A large crowd listens to speakers at the event. PHOTOS/EMMA BROWN
The turnout for the Women in Construction event was more than double organisers’ expectations, with more than 120 women attending the event.
Jeanette Southey was delighted.
“It’s amazing,” she said.
“So many women were coming up and saying ‘thank you so much for putting on something for us’.”
Women from all aspects of construction spent the first part of the evening chatting with others in the industry and networking.
Jeanette said that the success of the event was down to the nature of the industry in Wairarapa, where even though people worked for different companies, they still wanted to operate work as part of a team.
Wairarapa Master Builders president Paul Southey said the event was “beyond our expectations”.
“More people have come and said, ‘Look I can’t come but we want to be a part of it next year’.”
Southey said there were plans to repeat the gathering.
“There’s definitely no reason why we won’t make it an annual event and expand it.”
