Keith Smith Memorial

Honouring distinguished service to heavy engineering in Aotearoa New Zealand
This prestigious award is our most celebrated, dedicated to our founding Chair, Keith Smith, and the endowment he left to the HERA Foundation. Open to all within the New Zealand heavy engineering industry, regardless of HERA membership, this award recognises renowned and outstanding service to our industry. 

Given its significance, the award is only presented when a truly deserving candidate is identified, ensuring it remains a mark of exceptional achievement.

INNOV8 change 

Innovation in heavy engineering.
Recognising contributions to key projects, products or services that are informed by R&D or include step changes in the ways things are done – including art, design, technology, research, engineering and manufacturing, done differently from “business as usual”.

Evidence of novelty and innovation must be provided.

Open to any project, product or service development where a HERA member has played a key contributory role.

Must be based on innovative, novel developments such as the use of new technologies, design approaches, or emerging R&D. 

Given its significance, the award is only presented when a truly deserving candidate is identified, ensuring it remains a mark of exceptional achievement.

INNOV8 impact

Impact in heavy engineering.
A project or initiative which has positive social, environmental, economic, cultural or economic outcomes to the industry or a community, iwi, organisation, the environment, education or society that is focused on intergenerational wellbeing. This can be diversity and inclusion, collaborative partners, educational initiatives and similar.

Letters of support must be provided by those who have benefited from the project.

Open to any project where a HERA member has played a key contributory role. 

Project outcomes must deliver intergenerational wellbeing. Evidence of impact must be provided. 

INNOV8 rerehua

Steel is beautiful.
Recognising projects of significant beauty and timeless design/execution, as well as design and fabrication that is aligned to the unique environment and community in which it exists.

Photographic or digital imagery of the project must be included and be approved by all appropriate parties for HERA to freely use in publications, HERA social media platforms and communications.

Open to any project, product or service development where a HERA member has played a key contributory role. 

INNOV8 taiao

Steel is sustainable.
Recognising projects that showcase and demonstrate steel sustainability in terms of circular economy, steel recycling, re-use, repurposing, and reduced waste.

Evidence of steel re-use, recycling, repurposing, extension of lifetime, or reduced waste must be provided.

Open to any project, product or service development where a HERA member has played a key contributory role.

INNOV8 resilience 

Steel is resilient and durable.
Recognising projects that showcase and demonstrate steel resilience – including seismic, fire, and corrosion performance. 

Evidence of steel resilience and durability demonstrated in or arising from the project, product or service must be provided.

Open to any project, product or service development where a HERA member has played a key contributory role.

Fab 4.0 welding tech

Excellence in welding.
Recognising excellence in welding through innovation in fabrication and manufacturing, the demonstration of digital integrations and commitment to the development of a skilled workforce.

There is three (3) categories within this award.  Subject to the entries and at the discretion of the judges, there may be an award for each category, or just one overall winner.

Innovation in welding
Innovation in welding fabrication/manufacturing – demonstration of the complexity and challenges in design, fabrication, repair or manufacturing of the structure or component; application of advanced welding technologies, quality management, safety, and productivity as applicable to all steels and metals. The use of technologies to enhance a sustainable environment. Research and development. Application of welding automation and robotics to increase productivity, quality and sustainability of the fabrication or manufacturing process.

Welding 4.0
Demonstration of digital integration of fabrication/manufacturing processes including welding process and quality data, and the use of simulations, innovative software, apps and other 4.0 technologies. Effective use of data to enhance productivity and quality.

Welding skills development
Commitment to the development of a skilled workforce.
Evidence of excellence must be provided.
Open to any project, product or service development where a HERA member has played a key contributory role.

Next Gen Leadership

Leading metal mind in heavy engineering.
Acknowledging an influencer who gets things done, inspires others and takes people with them on a journey, along the way making an outstanding contribution to the work they do.

Open to a HERA member who has played a key contributory role in leadership.

Student of the year

Celebrating our future engineers.
Recognising a post-grad research student or group who have delivered research and innovation outcomes that have potential to advance heavy engineering and the use, manufacture or performance of structural steel to address industry challenges.

Whanake

Celebrating Māori in engineering.
Recognising the new tauira (student) joining the whakapapa (DNA/geneology) of the Whanake Scholarship as part of our commitment to actively extend our industry’s capacity to create a more diverse and attractive industry and Vision Mātauranga.