Welcome back, Muss!
Wellington Hire Wire issue nine: Muss is back on deck, We are Tōtika accredited, and mental health beyond MHAW.
Hello from Ailsa & Beccy
After 18 months away working in the community, Muss has returned to the manufacturing desk and we know plenty of you will be glad to see his name popping up again. He’s a familiar face across Wellington’s trades scene, known for his energy, humour, and ability to get things done without the fuss. It’s great to have him back on board and reconnecting with clients and crews who know him best.
Tōtika is CHASNZ’s new national health and safety framework, setting one clear, consistent standard for contractors across Aotearoa and Key Skills is now officially Tōtika accredited. It’s a big step forward for us and for the industry.
For clients, it means simpler compliance and greater trust. For workers, it’s another layer of protection that ensures safety isn’t just a policy but a part of how we work.
And while Mental Health Awareness Week has just wrapped up, we think the message should last all year. Mental wellbeing is as important as boots and helmets, and we’ll keep making sure it stays part of the safety conversation.
In this issue:
Muss returns!
Tōtika accreditation – what it means for clients and crews
Mental health and safety – lessons from MHAW 2025
Vale, Pat Quin
Thanks for backing us – and for backing local.
Got something to add? A trend you’re seeing on site or in the office? We’d love to hear it. Send it through to wellingtonhirewire@substack.com.
Welcome back, Muss!
We’re thrilled to welcome back Lamasi “Muss” Sanele. Muss is a familiar face in Wellington trades, known for his energy, humour, and unflappable approach. After time working in the community and with the Laura Ferguson Trust, he’s back running our manufacturing desk. With his son now playing top-level rugby, he’s got plenty to talk about both on and off site.
Reach out to Muss on masi@keyskills.co.nz and 021350919 - he’d love to hear from you!
Key Skills achieves Tōtika Accreditation
Getting accredited under Tōtika isn’t a quick or easy process, and that’s the point. The framework, developed by CHASNZ (Construction Health and Safety New Zealand), is designed to lift standards right across the trades and construction sector. It takes time, evidence, and real commitment to earn.
That’s why we’re proud to share that Key Skills is now officially Tōtika accredited.
Tōtika creates one clear, consistent national benchmark for health and safety prequalification. Instead of every client having their own version of “what good looks like,” Tōtika brings everyone under the same standard, recognised by major organisations like Kāinga Ora, Downer, NZ Post, Waka Kotahi, and Fletchers.
For clients, this means simpler compliance and confidence that everyone on site is working to the same trusted benchmark. For our workers, it means the systems protecting them have been independently reviewed and meet national best practice.
Earning Tōtika accreditation reinforces what’s always mattered most to us - keeping people safe and making life easier for those who work with us. It’s another way of showing that when we say we care about safety, we back it up.
Because when safety’s straightforward and everyone’s on the same page, the whole site runs better.
Mental health awareness, not just a week for us!
Earlier this month, we joined the industry in celebrating Mental Health Awareness Week, with the theme Top Up Together. Every day, we shared activities and ideas built on the Five Ways to Wellbeing.
But here’s the thing - mental health isn’t just one week in October for us. It’s as important as hard hats and harnesses. Supporting workers means checking in, staying connected, and creating a culture where it’s normal to ask for help.
The highlight for us was getting to watch crews, clients, and friends of Key Skills get involved from walking meetings to random acts of kindness. It proved that topping up together works best when it’s done collectively.
Our commitment now is to keep that momentum going. Mental health is safety. It keeps people strong, teams together, and projects moving.
Read more about MHAW here
Vale, Pat Quin
We acknowledge the passing of Pat Quin, a long-standing figure in New Zealand’s recruitment industry. His contribution spanned more than three decades and shaped many businesses in our sector.
We extend our condolences to his family, friends, and colleagues.
Need extra hands on site? Get in touch - we’re here to help.