Building stronger communities alongside flood resilience

Creating stronger communities is a key part of our flood resilience programme in South Wairarapa and Ōtaki. Alongside delivering critical flood protection, we’re focused on achieving broader social outcomes through the way we design and deliver our work.

One way this is being realised is through our partnership with lead contractor Mills Albert, whose work on our projects is creating new opportunities for wāhine in construction.

Women currently make up around 14 percent of New Zealand’s construction workforce, with significantly fewer working in on-site trade roles. While this is gradually improving, barriers remain — including male-dominated workplaces and limited support for women entering and progressing in the industry.

As part of delivering our flood resilience programme, Mills Albert has taken a targeted approach to addressing this inequity within its own workforce and across the sector. With 18 wāhine among its 129 employees, the company has undertaken internal surveys and focus groups to better understand employee experiences and identify where change is needed.

Megan Younger, Mills Albert’s advisory lead for the project, says the initiative builds on a long-standing focus.
“We know women are under-represented in the industry, and for a long time we’ve been thinking about how we can help shift that,” she says.

“Our aim is to create an inclusive workplace where everyone can thrive, and where women feel supported to enter, stay and grow within the industry.”

Supported through funding from Greater Wellington and the government’s Regional Infrastructure Fund, Mills Albert is partnering with leadership and coaching experts Raise My Game to strengthen diversity and inclusion across its business. This includes benchmarking current practices, identifying practical improvements, and sharing insights with industry peers.

The first visible step is a series of Wāhine in Construction Connect events to be held in June 2026.

These sessions will bring women together — whether they are already working in trades, connected to the sector, or curious about construction careers. They provide a space to build confidence, share experiences and grow networks.

“This is about creating opportunities for women to see themselves in the industry,” says Megan. “It’s also about building connections and confidence, which we know are key to attracting and retaining more wāhine in construction.”

By embedding broader outcomes into our programme and working with partners like Mills Albert, our flood resilience work is helping to deliver more than infrastructure — supporting more inclusive employment pathways, stronger local economies, and resilient communities.