civil contractors.

People making their mark on the Wellington and Wairarapa civil infrastructure industry were also celebrated. 

Marianne Archer from Goodman Contractors received the Outstanding Contribution Award, while her colleague Mike Jones, also from Goodman Contractors, won the Jim Juno Memorial Emerging Leader Award.

Philipson said the projects celebrated at this year’s awards ranged in value from $300,000 to just over $72 million.

“These awards highlight the ingenuity, dedication and teamwork of contractors that underpin the successful functioning of our capital – these projects will be enjoyed for decades to come.”The 2026 CCNZ Wellington Wairarapa Branch Annual Gala and Construction Awards was proudly supported by principal sponsor Hynds Pipe Systems, along with CCNZ Principal Business Partner Hirepool, Multi Civil Contractors, Geosynthetic Partners International Limited, Grant Thornton New Zealand, HJ Asmuss & Co, Winstone Aggregates, McConnell Dowell Constructors, Connexis, Halverson Civil, Tudor Distributors and Sulzberger CA.

This year’s winners

Construction Projects Valued Over $5 Million – sponsored by Winstone Aggregates

Winner: Downer for the Wellington International Airport EMAS Project.

Construction Projects Valued Between $1 Million and $5 Million – sponsored by H J Asmuss & Co

Winner: G P Friel Ltd for the Riverlink Power Diversion Civils (Dudley Street to Marsden Street) Project.

Construction Projects Valued Less Than $1 Million – sponsored by Grant Thornton New Zealand

Winner: McCormack Group for the Kauri Street Bus Improvements Project.

Hynds Pipe Systems Contractor Image Award

Winner: Pritchard Civil.

Jim Juno Memorial Emerging Leader Award – sponsored by McConnell Dowell

Winner: Mike Jones of Goodman Contractors.

Outstanding Contribution Award – sponsored by Connexis

Winner: Marianne Archer from Goodman Contractors.

Multi Civil Contractors John Carson Memorial Award for Health and Safety Excellence

Winner: Brian Perry Civil for the Seaview Wharf Energy Resilience Project.

Associate Member of the Year Award

Winner: BNZ.