The Health and Safety Hub
The EMA’s Health and Safety Hub shares real stories and honest conversations from people working at the coalface of health and safety. Each episode explores lived experiences, emerging risks, regulatory changes, and what’s genuinely making a difference in New Zealand workplaces. This podcast series is proudly produced in partnership with nib.
Episode 4: Building Strong Safety Cultures: Insights from Neville Rockhouse
In this episode of The Health and Safety Hub, Kevin Chambers talks to Neville Rockhouse, who was health and safety manager at Pike River Mine. They discuss what meaningful safety leadership really looks like in high‑risk environments. Neville shares practical insights on visible leadership, building trust, creating a no‑blame culture, and why “trust but verify” is essential for any effective safety system. He also explores the role of data, accountability, and continuous learning in lifting New Zealand’s safety performance.
If you’re ready to take the next step in strengthening safety at your organisation, join the EMA’s Safety Culture Programme and help build a stronger, safer workplace culture. Learn more at: Safety Culture Programme – a proactive approach to health and safety. This podcast series is proudly produced in partnership with nib.
Episode 3: Beyond Compliance: Why Safety Culture Shapes Workplace Wellbeing
In this episode, EMA Health and Safety Advisor Rebekah Stephens joins Paul Jarvie to unpack what real safety culture looks like, how leadership drives it, and why continuous improvement and trust are essential to creating safer, more engaged workplaces.
If you’re ready to take the next step in strengthening safety at your organisation, join the EMA’s Safety Culture Programme and help build a stronger, safer workplace culture. Learn more at: ema.co.nz/services/health-and-safety/safety-culture-programme. This podcast series is proudly produced in partnership with nib.
Episode 2: What challenges are today’s health and safety reps facing at work?
In this episode of the EMA’s new podcast series, The Health and Safety Hub, Kevin Chambers talks to Craig Bleakley, Safety & Risk Specialist at ecoPortal. Craig explores the biggest challenges facing today’s H&S representatives, including unclear expectations, poor access to information, and limited organisational support. He also shares what good practice looks like and how leaders can better enable strong worker voice. A practical listen for reps and leaders alike. Craig has been part of the EMA’s facilitation team since 2015, bringing his practical experience to a variety of health and safety courses.
More information on the EMA’s health and safety training courses can be found here: Health and Safety Courses: Discover Professional Training | EMA. The Health and Safety Hub is proudly produced in partnership with nib.
Episode 1: What does Co‑Design Look Like in Health and Safety Training?
Becki Abbott is the Head of Health, Safety & Wellbeing at Auckland Council, New Zealand’s largest local government organisation and one of the biggest in Australasia. She leads a team of 42 specialists dedicated to supporting the safety and wellbeing of the council’s diverse workforce. In this conversation with the EMA’s Kevin Chambers, Becki explores how co‑design is reshaping the way health and safety training is delivered. She shares insights into the power of learning teams, worker voice, and strong facilitation skills in creating training that reflects real work, and ultimately delivers better safety outcomes.
Becki is a graduate of the EMA’s NZ Diploma in Workplace Health and Safety Management (Level 6), the country’s only face‑to‑face NZQA Level 6 programme for health and safety professionals. More information on the EMA’s health and safety training courses can be found here: Health and Safety Courses: Discover Professional Training | EMA. This podcast series is proudly produced in partnership with nib.