The New Zealand Safety Council

A proud night for NZSC and the H&S Profession at the Site Safe Evening of Celebration, our next generation of RSPs are on their way!

Congratulations to Morgan Devere Beets (MNZSC), winner of the 2026 Future Safety Leader Award.
This award recognises an emerging leader with less than five years in the industry who is already making a significant impact. Morgan is not just doing the job in a high-risk industry— she’s inspiring others, driving change, and helping shape the future of safety in construction.

And congratulations to NZSC member Symond Ahotau on graduating with his Level 3 Certificate in Health and Safety, an important milestone in his professional journey. Symond is now completing his level 6 Diploma.

NZSC spoke with Leah Panapa today on The Platform talkback about Foam Filled Furniture (FFF). You can listen to the segment on rewind here:

Karyn Beattie On The Fire Dangers Of Foam Furniture

It’s heartbreaking that tragedy had to bring this issue to light.
This RNZ article details how a 16-year-old, Lizzy Marvin, died after toxic fumes from a foam-filled sofa caught fire in her home — and a coroner has since ruled that past inaction on regulating foam furniture safety contributed to her death.
https://lnkd.in/g-R2PcDC

For years, the New Zealand Safety Council Trust has warned of exactly this risk. We have called on successive governments to act — to require safer materials, enforce clear labelling, and hold manufacturers and importers to account.

This isn’t just about furniture: it’s about preventable harm. It’s about turning good intent and guidance into enforceable standards. It’s about ensuring that families don’t unknowingly bring fire hazards into their homes.
We stand with NZSC Project lead Andy Loader and Lizzy’s family, and we recommit ourselves to pushing for reform. The time for protective regulation is now.

What needs to happen next:
• Mandatory product safety standards for foam-filled furniture
• Clear, mandatory labelling of flammability risk
• Accountability for importers, manufacturers, and retailers
• Better alignment between consumer safety policy and real risk

If you believe safe homes should be a right—not a hope alone—please share this post and join the conversation. Let’s work together to make this change real.


https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/political/573935/advocacy-group-says-it-repeatedly-warned-governments-of-fire-risk-caused-by-foam-furntiure-before-death-of-teen

Advocacy group says it repeatedly warned governments of fire risk caused by foam furntiure before death of teen Lizzy Marvin, 16, died from inhaling toxic fumes from a foam filled sofa bed when it caught fire in her Burnham home last year.

We're excited to hear from our guest speaker tomorrow on Occupational Hygiene. Join the lunchtime session.

Confirm attendance to the NZSC AGM details below.

Supporting MATES in Construction in their April campaign to ignite hope is NZSC CEO Karyn Beattie.

We look forward to her updates!

Karyn Beattie I'm supporting the MATES Long Lap this year to ignite hope! Sponsor me or join in the effort to reach five laps up and down New Zealand.

Members please send email to [email protected] for the invite if you'd like to attend.

https://www.cognitoforms.com/HealthAndSafetyAssociationNewZealand1/_2024ApplicationForTheWISEStrategicLeadershipWorkshop

Female members: Interested in Strategic Leadership?

2024 Application for the WISE Strategic Leadership Workshop

NZSC at the HASANZ Conference 2024

(Images credited to Mark Tantrum Photography)