Tōtika: Your Edge
Article
In today’s competitive contracting environment, especially across infrastructure, construction, utilities, and civil services, health and safety performance isn’t just a regulatory checkbox - it’s a business differentiator. That’s why Tōtika certification has emerged as a national game changer for New Zealand businesses.
What is Tōtika?
Tōtika is Aotearoa New Zealand’s national health and safety prequalification framework. It sets a consistent, transparent benchmark for safety systems and culture - making it easier for clients and principal contractors to assess the capabilities of potential suppliers.
In short: if your business wants to win contracts with major buyers like Downer, Vector, Electrix, GHD or government agencies, having Tōtika certification isn’t just helpful - it’s increasingly essential.
Why It Matters More Than Ever
Incidents like Pike River, Ports of Auckland, and Whakaari / White Island have placed health and safety culture under national scrutiny. Buyers want assurance that contractors aren’t just talking safety - but embedding it into their daily operations.
Tōtika helps deliver that confidence. It independently verifies your systems, governance, training, and risk management - helping buyers sleep better at night, and you stand out in tenders.
How Te Ara Hiranga Can Help
At Te Ara Hiranga, we don’t just help you tick the box - we help you build lasting capability. Our four-phase process ensures your business gets more than certification - it gains a high-performing safety culture:
Phase 1: Compliance Audit
We start with a full system review and site assessment, giving you a benchmark report and identifying critical gaps.
Phase 2: Action Plan & Implementation
We help develop or update the right policies, procedures, and tools - aligned to both legal obligations and the Tōtika framework.
Phase 3: Assurance
We stay with you for three months, supporting implementation and making sure new systems embed into daily operations.
Phase 4: Final Close-Out & Tōtika Certification
We complete your documentation, prepare your final self-assessment, and register your business with Tōtika-accredited schemes like Qualify365 or SiteWise.
A Case Study in Success
In 2022, we worked with Infrastructure Asset Management Systems Ltd (IAMSL) in Auckland. Through a full compliance audit, system overhaul, and assurance support, IAMSL achieved national Tōtika Level 2 certification - making them eligible for contracts up to $2.5 million.
The outcome? They’re now fully prequalified with Impac, SiteWise, Qualify365 and Safe365 - and have won work with some of New Zealand’s largest utility contractors.
The Commercial Edge
Businesses with Tōtika certification don’t just improve safety - they:
- Win more tenders
- Attract quality staff
- Lower insurance premiums
- Reduce downtime and delays
- Demonstrate leadership in their sector
Let’s Get You Certified
If you're serious about growth and compliance, we’re ready to help. Whether you’re starting from scratch or just need help bridging the last 20%, Te Ara Hiranga can pave the way to your certification - and beyond.
Contact Aaron Tait-Jones today at [email protected] to begin your journey.
