Health & Safety at Wairakei Estate

Wairakei Estate sketched image of poplar trees lining a pathway

Protecting Our People, Contractors, Visitors and the Environment

At Wairakei Estate, health, safety and environmental responsibility are fundamental to how we operate. We are committed to providing a safe and healthy workplace for our employees, tenants, contractors, visitors and service providers, while ensuring the long-term stewardship of our land and natural resources. Our Health & Safety Management System aligns with the Health and Safety at Work Act 2015 and
supports a culture where everyone shares responsibility for working safely.

Whether you’re undertaking work on the Estate, visiting a tenant operation, accessing forestry areas, or providing professional services, we require everyone to understand our expectations, hazards, emergency procedures and access requirements before entering the Estate.

Before you enter the Estate

To ensure the safety of all Estate users, access must be planned, authorised and coordinated.

If you are directly engaged by one of our tenants; Fiber Fresh, Pāmu or Dalgety Farming, they will provide you with an induction.

All contractors, consultants, service providers and visitors engaged by Wairakei Pastoral or need access to Wairakei Estate must:

  • Complete the Wairakei Estate induction.

  • Obtain approval before entering the Estate.

  • Sign in using the required visitor management system.

  • Follow all Estate and tenant-specific safety requirements.

  • Use approved access routes.

  • Report hazards, incidents and unsafe conditions.

  • Wear appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE).

  • Certain operational areas such as farms, forestry operations and infrastructure sites may have additional induction requirements.

Complete Contractor, Visitor or Service Provider Induction

Our Safety Commitment

Health and safety is not just compliance—it’s part of our culture and our responsibility to one another.

Wairakei Estate actively works to:

  • Identify and manage risks before incidents occur.

  • Provide safe systems of work.

  • Engage with contractors and tenants on shared risks.

  • Ensure workers receive appropriate training and supervision.

  • Continuously improve safety performance through reporting, review and learning.

  • Promote health, wellbeing and environmental responsibility across the Estate.

Key Risks on Wairakei Estate

As a large pastoral, forestry and infrastructure estate, several significant hazards exist that all visitors and
contractors must understand before commencing work.

Vehicle and Road Safety

Estate roads are shared by:

  • Logging trucks

  • Large off road logging trucks

  • Agricultural vehicles

  • Stock trucks

  • Contractors

  • General farm traffic

Drivers must:

  • Stay left as far as practicable.

  • Drive to the conditions.

  • Obey all signage and speed limits.

  • Use headlights.

  • Wear seatbelts.

  • Never enter closed forestry or operational areas without authorisation.

Forestry Operations

Avoid logging and active forestry operation areas where possible. If visiting an operational crew, you must also be inducted onto that specific worksite by the Site Manager or crew.

Farming Operations

Hazards may include:

  • Livestock movements

  • Electric fences

  • Farm vehicles and machinery

  • Tanker tracks and races

  • Tomos (sinkholes)

  • Biosecurity controls

Visitors must familiarise themselves with site-specific farm hazards before entry.

Fire Risk

Fire prevention is critical across the Estate.
Contractors and visitors must:

  • Report any smoke or fire immediately.

  • Keep machinery clean and maintained.

  • Follow any seasonal fire restrictions.

  • Ensure emergency plans are in place for high-risk work activities.

Emergency Preparedness

In an Emergency

  •  Ensure immediate safety.

  • Call 111.

  • Provide your location and details of the incident.

  • Contact Wairakei Estate as soon as practicable.

  • Follow instructions from emergency services and Estate personnel.

All personnel working on Wairakei Estate are expected to know:

  • Emergency contact procedures.

  • Emergency access points.

  • Reporting requirements.

  • Nearest first aid resources.

  • Evacuation processes relevant to their work area.

Contractor Expectations

All contractors must:

  • Maintain appropriate health and safety systems.

  • Ensure workers are competent and trained.

  • Manage their own work-related risks.

  • Carry suitable first aid equipment.

  • Maintain emergency procedures.

  • Report incidents, hazards and near misses.

  • Cooperate with Wairakei Estate and other PCBUs operating on site. 

Hunting and Firewood Permits

No hunting or firewood permits are issued for forestry on the estate

We believe successful health and safety outcomes are achieved through consultation, cooperation and communication between all parties on the Estate.

Contact us

Wairakei Estate

For access approvals, contractor enquiries or health and safety matters:

Wairakei Pastoral Limited
1150 Broadlands Road, RD1, Reporoa
07 378 5026
reception@wairakeiestate.co.nz

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