Broader Outcomes

We believe good construction is about more than just building. It’s about the way we show up - for our people, our communities, and the environment. With this in mind, we continually educate ourselves on the best practices for operating our business in a socially, economically, sustainably and culturally responsible way.

Economic Impact

We are committed to looking after and investing in our people

We back our people to grow. Whether that’s apprenticeships, training, or upskilling on site, we invest in building skills that last. Where we can, we also spend locally - supporting the communities we work in and keeping the benefits close to home.

Our ongoing training programmes below are an essential part of this.

Site Safe Gold Passport
First Aid
Manual Handing Workshop
Ramset & Hilti license
Accident/Incident Investigation & Prevention (US17601)
Safety Representative Training; Incident Investigation & Prevention
Supervisor Training; Site-Specific Safety Training
Level 4 Construction Site Supervisor Certificate
Level 5 Main Contract Supervision
Unit Standard 17459 Safe manual handling in the workplace
Unit Standard 23229 Use of a Safety Harness for personal fall prevention
Unit Standard 23966 Elevated Work Platform
Unit Standard 15757 Working at Height
MATES in Construction training

It is important to us to support local businesses on our projects, and wherever possible we ‘buy local’ while balancing factors such as H&S, Quality, and Value for Money.

Environmental Impact

We are committed to investing in the world we want to pass on to our tamariki

The construction industry is one of the largest waste-producing industries in New Zealand – and industry-related waste may represent up to 50% of all waste generated in the country. Holmes are committed to reducing our emissions and waste where possible.

We’re working hard to reduce our impact on the environment. That means cutting down waste, managing emissions, and being smart about how we source and dispose of materials. On every site, we aim to work with care - respecting the land and the communities we’re building in.

In our pursuit of being responsible for our environment, we not only adhere to industry standards but continuously push ourselves to exceed them. We actively seek materials and innovative design solutions that promote a positive impact on both our economy and the environment.

We continue to work towards creating the most sustainable version of the Holmes business.

Cultural Impact

Holmes acknowledges the importance of Te Reo Maori in the workplace.

In 2020, Ben Holmes (Ngāti Porou) took on the role of Holmes' Managing Director across both the Wellington and Wairarapa offices. He is currently studying te reo as part of exploring how te reo and tikanga Māori can be supported throughout our firm, especially in the delivery of projects.

We offer equal opportunities to all individuals interested in a career in construction, regardless of nationality, ethnicity, gender, or background. Approximately 10% of our staff have Māori heritage, with many others representing diverse backgrounds from around the globe.

We have recently engaged with local iwi (in the Wairarapa) and have reached out to connect with Wellington-based iwi as a means to strengthen our partnership and take positive steps to provide opportunities for our staff and subcontractors to develop a greater understanding of tikanga and how it connects with the work we do. We have further solidified this commitment through the development of a Commitment to Tikanga Māori as a company policy.

Holmes is committed to supporting the learning of te reo from a young age. To date, we have provided Te Reo 'Learn to Read' books to several primary schools across the Wellington region, as well as the Ronald McDonald House.

Although we are still new to this journey, we have begun to more clearly explore the way te reo and tikanga Māori are supported throughout our firm.

Social Impact

The region we know, love and are a part of

We want to be part of the places we work - not just show up and leave. That means supporting local causes, helping out where we can, and creating long-term jobs for local people. We know we’re only as strong as the communities around us.

Wellington Free Ambulance
MATES in Construction
Wellington Lions Rugby
Wellington Olympic Football
Greytown Rugby Club
Boulcott’s Farm Heritage Golf Club
Greytown Netball Club
Wairarapa College
Wairarapa Cricket Association
Life Flight
Coastguard NZ
The Cancer Society
Martinborough Golf Club
Circus Quirkus
Autism NZ
Aotea
Heartkids
Phoenix Football Academy
NZ Red Cross
Boulcott’s Farm Heritage Golf Club
Greytown Netball Club
Kuranui College
Carterton Golf Club
Hutt Valley High School
Karearea Falcon Trust

Among many others…

In addition to supporting our wider community we greatly value our team culture. We have a deep focus on developing and maintaining strong relationships with our staff, which are built around trust and respect. We continue to build these relationships through encouraging personal growth, and recognising staff progress and achievement. Adding to our team culture, our Social Club regularily brings our team together to connect outside of the office walls and project sites.

Health and Safety

Health & Safety informs Holmes Construction’s operational decisions and is firmly at the forefront of everything we do.

Providing a safe, positive environment for our employees and the people we interact with is something we prioritise both on-site and in our office.

Holmes operates a Quality Management System (QMS) for all major construction projects based on the ISO 9001 Quality and Procedures Manual. As a member of Site Safe and prequalified with Impac Prequal, we are confident in the robustness of our Health and Safety Management System, which has been developed by legislative requirements and supports best practices for H&S management. Policies, procedures and best practices guide us to ensure the health, Safety, and well-being of our workers and our clients.

In addition to our Health and Safety Management System, we create a site-specific Health, Safety, and Environmental (HSE) Plan for each new project. The HSE Plan encompasses everyone and everything that may be affected by our work, including the client and consultants, the on-site personnel, the general public, and the environment. The key principle is to work as a team to protect the health, Safety, and well-being of our people and our environment.

Manaaki whenua
Manaaki tangata
Haere whakamua

Care for the land
Care for the people
Go forward

Diversity and Inclusion

Our approach to diversity and inclusion is simple: everyone is welcome at Holmes Construction. When people are included, respected and supported, they work to the best of their abilities and succeed. At Holmes, we invest in cultivating a flexible and supportive work culture for all of our staff.

Our commitment to diversity and inclusion encompasses all aspects of race, gender, age, religion, identity, and experience. Over 10% of current Holmes staff hail from Maori or Pasifika heritage, while we are hugely supportive of women in construction and wholeheartedly support organisations such as NAWIC (National Association of Women in Construction).