Technical services workshops

ASHTAS operative and installer courses

These courses focus on the information and practical skills required to competently install and maintain safety barrier systems. The courses replace the installation portion of the previous Waka Kotahi Installation, Maintenance and Inspection workshop (IMI) and is facilitated by an external training provider contracted to Austroads through Lantra (UK). All installers and maintainers working with road safety barriers on state highways should undertake the ASHTAS training in order to demonstrate competence.

The Australasian Safety Hardware Training Accreditation Scheme(external link) (ASHTAS) is managed by Austroads and has a modular format, with different modules being available to suit the requirements of the individual. A record of experience is part of the scheme to allow qualified installers to collect the evidence required to keep their ASHTAS accreditation current.

As a member organisation of Austroads, Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency has committed to ASHTAS. By setting consistent training and licensing standards, we wish to ensure that those working with road safety barriers possess the required expertise and adhere to best practices.

Austroads ASHTAS webpage(external link)

LANTRA training provider webpage(external link)

Barrier inspection workshops

This workshop focuses on the information and practical skills required to carry out fitness for purpose and maintenance inspections of road safety barriers. This workshop is necessary for those who certify installations as fit-for-purpose and is a prerequisite for the Road Safety Barrier Design Workshop.

Those responsible for road safety barrier installation design, installation certification, audits, or maintenance should attend.

A practical assessment of a barrier site must be submitted after attending the workshop.

The workshop is held over a 2 -3-day period.  All attend the first day theory session followed by a half day practical session on day 2 or day 3.

Barrier design workshops 

This workshop focuses on the skills and information necessary to design and certify road safety barrier installations. A barrier design assessment must be submitted after attending the workshop.

Pre-requisite: Successful completion of the Road Safety Barrier Inspection workshop and assessment.

Temporary barrier workshops

This workshop focuses on the barrier systems used for temporary traffic management. This workshop will be necessary for those who install, design, and/or audit temporary road safety barrier systems. Those responsible for temporary road safety barrier installation, checks, audits, or maintenance should attend.

A practical assessment (and design for designers) of a barrier site must be submitted after attending the workshop.

The workshop is held over two days:

• Day 1 installers and designers - A mix of theory, system inspection, and site visits, relevant to both.
• Day 2 designers only -  A continuation of the workshop and practical material specific to installation design.

Safe System engineering workshop

The Safe System engineering workshop is a week-long (5-day, 4-night) course that gives participants a thorough understanding of what a Safe System aligned transport system is and how to contribute towards it. The workshop offers a mix of theory, classroom, and real-world site practical exercises delivered by some of New Zealand’s top road safety experts.

By the end of the workshop participants will be able to recognise and communicate the principles, moral and ethical imperatives, and objectives of the Safe System as well as:

• Being able to recognise and communicate the need of Safe System principles integration within the road transport industry, including in the areas of strategy, planning, concept and design, operations and maintenance.
• Being able to demonstrate fundamental differences between Safe System aligned and non-aligned infrastructure and non-infrastructure interventions.
• Knowing how Safe System aligned infrastructure and non-infrastructure interventions are practically applied in the design, delivery and operation of the transport system.

Register for the waitlist and be notified when workshop dates are announced for 2025