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LIVE WELL BUILD WELL

Builders and tradies helping builders and tradies stay mentally fit in work and life.

What we do

  • We support positive actions in the residential construction industry to increase mental fitness.
  • We ask, how do builders and tradies stay mentally fit and well, in ways that work for them.
  • Toolbox talks and conference presentations.
  • Research into mental wellbeing and related topics across the industry. ​
  • We support industry champions for better health to make a difference in New Zealand.

What we stand for

Mental Fitness -be your best self !

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LIFE HAPPENS

Life throws us curved balls. In order to recover from these, we need a good set of mental fitness tools in our toolkit.

Mental Fitness

Mental fitness is increasingly becoming the most important tool of success for business owners and workers.

YOU MATTER

Being mentally fit can reduce your chances of accident and injury, through being more alert, focussed and proactive on the job.

Community Matters

Many builders and tradies are already doing awesome things to protect and boost their mental health. this needs to be shared.

ITM Strengthens Partnership as Foundation Partner

ITM Strengthens Partnership with Live Well Build Well as Foundation Partner, Supporting Sector-Wide Mental Fitness in Construction AUCKLAND, 01 October 2025 – Independent Timber Merchants Co-operative (ITM) has today been announced as the first industry Foundation Partner of Live Well Build Well (LWBW), a national mental fitness initiative supporting tradies across Aotearoa. The partnership signals a powerful commitment to advancing mental wellbeing in the residential construction sector—at a time when industry-led support is more vital than ever. As part of this ongoing relationship, ITM is also confirmed as the principal sponsor of the 2025 IPSOS Live Well Build Well Annual Survey, one of the most comprehensive wellbeing research efforts in the building sector. The 2025 results—gathered from tradies, apprentices, site managers, and small business owners—show encouraging shifts in both behaviour and attitudes across the industry. An exclusive first look at key insights from the report reveals: More builders and tradies are actively taking steps to look after their mental fitness Social connection remains the top wellbeing tool on site Self-efficacy is rising, showing tradies feel more capable of managing challenges Younger workers and apprentices continue to need targeted support The culture is moving from awareness to action, with more workers

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Who We Are

Live Well, Build Well began in late 2022 to help residential construction workers improve their mental health and wellbeing. The initiative is backed by the Mental Health Foundation and ACC. Live Well, Build Well is designed to help builders and tradies increase mental strengths and fitness to be better able to deal with the demands of working in a demanding and constantly changing industry

How we work

We collect, document and share stories and information from builders and tradies about what is working for them to stay healthy and resilient. We also throw in some advice from mental fitness experts. Our focus is on the close connection between these four areas; how we think, what we do, our physical health, and our social relationships.

Investing in Wellbeing

We're all born with the capacity to well and healthy, but life's challenges can deplete our natural reserves. Wellbeing is like a bank account. If you - make regular investments, you'll have a reserve to draw from during tough times. It's about making consistent decisions to support your mental fitness so you can get through more difficult times when you need to. ​

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We work collaboratively

Our ethos is to work together and not alone. We therefore look to collaborate with others doing good work across the construction sector. One such programme is the CHASNZ programme, Work Should Not Hurt (WSNH). WSNH focuses on the importance of physical fitness and reducing strains on the body. Our focus is on mental fitness. As mental and physical fitness go together this makes for a perfect partnership. Although our focus is on residential construction we will work with those based in commercial and civil construction, where there is a common interest.

Visit CHASNZ

A Guide for a Better Life

LIVE WELL BUILD WELL isn't about perfection. It's about embracing your humanity, finding what works for you, and making it your routine. We share what builders and tradies do to stay healthy.

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What people are saying

Don’t just take our word for it

★★★★★ 5/5
I think you delivered such a great message which resonated really well with all the contractors. I had a good chat with most of the team today and they felt you delivered your message well and was a great tool box. 
Travis
Fletcher Living
★★★★★ 5/5
Thanks for your participation this morning at our Subbie breakfast. For what it's worth, we thought you smashed it. Please let us know how we can continue to support the LWBW cause.
Brad
GJ Gardner
★★★★★ 5/5
It was great to get the subcontractors involved with sharing what they do to ‘top up their wellbeing bank account’ and invest in their health and wellbeing outside of work. Rafael managed to engage with the audience, keeping it short and sweet which is always valued when time is of the essence
Samantha
Health & Safety Advisor
★★★★★ 5/5
Way to go Live Well Build Well-you have been from one end of the motu to the other spreading the word-A tradies health is their #1 tool!
Chris
Work Should Not Hurt

Get Involved

Many tradies already have great insights about how to manage workplace pressure. We want people to start sharing and discussing these ideas. So, there are lots of ways you can get Live Well, Build Well happening at your workplace.

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Become a Champion

Champions help to spread the message of mental fitness and healthy work to people in their area of influence. If you are a champion, find out how we can support you.

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Be Part of A Community

Join other builders and tradies who are making mental fitness and healthy work a priority, and share your story

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Put your hard hat on for some mind-building insights!

Looking to give your mental fitness a boost? Subscribe now and get the tools and tips you need to build a stronger mindset—starting today!