Why Study/Key Benefits

This course is designed to help civil construction personnel identify, locate and protect underground utility services before and during excavation or other ground-penetration work. Damage to underground services can cause serious injuries, service interruptions, property damage, project delays and financial penalties.

Key benefits include:

• Understanding the risks associated with underground and overhead utility services.

• Learning a systematic approach to locating and identifying services before digging.

• Understanding permits, approvals, service plans and locator equipment.

• Applying safer excavation practices, including hand-digging procedures.

• Reducing the risk of harm to workers and the public, damage to assets and disruption to services.

Programme Structure and Subjects/Topics

The brochure identifies the following subjects:

• Ring before you dig – checking for underground services before starting work.

• Permits and approval to dig.

• Work instructions and planning excavation activities.

• Safe digging methods, including hand digging.

• Safe operating procedures and relevant occupational safety requirements.

• Understanding service plans and using service-locating equipment.

• Identifying hazards and establishing safe working zones.

• Scheduled and significant trees.

• As-built plans and their use.

• Reinstatement following excavation work.

Disciplines/Specialisations

The course falls under utilities, civil construction and infrastructure safety training. Its main areas of application are:

• Underground utility identification and protection.

• Excavation and trenching safety.

• Civil construction site supervision.

• Infrastructure maintenance and construction.

• Utility service coordination and reinstatement.

Programme Highlights

• One-day professional development course.

• Three published 2027 locations: Auckland, Christchurch and Palmerston North.

• Covers underground utility identification, service plans and locating equipment.

• Includes permits, approvals, safe digging procedures and reinstatement.

• Relevant to excavation, trenching, piling and other ground-penetration activities.

• Presented by Bill Wright.

• Minimum participant numbers apply before the course is confirmed.

Career Outcomes

This course is intended to improve workplace safety knowledge and practical capability. It may be useful for people working in:

• Civil construction and infrastructure projects.

• Road construction and maintenance.

• Excavation and trenching operations.

• Utility service installation and maintenance.

• Site supervision and inspection.

• Construction health and safety roles.

Latest Updates/Special Requirements

• The official brochure was last updated on 21 October 2026.

• The latest published dates are 16 February, 18 March and 14 April 2027.

• The presenter is Bill Wright.

• Minimum participant numbers apply before a course is confirmed.

• The exact training venue, daily timetable, assessment arrangements and certificate details are not published.

• The course refers to the OSH guide for Safety with Underground Services. WorkSafe's current excavation guidance also emphasises identifying and marking services, obtaining relevant permissions and using safe digging practices.

International Student Visa Requirements

As this is a one-day course, an international participant travelling to New Zealand specifically to attend it would generally consider a short-stay visitor visa route. The appropriate visa depends on the person's passport, travel plans and the course's immigration classification.

• Study duration: Immigration New Zealand permits people holding a Visitor Visa to study for up to 3 months in any 12-month period. A person intending to study for longer generally needs a student visa.

• Indian passport holders: India is not included in New Zealand's visa-waiver country list. An Indian passport holder travelling from India will generally need an approved visa before travelling; an NZeTA alone is not normally sufficient.

• Visitor Visa cost and processing: The published starting cost is NZD $441, and Immigration New Zealand states that 80% of applications are processed within 2 weeks. These figures can change and do not guarantee approval.

• Financial requirements: Applicants who are funding themselves generally need at least NZD $1,000 per month for living expenses, or NZD $400 per month if accommodation has already been paid. Evidence of onward travel or sufficient funds to purchase a ticket is also required.

• Visitor conditions: Visitor Visa holders cannot normally work in New Zealand. Applicants must satisfy health, character and genuine-visitor requirements and comply with the conditions on their visa.

• Course classification: The WITT course page does not state whether this particular short course has a specific NZQA approval or exemption relevant to immigration rules. International applicants should confirm this with WITT before booking travel.