Image: IOQ NZ outgoing president Chris Gray speaking at the QuarryNZ Awards at ILT Stadium in Invercargill.
Aggregate and Quarry Association and MinEx Chief Executive Wayne Scott has received two prizes at the QuarryNZ Awards. The event was held on 24 July at ILT Stadium in Invercargill as part of the QuarryNZ 2026 Conference and was sponsored by TDX and Volvo. Photos: Neil Mackenzie.
Wayne was made a life member of AQA and seemed taken aback, saying it was “totally unexpected”.
“My life has been pretty much quarrying and I love it to death. I love doing what I do. This means a lot to me.”
Wayne, who will retire by March next year, has been the Chief Executive of AQA since 2018. He worked in Australia for many years, where he managed four quarries and six concrete plants in Queensland. He also worked in the state’s mines inspectorate, where he learned a lot of the health and safety skills he brought back to this country.
“He continues to work tirelessly in that space and most of the credit for improving our industry’s record is due to him,” says AQA Chair Jayden Ellis, who presented the award. Wayne also took home the WorkSafe Chief Inspector Safety Leadership Award for MinEx, where he is also Chief Executive.
Peter Walsh, who’s recently retired after 42 years in the industry and is known as “the gentleman of quarrying”, was also given a life membership to AQA but couldn’t attend.
Walsh also joined the AQA Board in 2018 and was Chair for two terms, stepping down from the Board last year. Walsh worked for BMP NZ Steel, was the National Quarry Manager for Fulton Hogan, the General Manager of Perry Resources, and the GM of AB Lime.
Fifth generation quarryman Tony Hunter, whose father was a founding member of the AQA, was also given a life membership. He introduced water and air discharge measures long before they were required and purchased one of the first roll crushers in the world, NZ’s first electric haul truck and one of the first e-loaders.
“It’s been a great old life…Working in the sandpit for life you guys have got the best life out. I had the best life out. Happy to be part of the AQA,” says Tony.
Q&M magazine presented two Tomorrow’s Leader Awards, which include a $1,000 cash prize. The winners were Jack Kelliher from Fulton Hogan’s Roydon Quarry in Christchurch and Road Metals Rolleston workshop supervisor Nick Wilson.
Nick says he never thought he’d be managing the engineering workshop. “So, it’s funny where life can take you sometimes.”
KB Contracting and Quarries won the MIMICO Environment and Community Award, ahead of eight other finalists, for creating an enclosure to rehouse lizards which need to be moved from Canterbury quarries.
Wayne, who judges the award, says it never ceases to amaze him what the sector’s doing environmentally and sustainably.
“I know we crush rocks, but we should be proud of the work we do with our communities, with iwi, environmentally – it’s marvellous.”
WorkSafe Chief Inspector Extractives Paul Hunt took home the Lyn Jordan Memorial Trophy, and Luana Misa won the RD Hassed Memorial Trophy, which was received on her behalf.
Tim Kennedy was given the Institute of Quarrying NZ Award and Rob Smith won the Komatsu Leadership Award.
MIMICO won the Ian Rodger Memorial Trophy and Otaika Quarry scooped the Winstone Aggregates Safety Award.
Tracks Concrete and Landscaping Managing Director Chris Gray handed the Institute of Quarrying NZ presidency and its chains over to incoming president Lance Gosling, who has been the vice president and is a Winstone Aggregates quarry manager.
Richie Sutherland was awarded the 2025 Caernarfon Award at a dinner on Wednesday night and Real Steel was given the AJ & RJ Loader Shield at lunch-time on Friday.