MVC 2025 Finalists Selection
Voting will close on 8th Decemeber 2025

Barry Wells is a champion in all senses of the word. He has encouragaed and given space for many of the staff in the south island to develop their health and safety training to a high standard. Many now holding level 3 and 4 NZ certificate in workplace health and safety. He has been on the front foot with one of our most risk prone activities - driving - and organised multiple advanced driver training courses (we all cover many miles throughout the year).He has also supported driver training initiatives across our contracting workforce by organising on- and off-road courses to keep our workers at the forefront of where they need to be.Recently, Barry decided it would be beneficial to more people capable of driving our fire response vehicles (4 contracting workers and 1 port blakely employee staff now have level 2 heavy vehicle license). Instead of using the easiest and cheapest path possible, Barry wanted the drivers trained to a high standard and put them through a recognised advanced driver training programme with Colin Rees of Driving Force NZ.Barry's work to improve the quality of trained staff and contracting workforce in various areas of the business has been recognised locally and nationally. In 2021, Barry and the health and safety manager at the time - Zac Robinson - were awarded one of the Primary Industries Good Employer Awards, taking out the Safe and Healthy Work Environment award. Additionally in 2023, Barry and the wider Port Blakely team of staff and contractors received South Canterbury's Chamber of Commerce Business Excellence Award for Sustainability and Environmental Excellence. These awards go some of the way to fittingly recognise Barry and the wider teams effort to continually improve through events that Barry has organised such as contractor workshops around soil disturbance or workplace wellbeing. One of the other reason's Barry is a great mentor and coach is that he gives his staff and contracting work force full autonomy over their work, training, or general well being. For example, if a well being initiative is suggested and relevant to either us directly or one of our contracting work environments, he is the first one to help make it happen.Another reason that we all find Barry inspiring is that he will take the time to get things done right, whether that is multiple tea and coffee sit downs with a neighbour to sort an issue diplomatically or helping our neighbours pick up the pieces after a storm is hit. He quietly knuckles down and gets the job done supporting us all along the way.