Downer NZ

22/09/2024

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This is the official Downer New Zealand page.

15/08/2023

Downer's community was formed in 2021 to provide support, education and advocacy for our + team members across the country, as part of our ongoing commitment to creating a safe and inclusive workplace environment.

🏆 As a result of this initiative, we are so proud to be recognised at the 2023 New Zealand Rainbow Excellence Awards. The awards celebrate the achievements being made by organisations toward building a more inclusive Aotearoa for our via workplace leadership, innovation and best practice. And is a finalist in both the Emerging Award and Impact Award categories

🌈In addition, lead Jake Barker 🏳️‍🌈 is a finalist in the Chorus Ambassadorship Award category. This recognises the ambassadors who are leading the way and inspiring our organisations to do better every day.

🌈And NZ Country Lead, Craig West, is a finalist in the Newmarket Business Association's Executive Leadership Award. Craig is the community's sponsor, and has ensured their ambitions have support from our senior leaders.

Congratulations to Jake and Craig, and all the other exceptional finalists who we look forward to celebrating with at the awards in Auckland on 27 September!
www.nzrainbowawards.co.nz

09/08/2023

We have just kicked off our programme for another 12 months of community giving, and we're happy to share that one of our July recipients is Camp Quality NZ Christchurch. 🏕️

Camp Quality is a national volunteer charitable trust dedicated to running camps where fun, friendship and a can-do culture inspire children living with cancer to overcome the challenges cancer brings. 💛

In Christchurch each summer, 50 to 60 campers enjoy a week-long camp at Living Springs in Governors Bay. Set in the tranquil and beautiful environment of the Port Hills this is an amazing venue from which we base ourselves for the week of fun filled activities at the camp and around the region. 🌞

Our Spotless National Asset and Compliance Manager, Angela Yannakis, has been volunteering with Camp Quality in varying capacities over the past 18 years, and nominated them to . She says;

"They bring fun, hope and happiness to children living with cancer. Every January, approximately 45 kids from the region are taken on a week long summer camp where they have the opportunity to build connections with other children who have survived similar experiences. This means that, at camp, they are seen as just another kid instead of 'the one with cancer'. This donation of $2,500 from Downer will cover the costs for one child to attend the next camp."

Thank you to Angela for your nomination, and for all the time you contribute to the Camp Quality campers! 😎

Learn more about this incredible organisation > https://bit.ly/44Q8j6N

04/08/2023

have announced the winners from their recent , and we are proud to share that Downer NZ wahine received three awards! We attended the event at Te Pae Christchurch Convention Centre with seven exceptional finalists, who were all recognised for their positive contribution to their teams, to Downer, and to our wider industry.

🏆 Olivia Kieser was the night's Winner of the Student Excellence Award. Olivia is an Assistant Engineer in our Transport business, and a fourth-year student. This significant recognition so early in her career is an amazing feat and represents her dedication and the great potential she has in the industry.

🏆 Betty Mitrova received a Special Merit Award for Outstanding Site-based Leader. Betty is our National Traffic Management Manager, and her ability to guide and motivate her team while ensuring safety and efficiency had earned her this well-deserved honour.

🏆 Fran Edmunds received a Special Merit Award for Health, Safety, Wellbeing & Environment. Fran is a Senior Health Safety Environment Advisor at Hawkins, and her efforts have made a significant impact on the wellbeing of the team. This accolade reinforced the importance of promoting safety and wellbeing within the industry.

For judges comments and the full list of winners, visit: https://bit.ly/47jOiaw

National Association of Women in Construction (NZ)

30/07/2023

We're celebrating the 1st anniversary ! 🎉

And Downer NZ is proud to be continuing this wonderful community-giving programme for another year.

Through Downer Donate, we have given a total of $200,000 to 56 deserving causes, charities, and community groups across the country over the past year. Each one is nominated by a Downer team member who wants to make a positive difference in their own community or support a cause close to their heart.

The range of causes has been impressive! A community pantry, youth outreach, flood relief, environmental conservation groups, su***de prevention charities, bikes for kids, riding for the disabled, mental health support groups… and so many more.
We can't wait to see what awesome community efforts we're able to support next. Thank you to all our people who have made nominations. 💚

Read more > https://bit.ly/3KeLx0i

26/07/2023

Working on the roads during winter takes a fair bit of grit! Luckily, Otago has Dan Botica - one of our grit truck operators. 🚚

Dan talked to the team at EPIC about how he believes pitting himself against the elements is precisely what keeps the job interesting. 🌨️

He also talks about his most memorable days on the job, working his way up through the business, and gives advice for career seekers >

26/07/2023

Sasha Linton is a Site Works Manager on our Whangarei District Council maintenance team, and was recently awarded Northland CCNZ’s Award 2023. 🏆

Now with 16+ years’ experience in the industry, Sasha started with Downer NZ as an estimator’s assistant. She has kept moving forward and learning new skills, eventually moving into contract management. Sasha has taken every opportunity presented to her, and even some that weren’t!

She is hugely respected by her team, is valued by crews as she takes a hands-on approach to leadership, and she takes the time to support young people wanting to enter our industry. Sasha shows the ropes to high school students, and visits schools to discuss the opportunities available in our sector, like Cadetships and Gateway programmes.

She also isn’t the only member of her family working for Downer! She says; “I am so proud to be following in my Dad Kevin Linton's footsteps, and I’m truly grateful for all the support I have received and continue to receive.”

Colleague Buster Sandford says; “Sasha believes in the people she works with and goes the extra mile to ensure everyone is achieving their best. She makes a huge difference for our business.”

We love to see women in our industry focused on the future, achieving great things for our customers, and mentoring the next generation. Congratulations Sasha! 👏🏽

21/07/2023

🏆 We'd like to acknowledge and congratulate our seven impressive Downer NZ and Hawkins wāhine who are finalists in tonight's awards in Christchurch.

The National Association of Women in Construction (NZ) holds these awards annually to celebrate women in roles right across our industry, aiming to encourage women to pursue, establish and sustain successful careers in infrastructure and construction.

We're so proud to have such strong representation this year, with finalists from right across our business. They are:

🔹 Lara Georgis, Utilities Graduate: Rising Star – office based
🔸 Fran Edmunds, Hawkins Senior HSE Advisor: Health, Safety, Wellbeing and Environment award
🔹Vicki Lees, Hawkins Regional Commercial Manager: Outstanding Leader of the Year, office-based
🔸Betty Mitrova, National Traffic Management Lead: Outstanding Leader of the Year, site-based
🔹Mrydhinyi Krishnan, Transport Summer Intern: Student Excellence Award
🔸Olivia Kieser, Transport Summer Intern: Student Excellence Award
🔹Vicky Henderson, Laboratory Manager: Excellence in Construction Administration

Each of you have proven excellence in your chosen field, and Downer is lucky to have you as part of our team. Congratulations! 🏅

19/07/2023

We are proud to partner with Connexis Te Pūkenga to give women opportunities to start their careers in the Water industry, and to continue to diversify our workforce.

Kemble Slotemaker joined the Downer NZ team in a temp role assisting water restrictor servicing 2019, became a full time employee in 2020, and completed an apprenticeship in 2022. She is now thriving in her role as water treatment trainee within our Nelson team, where she gets to learn new skills in water maintenance and digital transformation.

Read more about how Kemble has progressed her career while becoming an invaluable member of our team > https://bit.ly/3DhLYms

18/07/2023

🌳 One of our latest recipients was nominated by our Tasman Alliance Manager Drew Hayes, who told us about Natureland Wildlife Trust, a not-for-profit conservation organization in Nelson. Since 2013, Natureland’s community-focused vision has been to connect people, places, and wildlife through interactive and engaging experiences.

🌱 Drew says; “Their Breed for Release programme is of particular importance to our region, and that’s what makes me excited about volunteering my time with them.” Through this programme they are currently breeding South Island kākā, yellow crowned kakariki, and pāteke for release in Abel Tasman National Park.

💚 Downer is proud to be able to donate $9,000 towards this important work, and toward renewing their enclosure facilities. Leah Foster, Manger of Natureland Wildlife Trust, says; “Thank you Downer - our breed for release programme would not be possible without donations like this!“

Learn more about Natureland > https://natureland.nz/
[Pictured: Drew Hayes, the Natureland team, plus meerkats and porcupine]