CEO REPORT

Welcome to our September 2024 newsletter.

It has certainly been a busy last few weeks with my attending the ASIAL Conference and Exhibition in Sydney, judging 120 plus nominations for the NZ Security Awards, facilitating the NZSA AGM, and working with our board on putting the final touches to our three-year Strategic/Business Plan.

ASIAL
This was my first time attending ASIAL since 2019 and I came away with some very mixed impressions.

The conference itself was somewhat underwhelming with a maximum of approximately 100 attendees in a large room that could hold 300 to 400, and several speaker sessions with less than 20 attendees.

A number of the speaker sessions had significant relevance to the New Zealand situation including industry licensing, labour shortages (particularly security technicians and monitoring operators) and raising procurement standards, and it was evident that Australia’s introduction of the SOCI Act (Security of Critical Infrastructure) has raised the importance and relevance of the private security sector in managing their critical infrastructure assets.

There was also a heavy focus on Generative AI, particularly from an ethical and legislative perspective and several speakers provided caution about the growing influence of China across the Asia Pacific region and Australia’s lack of supply chain planning and resilience. These sessions tended to have lower attendance numbers despite having qualified and respected presenters.

One particular point of interest for New Zealand security providers is the 2032 Brisbane Olympics and the challenges that the organisers face in meeting the security resourcing requirements – estimated to be in excess of 17,000 workers for a two-week period. To put that into perspective, Queensland currently has approximately 20,000 licensed security officers and a labour shortage. It is likely that ASIAL will play an important role in facilitating a multi-provider type structure as utilised for the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games, with staff probably operating under a special licence class, and I have already signalled that we would be keen on seeing how our New Zealand based members could potentially assist with resourcing.

Similar to Facilities Integrate in Auckland, the ASIAL Exhibition is now known as Integrate Security and includes both Security and AV providers.

This year’s show had over 100 security exhibitors and the same number of integrate exhibitors, making for a packed, colourful and very busy hall.

Talking to a number of our members over the couple of days, they all found the exhibition worth attending both from the perspective of viewing new products and technology, and for the connections made.

It was very evident that ASIAL continues to be well supported by New Zealand based security providers and users, and whilst the conference seems to have lost some appeal, the exhibition looks like it will continue to be a “go to” event for us.

 

New Zealand Security Awards
The finalists for the 2024 New Zealand Security Awards have been announced and I would like to offer my congratulations to all nominees and finalists.

This year we received in excess of 120 nominations across the 19 award categories and the quality of the nominations continues to improve every year. That makes for an interesting challenge for the judges, particularly in the most highly contested categories such as Security Administrator, Security Officer and Security Supervisor/Operations Manager, which received 11, 16 and 17 nominations respectively, and with most being of a very high standard.

A number of the categories were incredibly close in the scoring, but it was very pleasing to see that all four judges were very consistent in their approach and the allocation of their scores which ensured near unanimous agreement on the finalists, and the yet to be named winner, for each of the categories.

It has also been great to see the breadth of industry support with nominations coming from 31 different companies, and the finalists representing 23 different companies.

I’m certainly looking forward to the awards event on the evening of Friday 20 September at Crowne Plaza Hotel in Auckland, catching up with many of our members and industry stakeholders, and celebrating excellence within our industry.

My special thanks to our judges Ngaire Kelaher (ASIS NZ), Lincoln Potter and Colin Pascoe (both Independent Consultants).

 

 2024 NZSA AGM
The AGM this year was held on 27 August and thanks to those members who attended.

At the meeting we appointed two new board members in Alison Kingdon (ADT Security) and JP Dignon (Northern District Security) replacing retiring board members Greg Kitto and Lance Riesterer, and existing board members Nicola Smith, Teresa Seux and Shane O’Halloran were re-elected for further three-year terms. To view details and biographies for NZSA Board Members please see the NZSA website.

Members also approved the replacement of the existing NZSA Rules with a new Constitution that ensures we meet the requirements of the Incorporated Societies Act 2022.

 

NZSA 3 Year Strategic/Business Plan
During July we facilitated a two-day meeting for the NZSA Board and Executive team to formalise a Strategy and Business Plan for the next three years.

The plan is built around three key Strategic Objectives, being:

• Lift standards and capability within the security industry
• Achieve legislative and regulatory changes that support industry growth, capability and the safety of our workers
• Ensure a responsive NZSA that is the legitimate voice for the industry

We are close to finalising the plan, with timelines and budgets, and will communicate this to our members, along with the opportunity for feedback, in upcoming months.

 

Ministerial Advisory Group for Victims of Retail Crime
Ministers Goldsmith and McKee recently announced the formation of a Ministerial Advisory Group for the Victims of Retail Crime that will be tasked with reducing retail crime and serious youth offending.

This aligns closely with our lobbying for legislative and licensing changes that would provide suitably trained and qualified security staff with the legal right to retrieve property and detain offenders when, and where, it is safe to do so.

We have met with Sunny Kaushal, appointed Chair for the Ministerial Advisory Group, and have received a confirmation that the NZSA will be a key stakeholder working closely with the Advisory Group and will play a significant role in achieving the stated objectives and outcomes.

Once we have a better understanding of the scope of the Advisory Group, we will invite member participation in a working group that will help determine our position on key issues.

 

Vocational Education and Training (VET) Reform Consultation
The New Zealand Government has launched a consultation on proposed vocational education and training system reforms. These reforms aim to address financial challenges in the polytechnic sector, enhance regional responsiveness, and improve industry engagement in vocational education.

The key proposals include:

1. Polytechnic Restructure: Restructuring the polytechnic network into independent regional institutions and a federation model.
2. Establishing an industry-led system for standards-setting and industry training: Two options for industry-led standards-setting and training arrangements.

Option A: Establish a small number (possibly 8) of Industry Training Boards (ITB’s), similar to the old Industry Training Organisations (ITO’s) and the ITB’s arrange training for the industry.

Option B: Replace the Workforce Development Councils (WDC’s) with a small number (possibly 8) of more focused, industry-specific standards-setting bodies.

3. Changing the VET funding mechanisms.

We have some concerns with regards to all three proposals and in particular the over arching focus on returning the polytechnic institutions to profitability rather than ensuring quality outcomes for industry and learners.

We will continue to engage with the consultation process and promote a VET system that is responsive, innovative and fit for the future of work in the security industry.

 

Inaugural meeting of SCSIG (Security Consulting Special Interest Group)
The inaugural meeting of the SCSIG was held early August with approximately 20 attendees.

The purpose of the group is to provide guidance on key consulting issues such as licensing, standards, training, good practice and career pathways.

Meetings will initially be held monthly (one hour duration) with attendance either via Teams or attending the Beca offices in Auckland and Wellington.

If you are interested in attending the next meeting on Thursday 5 September, please contact myself on [email protected].

 

Member Survey re Security Technicians and the Green List
Those who employ Security Technicians are probably aware that we have made several submissions to MBIE and the Minister of Immigration seeking to have Security Technicians added to the Green List for approved residency.

Despite our demonstrating the industry need, and that Security Technicians are similarly qualified and skilled in comparison to other roles that are already approved, our submissions to date have been unsuccessful.

A big thank you to the 29 members who responded to our recent survey on this issue as we now have substantive data that validates the difficulties being faced by our members, and the financial impact of unperformed work due to labour shortages.

We intend to make a further submission this month that focuses on this data and the costs of failing to address this matter with urgency.

 

New Member Benefit Programme – Samsung
Look out for details of a new and revolutionary member benefit programme that will be launched in the near future and will provide our members, and their staff, with substantial discounts on the purchase of Samsung products.

As always, we welcome all comments and feedback on NZSA or industry issues and activity.

Keep safe and well.

Kind Regards
Gary Morrison
CEO

 

NZSA / Security Industry updates

 

NZSA launching new Member Database
NZSA is excited to launch our new member database with Gecco. The advantages of the new database include:

• Membership access that allows members to:
• Update contact details including branches throughout New Zealand
• Register for events
• Manage membership subscriptions and licensed staff number
• Improved email and member communications capability
• Enhanced Membership directory to allow the public to search for NZSA Members,
• Accredited Members and Graded Monitoring Centres based on the data managed by Members.
• Special Interest Groups and Committees – notice boards, discussion groups, emails with SIG or Committee member-only access.
• Access to Member Benefits, Standards and Codes of Practice.

As you can appreciate, the rollout of this system will take time and be done in stages so as not to compromise existing services.

The first stages will be the rollout of member access so members can update their contact details, branches, administrators.

Please keep an eye out for the email notifying you of the launch of the member access.

 

NZSA Member Benefit – Samsung
NZSA has partnered with Samsung to offer our Members exclusive pricing on all Samsung products. The Samsung member portal can only be accessed via the new Membership database mentioned above.

You will need set up your database log in to access the Samsung portal, which will be explained in the launch email coming soon.

 

NZSA partnering with Skillpod
NZSA is excited to launch a range of industry-leading online training courses, in partnership with training experts Skillpod, that will add huge value to your workforce for those in entry-level through to leadership roles.

Successful organisations know that a skilled and future-ready workforce is key to delivering business outcomes in today’s challenging labour market. Skillpod’s courses are:

• Easy to use
• Short yet effective
• Excellent value for money
• Specifically designed to upskill
• Morale-boosting

The following four modules are now available on the NZSA Training Hub for online purchase:

1. Effective Leadership
2. Communication for Leaders
3. Everyday Communication
4. Unconscious Bias

 

NZ Security Awards 2024
Congratulations to all the nominees and finalists!

We hope you can join us to celebrate the finalists and winners on Friday 20 September at the Crowne Plaza Hotel, Auckland.

For more information and to register for the Awards event please see the NZSA website.

 

COA Conflict Management Training

Train the Trainer and Refresher Training for Trainers

Call for registrations

The CoA training provides a critical role in giving new entrants into the security industry knowledge of the legislation impacting onto security officers, the essential knowledge and skills to keep them safe in their roles, including de-escalation techniques, and an understanding of expected professional standards.

It is imperative therefore that those who deliver the training have the necessary qualifications and experience, and are confident in delivering the course content.

In the absence of a Standard Setting Body holding responsibility for this, the NZSA has provided a Good Practice Guideline for the provision of Train the Trainer Instruction – a copy can be downloaded from the NZSA website. The Guideline sets clear expectations around pre-requisite training and competency, completion of the Train the Trainer course, and undertaking bi-annual refresher training.

We have also contracted subject matter experts to deliver the Conflict Management Training in accordance with the Guideline standards and to ensure the trainers of the CoA unit standards possess the necessary skills and competence.

Please note that course numbers are limited.

The next scheduled training is scheduled as follows:

Refresher Training
22nd October 2024
$395 + GST
9am to 4pm
Penrose, Auckland

Train the Trainer Training
22nd & 23rd October 2024
$750 + GST
9am to 4pm
Penrose, Auckland

For further information and to register please email and [email protected].

Please note: the Conflict Management Refresher course includes assessment activity.

 

Partner updates

Employment New Zealand
Early resolution can provide a quicker, less costly solution to disputes.

Early resolution is a free, impartial phone-based service that helps employers and employees resolve a workplace issue quickly and informally.

The Ministry of Business, Employment and Innovation’s Early Resolution Service offers support by providing an alternative to formal mediation which can facilitate a more rapid and lower cost resolution of disputes than formal mediation. It is also a way to resolve a workplace issue before it becomes more serious or needs a formal process.

Early resolution assistance may involve:

• Speaking confidentially with you and the other party to understand what has happened and what is important to each of you.
• Ensuring everyone is fully informed with relevant information.
• Arranging a discussion to explore the possibility of reaching a resolution.
• Helping to negotiate an agreed outcome.
• Referring you to a more suitable agency if required.

Early resolution can help when:

• You feel you have a relationship problem at work that could be resolved quickly with help from an independent facilitator.
• You have health or safety concerns.
• You have concerns about an employee’s performance.

To apply for early resolution help, click the link: Early Resolution Form | Employment New Zealand

 

MSD – Security Cadet programme
We are pleased to announce a new employment-based programme with the Ministry of Social Development where we will place Auckland and Wellington based candidates, who are currently on a benefit, into long term employment with our members.

The candidates will be offered a Security Cadet position that will allow them to gain experience in at least three or four different positions during their first year of employment and with the potential to fast-track into more senior roles.

Members who employ the cadets will be financially supported under the Flexi-Wage programme and the NZSA will provide pastural care for the candidate and arrange access to the Seedpod learning modules on the NZSA Training Hub.

Employers who would like to register their interest in participating in the programme should contact Gary Morrison at [email protected].

 

ACC

Get Ride Ready for Motorcycle Awareness Month

The annual Motorcycle Awareness Month kicks off in September and signals the start of the peak motorcycle riding season. This is the time where over 50% of riders re-register their bikes and get back on the road after winter, so it’s a great opportunity for employers to remind their people, who commute to work by motorcycle, to stay safe on the roads.

Motorcycle Awareness Month is all about celebrating getting back on the road safely and doing the thing all riders love – riding. But with more riders on the road, including commuters, the risks increase. 48% of deaths and serious injuries occur when riding in an urban environment.

If you’re a rider and getting ready for the new riding season, or wanting to make that ride to work safer, be sure to sign up to a Ride Forever course to hone your skills on your bike.

If you’re an employer of riders, let them know about all the ways they can get ride-ready – so they can ride forever. Visit rideforever.co.nz

 

NZSA Membership

We welcome the following new Corporate Members:

 

Jellystone Security Ltd

Professional Property & Cleaning Services Ltd

Securacore Ltd

Sounds Security Data Ltd

Vanguard Security Services Ltd

 

and the following new Associate Company Member:

Revo Tech Ltd

 

and the following new Associate Individual Members:

Derek Peel

Michael Fleming

Paul Raven

 

Events

Clean NZ Expo
The Building Service Contractors of New Zealand (BSCNZ) will host free seminars at the CleanNZ Expo on November 6th and 7th, 2024, at Te Pae Events Centre in Christchurch. This key event for the professional cleaning industry and associated services offers networking, learning, and exploration opportunities.

Seminar Highlights:

• ACC: Leveraging support services for business excellence
• Evolving Employment Law: Modern workplace guide
• Health & Safety: Lone workers, conflict management, psychological first aid
• Artificial Intelligence: AI in action
• Cybersecurity
• Insurance: Shield against unseen threats

Additional Features:

• Networking with industry peers, suppliers, and experts
• Exhibitors showcasing the latest products and services
• Industry Awards celebrating achievements in the commercial cleaning sector

Registration:

• Free entry, but registration is required

For the full seminar program and to register, visit www.cleannzexpo.co.nz.

 

NZISF breakfast meeting

Topic:  Introduction to DevSecOps

• What is DevSecOps?
• Why DevSecOps, not DevOps?
• How do we do DevSecOps?
• Overview of Tools of Trade and demonstrations

DevSecOps is a collaboration framework that expands the impact of DevOps by adding security practices to the software development and delivery process. DevSecOps resolves the tension between DevOps teams that want to release software quickly, and security teams that prioritize security over all else.

Speakers: Igor Portugal and Nilesh Kapoor

When: 8:00am Thursday 12 September 2024 – via Zoom

For further information and to register please see NZISF.

 

Member Benefits

 

NZSA HR Advisory Service
A reminder to members that SuccessHR are human resource consultants available for any employment support regarding your employees.

Support offered at no expense to our members is telephone communication support eg. disciplinary, performance. You also have access to individual employment agreements. Any additional support would be charged to you accordingly.

For any support or further information please contact:

Susan Beange
Human Resources Team Lead
[email protected]
021 929 528

Emma Johnston
Human Resources Specialist
[email protected]
021 659 456

 

Strategic Defence
Strategic Defence provides specialist protective products to members of the security industry. These products include stab/ballistic vests, boots, fog-free protective eyewear, hand-held metal detectors, flashlights, and many more. NZSA members qualify for between 10-20% discount. Expert advice, support, and unmatched service.

For more information see the Strategic Defence website.

 

Guardhouse
Guardhouse is an end-to-end workforce management system custom built for NZ security companies. Founded in Australia, Guardhouse is Australia’s leading security specific workforce solution, bringing our product innovation and unique workflow optimisation to the NZ market saving our clients both time and money. Our values that drive your success are customer obsessed, developing unique partnerships, simple yet powerful product design and consistent innovation and R&D.

Some of the funcationality includes, Rostering, Time & Attendance, Payroll & Invoicing + integration to accounting and payroll systemts, Welfare Checks, Incident Reporitng, Compliance Management, Company and Site SOPs with digitial signiture, Customer Portal Access, Tours and Patorls module and much more.

For more information see the Guardhouse website.

 

Building Networks Compliance Guidance
Building Networks are the leading authority on building compliance and they are offering a 20% discount for members: Building Networks website.

 

Mobilcard
NZSA have an agreement with Mobilcard offering members fuel discounts

Key Benefits:

• Up to 16 cents per litre (including GST) discount off the pump price for all diesel and petrol purchased at a discounted Mobilcard acceptor sites. Minimum discount of 12 cents per litre (including GST).
• Available at 330+ sites nationwide. View www.mobilfuelfinder.co.nz to find an acceptor site near you.
• No card or transaction fees.
• No need to manage receipts for tax purposes, all managed under one account.
• Costs can be tracked easily with one monthly invoice. You can also have online access to multiple reports including the fuel consumed by individual vehicles.
• PIN number and purchase restrictions for added security.
• You must be a member of the NZSA to qualify for this offer.

A vehicle consuming 100 litres per week using a discount of up to 6 cents per litre = $6 discount per week.

A vehicle consuming 100 litres per week using the NZSA MOBILCARD discount of up to 16cents per litre = $16 discount per week.

For a company fleet of 20 vehicles that’s potentially an annual saving of over $10,000 per annum.

The discount level is dependent on volume of fuel used per annum.

For further information please email [email protected].

 

First Aid and Refresher Training
Life Care Consultants have extensive experience with first aid training in the security industry and are offering NZSA members a 10% discount on all first aid and refresher training.

For further information please email Russell Taylor [email protected].

 

Keeping your team up to date

Like many organisations we are constantly looking for ways to ensure we can communicate effectively with our members and their teams. The best way to stay up to date on NZSA and industry news is via our newsletter. The more people from each company who receive our newsletter, the higher the chance of updates being communicated within the industry.

With this in mind, we welcome you to send us any company contacts who would like to receive our newsletter and we will add them to our distribution list.

Please email any contacts to [email protected].

 

NZSA member referral – strength in numbers

NZSA’s membership has grown strongly over the past year and each new member not only strengthens the Association and the security community, it also enables us to provide you with more benefits and services and a greater voice for the industry. So help grow your community and strengthen your Association by referring a prospective new member.

To refer a prospective member please email details to [email protected].

For details on member benefits please see the NZSA website.

 

CEO Report

Welcome to our July 2024 newsletter.

Over the last two months I have had the privilege to review and validate six separate nominations for Saved a Life Medal recognition, and in one of the nominations the security officer concerned was instrumental in saving two separate individuals over the course of a single shift.

We have profiled the various medal winners under separate cover and on our website but what they highlight is the very important, and often unrecognised, role that workers in our industry perform.

It is important that we recognise the outstanding efforts of our workers and that we take every available opportunity to tell and promote our stories.

I encourage all stakeholders, including industry customers, to support us in this cause by taking a few minutes to recognise when these life-saving events occur, and to submit a nomination allowing us to recognise our industry heroes.

 

International Security Officer’s Day – 24th July (24/7)

International Security Officer’s Day will be celebrated on the 24th of this month.

Our thanks go out to those members and institutions who have purchased the badges for their staff, and we encourage all employers and customers to pass on their recognition.

 

Implementation of new Member Management and Engagement System

Over the last few months our Finance and Operations Manager, Tacia Strawbridge, has been flat out behind the scenes preparing for our move from a spreadsheet-based platform to Gecco which provides a modern, flexible member management and engagement system designed specifically for member-based associations.

Some of the changes will become more obvious in coming months as member interface becomes more seamless, including system generated emailing, member benefits and the member listing link to our website.

 

Parental Leave payments

Parental leave payments have increased by 6% from Monday 1 July 2024 to reflect the rise in average weekly earnings.

The maximum parental leave payment rate for eligible employees and self-employed parents will increase from $712.17 to $754.87 gross per week.

 

New Zealand Security Awards 2024

As covered later in this newsletter, nominations for the 2024 New Zealand Security Awards are now open and with a final submission date of Thursday 15 August.

There are 19 award categories covering a wide range of roles and the nomination process is online and easy to follow.

We are looking forward to a record number of nominations and the opportunity to celebrate the award winners at the formal awards dinner on Friday 20 September at the Crowne Plaza, Auckland. With attendance capped at 250, we recommend you get your bookings in promptly.

Seedpod microlearning modules

Last month we launched the Skillpod microlearning modules for human skills on the NZSA Training Hub.

Successful organisations know that a skilled and future-ready workforce is key to delivering business outcomes in today’s challenging labour market. By partnering with Skillpod we are able to give our members immediate access to relevant and leading-edge training around basics such as communication, leadership and managing unconscious bias.

For more information please visit the NZSA Training Hub.

CoA Skill Standard Development

The current three-unit standards that make up the CoA (Mandatory) Training provide the initial learning for those entering the protective security division of the industry and requiring a licence under the Property Guard, Personal Guard or Crowd Controller classes.

This training is obviously critical to the safety of our workers, and it has been extremely concerning and frustrating to witness the drop-off in the quality of training delivery, and the lack of monitoring of standards, that occurred following the previous governments disbandment of the ITO’s and move to Te Pukenga and WDC’s (Work Development Councils).

Since the commencement of this year, Ringa Hora (the Service Sector WDC) has led the process of engaging with industry stakeholders to rewrite the three CoA Unit Standards as Skill Standards. This has allowed us to be far more stringent in specifying the content within the training and to set requirements around delivery and assessment.

As it stands currently the adoption of the new Skill Standards is not required until December 2026, however we are leading industry discussion on the joint development of compliant learning and assessment materials, along with training plans, and with implementation targeted as promptly as possible. This would strengthen the standard and quality of training and ensure a consistent and standardised delivery and assessment across all training providers.

It is also important that we recognise the work of the STSIG (Security Training Special Interest Group) and those industry participants who have volunteered a significant amount of time into this process already.

 

Electronic Security Qualification Review

The Level 3 and 4 Electronic Security qualifications that make up the Security Technician Apprenticeship programme were last reviewed in 2017 and whilst largely recognised as being fit for purpose, there has been a need to remove out of date references and to ensure that new and emerging technologies are included.

Our thanks go out to the small group of industry providers who have volunteered their time, along with representatives from ETEC and Waihanga Ara Rau, to update Unit Standards 26841, 5881, 5891 and 5892 respectively.

Once the changes have been approved by NZQA, they will be incorporated into the training delivery and assessment by ETEC.

 

Establishing Security Consulting Special Interest Group (SCSIG)

As the peak body representing security providers in New Zealand, the NZSA has a critical role to play in influencing and determining key industry issues such as licensing, training, standards, good practice and career pathways, and in lifting public, corporate and government awareness and perception of the private security industry and the important role that we play in society.

To do this effectively it is important that we establish and maintain effective communication channels and have the ability to tap into the collective knowledge and expertise across all industry stakeholders.

An effective mechanism for this is through the establishment of Special Interest Groups (SIG’s) that allow us to bring together interested parties with specialist knowledge and a desire to act for the good of industry.

We are currently in the process of establishing a Security Consulting Special Interest Group (SCSIG) to give guidance on the key security consulting issues (as noted above) and are seeking expressions of interest from those who wish to be involved.

The SCSIG will initially be chaired by NZSA board member Jonathan Howe of Beca Technologies and will meet online on a two monthly basis. Matters such as Terms of Reference and key focus areas will be determined at the inaugural meeting.

If you have the necessary skills and knowledge and would like to participate, please contact NZSA CEO, Gary Morrison, at [email protected] and provide a brief supporting CV as verification of skills and capability.

 

MSD Security Cadet Programme

We are pleased to announce a new employment-based programme with the Ministry of Social Development where we will place Auckland and Wellington based candidates, who are currently on a benefit, into long term employment with our members.

The candidates will be offered a Security Cadet position that will allow them to gain experience in at least three or four different positions during their first year of employment and with the potential to fast-track into more senior roles.

Members who employ the cadets will be financially supported under the Flexi-Wage programme and the NZSA will provide pastural care for the candidate and arrange access to the Seedpod learning modules on the NZSA Training Hub.

Employers who would like to register their interest in participating in the programme should contact Gary Morrison at [email protected].

 

Partnership with ATT re employment of Security Technician Apprentices

ATT (Apprenticeship Training Trust) was established 30+ years ago and currently supports and manages some 330 apprentices across New Zealand in the plumbing, gas-fitting, drain-laying and electrical trades.

The NZSA has partnered with ATT to offer employment opportunities for those electrical apprentices who are interested in roles within the security sector, and also for security providers who are looking to recruit at entry level or apprenticeship level positions.

With the country in a technical recession, the electrical industry has seen a recent downturn in activity and that has obviously impacted on current employment opportunities, and hence a growing interest from apprentices in the security sector, particularly given that the Electrotechnology Level 3 qualification has relevance to both.

In coming months, we will circulate the CVs of those electrical apprentices who are registered with ATT and seeking employment in the security sector and similarly, welcome all enquiries from members who may have an interest in talking to ATT about either employing an apprentice directly, or utilising an apprentice under the ATT Group Employment model where the apprentice is employed by ATT. Please email Gary Morison at [email protected] to register your interest.

As always, we welcome all comments and feedback on NZSA or industry issues and activity.

Keep safe and well.

Kind Regards
Gary Morrison
CEO

 

NZSA / Security Industry updates

NZSA partnering with Skillpod

NZSA is excited to launch a range of industry-leading online training courses, in partnership with training experts Skillpod, that will add huge value to your workforce for those in entry-level through to leadership roles.

Successful organisations know that a skilled and future-ready workforce is key to delivering business outcomes in today’s challenging labour market. Skillpod’s courses are:

• Easy to use
• Short yet effective
• Excellent value for money
• Specifically designed to upskill
• Morale-boosting

The following four modules are now available on the NZSA Training Hub for online purchase:

1. Effective Leadership
2. Communication for Leaders
3. Everyday Communication
4. Unconscious Bias

 

International Security Officers’ Day

International Security Officers’ Day, celebrated on 24 July, is an opportunity to say thank you to Security Officers for keeping us safe 24/7.

The NZSA have badges available for purchase, as pictured above.

The cost is $30 + GST for a bag of 10 badges. If you would like to place an order please email [email protected].

 

NZ Security Awards 2024 – nominations open

Nominations for the 2024 NZ Security Awards are now open. Don’t delay – start preparing your nominations now!

We’ve allowed extra time to receive nominations this year, so you now have just over six weeks to nominate colleagues or staff members in your team or organisation who deserve recognition for their outstanding contributions over the past 15 months.

There are 19 Award Categories, covering a wide range of the security industry, so there is sure to be something for everyone.

Nominations close 5pm, Thursday 15 August 2024.

For more information please see the NZSA website.

 

Saved a Life Medal

We would like to congratulate the following Saved a Life Medal recipients. For their full stories please see the NZSA website.

Gurpreet Singh, FIRST Security

Gagandeep Bhalla, FIRST Security

Venusula Tilo Faasavalu and Talaveta Toala, FIRST Security

Gloria Peea, Armourguard Security

Gagan Bhalla, Armourguard Security

Neil Tomuli and Pule Talia, Armourguard Security

Sinapati Tuugasala and Fuarosa Oloaga, Armourguard Security

 

and the following Saved a Life Highly Commended recipients:

Victor Korotky, FIRST Security

 

Recipients of the Saved a Life Medal will be recognised in a roll call at the Annual Security Awards event and will automatically be nominated in the appropriate award category for each year.

To nominate someone for the Saved a Life Medal please see the NZSA website.

 

COA Conflict Management Training

Train the Trainer and Refresher Training for Trainers – call for registrations
As the industry peak body, the NZSA has assumed responsibility for the current delivery of the Conflict Management Refresher and Train the Trainer training programmes.

We have contracted subject matter experts to deliver the Conflict Management Training in accordance with specified standards and to ensure that trainers of the unit standards possess the necessary skills and competence.

We have a limited number of spaces available for the next training session:

Refresher Training
11th July 2024
$395 + GST
9am to 4pm
Mt Wellington, Auckland

Train the Trainer Training
11th & 12th July 2024
$750 + GST
9am to 4pm
Mt Wellington, Auckland

 

For further information and to register please email [email protected].

Please note: the Conflict Management Refresher course includes assessment activity.

 

Parental Leave payments increase

Parental Leave payments to increase from 1 July 2024

Parental leave payments will increase by 6% from Monday 1 July 2024 to reflect the rise in average weekly earnings.

The maximum parental leave payment rate for eligible employees and self-employed parents will increase from $712.17 to $754.87 gross per week.

For further information please visit the Employment New Zealand website.

 

Partner updates

ACC

Access your ACC account with MyACC for Business

Whether you want to see information about your employees’ work-related claims, view and pay your levy invoice, or use “Live Chat” to talk to a customer service representative, MyACC for Business provides you with a fast and secure way to manage your ACC account online.

Join the hundreds of thousands of other businesses who have already made the move online and visit MyACC for Business to sign up.

All you’ll need is your ACC or IR number and a RealMe, Microsoft or Google account.

ACC invoices are coming soon.

If you’re an employer, you’ll receive your ACC levy invoice from July. Checking and updating your policy details now in MyACC for Business will mean that you pay the right amount.

Here’s how you can prepare:

ACC uses the below details to calculate your levy, so check that they’re correct on MyACC for Business:

• Classification Unit (CU) – this tells ACC what industry you’re in.
• Trading status – have you ceased trading?

It’s also a good time to check your contact details are correct and that your communications preference is set to “email”.

For more information on ACC levy invoicing visit the ACC website.

 

Ministry of Social Development

Security Cadet programme
We are pleased to announce a new employment-based programme with the Ministry of Social Development where we will place Auckland and Wellington based candidates, who are currently on a benefit, into long term employment with our members.

The candidates will be offered a Security Cadet position that will allow them to gain experience in at least three or four different positions during their first year of employment and with the potential to fast-track into more senior roles.

Members who employ the cadets will be financially supported under the Flexi-Wage programme and the NZSA will provide pastural care for the candidate and arrange access to the Seedpod learning modules on the NZSA Training Hub.

Employers who would like to register their interest in participating in the programme should contact Gary Morrison at [email protected].

 

Waihanga Ara Rau

NZC Electronic Security L4
Waihanga Ara Rau plans to delay the review of NZC Electronic Security (L4) until 2026 and will make amendments to unit standards 26841, 5881, 5892 and 5891.

Initial planning/investigation into the review of this qualification has identified that the qualification and associated unit standards remain relatively fit for purpose, with minor technology updates required to four unit standards.

This will allow time for Waihanga Ara Rau to look further at pathways into and across electrotechnology and to minimise disruptions to current programme delivery.

Please click here for further information Improving Electronic Security Qualifications (waihangaararau.nz) or email [email protected].

 

NZSA Membership

We welcome the following new Corporate Members:

Nedax Systems (NZ) Ltd

Vision Intelligence Ltd

and the following new Associate Individual Member:

Jhunneil Igama

 

Events

New Zealand Security Awards

Join us at the Crowne Plaza Hotel, Auckland, on Friday 20th September, where we’ll announce our Award winners. This promises to be an fantastic evening of celebration and recognition. We hope you can join us!

To register please book here.

The NZSA has a special room rate for the Crowne Plaza Hotel. Limited rooms are available at these rates. Please book here.

 

NZISF breakfast meeting

Topic:  The Artificial Intelligence of Things, from a New Zealand perspective

The Internet of Things advances and extends digital connectivity to devices, sensors and networks in homes, businesses and far beyond. The potential applications of IoT are now evident and clear. Join Kriv Naicker for a discussion of this topic.

Speaker: Kriv Naicker

Details: 7:15am Thursday 11 July 2024. Kordia HQ, 162 Victoria St West, Auckland

For further information and to register please see NZISF.

 

Member Benefits

NZSA HR Advisory Service

A reminder to members that SuccessHR are human resource consultants available for any employment support regarding your employees.

Support offered at no expense to our members is telephone communication support eg. disciplinary, performance. You also have access to individual employment agreements. Any additional support would be charged to you accordingly.

For any support or further information please contact:

Susan Beange
Human Resources Team Lead
[email protected]
021 929 528

Emma Johnston
Human Resources Specialist
[email protected]
021 659 456

 

Strategic Defence

Strategic Defence provides specialist protective products to members of the security industry. These products include stab/ballistic vests, boots, fog-free protective eyewear, hand-held metal detectors, flashlights, and many more. NZSA members qualify for between 10-20% discount. Expert advice, support, and unmatched service.

For more information see the Strategic Defence website.

 

Guardhouse

Guardhouse is an end-to-end workforce management system custom built for NZ security companies. Founded in Australia, Guardhouse is Australia’s leading security specific workforce solution, bringing our product innovation and unique workflow optimisation to the NZ market saving our clients both time and money. Our values that drive your success are customer obsessed, developing unique partnerships, simple yet powerful product design and consistent innovation and R&D.

Some of the funcationality includes, Rostering, Time & Attendance, Payroll & Invoicing + integration to accounting and payroll systemts, Welfare Checks, Incident Reporitng, Compliance Management, Company and Site SOPs with digitial signiture, Customer Portal Access, Tours and Patorls module and much more.

For more information see the Guardhouse website.

 

Building Networks

Building Networks are the leading authority on building compliance and they are offering a 20% discount for members: Building Networks website.

For industry news, updates, tips and opinions from the frontline, sign up to the Building Networks newsletter or visit their YouTube channel.

 

Mobilcard

NZSA have an agreement with Mobilcard offering members fuel discounts

Key Benefits:

• Up to 16 cents per litre (including GST) discount off the pump price for all diesel and petrol purchased at a discounted Mobilcard acceptor sites. Minimum discount of 12 cents per litre (including GST).
• Available at 330+ sites nationwide. View www.mobilfuelfinder.co.nz to find an acceptor site near you.
• No card or transaction fees.
• No need to manage receipts for tax purposes, all managed under one account.
• Costs can be tracked easily with one monthly invoice. You can also have online access to multiple reports including the fuel consumed by individual vehicles.
• PIN number and purchase restrictions for added security.
• You must be a member of the NZSA to qualify for this offer.

A vehicle consuming 100 litres per week using a discount of up to 6 cents per litre = $6 discount per week..

A vehicle consuming 100 litres per week using the NZSA MOBILCARD discount of up to 16cents per litre = $16 discount per week

For a company fleet of 20 vehicles that’s potentially an annual saving of over $10,000 per annum.

The discount level is dependent on volume of fuel used per annum.

For further information please email [email protected].

 

First Aid and Refresher Training

Life Care Consultants have extensive experience with first aid training in the security industry and are offering NZSA members a 10% discount on all first aid and refresher training.

For further information please email Russell Taylor [email protected].

 

Keeping your team up to date

Like many organisations we are constantly looking for ways to ensure we can communicate effectively with our members and their teams. The best way to stay up to date on NZSA and industry news is via our newsletter. The more people from each company who receive our newsletter, the higher the chance of updates being communicated within the industry.

With this in mind, we welcome you to send us any company contacts who would like to receive our newsletter and we will add them to our distribution list.

Please email any contacts to [email protected].

NZSA member referral – strength in numbers

NZSA’s membership has grown strongly over the past year and each new member not only strengthens the Association and the security community, it also enables us to provide you with more benefits and services and a greater voice for the industry. So help grow your community and strengthen your Association by referring a prospective new member.

To refer a prospective member please email details to [email protected].

For details on member benefits please see the NZSA website.

CEO’s Report

Welcome to our May 2024 newsletter.

Our condolences go out to those who were impacted by the tragic stabbings that occurred at the Westfield Bondi Junction shopping mall several weeks ago.

In particular out thoughts are with the family, friends and work colleagues of security officer Faraz Tahir who suffered fatal injuries whilst responding to the incident. It is understood that a second security officer also suffered life threatening injuries but was saved by a team-mate who provided immediate medical attention. We applaud this team-mate for their actions.

The incident again highlights the increasing risks faced by those involved in providing protective services. This also brings our attention to the role of security officers, the legal authority, training and protection that they are equipped with.

The NZSA position remains firmly opposed to the carrying of any weapons. We have however held initial discussions with government, police and the licensing authority with regards to giving appropriately trained and licensed security officers the authority to retrieve property and detain offenders. Discussions have been positive and closely align with the governments focus on getting tough on crime and promoting public/private cooperation. We will keep you informed on developments and seek industry submissions as discussions progress.

We also firmly support the appropriate use of PPE, and in particular stab resistant vests, in high-risk environments. It is important to note however that the quality and effectiveness of vests varies considerably and in the absence of any specific Australian or NZ standards, research should be conducted to ensure any equipment purchased is fit for purpose. Similarly, we strongly recommend having vests fitted to ensure comfort, avoid secondary strains or injuries and to ensure the vest is as effective as possible. We have provided some guidelines from specialist PPE provider Strategic Defence later in this newsletter.

Within this newsletter we also profile two new “Board Cadets” who have joined the NZSA Board for a year in a non-voting capacity. We have introduced the cadet programme as a mechanism for bringing greater diversity to the board and encouraging, supporting and developing those who have the talent and capability to participate at a board level but would not normally have the opportunity to be appointed to such a position. Whilst the cadets serve a one-year term, they will be encouraged to stand for election at completion of their term and hopefully this will also provide long-term capability and continuity for the board.

 

Living Wage 2024/2025
For those who missed the announcement, from 1st September 2024, the Living Wage hourly rate is $27.80. This is an increase of $1.80 on the 2023/2024 rate.

 

Auckland congestion charges
During April the Auckland Council announced plans to push for legislative changes that would enable the introduction of congestion charging on key motorways and arterials.

The NZSA and BSCNZ (representing Commercial Cleaners) have made a joint submission to Auckland Council seeking an exemption from congestion charges for clearly branded work vehicles being used for the provision of security guarding, security patrols, cash-in-transit services and commercial cleaning services.

 

Standards review HB 167:2006 Security Risk Management
During April we received notification from Standards NZ that they are reviewing Standards that are more than 10 years old and unless there is evidence that they are fit for purpose they will be withdrawn.

The notification advised that Standard HB 167:2006 – Security Risk Management was targeted for withdrawal as the technical committee deemed it no longer fit for purpose.

In discussion with members providing Security Consulting services, it is very apparent that this standard continues to be the go-to document for the industry and whilst a little dated, has considerable relevance for those involved in criticality, threat and vulnerability analysis.

We have engaged with Standards NZ and provided compelling argument for the retention and on-going recognition of this Standard.

Whilst we have yet to receive a response, we are confident that our application will be successful.

 

Privacy Guidelines for use of CCTV Systems
We regularly receive enquiries from security providers and members of the public with regards to privacy concerns related to the installation and use of CCTV systems.

The Privacy and CCTV Guide issued by the Privacy Commissioner in 2009 provides good guidance on requirements however it is now somewhat outdated and does not adequately cover some technology developments, including audio recording and facial recognition.

With regards to audio, it is important to note that this is covered in the Crimes Act 1961 under Section 216B Prohibition on use of interception devices. The Act states that every-one is liable to a term not exceeding 2 years who intentionally intercepts communication by means of an interception device.

It is clear that microphones on CCTV cameras would come under the definition of an interception device and should always be turned off and rendered inoperable at time of installation.

 

MSD Digital Passport (including Security Passport)
It was great to see that MSD was internationally recognised as an award winner at the 2023 Would Summit Government Awards.

The awards recognise digital initiatives that significantly contribute to achieving the United Nations sustainable development goals and MSD took home the top achievement in the Government and Citizen Engagement category that recognises quality education, work and economic growth and reducing inequalities.

The Digital Passport offers free learning modules focused on digital literacy and essential job skills and is delivered via VR (Virtual Reality). One of the modules covers an introduction to the role of a Security Officer, utilising learning from the VR CoA training jointly developed by SkillsVR and NZSA, and with those completing the learning receiving a Security Digital Passport.

 

Submission on future of industrial classifications
Many critical decisions impacting industry sectors are determined or influenced by data collection. This applies at a government, local government and private sector level with some examples including legislative changes, allocation of training funding, setting ACC levies, determining immigration settings, workforce planning and policy development.

Two of the main sources of data specific to industry are the ANZSIC06 and ANZSCO classification systems.

ANZSIC06 is the Australian and New Zealand Standard Industrial Classification system and structures industry by Division, Sub-Division, Group and Class and for the Security Industry we are broadly classed under the Public Administration and Safety Division (for protective services) and Construction Division (for electronic security services). The ANZSIC codes are used for the bulk of industry reporting by Infometrics and used to determine by ACC, IRD and the WDC’s amongst other agencies.

ANZSCO is the Australian and New Zealand Standard Classification of Occupations system and follows a similar four level classification based on Major Group, Sub-Major Group, Minor Group and Unit Group. Security services are listed under Major Group headings Community and Personal Service Workers (Protective Services) and Technicians and Trade Workers (Electronic Security Services). The ANZSCO classification also introduces Skill Levels that are applicable to specific unit groups – these range from Skill Level 1 (commensurate with a bachelor degree) down to Skill Level 5 (NZQA Level 1). Most protective security roles are deemed to be Level 4 or 5 whereas security technicians are classified as Level 3.

Our concern is that the industry descriptors used on the two classifications do not match current industry terminology which probably explains why reports provided by Infometrics and other government agencies frequently under report the size of the industry in terms of revenues and employment.

Statistics NZ have requested feedback on the ANZSIC06 classification, and we have provided a submission recommending a comprehensive review and updating of the terminology being used so as to align with common industry use. We have also cautioned against any consideration of moving to the ISIC (International Standard Industrial Classification) system given that it is also outdated, and we would loose any opportunity to influence the code allocations.

 

CoA training, moderation and Good Practice Guideline for Train the Trainer
The CoA Training provides initial training for those entering the workforce and it is critical that the training is as comprehensive and effective as possible.

We are pleased to advise that Ringa Hora (the Services WDC) has been leading the process of reviewing the three existing Unit Standards and re-writing as Skills Standards, with the draft standards nearing the stage of being ready for circulation and consultation. As part of this process, stakeholders have been mindful that the standards are covered by legislation and therefore cannot be substantially changed but have taken the opportunity to strengthen the content and establish specific outcomes that can be moderated.

Ringa Hora have also been more active with regards to conducting moderation on training providers and ensuring that training delivery is via suitably approved trainers and in accordance with expected standards.

We applaud this approach and remind employers of the importance of ensuring the CoA training is being provided by suitably qualified trainers. The NZSA Good Practice Guideline covering Provision of Train the Trainer Instruction documents the qualifications and experience requirements for those who can deliver the training, including the need for bi-annual refresher training.

As always, we welcome all comments and feedback on NZSA or industry issues and activity.

Keep safe and well.

Kind Regards
Gary Morrison
CEO

 

NZSA / Security Industry updates

NZSA partnering with Skillpod
NZSA has partnered with Skillpod to bring microlearning modules for human skills.

Successful organisations know that a skilled and future-ready workforce is key to delivering business outcomes in today’s challenging labour market. Skillpod’s microlearning library offers training to bring human and communication skills development into your everyday real world. Skill Pod will help you to support your people’s personal development and the growth of your business with Skillpod’s microlearning for human skills.

We will be launching this in the coming weeks.

 

Cadets appointed to NZSA Board

Joel Walsh
As Tauranga Regional Manager for Watchdog Security Group, Joel straddles both the management and front line perspective of the industry as he spends a regular amount of time actually working on the front line with his staff. In addition to that Joel, being a Māori in a leadership role, brings a balanced approach to a Te Ao Māori perspective on the industry, mixing his cultural heritage with corporate experience and a sound understanding of the issued faced by his predominantly Māori workforce.

William Seuao
William is an experienced Operations Manager, currently heading screen sector security (film and television) and Waitemata (West Auckland) patrol operations. His previous role as an HR Coordinator has provided him with solid grounding in recruitment and employment procedures in a diverse workforce. As a matai (chief) William is well regarded in his Samoan community for his leadership and compassion.

 

International Security Officers’ Day
International Security Officers’ Day, celebrated on 24 July, is an opportunity to say thank you to Security Officers for keeping us safe 24/7.

The NZSA have badges available for purchase, as pictured below.

The cost is $30 + GST for a bag of 10 badges. If you would like to place an order please email [email protected].

Stab vests – considerations for purchasers
The majority of stab vests are generally the hard-shell type however these are not comfortable to wear and can be obstructive when placing someone in a restraint. A combination vest that is soft and has both stab and ballistic ratings is recommended. As far as ballistic ratings go, there are a couple of types which offer protection against handgun threats, however some have a higher rating (larger calibre) and higher edged blade protection.

Potential buyers of vests need to consider the following:

1. Is the vest fit-for-purpose? In other words, does it suitably address the safety concerns of the wearer and is it as comfortable as a vest can be to wear on a long shift?
2. Is the supplier reputable and do they have a good understanding of what is being sold?
3. Does the vest offered have a size range applicable to NZ demographics?
4. The measure and fit of a vest are of paramount importance. A loose-fitting vest may not work to its potential if struck by a ballistic threat and will be uncomfortable due to too much movement on the torso. A vest fitted too tight may constrict chest (lung) movement in situations where the wearer is breathing heavier than usual. If is preferable to measure and fit each staff member to ensure the fit is correct and the wearer is happy and understands how to look after the vest.
5. Is the vest easy to don/doff and maintain?
6. Does the overt vest have load carriage capability for items such as radios and body-worn cameras?

If you would like to discuss your needs or concerns regarding vests please contact Strategic Defence who offer NZSA members a discount.

 

Nextro  awarded Genetec Partner of the Year for New Zealand at Elevate 24
Nextro, the New Zealand security integrator and managed network and security services provider, was awarded the prestigious Genetec Partner of the Year – New Zealand award in front of a packed partner event hosted by Genetec in Chiang Mai, Thailand. The award recognises Nextro’s growth, capabilities, and customer wins for Genetec in the New Zealand market, where the company has deployed and integrated Genetec for unified video surveillance, access control, intrusion detection and licenses plate recognition systems, for leading enterprises and critical infrastructure operators across New Zealand.

More recently, Nextro has deployed and integrated industrial IOT (IIOT) sensors across campuses with reporting and alerting directly into Genetec. It is also the leading provider of the Genetec Security Center SaaS cloud solution for physical security unification in the New Zealand market.

 

Saved a Life Medal
Security personnel are often first responders to a diverse range of incidents and emergency situations and the actions that they take can directly lead to the saving of lives.

Whilst these professionals don’t seek accolades or recognition, the Saved a Life Medal programme provides a way in which the community can support and recognise those who demonstrate the very best in security professionalism. The award programme will also help to recognise our industry’s security personnel who face the daily potential of making critical decisions or taking action to save a life or property.

Nominations and qualifying criteria for the Saved a Life Medal can be made online via the NZSA website.

The NZSA welcomes nominations from employers, customers, work colleagues, emergency service providers and members of the public who can verify that the actions of a Security Officer, or a Security Team, directly contributed to the saving of a life.

All nominations will be assessed by the NZSA executive, and recipients of the Saved a Life Medal will be recognised and profiled in the bi-monthly NZSA newsletter and on the NZSA social media platforms, and will also receive an attractive inscribed award which they will retain.

All winners will be presented with an attractive medal which they get to keep, and their actions will be profiled within the bi-monthly NZSA Newsletter and on NZSA social media platforms.

Recipients of the Saved a Life Medal will also be recognised in a roll call at the Annual Security Awards event and will automatically be nominated in the appropriate award category for each year.

 

COA Conflict Management Training
Train the Trainer and Refresher Training for Trainers

Call for registrations

As the industry peak body, the NZSA has assumed responsibility for the current delivery of the Conflict Management Refresher and Train the Trainer training programmes. We have contracted subject matter experts to deliver the Conflict Management Training in accordance with specified standards and to ensure that trainers of the unit standards possess the necessary skills and competence. Please note: the Conflict Management Refresher course includes assessment activity.

For further information and to register please email [email protected].

 

Partner updates

ACC
Have a Hmmm
As the 2024 winter sport season is about to kick off, ACC is getting ahead of the game with a campaign to remind our people to ‘Have a hmmm’ before they get stuck in – so they can prevent injuries during pre-season training and throughout their winter sport activity.

The campaign includes handy training tips for rugby, football, netball, and rugby league – as these account for almost 30% of all sports claims and costs to ACC, useful information can be located on our website ACC SportSmart tips.

With two-thirds of injuries happening outside of work, sports injuries can have a significant impact on businesses, an injured employee’s workmates and their own whānau. So, you may have an interest in sharing some of the campaign’s prevention information to support employees to stay injury-free this winter.

ACC also has useful guides for employers for when injuries do happen – to help support injured employees to safely recover at work.

 

Ministry of Social Development
Trademe’s Annual Job Market Insights Report 2024

MSD shared the lateset Trademe Annual Job Market Insights Report. This year’s report indicates a shift in the psyche of New Zealand job hunters – and showcases the economic impact on the business landscape. Download your copy here.

 

NZSA Membership

We welcome the following new Corporate Members:

2Secure Security Ltd

Caldwell and Levesque Ltd

Central Security Solutions Ltd

Goodwill Security Ltd

Whakahau Security Ltd

 

and the following new Associate Individual Members:

Craig Gilbert

Daniel Malan

 

Events

FPANZ Get it Right seminars
The Fire Protection Association NZ is running Get it Right Seminars in early April covering Fire Protection and Alarm Systems in Buildings NZS 4512:2021. The workshops will be very relevant to those members who are involved in the installation of fire alarm systems as part of their service offering.

NZSA Members will qualify for FPA Member rates. For dates and details email [email protected].

 

NZISF breakfast meeting

Topic:  Comments on the findings from Kordia’s 2024 “New Zealand Business Cyber Security Report”

Join Alastair Miller (Principal Advisory Consultant) for breakfast, as he dives into this year’s “New Zealand Business Cyber Security Report”.

Speaker:  Alastair Miller

When:  7:15am Thursday 9 May 2024
Where:  Kordia HQ, 162 Victoria St West, Auckland

 

For further information and to register please see NZISF.

 

Member Benefits

NZSA HR Advisory Service

A reminder to members that SuccessHR are human resource consultants available for any employment support regarding your employees. Support offered at no expense to our members is telephone communication support eg. disciplinary, performance. You also have access to individual employment agreements. Any additional support would be charged to you accordingly.

For any support or further information please contact:

Susan Beange
Human Resources Team Lead
[email protected]
021 929 528

Emma Johnston
Human Resources Specialist
[email protected]
021 659 456

 

Strategic Defence
Strategic Defence provides specialist protective products to members of the security industry. These products include stab/ballistic vests, boots, fog-free protective eyewear, hand-held metal detectors, flashlights, and many more. NZSA members qualify for between 10-20% discount. Expert advice, support, and unmatched service. For more information see the Strategic Defence website.

 

Guardhouse
Guardhouse is an end-to-end workforce management system custom built for NZ security companies. Founded in Australia, Guardhouse is Australia’s leading security specific workforce solution, bringing our product innovation and unique workflow optimisation to the NZ market saving our clients both time and money. Our values that drive your success are customer obsessed, developing unique partnerships, simple yet powerful product design and consistent innovation and R&D. Some of the funcationality includes, Rostering, Time & Attendance, Payroll & Invoicing + integration to accounting and payroll systemts, Welfare Checks, Incident Reporitng, Compliance Management, Company and Site SOPs with digitial signiture, Customer Portal Access, Tours and Patorls module and much more. For more information see the Guardhouse website.

 

Building Networks Compliance Guidance
Building Networks are the leading authority on building compliance and they are offering a 20% discount for members: Building Networks website. For industry news, updates, tips and opinions from the frontline, sign up to the Building Networks newsletter.

 

Mobilcard
NZSA have an agreement with Mobilcard offering members fuel discounts

Key Benefits:

• Up to 16 cents per litre (including GST) discount off the pump price for all diesel and petrol purchased at a discounted Mobilcard acceptor sites. Minimum discount of 12 cents per litre (including GST).
• Available at 330+ sites nationwide. View www.mobilfuelfinder.co.nz to find an acceptor site near you.
• No card or transaction fees.
• No need to manage receipts for tax purposes, all managed under one account.
• Costs can be tracked easily with one monthly invoice. You can also have online access to multiple reports including the fuel consumed by individual vehicles.
• PIN number and purchase restrictions for added security.
• You must be a member of the NZSA to qualify for this offer.

A vehicle consuming 100 litres per week using a discount of up to 6 cents per litre = $6 discount per week..
A vehicle consuming 100 litres per week using the NZSA MOBILCARD discount of up to 16cents per litre = $16 discount per week
For a company fleet of 20 vehicles that’s potentially an annual saving of over $10,000 per annum.
The discount level is dependent on volume of fuel used per annum.
For further information please email [email protected].

 

First Aid and Refresher Training
Life Care Consultants have extensive experience with first aid training in the security industry and are offering NZSA members a 10% discount on all first aid and refresher training.

For further information please email Russell Taylor [email protected].

 

Keeping your team up to date
Like many organisations we are constantly looking for ways to ensure we can communicate effectively with our members and their teams. The best way to stay up to date on NZSA and industry news is via our newsletter. The more people from each company who receive our newsletter, the higher the chance of updates being communicated within the industry. With this in mind, we welcome you to send us any company contacts who would like to receive our newsletter and we will add them to our distribution list. Please email any contacts to [email protected].

 

NZSA member referral – strength in numbers
NZSA’s membership has grown strongly over the past year and each new member not only strengthens the Association and the security community, it also enables us to provide you with more benefits and services and a greater voice for the industry. So help grow your community and strengthen your Association by referring a prospective new member. To refer a prospective member please email details to [email protected]. For details on member benefits please see the NZSA website.

 

CEO’s REPORT

Welcome to our March 2024 newsletter.

Whilst we have been favoured by the weather gods over recent months, we only have to look back to events one year ago and the catastrophic flooding throughout the North Island and in particular, the East Coast and parts of Auckland.

Recent press coverage has highlighted how many of these communities are struggling with property owners displaced, uncertainty with regards to the buyout of condemned houses and formerly productive land still silt covered and unusable.

Unfortunately, the way that security providers stepped up and played a significant role in ensuring the safety of people and property impacted by the flooding went largely un-noticed and unreported at the time. There are many stories of our members and their employees going well beyond their normal responsibilities and providing critical services that benefitted local communities and whilst somewhat belated, it is important that we pass on our thanks and recognition to all who assisted at the time.

 

Financial Health Update
As we head into the new financial year, we are pleased to report that the NZSA is in a very sound financial position, even after incurring unbudgeted costs relative to the now repealed Fair Pay Agreement legislation. Under the guidance of our board, the executive team have over recent years implemented a number of strategic measures that have ensured we are well placed financially and positioned us for the future success and growth of our organisation.

We are also very mindful that many businesses are under considerable cost pressures and that as a voluntary member organisation we need to provide ongoing value and benefit to our members.

Given our sound financial position and the challenging current trading conditions, we are pleased to advise that there will be no increase to our membership fees for the 2024/2025 financial year.

 

Member Benefit Programmes
The NZSA provides a wide range of benefit programmes for our members, details of which can be found later within this newsletter, and on our website.

We are thrilled to advice that we have added a further benefit programme to our offering, with our partnership with The Dog Safe Workplace Ltd launched this month.

Many roles within the security industry involve attending premises where dogs may be present and whilst most interactions are non-threatening, dog attacks are not uncommon, and staff should possess the skills and knowledge on how to accurately recognise and interpret dog signals. This knowledge empowers them to proactively mitigate risks and ensure their safety whilst encountering dogs as part of their job.

 

Update on death of security officer Ramandeep Singh
In our January newsletter we reported on the tragic death of security officer Ramandeep Singh. Ramandeep was a patrol officer for a contractor to Armourguard and was fatally assaulted whilst conducting a check on a park in Massey.

Whilst the police investigation is ongoing, two offenders have been arrested and appeared in court and it seems likely that further arrests and charges are likely.

We would like to thank those who have passed on their condolences and provided support via the Give-a-Little page established for the benefit of Ramandeep’s family

 

Changes to Minimum Wage and Median Wage
The following changes have recently been announced:

Minimum Wage will increase to $23.15 per hour, effective 1 April 2024. This is an increase of 2% on the current rate of $22.70.

Immigration NZ has confirmed that from 28 February 2024, the new Median Wage will be set at $31.61. This is based on StatsNZ data and will be adopted into parts of the immigration policy.

For some visa types, the new median wage will be used as the qualifying threshold and given the complexity of the work visa system we recommend that any members who are AEWV registered, or utilise sector agreements, should seek guidance from Immigration NZ.

We also note that the Living Wage remains at $26.00 per hour (effective from 1 September 2023).

 

PSPLA (Private Security Personnel Licensing Authority) Decisions
There is a commonly held perception that the licensing authority that oversees security workers is ineffective and has no teeth.

The reality however is that the PSPLA, under the stewardship of registrar Trish McConnell, has adopted an increasingly strong position in enforcing the Act and imposing appropriate penalties, including the cancellation of licenses and imposing financial fines.

Decisions by the PSPLA are also published on their website which has introduced a high level of transparency to the process and provides access to the media, public and stakeholders.

Recent examples that have been published in the press include a patched Head Hunters gang member being denied a certificate of approval for security work and a fine imposed on Rotorua based emergency housing figure Raymond (Tiny) Deane and his security business Tiger Security after being found guilty of misconduct.

 

Importance of purchasing technology via authorised NZ channels
It is important that installers are aware that if they directly source imported equipment, there is a strong likelihood that they will not receive support from authorised NZ channel suppliers.

This could cause significant issues for both installers and end users, particularly in the longer term.

We recommend that installers should talk to their local channel partners to clarify the availability of support and conduct appropriate due diligence if sourcing imported equipment.

 

Strategic Partnership – MBIE
We are pleased to have formalised a Strategic Partnership with MBIE that will allow us to provide timely and relevant information on employment matters for our members, along with access to employer resources.

This relationship adds to our existing partnerships with ACC, MSD, Ringa Hora and Waihanga Ara Rau.

We recommend that members should utilise available MBIE resources to ensure they are compliant with minimum employment standards in the workplace.

These include:

• A guide for employers ethical_sustainable_work_practices_employers
• Modules for employers and employees
• Employer self-assessment guide employment_standards_employer_self_assessment_guide
• Employer self-assessment checklist employment_standards_employer_self_assess_checklist
• Employer Stand down-list

 

Guiding principles for the ethical use of Automated Facial Recognition
Facial recognition technology has been with us for some time but has come into media and public focus recently with trials being conducted by Foodstuffs in a number of their stores.

We commend Foodstuffs for working with the Privacy Commissioner on the trial and it will certainly be interesting to see the outcomes.

The use of AFR (Automated Facial Recognition) technology does also present some challenges for the security industry. Most facets of the electronic security industry are compliance driven with well documented standards, guidelines and codes of practice however AFR is an emerging and rapidly developing technology with minimal supporting guidance on how it should be used ethically.

Our Australian counterpart, ASIAL, has recently circulated a draft document titled “Guiding principles for the ethical use of Automated Facial Recognition for industry and stakeholder feedback”. The document is largely based on a 2021 guidance document released by the BSIA (British Security Industry Association).

The NZSA has taken the opportunity to update the draft document to reflect New Zealand legislation and sought feedback from a number of local industry providers and stakeholders.

We hope to have the final version ready for release in the next few months and will ensure a copy is available for access under the Guidelines, Codes of Practice and Standards tab on our website.

As always, we welcome all comments and feedback on NZSA or industry issues and activity.

Keep safe and well.

Kind Regards
Gary Morrison
CEO

 

NZSA / Security Industry updates

NZSA Membership Subscriptions

We are very aware of the financial pressure some of our members are currently facing. Therefore, we have made the decision not to increase our membership subscription pricing for the 2024/25 financial year, to ensure that our services and support remains accessible to as many members as possible. As an industry organisation, together we are stronger.

We will review the subscriptions for 2025/2026 following the AGM (scheduled for August 2024).

 

NZSA partnering with The Dog Safe Workplace

NZSA has partnered with The Dog Safe Workplace. They work with companies to help reduce the number of dog-related incidents that occur when workers enter premises where dogs may be present.

The Dog Safe Workplace offers you and your staff the opportunity to mitigate risks when you encounter dogs on properties.

In 2005 ACC reported 4,250 dog bites and by 2023 it has increased to over 14,000.

We work with companies where dog bites have become a Health & Safety risk and many are struggling to understand how to combat the issue. We have a team of adult educators, canine behaviourists, vets and dog trainers that helped develop a course that explains why dogs do what they do.

We look at what the customer requires, what their staff do when they are entering properties. Are they going into the house or just the yard? What are they carrying with them? How long are they going to be on the property? What are they doing while they are on the property? Is it a delivery or will they be there for a prolonged period of time. When we have all of the information we then customise the course to suit their requirements.

We offer three styles of training Face-2-Face, Microsoft Teams or Zoom training and an Online course. Each training program is fully customised to suit your requirements.

NZSA members will receive a minimum 10% discount, volume-based.

For more information and to register please visit the NZSA Training Hub.

 

COA Conflict Management Training

Train the Trainer and Refresher Training for Trainers

Call for registrations

As the industry peak body, the NZSA has assumed responsibility for the current delivery of the Conflict Management Refresher and Train the Trainer training programmes.

We have contracted subject matter experts to deliver the Conflict Management Training in accordance with specified standards and to ensure that trainers of the unit standards possess the necessary skills and competence.

For further information and to register please email [email protected].

Please note: the Conflict Management Refresher course includes assessment activity.

 

New Zealand Security Magazine

The New Zealand Security Magazine is now online only and physical magazines are no longer being printed.

To subscribe or access the latest issue please visit the NZSM website.

Women in Security Awards Aotearoa makes International Women’s Day return

Support International Women’s Day by nominating a deserving female security professional for the 2023-24 Women in Security Awards Aotearoa. Nominations due 8th March!

International Women’s Day is coming up on 8th March, and what better way to recognise the contribution of women to the security of Aotearoa New Zealand than nominating a colleague or employee in the 2023-24 Women in Security Awards Aotearoa!

Defsec New Zealand (publishers of Line of Defence Magazine and New Zealand Security Magazine), the New Zealand Security Sector Network (NZSSN), and Women in Security & Resilience Alliance (WISECRA) have announced that nominations for the 2023-24 Women in Security Awards Aotearoa are being accepted.

Nominations already submitted in the late 2023 nomination round are not required to be submitted again and will be assessed along with new nominations received between now and the new submission deadline date.

The Women in Security Awards Aotearoa (WiSAA) initiative was established in 2020 to promote the role of women in sectors where they are still significantly under-represented, and to recognise women who are advancing Aotearoa New Zealand’s security, risk and resilience sectors.

“What makes WiSAA uniquely special is the fact that it cuts across security domain boundaries and across the public, private, and community sectors in a way that no other awards programme in our sector does,” said NZSM Chief Editor Nicholas Dynon. “The awards are also unquestionably independent, which means no sponsorships and no paid promotions.”

The nine categories for WiSAA 2023-24 are:

1. Preventing crime and protecting communities
2. Securing organisations and infrastructure
3. Safeguarding networks and people online
4. Countering incivility and violent extremism
5. Contributing to defence and international security
6. Combatting fraud and misrepresentation
7. Protecting borders, trade, and biosecurity
8. Responding to natural disaster events
9. Building resilient communities

Nominations are encouraged from across the private, public (including government, education, military, and law enforcement) and community sectors. It is important to note that these awards are open to the broader security sector, not just ‘industry’. Self-nominations are welcomed.

For more information, including detailed descriptions of each award category, visit the DefSec website.

The deadline for nominations is 4:00pm, Friday 08 March 2024, and nominations of no more than 1,000 words (including supporting material) are to be emailed to [email protected].

Partner updates

Ringa Hora

Be part of building the pathway for the next generation of leaders
New Zealand businesses stand or fall on the ability of its leaders. But is there more room to improve the leadership skills that the economy needs?

This country has diverse enterprises, including numerous small and micro businesses and a thriving Māori business ecosystem. Their success provides employment and income opportunities, delivers goods and services that keep communities thriving, and helps showcase New Zealand to the world.

For these enterprises to succeed, growing and nurturing future leaders at all levels of business is crucial.

Improving leadership capability provides an opportunity to drive further growth in New Zealand’s productivity, and to positively impact businesses and the economy.

As a workforce development council (WDC), Ringa Hora works with the Service sector to review and develop qualifications that meet industry and workforce development needs.

Te Manu Arataki Leadership project, led by Ringa Hora, is now underway for all sectors supported by Ohu Ahumahi Workforce Development Councils. “Te Manu Arataki i te kāhui” is a Māori metaphor that acknowledges one’s leadership qualities and compares them to a bird leading a flock, often seen when birds fly in a ‘Skein’ or ‘V’ formation.

The project aims to enhance the quality of leadership training credentials by:

• reviewing existing leadership credentials across the vocational education sector
• developing new products where appropriate
• facilitating career pathways into leadership.

Together, we can make a difference and lead our businesses and the New Zealand economy towards a brighter future. Sign up to be involved and stay informed about the project.

For registration of interest please see the Ringa Hora website.

Help us shape the future of Service skills
New Zealand’s Service sector grows excellent communicators, problem solvers, collaborators and leaders. The changing nature of work is increasing the demand for these people and the soft skills they possess. We’ve heard that our industries want and value people with essential and transferrable skills, and are looking for short, sharp, stackable credentials.

We will soon be making an application to NZQA for the approval of the New Zealand Certificate in Service Sector Skills (Level 3) [Working title] and require your feedback and support (stakeholder attestations). We are also looking for a great name for this qualification.

Please provide feedback, attestations and qualification name suggestions to [email protected] with ‘Future of Service skills’ in the subject line.

More information can be found on our website – Shaping The Future of Service Skills – Ringa Hora

 

ACC – Have a Hmmm

As we enjoy the warmer months, ACC is asking people to ‘Have a hmmm’ while out and about enjoying recreational summer activities. Injuries not only mean less fun over summer, but can also impact friends, family, workmates, and employers.

To keep people safe, and ensure they return home to their whanau every day, healthy and injury-free, ACC has launched a summer ‘Have a hmmm’ campaign. It aims to remind people that most injuries can be prevented and to ‘have a hmmm’ before they jump in.

ACC has identified the most common summer injuries and created some top tips to keep people safe. From now until April you’ll see these tips across social media, on digital channels and at some of our summer hot spots.

While two-thirds of injuries happen outside of work, these recreational injuries still have an impact on businesses and an injured employee’s workmates.

 

Ministry of Social Development

Changes to MSD’s Flexiwage

There has been a review of MSD’s Flexi-wage, and some changes have been made in response to feedback from employers and staff. They focus on strengthening criteria so that the support goes to where it’s needed most. That means a client must not meet the entry-level requirements of a role and need training to do the job.

What’s Flexi-wage again?

Flexi-wage provides a wage subsidy and extra assistance to support employers to take on people who don’t meet the job’s entry-level requirements and otherwise have trouble getting a job. It helps people get skills and experience to get and stay in unsubsidised work. Flexi-wage has different payment bands, based on how much training and upskilling support an employer needs to provide.

Interested in Flexiwage: check out the MSD website for more employer information: Flexi-wage subsidy – employer information – Work and Income

Some of the changes

• MSD has amended the eligibility wording. To be eligible, the job seeker must not meet the job’s entry-level requirements and needs training and upskilling to do the job.
• The Short-term Training Allowance has increased from $1,000 to $2,000, to give more support to employers to pay for training.
• Flexi-wage band amounts have changed. Band 1 has reduced from $6624 to $5638 over 24 weeks, while Band 2 has increased from $9936 to $11,277 over 36 weeks.
• The limit for Flexi-wage support applies to the employer in respect to their worker, rather than the worker themselves. That means that, if an employee loses their job due to unforeseen circumstances, their next period of employment can still be eligible for flexiwage support should they need it.

 

NZSA Membership

We welcome the following new Corporate Members:

Prestige Protection Ltd

Savvy Security Ltd

Skye Secure Ltd

 

and the following new Associate Company Member:

Chevtrain Ltd

 

and the following new Associate Individual Member:

Israel MacDonald

 

 

Events

Women in Compliance Conference

Women In Compliance aims to spotlight the pivotal role that women play within the building compliance industry.

• Hear from women who have overcome obstacles and shown remarkable resilience as leaders in their specific field and highlighting their achievements and lessons learnt.
• Provide a platform for professionals to connect, collaborate and share insights on how to enhance compliance processes through effective networking and partnerships.
• Address the importance of mentorship and skill development which will empower women to excel in their roles fostering growth and inclusivity.

By attending this conference, delegates will gain valuable insights, exchange knowledge and collaborate on strategies that empower women to thrive in building compliance roles.

For further information and to register please visit the website.

 

FPANZ Get it Right seminars

The Fire Protection Association NZ is running Get it Right Seminars in early April covering Fire Protection and Alarm Systems in Buildings NZS 4512:2021.

The workshops will be very relevant to those members who are involved in the installation of fire alarm systems as part of their service offering.

NZSA Members will qualify for FPA Member rates.

For dates and details refer to the flyer: Get_it_Right_Alarm_Systems_Flyer_2024_Form

 

NZISF breakfast meeting

Topic:  Navigating the world of cybersecurity micro consulting services

Micro-consulting is revolutionising the cybersecurity landscape by offering agile, targeted services that cater to specific needs without the overhead of traditional consulting. This innovative approach allows for rapid deployment of cybersecurity expertise, facilitating immediate and effective responses to cybersecurity needs. It empowers New Zealand businesses of all sizes, enabling them to address challenges efficiently and cost-effectively. Join us as we explore the concepts and methodologies behind micro-consulting in the realm of cybersecurity.

Speaker: Francois Marais

When: 8:00am Thursday 14 March 2024 via zoom

For further information and to register please see NZISF.

 

Member Benefits

 

NZSA HR Advisory Service

A reminder to members that SuccessHR are human resource consultants available for any employment support regarding your employees.

Support offered at no expense to our members is telephone communication support eg. disciplinary, performance. You also have access to individual employment agreements. Any additional support would be charged to you accordingly.

For any support or further information please contact:

Susan Beange
Human Resources Team Lead
[email protected]
021 929 528

 

Strategic Defence

Strategic Defence provides specialist protective products to members of the security industry. These products include stab/ballistic vests, boots, fog-free protective eyewear, hand-held metal detectors, flashlights, and many more. NZSA members qualify for between 10-20% discount. Expert advice, support, and unmatched service.

For more information see the Strategic Defence website.

 

Guardhouse

Guardhouse is an end-to-end workforce management system custom built for NZ security companies. Founded in Australia, Guardhouse is Australia’s leading security specific workforce solution, bringing our product innovation and unique workflow optimisation to the NZ market saving our clients both time and money. Our values that drive your success are customer obsessed, developing unique partnerships, simple yet powerful product design and consistent innovation and R&D.

Some of the funcationality includes, Rostering, Time & Attendance, Payroll & Invoicing + integration to accounting and payroll systemts, Welfare Checks, Incident Reporitng, Compliance Management, Company and Site SOPs with digitial signiture, Customer Portal Access, Tours and Patorls module and much more.

For more information see the Guardhouse website.

Building Networks Compliance Guidance

Building Networks are the leading authority on building compliance and they are offering a 20% discount for members: Building Networks website.

For industry news, updates, tips and opinions from the frontline, sign up to the Building Networks newsletter or visit their YouTube channel.

 

Mobilcard

NZSA have an agreement with Mobilcard offering members fuel discounts

Key Benefits:

• Up to 16 cents per litre (including GST) discount off the pump price for all diesel and petrol purchased at a discounted Mobilcard acceptor sites. Minimum discount of 12 cents per litre (including GST).
• Available at 330+ sites nationwide. View www.mobilfuelfinder.co.nz to find an acceptor site near you.
• No card or transaction fees.
• No need to manage receipts for tax purposes, all managed under one account.
• Costs can be tracked easily with one monthly invoice. You can also have online access to multiple reports including the fuel consumed by individual vehicles.
• PIN number and purchase restrictions for added security.
• You must be a member of the NZSA to qualify for this offer.

A vehicle consuming 100 litres per week using a discount of up to 6 cents per litre = $6 discount per week..

A vehicle consuming 100 litres per week using the NZSA MOBILCARD discount of up to 16cents per litre = $16 discount per week

For a company fleet of 20 vehicles that’s potentially an annual saving of over $10,000 per annum.

The discount level is dependent on volume of fuel used per annum.

For further information please email [email protected].

 

First Aid and Refresher Training

Life Care Consultants have extensive experience with first aid training in the security industry and are offering NZSA members a 10% discount on all first aid and refresher training.

For further information please email Russell Taylor [email protected].

 

Keeping your team up to date

Like many organisations we are constantly looking for ways to ensure we can communicate effectively with our members and their teams. The best way to stay up to date on NZSA and industry news is via our newsletter. The more people from each company who receive our newsletter, the higher the chance of updates being communicated within the industry.

With this in mind, we welcome you to send us any company contacts who would like to receive our newsletter and we will add them to our distribution list.

Please email any contacts to [email protected].

 

NZSA member referral – strength in numbers

NZSA’s membership has grown strongly over the past year and each new member not only strengthens the Association and the security community, it also enables us to provide you with more benefits and services and a greater voice for the industry. So help grow your community and strengthen your Association by referring a prospective new member.

To refer a prospective member please email details to [email protected].

For details on member benefits please see the NZSA website.

 

We are thrilled to announce the following recipients of the NZSA Saved a Life Medal. Gloria Peea, Armourguard Security Gagan Bhalla, Armourguard Security Neil Tomuli and Pule Talia, Armourguard Security Sinapati Tuugasala and Fuarosa Oloaga, Armourguard Security To read their stories please visit the NZSA website.   To make a nomination please see the NZSA website. From the NZSA team

CEO’s REPORT

Welcome to our November 2023 newsletter.

Congratulations to all the finalists and award winners at this year’s New Zealand Security Awards held on 15 September at Te Pae in Christchurch.

We had close to 200 attendees and whilst I was unable to attend due to contracting Covid, the feedback has been fantastic with many saying it was the best event yet. Whilst the venue, the food, and our MC Doug Kamo all got rave reviews, the standout was undoubtably the calibre of the category winners, and in particular the Security Professional of the Year, Neekita Prakash from First Security.

Details on the award winners, including their citations, can be found on the NZSA website.

I can confirm that the 2024 New Zealand Security Awards event will be held in Auckland on Friday 20 September at the Crowne Plaza. Make sure you have the date in your diary.

 

FPA (Fair Pay Agreement) update
Whilst the exact structure and composition of the new government will not be known until early November at best, it appears certain that the FPA legislation will be repealed with some haste.

That does however leave the respective bargaining parties under those FPA’s that are in progress in a degree of limbo where they are obligated to comply with the existing legislation and to act in good faith.

Our position is that it is perfectly in good faith for employer associations to take time to properly understand the impact of the election, consider what actions the new government (once formed) intends to take; and to consult with the employers we are representing about the actions they wish for us to take as their representative.

It is also fair to say that the view of the NZSA board, and various industry employers that I have talked to post the election, is that we do not want to commit further time and cost to a process that almost certainly will not progress.

We have conveyed this message to both MBIE and Etu (as the employer bargaining party) and will maintain ongoing communications with them and our impacted members over coming weeks.

 

Application for inclusion of Security Technicians on Green List
It was very disappointing to find out from MBIE that our application for the inclusion of Security Technicians onto the Green List was unsuccessful. It is our understanding that only 14 applications were approved from a substantial list of submissions, and it looks like prioritisation was based on those positions with the greatest demand (based on historical applications) and those deemed to be nationally significant (such as important to health outcomes or pivotal to established value chain).

We have requested further clarification from MBIE on the opportunity to apply via other ANZSCO codes where applicants in specialised jobs may be able to apply under an existing Green List role if their job description is a substantial match and they meet the skill requirements.

Similarly, we are waiting advice on any possible changes to the Green List under the incoming government.

We will keep members posted on any developments.

 

Licensing requirements – Wheel Clampers and Process Servers
Members may have seen recent press articles concerning PSPLA decisions relating to Wheel Clampers and Process Servers.

The following communication has been provided by our Registrar, Trish McConnell, to provide clarity.

Wheel Clampers
Third party operators who are in the business of patrolling car parks and clamping cars or issuing tickets fit within the definition of property guard, provided they are being paid to do so. The payment can be a contractual amount from the owners of the car park or payments by way of fees directly from the drivers of the cars clamped or ticketed.

Owners or legal occupiers of parking areas or buildings who patrol or clamp vehicles infringing parking restrictions do not fit within the definition of property guard. In addition, their employees are not property guard employees as defined in S17 of the PSPPI Act.

If the owners or occupiers contract the patrolling and enforcement of parking restrictions to a third party, then the third party must hold a security licence in the class of property guard. Any of their employees who carry out patrolling, ticketing and clamping also need to hold a CoA in that class.

Similarly, if a party takes it upon themselves to enforce parking restrictions in areas where they have no ownership or occupation rights they must have a licence in the class of property guard if they are collecting fees or payments from the drivers or owners of the cars they ticket or clamp.

Process Servers
It is clear from the class definitions that serving documents, whether for the court or re debt collection work, does not need to be carried out by a Private Investigator, and therefore does not require the individual or company providing the services to be licensed. The reason why the work is often done by a licensed Private Investigator is that professional process servers will often also do work in tracking people down in order to serve them. It is the tracing and tracking work that requires a licence in the Private Investigator class, not the document service itself.

 

Changes to Building Code
Those who are installing smoke detectors into residential properties, or supplying to the market, are reminded that changes to the Building Code come into force in November.

Key points are:

• The adoption of interconnected smoke alarms as the minimum fire safety system in household units. (Interconnected smoke alarms work by sending signals between the smoke alarms in a house and can be wired or wireless).
• Smoke alarms shall be located in all bedrooms, living spaces, hallways, and landings within the building.

Smoke alarms must also comply with at least one of the following:

• UL217, CAN/ULC S531, BS EN 14604, ISO 12239, or AS 3786
• All wiring between the power supply and the smoke alarms shall be supervised.
• Power supply and Backup shall comply with:
• NZS 4512 or AS/NZS 2201.1

Other key requirements are:

• Each smoke alarm should be tested at least once per month by activating the “test” function.
• Each smoke alarm should be inspected and cleaned every 6 months with a soft brush attachment of a vacuum cleaner (without disassembling).
• A long life (minimum 10 years) non removeable, sealed battery.

Note: We are seeking industry views re the 10-year battery life and based on feedback received, may approach MBIE for consultation and review. If you wish to have a say on this, please contact Gary on [email protected].

 

School Gateway Programme and attendance at CATE Conference
Over the last few weeks, we have been trialling our initial School Gateway Programme in partnership with The Learning Place (TLP). Under the programme, TLP provide a cohort of students with three to four days training and covering health and safety and the three-unit standards that make up the Certificate of Approval. On completion, the credits are registered on the students record of achievement, meaning they can apply for a CoA once they turn 18, and the students are paired with several of our members for on-job work experience.

The students can perform services as they are acting as volunteers but must be strictly supervised and not placed into at-risk situations. Whilst predominantly targeted at students interested in the guarding sector, TLP will also identify those with a technical aptitude, and we will look to match with members providing electronic services.

The benefit for our members is that they have the opportunity to talk to the students about career opportunities and where applicable to be able to offer employment to those considering leaving school.

We will formally launch the School Gateway Programme whilst attending the CATE Conference (Careers and Transitional Education Association) over the three days 22 to 24 November in Whangarei.

This conference is attended by approximately 600 school career advisors and allows us to talk directly to those who engage regularly with year 11 and 12 students across the country.

Our plan for next year is to provide a calendar on our website listing those schools and locations that TLP will be attending and inviting members to register their participation in the programme.

 

Partnership with ETCO re Apprentice Security Technician Placements

The NZSA has partnered with ETCO (Electrical Training Company) so that we can offer their Electrical Apprentices employment opportunities as entry level Security Technicians/Apprentices with NZSA members.

The candidates are currently “employed” by ETCO as apprentices whilst working towards the New Zealand Certificate in Electrical Engineering Theory and Practice (Trade) Level 4. Given that the qualification has relevance to security technician duties and can easily be changed over, and the current work vacancies within the electronic security sector, it makes sense that we look to find full-time work placements for those candidates who are open to a direction change with our members.

An added benefit for our members is that all candidates have successfully completed core training requirements such as Site Safe and First Aid, have on-job work experience and have their own tool kits.

If you are looking to employ an entry level/apprentice Security Technician, watch out for regular listings with candidate details.

 

Guiding principles for the ethical use of Automated Facial Recognition
Automated Facial Recognition (AFR) is a technology capable of matching a human face from a digital image or a video frame against a database of faces. It has been designed to improve the safety and wellbeing of people, as well as providing a tool to assist and speed up operational processes, typically being used to authenticate users through ID verification services and works by pinpointing and measuring facial features from a given image.

AFR is one of many data analysis technologies which sit under the overarching umbrella of Artificial Intelligence (AI).

The ethics of AI and its application need to be regularly reviewed to ensure that it is not allowed to act autonomously without human oversight, and it should not be used in any way which causes harm to individuals.

The NZSA is closely monitoring the development of overseas guidelines on this and in particular, work by the British Security Industry Association and Australian Security Industry Association respectively. We expect to have a draft guideline specific to New Zealand legislation available for circulation and feedback by the first quarter of 2024 but in the meantime welcome any expressions of interest from parties who may wish to have input.

 

Changes to NZSA Rules/Constitution

The new Incorporated Societies Act 2022 came into force on 5 October 2023 however Incorporated Societies such as the NZSA have until April 2026 to register and make sure they are compliant with the new Act.

Our current Rules and By-Laws are robust and have been fit for purpose however there will be a significant number of changes to be made, some simple such as changing the wording from Rules to Constitution, and others more complex such as including a member Disputes and Complaints Process.

Our current planning is that we will work through all necessary changes and amendments early next year and document them fully, with explanation, for our members well prior to the 2024 AGM where they can be voted on.

 

As always, we welcome all comments and feedback on NZSA or industry issues and activity.

Keep safe and well.

Kind Regards
Gary Morrison
CEO

 

NZSA / Security Industry updates

Foundation Security Core Skills on the NZSA Training Hub
Created by Quinton Swanson of Hard Target, this course covers understanding of legislation, tactical communication, body language and projection, weapon awareness, teamwork and tactical awareness.

To register please visit the NZSA Training Hub.

 

School gateway programme
Our thanks to the teams at Alarm Solutions and Alpha Protection Services who attended the Careers Expo and Gateway Programme at St Bede’s College in Christchurch during September. We look forward to further member engagement when we officially launch our School Gateway Programme in partnership with The Learning Place in early 2024.

 

New Zealand Security Awards 2023
Congratulations to all the nominees, finalists and Award winners of the 2023 New Zealand Security Awards.

To read the winner’s stories please visit the NZSA website.

 

Partner updates

Ringa Hora

Ringa Hora would like to invite you to read the 2023 Workforce Development Plan.

Workforce development is pivotal in bolstering industry resilience, particularly in the face of an increasingly uncertain operating environment. This underscores the need for a skilled and adaptable workforce that can effectively navigate disruptions and contribute to the overall sustainability of industries.

This Workforce Development Plan presents:

• A high-level summary of the people working in the Service sector today
• The things that are top of mind for the sector
• A future vision
• Key areas of focus and actions we can take to develop the future workforce together.

Read about the Workforce Development Plan

A shared roadmap for Service sector industries

The Workforce Development Plan looks across the Service sector and sets out the major factors shaping the sector and an overarching vision for the future.

Alongside this Ringa Hora have created a Security Workforce Action Plan that focuses on the characteristics and dynamics of the industry and its workforce. It describes what the future could look like for the Security workforce, the current challenges faced by the industry, and sets out the actions we can take to tackle this wero | challenge.

How you can get involved

To make this Workforce Development Plan a reality, it needs to be driven by people who know the Service sector best – people like you. By continuing to work together, we can grow in the knowledge and understanding of the sector and its industries and create real change for the Service sector.

 

ACC – Teamwork Makes Recovery Work

When an employee is injured, it can have a significant impact – not only for the injured person, but their workmates, team morale and a business’ productivity.

In many cases and with some temporary adjustments, people can safely recover from injury while working. But it takes a team – the injured person, their health provider, employer and ACC.

Recovering at work following an injury helps people get better sooner compared to staying at home and has further benefits for them and for businesses.

For an injured person, alternative duties or modified hours are good for physical and mental wellbeing, provides structure and routine, social connection and a sense of purpose which all make a positive difference to recovery.

Supporting an injured person to stay connected to the workplace means they’re more likely to return to their usual work. For business owners, it can mean hanging on to their skills and expertise, saving on recruiting and training new staff, helps build a positive work environment and shows a commitment to employee wellbeing.

Many injured employees are keen to continue working. Most ACC clients who had a positive recovery at work experience say it helped them return to normality, increase their strength and mobility, and boost their mental and psychological health.

Employers can pay for their injured employee’s productive hours and can be topped up by ACC’s weekly compensation. It means the employee could earn up to 100% of their pre-injury income rather than 80% on weekly compensation alone.

ACC has developed new resources and videos for employers to understand their role in recovery at work, and practical quick guides to help them do it successfully.  Visit the ACC website.

 

Ministry of Social Development

Below is a summary of products/programmes from MSD to help you attact, train and retain good staff (click on the links for further details).

Mana in Mahi
Mana in Mahi matches employers with people who are keen to start a career and need extra support to begin and maintain their work and training journey.

Skills for Industry
If candidates need industry specific skills for a job, we may be able to offer funding and support to help with short-term pre-employment or in-work training. Training can be delivered by employers to meet your requirements. We work with you to develop the best approach.

Flexi-Wage
Flexi-wage helps you hire staff and get them the skills needed to do the job. You get a wage contribution, while they get training and ongoing support. The job must continue after the Flexi-wage has finished.

 

MBIE – Climate Action Plan

Create your climate action plan.

With the Climate Action Toolbox, you’re 3 steps away from having a positive impact.

• Learn where you can reduce emissions.
• Measure your carbon footprint, set a target and track progress.

Act on your step-by-step plan to reduce emissions—from quick wins you can act on today, to major changes you can prepare for.

For further information please see the Climate Action Plan Toolbox.

 

 

NZSA Membership

We welcome the following new Corporate Members:

Armitage Group Limited

Defence Security Limited

Fahey Fence Hire Limited

NPE-Tech (2021) Limited

One Man Army Security Limited

SecuriSure Limited

Total Security Limited

 

and the following new Associate Individual Member:

Clyde Field

 

Events

2023 AGM

The NZSA 2023 Annual General Meeting will be held at 8.45am on Tuesday 21 November at the Auckland Rose Park Hotel in Parnell.

If you are a member and have not received a notification please email [email protected].

 

Waihanga Ara Rau – “Inclusion In” Leadership Rōpū Hui

Calling all people passionate about progressing equity, diversity, and inclusion within construction & infrastructure. We’d love you to join us to connect, share, and make plans on how we can make change together.

Waihanga Ara Rau are hosting a hui to bring people together, with a plan to share any work we’re doing, find projects to collaborate on, and use our shared voice to influence progress in construction & infrastructure. Hosted by us, but created together.

Objectives are:

• to understand what organisations and individuals are working on to progress equity, diversity, and inclusion in construction & infrastructure in Aotearoa
• to collaborate on systemic change projects and advocate for legislation change
• to use our collective voice to influence more change
• to create a ‘one stop shop’, where anyone can find out about all our organisations and the work we’re doing to reach equity within construction & infrastructure
• to share each other’s mahi, and promote what each other are doing
• to support each other to continue this mahi, through wellbeing, education, and sharing experiences.

This will be the first of many hui, both online and in person. Hopefully you can make it! Feel free to share this invite with others who are working and/or passionate about making construction & infrastructure inclusive for all.

For further information please visit the website.

 

NZISF breakfast meeting

Topic:  Like ISO/IEC 27001 but backwards

As a consultant, Stephen Coates has witnessed a number of failed ISMS implementation projects. These are often due to a combination of focussing on the ISO/IEC 27001 mandatory clauses in sequence (from 4 to 10), treating these as a project plan and running out of steam, and trying to reimplement all of the Annex A controls at once. In this talk Stephen examines some of those failures and proposes working backwards, so that improvements, reviews, audits, metrics and operation are addressed earlier, rather than later or not at all.

When: 8:00am Thursday 9 November 2023 via zoom

For further information and to register please see NZISF.

 

Member Benefits

Strategic Defence
We are pleased to announce a new partnership with Strategic Defence.

Strategic Defence provides specialist protective products to members of the security industry. These products include stab/ballistic vests, boots, fog-free protective eyewear, hand-held metal detectors, flashlights, and many more. NZSA members qualify for between 10-20% discount. Expert advice, support, and unmatched service.

For more information see the Strategic Defence website.

 

Guardhouse
We are pleased to announce a new partnership with Guardhouse.

Guardhouse is an end-to-end workforce management system custom built for NZ security companies. Founded in Australia, Guardhouse is Australia’s leading security specific workforce solution, bringing our product innovation and unique workflow optimisation to the NZ market saving our clients both time and money. Our values that drive your success are customer obsessed, developing unique partnerships, simple yet powerful product design and consistent innovation and R&D.

Some of the funcationality includes, Rostering, Time & Attendance, Payroll & Invoicing + integration to accounting and payroll systemts, Welfare Checks, Incident Reporitng, Compliance Management, Company and Site SOPs with digitial signiture, Customer Portal Access, Tours and Patorls module and much more.

For more information see the Guardhouse website and blog.

 

NZSA HR Advisory Service
A reminder to members that SuccessHR are human resource consultants available for any employment support regarding your employees.

Support offered at no expense to our members is telephone communication support eg. disciplinary, performance. You also have access to individual employment agreements. Any additional support would be charged to you accordingly.

For any support or further information please contact:

Susan Beange
Human Resources Team Lead
[email protected]
021 929 528

Emma Johnston
Human Resources Specialist
[email protected]
021 659 456

 

Building Networks Compliance Guidance
Building Networks are the leading authority on building compliance and they are offering a 20% discount for members: Building Networks website.

For industry news, updates, tips and opinions from the frontline, sign up to the Building Networks newsletter or visit their YouTube channel.

 

Mobilcard
NZSA have an agreement with Mobilcard offering members fuel discounts.

Key Benefits:

• Up to 16 cents per litre (including GST) discount off the pump price for all diesel and petrol purchased at a discounted Mobilcard acceptor sites. Minimum discount of 12 cents per litre (including GST).
• Available at 330+ sites nationwide. View www.mobilfuelfinder.co.nz to find an acceptor site near you.
• No card or transaction fees.
• No need to manage receipts for tax purposes, all managed under one account.
• Costs can be tracked easily with one monthly invoice. You can also have online access to multiple reports including the fuel consumed by individual vehicles.
• PIN number and purchase restrictions for added security.
• You must be a member of the NZSA to qualify for this offer.

A vehicle consuming 100 litres per week using a discount of up to 6 cents per litre = $6 discount per week..

A vehicle consuming 100 litres per week using the NZSA MOBILCARD discount of up to 16cents per litre = $16 discount per week

For a company fleet of 20 vehicles that’s potentially an annual saving of over $10,000 per annum.

The discount level is dependent on volume of fuel used per annum.

For further information please email [email protected].

 

First Aid and Refresher Training

Life Care Consultants have extensive experience with first aid training in the security industry and are offering NZSA members a 10% discount on all first aid and refresher training.

For further information please email Russell Taylor [email protected].

 

Keeping your team up to date

Like many organisations we are constantly looking for ways to ensure we can communicate effectively with our members and their teams. The best way to stay up to date on NZSA and industry news is via our newsletter. The more people from each company who receive our newsletter, the higher the chance of updates being communicated within the industry.

With this in mind, we welcome you to send us any company contacts who would like to receive our newsletter and we will add them to our distribution list.

Please email any contacts to [email protected].

 

NZSA member referral – strength in numbers

NZSA’s membership has grown strongly over the past year and each new member not only strengthens the Association and the security community, it also enables us to provide you with more benefits and services and a greater voice for the industry. So help grow your community and strengthen your Association by referring a prospective new member.

To refer a prospective member please email details to [email protected]. For details on member benefits please see the NZSA website.

 

Installing Smoke Detectors in homes?

Changes to the Building Code take place next month that you need to be aware of.

Key points:

• The adoption of interconnected smoke alarms as the minimum fire safety system in household units. Interconnected smoke alarms work by sending signals between the smoke alarms in a house. These can be wired or wireless.
• Smoke alarms shall be located in ALL bedrooms, living spaces, hallways, and landings within the building.

Remembering of course – that Smoke alarms shall comply with at least one of the following:
UL217 ; CAN/ULC S531 ; BS EN 14604 ; ISO 12239 ; or AS 3786

All wiring between the power supply and the smoke alarms shall be supervised. Power Supply and Backup shall comply with:
NZS 4512 or AS/NZS 2201.1

• Each smoke alarm should be tested at least once per month by activating the ‘test’ function.
• Each smoke alarm should be inspected and cleaned every 6 months with a soft brush attachment of a vacuum cleaner (without disassembling).
• A long life (minimum 10 years) non removable, sealed battery

For further information see the Building Code website.

The NZSA team.