Case Studies
Care from the Carpark Onwards: Safety at St George’s Hospital
We all like to think of hospitals as safe places. After all, that’s where people go to be treated, healed, and looked after. But safety doesn’t just start at the front door, it starts in the carpark. No one wants their hospital visit to come with extra hazards, and that’s where our bollards come in. St George’s Hospital is a large private clinic in Christchurch, offering surgery, cancer treatment, ophthalmology, orthopedics, maternity care, and more. With sizeable grounds comes sizeable car parking for day patients and longer-term stays, and with any busy parking area comes risk. Traffic management contractors working with the hospital called on us to supply the strongest bollards we have for exposed areas, including generator buildings and garden areas that might otherwise be overlooked by motorists or pedestrians. Our Tru-Gard XL Cast-in Bollards were the perfect fit. At 220 mm in diameter, with 5 mm thick steel walls and a total height of 2250 mm (1500 mm above ground, 750 mm cast in), these are our largest, most robust bollards. At 60 kg each, the only risk left is lifting them into the pre-prepared holes, so mind your back! With these bollards in place, hospital staff, visitors, and patients get an extra layer of protection while moving through the grounds. Keeping people safe isn’t just about what happens inside the hospital, it starts the moment you step onto the site.
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An Investment in Safety: Asset Protection at PwC Christchurch
PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) is a multinational professional services network with offices across New Zealand. Following the devastating 2011 earthquake in Christchurch, the original PwC building was destroyed. Replacing several former offices and apartment buildings along Cashel Street, the new PwC building now stands as a statement in modern architecture and resilience. Home to multiple blue-chip tenants including PwC, Chapman Tripp, Air New Zealand, Crombie Lockwood, and Tonkin and Taylor, the development delivers a modern and functional solution for a busy CBD site, designed to support safer workplaces. So, given we are not the architects, you may be wondering where Tru-Gard fits in. Our involvement focused on a key but often overlooked area of new builds: the car park. With a constant flow of vehicles and bikes, the structural elements of the car park needed added protection from everyday impacts. That is where our barrier systems came into play. The 610-1 Barrier was the ideal piece of kit for the job. Rated to withstand impacts from vehicles up to seven tonnes, it was more than capable of protecting walls and other vulnerable areas from bumps, scrapes, and grazes. Think of it as the band-aid before you need it. When minor accidents happen, the barrier takes the hit, protecting the building itself. That peace of mind was exactly what the building owners were looking for. If you are investing in a new build, planning a retrofit, or upgrading an existing site, asset protection should be part of the conversation early. Talk to our team about practical, fit-for-purpose safety solutions designed to protect your space long term.
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Protecting Pedestrians at Pink Batts Penrose
Auckland - famously busy for both traffic and pedestrians, and this commercial area in Penrose, home to Pink Batts, is no different. Not only are staff and commercial visitors at risk in this busy industrial zone, it also provides everyday access for members of the public and the customers of neighbouring businesses. With so much traffic also using the area it was important to provide as much protection as possible to avoid dangerous accidents. By making full use of our modular Barrier and Personnel Gates, there can be no doubting the allocated pedestrian safety zone here. Tested and certified, there’s no doubt that visibility and durability are where it counts - creating a truly safe pathway for people. If traffic management is problematic at your site, have a chat to our team today about creating a custom, modular system that works for you and your hazards.
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Putting the Brakes on Shop Front Collisions
Some shop fronts can only be described as car magnets, and unfortunately for this one in Christchurch, it is one of them. It has had more than its fair share of distracted drivers putting their cars through front doors and windows. Not only is this a serious hazard for shoppers, staff, pedestrians, and drivers, but it is also an expensive disaster for businesses. Fortunately, there is an easy fix. Our Tru-Gard Bollards. Tested and certified, twenty-six of them came to the rescue, creating a safe and secure shop front. Easily fixed into the existing concrete tiles, it was a quick and effective solution to an expensive problem. Now shoppers and business owners can relax, knowing the risk of being run over by a rogue driver is mitigated by our trusty bollards. If you, or a business you know, is struggling with drivers finding drive instead of reverse, chat to our team today about a safety solution that works for you.
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Keeping the Herd Safe at Silver Fern Farms Hawke's Bay
Keeping pedestrians safe on busy work sites can feel a lot like managing a herd. At Silver Fern Farms’ Takapau in Hawke’s Bay, NZ, private roads are constantly active with both staff and vehicles moving around the site. A moment’s lapse in attention could have serious consequences, so clear safety measures are essential. This large sheepmeat processing plant has carefully identified its hazard areas and created unmistakable safety zones for the many visitors and staff who walk the factory grounds each day. To manage these high-traffic areas, we installed our Tru-Gard Hand Rail System along key pedestrian pathways, combined with Personnel Gates to clearly define safe access points. Our modular system made it easy to navigate tricky curves and complex site layouts, ensuring continuous protection where it’s needed most. These systems guide staff and visitors to check for vehicles before crossing, helping reduce the risk of accidents and keeping everyone moving safely through the site. By combining robust handrails, secure gates, and high-visibility safety zones, Silver Fern Farms Hawke’s Bay has created a safer, more organised site for staff and visitors alike. It’s safety done the Tru-Gard way—practical, reliable, and designed to protect the whole herd on site.
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Safety on the Shopping List: Protecting Woolworths Ashburton
Securing Safe Traffic Zones at Woolworths Ashburton. We were excited to partner with construction experts Watts & Hughes to create safe traffic zones for Woolworths supermarket in Ashburton, NZ. The brief was clear: establish a strong, secure perimeter around vehicle access points that provides both a highly visible boundary and reliable impact protection. Tru-Gard Certified Barrier System to the RescueUsing 2400mm lengths of galvanised steel barrier mounted on 910mm-high custom posts, we constructed a robust safety perimeter. Specialised Tru-Gard components allowed the barrier to curve smoothly, ensuring a continuous, unbroken border around the driveways. This installation not only defines vehicle zones clearly but also adds vital protection, helping to prevent accidents and keep pedestrians and drivers safe alike.
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Ramping Up Pedestrian Safety at Kingsford Smith Airport
Sometimes safety upgrades don’t need to be big to make a big difference. That was the case with this multi-level carpark building next to Sydney’s Kingsford Smith Airport, which also houses public service businesses and reception areas. The building owners wanted to transform one of the existing vehicle ramps into a dedicated walkway for pedestrians, allowing people to move safely between the lower carparking zone and the pedestrian-friendly business area above. Simple Addition, Significant Safety GainOur solution? Tru-Gard™ Hand Rail, installed along the ramp to clearly define a two-way pedestrian route. This simple change not only separates foot traffic from vehicles but also adds extra stability for anyone who might be prone to slipping, or picking up a little too much speed on the way down. Solutions Supplied Tru-Gard™ Hand Rail Making Mixed-Traffic Areas SaferSmall change = big difference. By adding our hand rail, this busy carpark now offers safer movement for visitors on foot - proof once again that even modest upgrades can deliver major safety gains.
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Raising Safety Standards at Te Whatu Ora Canterbury’s New Carpark
After a lengthy planning period, we were thrilled to deliver our Tru-Gard™ Anti-Climb Carpark Barrier for the new eight-storey staff carpark at Te Whatu Ora Canterbury District Health Board. Working alongside Naylor Love Canterbury, we supplied our certified safety barrier for this custom-built facility on Hagley Avenue, Christchurch, designed in close partnership with Ngāi Tahu to serve health board staff. Winning the tender more than two years before construction began meant patience was key—but when the time came, we were ready to manufacture and install safety measures that would stand the test of height and time. Safety That’s Hard to ScaleOur Tru-Gard™ Anti-Climb panels were the perfect fit to tackle the risks posed by this multi-level open-air carpark. Featuring a flat, no-grip surface, these panels provide an extra-safe barrier that’s impossible for children or daredevils to climb — because some things should stay out of reach! Solutions Supplied Tru-Gard™ Certified Anti-Climb Carpark Barrier Panels A New Standard for Multi-Level CarparksThis was one of our first major projects featuring the Tru-Gard™ Anti-Climb design — and what a success it was. We believe this barrier is an essential safety feature for any open-air carpark or location where height is a hazard. At Tru-Gard, we’re all about keeping safety high, but climbing safety risks low.
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Safety on the Edge: Protecting a High-Risk Auckland Carpark
When the stakes are high, so is our commitment to safety. That’s why we were proud to support the team responsible for a fifth-floor, open-air public carpark adjacent to Auckland’s Spark Arena – sitting directly above office spaces and a childcare centre. With a moderate slope where cars park sideways and only an aesthetic glass balustrade for edge protection, the risks were obvious. A moment’s distraction – a wrong gear, or the accelerator instead of the brake – could have sent a vehicle over the edge to the street below. Not exactly the safest parking solution. Certified Protection for Peace of MindOur recommendation? The Tru-Gard™ Certified Safety Barrier 610-1 configuration. Independently tested and accredited to withstand the impact of 7-tonne vehicles, it meets AS/NZS structural standards for carparks and provides a genuine safety net for drivers. By replacing aesthetics-only protection with a system designed to perform under pressure, we’ve transformed this carpark from a high-risk hazard into a much safer space for the public. Mishaps that could once have ended in disaster now have a strong line of defence. Solutions SuppliedFor this project, we provided: Tru-Gard™ Certified Safety Barrier 610-1 Configuration Raising the Bar for Carpark SafetyAt Tru-Gard, we believe safety should never be left to chance – especially when the edge is just metres away. If you’re looking to bring certified, tested protection to your carpark, our team is here to help you make it happen.
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Playing it Safe at Mount Smart Stadium
At times, it can be hard enough being a Wah’s fan, without the additional worry of being run over on the way to and from the game! Mount Smart Stadium, home of the NRL’s New Zealand Warriors, is a busy venue, welcoming tens of thousands of fans each year for sporting fixtures, concerts, community events, and other large-scale entertainment. Their stadium management team approached us to install our bollards around the perimeter of the grounds to keep pedestrians safe from traffic and prevent vehicles from parking too close to the stadium walls or gates. With limited vehicle access required at times, usually in the form of a golf cart, our team worked around the cart’s measurements while creating a much clearer and safer pedestrian zone. The Tru-Gard Solution: We supplied a combination of fixed safety bollards and removable bollards, allowing for flexibility in the event of future earthworks, construction, or emergency access. All removable bollards can be easily unlocked and removed when needed, ensuring both adaptability and security. It’s a great outcome for the Mount Smart Stadium management team and fans alike. Now everyone can visit Mount Smart knowing they’ll be safe while focusing on the most important job of all, cheering on their team - Up the Wahs!
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Driving Safer Solutions for Port of Auckland
When New Zealand’s largest import port is building a five-storey car park, it requires a bespoke barrier solution. That’s where our custom manufacturing abilities, decades of experience, and commitment to safety come together to create one of our largest projects to date. The Tru-Gard Solution: Port management requested a custom-designed version of our standard Tru-Gard Barrier system, with 1100mmH support posts coated with a special XR coating system and finished in ‘safety yellow’ to match the rails. Every post is secured to the concrete with a 5-bolt footprint for maximum strength and stability. The top hand rail was specially designed with a square profile for easy attachment directly onto the support posts. Similarly, a lower guardrail of the same profile was added underneath the main barrier to ensure full safety for pedestrians, preventing accidental slipping through the gap and falling out of the building. This carpark building is located centrally in Auckland where both the main port and the city’s CBD come together within highly-populated proximity. Great effort has been put into making the building as attractive as possible in its setting, including a wonderful light show by night. It is an architectural sight to behold while also being one of the safest multi-story buildings in the city. __ __
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Bollards, Barriers, and Beyond at Bunnings Timaru
If you’ve ever shopped at a Bunnings Warehouse, especially on a sunny day or public holiday, you’ll know just how busy the place can be. With customer vehicles constantly on the move, trucks making deliveries out the back, forklifts shifting stock, and plenty of pedestrians and staff on foot, it’s a hive of activity. With all these moving parts, it was essential to develop a safety solution that considered every aspect. We worked closely with the team to identify risks and hazards specific to their store and create custom safety solutions to suit. The Tru-Gard Solution: At the front, Tru-Gard Bollards keep pedestrians safe and the building protected from any accidental “put it in drive instead of reverse” incidents. Out the back, Tru-Gard Barriers safeguard team members and the building from damage caused by wide-swinging trucks and forklifts laden with heavy pallets of hardware. We also supplied Tru-Gard Expanding Barriers, enabling staff to create temporary safe zones while they work and redirect pedestrians around short-term hazards. The Products: Tru-Gard Certified Safety Bollards Tru-Gard Certified Safety Barrier Tru-Gard Expanding Barrier By working together, this store is now safer for staff, shoppers, and store assets. If you’d like to know more about customising a safer space for your site, contact our team today.
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