MATES’ Long Lap: Building Connection Across Construction Teams

When MATES in Construction NZ heard from more than 2300 workers through the 2025 Industry Well-being Survey, supported by ASB, the message was clear: connection matters. Not in a vague or abstract way, but in the everyday moments that shape life on site.

In fact, 27% of workers said mateship and social connection positively contributed to their experiences in their workplaces. Workers spoke about the value of taking time to build connections through BBQs, team catch-ups, and informal conversations between jobs. These weren’t described as ‘nice to have’ extras. They were seen as essential.

“While those things might sound small, they take the pressure off and remind you that you’re part of a team.” – Male, 25–44.

That sense of being part of a team, of being noticed, included, and backed by the people around you, plays a powerful role in mental well-being. In high-pressure environments where productivity, deadlines, and safety demands are constant, small moments of connection can act as a release valve. They provide space to reset, to laugh, and to feel understood by people who know the job and its challenges.

The survey findings reinforce what many workers already know from lived experience: culture isn’t built through policies alone. It is built through relationships.

When workers feel connected to their crew, they are more likely to speak up if something isn’t right, whether that is a safety concern, a mistake, or something happening in their personal life. Trust grows through consistent, everyday interactions. A quick check-in. A shared joke. Noticing when someone is quieter than usual.

“We have a tight team at work … just having people check in with me at work is helpful.” – Male, Apprentice.

That kind of environment doesn’t just support individuals; it strengthens the whole team. When people trust each other, they work better together. They look out for each other. They are more willing to ask for help and to offer it.

And yet, despite the evidence from workers themselves, time spent building connection is sometimes viewed by leaders as a distraction, time away from the ‘real work’. Toolbox Talks can feel rushed. Social events can be seen as optional. Informal conversations can be dismissed as banter that slows things down.

The survey tells a different story.

For many workers, those moments are the real work of building a resilient culture. They are buffers against stress, isolation, and burnout. They create a foundation where mental health conversations feel normal rather than awkward, and where checking in is part of the job, not an afterthought.

The question for us all becomes: how can we intentionally create connection across entire teams?

Connection doesn’t happen by accident; it needs time, permission, and visible leadership. It can be built through simple, practical actions such as:

• Make time to do things together. Schedule regular BBQs, site breakfasts, or team catch-ups where there isn’t the pressure to get back to work.
• Create space for real conversations. Allow Toolbox Talks and check-ins to include well-being, not just workflow. 
• Set shared goals. Give teams something to work toward collectively, possibly a challenge away from their usual responsibilities. 
• Encourage peer check-ins. Normalise asking, “How are you?” and being open to listening and asking further questions.
• Celebrate wins together. Acknowledge effort, progress, and team achievements openly.

Connection underpins everything MATES does, and the upcoming Long Lap is a great opportunity to bring people together and model some of the actions above.

This April, the Long Lap is again getting the industry (and others) moving, in whatever way suits them best, by promoting the benefits of physical activity on our mental well-being. 

The campaign is simple; sign up, get a team together, move throughout April, contribute your movement to the collective goal of 75,000km, and fundraise for MATES. 

Last year, the Long Lap saw teams get together for walks and runs. We heard some added in a coffee stop and a check-in to connect away from their daily tasks. Our team love to see small acts like these demonstrate practical, visible ways for leaders and teams to strengthen shared purpose and social interactions. 

It doesn’t have to be much to be meaningful. 

When we move together, we talk. When we talk, we build trust. And when trust grows, so does the confidence to speak up about workload, about safety, or about how we are really doing. 

The Long Lap simply creates the structure and shared goal; the real impact comes from the conversations and connections that happen along the way. Long Lap registrations are open – find out more at www.mateslonglapnz.net.nz