Civil Labour Hire Across New Zealand. Roading, Drainage, Infrastructure.
Trade Assist supplies civil labourers, plant operators, drainage crew, traffic management staff and infrastructure workers across New Zealand's most active civil programmes. From Auckland's infrastructure pipeline to Wellington's seismic upgrade work to the ongoing Cyclone Gabrielle recovery in Hawke's Bay - we have active supply across all of it.
ConstructSafe accredited.
Drug-tested before day one.
Rapid deployment from our four branches.
Request staff for your next project
You need civil workers
Tell us the role, location, plant class or TM qualification required and your start date. Civil fills are typically same-day to 24 hours. Volume crews for recovery or infrastructure programmes: 48 hours. Call 0800 999 599 or brief us using the form below.
You're looking for civil work
Register with your plant endorsements, ConstructSafe card, TC or STMS qualification and availability. We're placing across Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch and Hawke's Bay right now — roading, drainage, earthworks and infrastructure. Your next role is probably already in our system.
Why Civil Employers Choose Trade Assist
Traffic controllers and STMs — qualified before they reach site. 
Every TC we supply holds NZQA Unit Standard 24560. Every STMS holds NZQA 24561. The qualification card is verified before placement — not during induction. If the card is expired or the wrong level, they don't go on site. We supply TCs and STMs to roading contractors, councils and infrastructure projects across the country.
Plant operators matched by machine class — not just 'operator'.
We brief on the machine, not just the role. Excavator operators are placed by machine type — 2T, 5T, 20T, 35T. Dozer, grader and roller operators are matched to the specific equipment on your programme. All plant endorsements checked against NZQA unit standards before placement.
ConstructSafe accredited testing centre.
Trade Assist is a CHASNZ-accredited ConstructSafe testing centre. Tier 1 and Tier 2 assessments available at our branches before mobilisation. Workers arrive with the card in hand — the testing bottleneck is removed from your induction process.
Compliance & Safety Standards
ConstructSafe (CHASNZ)
Site Safe Foundation Passport
Traffic Controller — NZQA Unit Standard 24560
Site Traffic Management Supervisor — NZQA Unit Standard 24561
Plant Operation (NZQA Unit Standards)
Health and Safety at Work Act 2015 (HSWA)
ConstructSafe (CHASNZ)
Trade Assist is an accredited ConstructSafe testing centre. Tier 1 and Tier 2 assessments available at our branches before mobilisation. All civil workers carry a current ConstructSafe card — verified before placement.
Our Process
Brief submitted
Workers matched from pre-vetted pool
Compliance and qualifications verified
Site induction package confirmed
Mobilisation — 24 to 48 hours
Ongoing programme management
Brief submitted
Role, location, start date, plant class or TM qualification required, ConstructSafe tier needed and any site access requirements. The more detail, the faster we can match.
Opportunities you may be interested in...
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Civil is one of our deepest sectors
Each branch carries dedicated civil consultants with their own pipeline of vetted operators, labourers and TM-qualified workers. For Hawke's Bay cyclone recovery supply: call 0800 999 599 and ask for the Hawke's Bay civil team.
Auckland
Melissa Johnson
Senior Recruitment Consultant - Civil & Construction
Auckland
Ronique Breedt
Senior Recruitment Consultant - Construction
Christchurch
Abby Power
Recruitment Consultant - Civil & Works
Wellington
Elizabeth Anglish
Wellington Branch Manager
Wellington
Elina Telea
Recruitment Resourcer - Civil, Construction & Trades
Frequently asked questions
What civil roles does Trade Assist supply?
Civil labourers, excavator operators (2T–35T), bulldozer, grader and roller operators, traffic controllers (TC), site traffic management supervisors (STMS), pipe layers, drainlayers, roading workers, concrete gangs, retaining wall builders, earthworks operators, infrastructure maintenance workers and survey assistants.
Do your workers have ConstructSafe cards?
Yes. All civil workers carry a current ConstructSafe Tier 1 or Tier 2 card, verified before mobilisation. Trade Assist is also a CHASNZ-accredited ConstructSafe testing centre — workers can be assessed at our branches before they go on site.
Can you supply traffic management staff at short notice?
Yes. We have an active pool of NZQA 24560-qualified TCs and NZQA 24561-qualified STMs across Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch and Hawke's Bay. Short-notice fills typically within 24 hours.
Do you supply workers for the Hawke's Bay cyclone recovery?
Yes. Trade Assist has been active in the Hawke's Bay recovery since early 2023. We have branch presence, a dedicated Hawke's Bay civil team, and capacity for volume mobilisation on recovery programmes. Call 0800 999 599 and ask for the Hawke's Bay civil team.
What plant operator qualifications do you verify?
Plant endorsements and NZQA unit standards are verified for each machine class — excavator, dozer, grader, roller and other earthworks plant. We match the operator to the specific machine class on your programme, not just the generic role title.
How quickly can you mobilise civil workers?
Single fills are typically same-day to 24 hours. Volume crews for recovery programmes or major infrastructure contracts are typically 48 hours. We operate branches in Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch and Hawke's Bay with active civil pools in each location.
What regions do you cover for civil labour hire?
Auckland (including North Shore and the Waikato corridor), Wellington and the Hutt Valley, Canterbury and Christchurch, and Hawke's Bay. For major infrastructure projects elsewhere in New Zealand, contact us — we can assess supply from the nearest branch.