FEATURE

24 July 2026

Karin Bell: Putting safety at the heart of renewable energy projects

Putting workplace safety front and centre at Mercury.

Turning the dial on workplace safety is at the heart of Karin Bell’s focus for those involved in developing some of the country’s newest, renewable energy projects.

“It’s about changing our mindset on how we approach safety in the workplace; I don’t think people always appreciate the risks, and maybe that’s due to the easy-going Kiwi culture we grew up in.

“But times have changed - safety is paramount; it’s about being prepared and knowing how to respond rather than being reactive.”

Karin is a health and safety projects advisor and is based at Mercury’s Rotorua office.

She works closely with the energy generation development arm of the business, which is responsible for constructing new, renewable energy projects around the country.

Karin introduced a site hazard board for contractors working at the bottom of Arapuni Hydro Dam.
Tagging in at the board ensures compliance, keeps risks top-of-mind, and helps account for everyone in an emergency.

Karin is among Mercury’s team of hardworking people who show up to work every day to help keep New Zealand powered.

The decisions she makes ensure Mercury’s teams work safely and deliver a secure electricity system.

“The best way to explain my role is that I work with project teams to influence safety leadership across our new generation projects, with our people and our contractors.

“It is essential that safety is championed from a management level and has the right systems and processes in place, so it filters through to everyone in our teams.

“We’re trying to change people’s perception on safety and that it’s not a ‘thing’ we do, it’s how we work.”

Karin is pleased Mercury has launched a Safety Intelligence Programme, which improves workplace health and safety by using data, insights, and learning to make better decisions and prevent harm before it occurs.

Karin speaking with Senior Project Manager Murray Ballantyne at Karāpiro Hydro Station.

"It recognises that improving safety performance requires more than compliance, it requires changing how people think, act, and work together around safety.

"We have an opportunity to lead the industry in this space. We have a website to help us, our contractors, and the wider New Zealand industry lift safety maturity together.”

Karin said it’s the variety she enjoys the most about her role, no two days are the same.

“I could be involved in project start-ups, advising our teams and talking with front-line staff, coaching leaders and assisting in safety exercises.

“I present to our executive team, right through to our students on our summer intern programmes.

At Ararpuni Hydro Dam with Ramari Samuels, from our iwi partners Ngāti Koroki Kahukura,
helping to manage traffic at the project site.

“I enjoy catching up with people on various projects to hear about their progress, it helps keep me informed and understand what’s going well and what challenges and opportunities they have.”

Karin is committed to having a positive impact on the people and projects she is involved with. She knows each project is different, so safety planning needs to be specific for each project and site.

"We are building two projects at the moment, both are wind farms, but each has a different environment and different teams involved.

“The challenge is to fine tune our safety planning for those unique conditions.”

Karin joined Mercury in 2023 after a 30-year career with the New Zealand Police, where she last worked as a detective in Rotorua.

Karin with Jason Pore, Programmes and Frameworks Manager, Health and Safety, at the Rotorua office.

“I was at a turning point where I wanted to do something new. I was made aware of the health and safety role at Mercury and decided to apply.

“It was quite exciting to start something new, meet a new group of people and have the opportunity to have another career and another take on life.”

Karin was new to the energy sector but had strong connections to Mercury before she joined the company.

“My brother began work for Mighty River Power many years ago, before it became part of Mercury.

“We grew up in Mangakino, in the Whakamaru district, and I remember visiting the hydro stations often. The Waikato River was quite a central part of our teenage years.”

Karin at a wind turbine construction site at the Kaiwaikawe Wind Farm in Northland.

Karin said health and safety is an important part of work life in New Zealand and she encouraged others to think about a career in the sector.

Bringing life experiences to the role is important.

“I think the experiences I had with the police, understanding risk and dynamic situations and dealing with challenging situations, have helped.

“Knowing how to engage with people and talk with them, rather than at them, is a valuable skill to have when you’re trying to shift people’s mindset on health and safety.

“It’s rewarding to be able to make a difference in the way people see safety and Mercury has got a real opportunity to lead the industry in this area.”

Read more stories in our Brighter Together series.