Totika: Streamlining Health and Safety Prequalification
Totika is a centralised prequalification scheme developed by Construction Health and Safety New Zealand (CHASNZ) to bring consistency, fairness, and efficiency to the contractor assessment process. It replaces a fragmented system with one trusted national standard, saving time and money while raising the bar for health and safety.
What Is Totika?
Totika is New Zealand’s only industry-endorsed prequalification system for contractor health and safety. It establishes a universal standard, allowing contractors to demonstrate their health and safety capabilities once — and share that recognition across multiple clients.
Why Was Totika Created?
Totika was developed in response to a growing challenge:
Contractors were repeating the same prequalification process for every client, each with differing expectations, platforms, and documentation requirements.
This led to:
Increased costs from redundant assessments.
Inconsistent safety benchmarks across projects.
Frustration for contractors and clients alike.
Totika resolves this by offering one prequalification that works for all — a streamlined, nationally recognised system that improves both process and performance.
The Vision Behind Totika
At its core, Totika represents a shift towards a more aligned, future-fit approach to health and safety in the supply chain. Its key objectives include:
Establishing equity and consistency for all contractors.
Reducing duplication of time, effort, and cost.
Lifting health and safety performance across the construction and project delivery sectors.
How Does Totika Work?
Totika assessments are based on a centralised framework and use integration with existing recognised certifications. This includes:
ISO 45001 – The international standard for health and safety management systems.
SafePlus – WorkSafe’s on-site performance improvement tool.
Q-Safe – A recognised NZ-based contractor certification.
This approach enables:
Cross-recognition of certifications.
No need to duplicate effort if your business already meets accepted standards.
A clear roadmap for improvement if you don’t yet meet the mark.
Learn more about how we help with Totika pre-qualifications.
Key Features of Totika
Central Framework: One standard, recognised nationally.
Certification Recognition: Existing qualifications like ISO 45001 count.
Tailored Assessments: Questions match your size, scope, and contract value.
Accessible: Totika is not-for-profit and does not charge registration fees.
What Are the Benefits of Totika?
For Contractors
One assessment, multiple clients – no more duplicate forms.
Saves time and reduces admin – freeing up your team.
Industry credibility – prove your health and safety maturity.
Constructive feedback – get clear, practical improvement insights.
For Clients
Streamlined contractor selection – assess once, use many.
Consistent standards – all contractors assessed to the same benchmark.
Improved due diligence – with a transparent assessment framework.
Lower compliance costs – without compromising safety assurance.
Totika in Action: Client Success Story in the Auto-Recovery Industry
Totika certification doesn’t have to be a nightmare - but for many businesses, it has been.
Recently, we were approached by an auto-recovery operator who had already been rejected twice and was just 30 days away from losing a key supplier. Their team was frustrated, stressed, and ready to walk away from the process.
Here’s how Advanced Safety helped:
Step 1: Gap Analysis - We mapped their existing systems against the Totika framework, identifying what was already in place and where the critical gaps were.
Step 2: Targeted Coaching - We translated their operations into the language and structure the auditors were looking for.
Step 3: Guided Submission - We provided the documentation, review support, and evidence alignment necessary to show the great work already being done.
Result: Certified in 18 days. Contract secured.
This wasn’t an isolated success. AMI and First Rescue invited Advanced Safety and Qualify365 to support their service suppliers in achieving Totika Performing status by mid-2025. For those already on top of their systems, it was straightforward. For others, it became an opportunity for honest conversations and meaningful improvements.
We continue to guide towing operators through certification, and those engaging with our methodology are seeing excellent results - with a 100% success rate.
The key?
Totika certification isn’t about building something new - it’s about refining and presenting what you already do, in a way the system can verify.
Totika, Qualify365 & Advanced Safety: Your Smartest Path to Pre-qualification
Advanced Safety supports businesses with Qualify365, our structured prequalification solution designed to help you succeed with Totika.
From gap assessments to hands-on support, our consultants guide you step-by-step through the process.
Getting Started with Totika
Here’s how to begin your Totika journey:
Step 1: Register on the Totika website.
Step 2: Select your contractor category and complete the questionnaire.
Step 3: Submit your documentation and receive your result.
Step 4: Share your certification with clients and stakeholders.
What Totika Certification Teaches Us
Totika is more than a compliance box. It’s a reflection of your operational maturity and readiness to partner with high-performing clients. But it doesn’t need to be overwhelming.
The companies that succeed are not necessarily those with the biggest teams or most paperwork - but those who understand how to align their efforts to the framework and tell their safety story clearly.
If you're facing a tight deadline, unclear feedback, or a confusing process, reach out. We’re happy to share our proven approach.
Discover More About Pre-Qualification
Totika is a groundbreaking health and safety prequalification scheme developed by Construction Health and Safety New Zealand (CHASNZ). It aims to simplify and standardise the prequalification process, ensuring a fair, consistent, and efficient system for contractors and clients alike.
