Social connection might not appear on most construction site safety plans, but research is increasingly clear that it plays a meaningful role in the wellbeing and psychological safety of the workforce. A 2025 survey of more than 2,300 construction workers conducted by MATES in Construction found that 27% of respondents identified mateship and social connection as a key positive influence in their workplace — a finding that puts informal connection alongside more formal wellbeing programmes in terms of practical impact.
The construction industry has one of the highest suicide rates of any sector in New Zealand, and MATES in Construction has been working for years to change the culture and structures that contribute to that. The Long Lap campaign is one practical expression of that work.
What Workers Are Saying
The survey findings put specificity behind something that experienced site managers have long recognised intuitively. Workers described informal gatherings — site BBQs, after-work catch-ups, shared lunch breaks — not as optional social extras but as essential moments that help people reset, stay connected, and feel part of something. The language used by respondents frames these moments as “release valves”: times when the pressure of the job can be acknowledged and shared rather than carried alone.
That language matters. It reflects an understanding that construction work is demanding in ways that go beyond the physical, and that the relationships built on site are part of what makes it sustainable over a career.
The Long Lap
The MATES Long Lap invites construction teams across New Zealand to collectively walk, run, or cycle a target distance together, with a collective goal of 75,000 kilometres across all participating teams. The campaign is supported by ASB and registration is open through the MATES in Construction website.
The format is deliberately accessible. It does not require exceptional fitness or a specific type of activity — the point is the doing-it-together rather than the distance or the speed. For site managers looking for a low-barrier way to build connection within their team, the Long Lap provides both structure and a reason to make it happen.
Find more on mental health and wellbeing in New Zealand’s construction sector, or connect with MATES in Construction and other support organisations active in your region.
