Blog

Blaze Up or Get Lucky – Part 2

What to Wear (and Where to Get It) In Part 1, we shared two real near-miss incidents from public land — both avoided only because the hunters followed the firearms safety rules and identified their targets before pulling the trigger. But how many others are relying purely on luck? This time, we’re talking solutions. What […]

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Incident Management in Real Workplaces: Learn, Improve, Prevent

No one wants to fill out forms or tick boxes — but incident management isn’t about paperwork. It’s about learning from what goes wrong, supporting your team, and preventing it from happening again. If you’re running a small or medium business, you don’t need a complex system — but you do need a clear process […]

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Risk Management in Real Workplaces: Focus on What Matters Most

Risk management doesn’t need to be complicated — and it definitely shouldn’t be overwhelming. Whether you’re running a small café, a tourism business, or a busy trades team, the Health and Safety at Work Act 2015 (HSWA) expects you to identify and manage risks. But it doesn’t say you have to create piles of paperwork. […]

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Blaze Up or Get Lucky: Why Visibility Still Matters in the Bush

Hunting is one of New Zealand’s great outdoor traditions — but even experienced hunters can get it wrong if they don’t stop and identify what they’re really aiming at. With more people hunting on public land than ever, close calls may be becoming all too common. I had two of those close calls myself recently. […]

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Free Workplace Health & Safety System Check-Up

This winter, Lakes Safety Services is offering a free check-up of your health and safety system, designed specifically for small to medium-sized businesses in Taupō and Tūrangi. This is not a medical or wellness check — it’s a practical check of your current health and safety setup to help you see what’s working, what’s missing, […]

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First Aid in Small Businesses: What You’re Legally Required to Do — and Why You Might Want to Do More

First Aid in Small Businesses: What You’re Legally Required to Do — and Why You Might Want to Do More When it comes to workplace first aid, most Taupō businesses just want a simple, common-sense answer to two questions: 👉 What do I need to have? 👉 How do I keep people safe without going […]

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Health and Safety Representatives in NZ: What You Need to Know

Health and Safety Representatives in NZ: What You Need to Know Many New Zealand businesses know they need to involve workers in health and safety — but aren’t always sure how. That’s where Health and Safety Representatives (HSRs) can come in. HSRs are elected team members who help ensure workers have a voice in health […]

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Getting It Right: Choosing the Right Health and Safety Expertise for Your Business

Part 3: Hiring or Contracting? How to Choose the Right Health and Safety Person Whether you’re expanding your internal team or bringing in external support, choosing the right person to lead or advise on health and safety is critical. Poor hiring decisions can cost your organisation time, money, and — most importantly — put people […]

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Getting It Right: Choosing the Right Health and Safety Expertise for Your Business

Part 2: What is HASANZ? Using the Register to Find Trusted H&S Experts Good health and safety advice protects people, boosts productivity, and builds trust — but only if it comes from the right person. Whether hiring or contracting, it’s vital to understand the qualifications and standards that matter. This three-part series explains what to […]

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Getting It Right: Choosing the Right Health and Safety Expertise for Your Business

Part 1: What is NZISM? Understanding Accreditation and Finding the Right H&S Person Many businesses know they need health and safety support — but aren’t sure what kind, or who is actually qualified. It’s easy to assume all “health and safety people” offer the same value, but qualifications and accreditation make a big difference in […]

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Hear It from Our Clients

See the impact we've had on businesses and how we could do the same for you.

Derek provided excellent health & safety consultancy. His advice was practical, thorough, well-delivered, and easy to implement. He helped us identify risks we’d overlooked and suggested cost-effective solutions. Recommend for any business needing H&S guidance.

Murray Beadle
General Manager

BFA Business Advisors and Accountants – Taupo

Highly recommend this health and safety company! They provided top-notch service for our roofing business, ensuring everything was up to standard. Their team was professional, thorough, and easy to work with. We feel confident knowing our safety measures are in excellent hands. Great job.

Laurence
Director

 

Storm Tech Roofing – Hawkes Bay

“Derek has worked alongside our team to create a comprehensive and personalised Health & Safety system tailored to every part of our organisation. From the clinical team to our shops, volunteers to visitors — he’s helped ensure everyone is safer and more supported.

He took the time to truly listen to our concerns, guided us with expertise, and highlighted key areas where we could strengthen our systems. Thanks to his knowledge and care, we’re making some important improvements that will have a lasting impact”

Lake Taupo Hospice

“I got Derek in to update our H&S management system. He was honest and did a great job. Highly recommend.”

Mark Bowsher
Station Manager

Whareroa Station – Waikato

Derek was approachable, experienced, and readily available (at very short notice) for what was required for our H&S work site induction. Highly recommend should your company be in need of a person to tackle H&S matters.

Grace Solomon
Resident Manager

Two Trees Ngā Rākau e Rua – Taupō

Thank you, Derek, for your professional and objective advice. Your insights were incredibly helpful. We also really appreciated your enthusiasm in sharing your social networks and experiences, it was truly inspiring!

Eve Liu

Office Manager

Hauraki Civil Engineering – Rotorua

“Very knowledgeable and willing to put the effort in upfront to understand our situation. Tailored things to fit our business requirements without creating a pile of confusing admin for us”

Spenser Christiansen
Director 

That Dingo Guy – Manawatu

Connect with Lakes Safety Services – Practical Support, Real Results

Health and Safety Expertise That Works for Your Business

With over 25 years of real-world experience, Lakes Safety Services provides practical health and safety consultancy, coaching, and support across Taupō and the Central North Island. We specialise in solutions that fit your people, tasks, and risks — not just checklists. From technical systems and governance advice to contractor management and SafePlus assessments, we help you build safer workplaces with confidence.