When young women are supported to explore all of their career options, they thrive.
Girls with Hi‑Vis is about opening doors, building confidence, and showing girls that hands‑on, practical careers in infrastructure and the trades are not only possible, they’re exciting, rewarding, and in demand.
At Connexis, we work closely with industry to help young people build real skills for real jobs. Girls with Hi‑Vis does exactly that, while ensuring safety, guidance, and positive role models every step of the way.
What is girls with hi-vis?
Girls with Hi‑Vis is a Connexis initiative designed to introduce girls and young women to careers in infrastructure, civil construction, utilities, and related trades - careers where women have traditionally been under‑represented.
Students attend an event at a local employer, getting the chance to try interactive, hands-on activities to get a feel for technical work in the infrastructure industry. Through these events, female high school students get to:
- Experience what working in these industries is really like,
- Learn practical, transferable skills,
- Meet women already succeeding in trade and infrastructure roles,
- Build confidence in environments where they may not have seen themselves before.
What are the benefits of attending a girls with Hi-vis event?
Girls with Hi‑Vis is valuable for students because it helps them make informed, confident decisions about their future before they commit to study or training. Key benefits include:
- Early exposure to real careers: Students see what jobs in trades, construction, engineering, and infrastructure actually involve—not just stereotypes.
- Hands‑on learning: Practical activities help students understand whether they enjoy and suit technical or trade work.
- Clear pathways: Events explain apprenticeships, training options, and how school subjects link to real jobs.
- Role models: Meeting women working in hi‑vis roles helps students visualise themselves in these careers and challenge gender assumptions.
- Confidence building: A supportive, welcoming environment encourages students to ask questions and explore interests openly.
- Better decision‑making: Students leave with clearer ideas about next steps, reducing trial‑and‑error in post‑school choices.
check out what we did at gwhv 2025
June 2025 saw hundreds of female secondary school students around the country get their hands on the controls of some of New Zealand’s top infrastructure companies through Connexis Girls with Hi-Vis® (GWHV).
The students donned hi-vis vests and tried it all; from driving diggers and trucks, to climbing power poles and jointing cables. They also saw the inner workings of some of New Zealand’s biggest infrastructure assets like wind farms, hydro power stations, water treatment plants and major roading projects.
For a full 2025 recap, check out our video and read more here.
How do I get my daughter involved in a Girls with hi-vis event?
We take registrations from schools, so please talk to your child's careers advisor or Gateway co-ordinator to get your daughter enrolled onto one of our events. You can check out the list of events happening in June here.
Are you a teacher looking to book students into a girls with hi-vis event?
Talk to your local Customer Service Account Manager (CSAM) or see our full list of GWHV events here.