Managing Director

Max Kofoed

Max has worked in the industry for over 25 years.

Working on high-rise and commercial buildings as a carpenter-joinery apprentice in the 1970s gave New Zealand Height Services director Max Kofoed his first awareness of height safety issues – and 20 years on, the commitment to safe practices is stronger than ever. In the late 1980s, when height safety was becoming a high-profile topic on Australian building sites, part of Max’s responsibilities as a project manager in Sydney was to take charge of site safety. During that time, Max also worked as a civil construction tutor at the Sydney College of Advanced Education and as a lecturer at the Cumberland College of Health Services.

From Sydney, Max returned to New Zealand to work as a contract manager for Serco Asia Pacific ,on BHP NZ Steel site at Glenbrook, New Zealand. His role there also covered safety management, including overseeing the installation of 30 kilometres of fall arrest systems and fall restraint lines.over the entire steel producing plant roofs.

“I was totally involved in all the site safety – the building management systems, the Building Act, OSH responsibilities and compliance with all acts and standards,” says Max. “They were pretty heavy on it out there, as you can imagine.”

A few years ago, Max was transferred to the UK for a year, where he worked as a regional contract manager for Serco in the southwestern region. He was in charge of 80 people and £8million of maintenance systems.

On his return to New Zealand, Max became the general manager of Auckland Height Services before approaching the owner to see if he’d be interested in selling the business. This resulted two years ago in Max becoming the owner and director of the company, renaming it New Zealand Height Services to reflect his intention to take the business nationwide.

Since then, Max has not only expanded the geographic range of the business but also the scope, adding new services, such as height safety training and auditing, to the company’s portfolio. He has also brought on board a business development manager, Edward Dennis, to develop the New Zealand market further.
Drawing on his extensive corporate background, Max has also fostered a positive workplace culture, where individuals are valued for their contribution to the company’s success.

“We have a broad spectrum of skills within the company – including people with recreational, industrial and non-height backgrounds. They’re all professionals in their chosen field, and are empowered to think for themselves and pool their knowledge. People enjoy working here so it say’s a lot about the Culture in NZHS.”

No doubt they enjoy events on the company’s social calendar too, team building events like taking the team go-kart racing and white water rafting every few months. Along with adrenalin-packed pastimes, Max also enjoys the odd game of golf and spending the weekends with his wife and their three children.
“There’s also a great family atmosphere to the company; everyone knows the partners and children and they all get on well as a group,” he says.

For more information contact, Max Kofoed, New Zealand Height Services, Phone (09) 271 3700, email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it