59208 (2025). Arena Williams to the Minister for Building and Construction

Written Question

Published date: 22 Jan 2026

Metadata

Document type:	Written Question
Parliament number:	54
Question number:	59208 (2025)
Question asked:	16 Dec 2025
Member asking:	Arena Williams
Portfolio:	Minister for Building and Construction
Minister replying:	Hon Chris Penk
Answer received:	15 Jan 2026
Status:	Question Answered
Reply type:	Reply
Document ID:	WQ_59208_2025
Document guid:	277f01d9-8a1b-4902-970b-2a29e9abf6c9

59208 (2025). Arena Williams to the Minister for Building and Construction: Has the Minister asked for, or received from, MBIE, any advice about quantifying the economic cost of suicidal behaviour to the NZ construction industry in 2025?

Hon Chris Penk: No. I have not requested or received advice on quantifying the economic impact of suicidal behaviour in the construction sector. The Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment has provided $200,000 in 2025/26 to Mates in Construction, a suicide prevention programme active in Australia since 2008 and New Zealand since 2019 that targets high suicide rates in the construction industry. Funding is to support targeted suicide prevention activities with a focus on regional areas and small and medium-sized enterprises.