The Merger Issue.
November 2025 Newsletter
The Whole Height Solution From The Team You Already Trust
For years, the height safety sector has been somewhat fragmented. Walkways, handrails, fall arrest systems, compliance checks – historically, the only option was get all these elements done by different, independent contractors. The merger of Monkeytoe and Alta Safety (formerly PBI Safety) changes that.
What began with conversations in late 2024 has finally been brought to completion, bringing together two of the strongest entities in height safety. Now is absolutely the right time for it, too. We’re all looking for ways to operate smarter and more efficiently, to reduce risks on site, and to look after our structures. Having one point of contact is definitely part of that. Fewer subbies on site helps, too. But most important is having industry leaders that you know you can trust.
For decades, architects, engineers, builders, property owners and more have come to us to find solutions that are fit for purpose, from building concepts all the way to building operations. And because we have a wide range of experience and leadership, we’re able to make just about anything happen.
The combination of Monkeytoe’s sales and solution-led engineering strengths with Alta Safety’s leadership in safety, operations and finance means the industry finally has a leader in the whole height solution: fall protection, abseil, roof access, plant platforms, stairs, walkways, certification and ongoing auditing, delivered by in-house engineers, product specialists and project managers, and designed with the future in mind.
In short, we’re building something that truly works for our customers – one that helps you achieve compliance faster, manage your assets smarter, and operate without the hassle.
With the market coming to the end of its cooling period, we’re setting up for growth in a big way through 2026 and 2027. Our unified business processes will mean our expansion – first into Australia, where we’re still emerging, and later into other territories – will be fast and well-earned.
This is not business-as-usual height safety for us. We’ll be working on projects and structures of all sizes. You’ll see us in data centres, chain stores, distribution centres, and complex structures that most providers simply aren’t equipped to handle. The new Monkeytoe will be cemented as thought leaders in roof access and compliance, and a proudly Kiwi business doing great work around the world. And we’ll be doing it the Monkeytoe way: with honesty, real expertise, and with a bunch of good sorts who genuinely care about doing things the right way.
Budd Prestidge and Harvey Fisher
The Future, Solved: Why The Merger Worked
A merger is no small feat, requiring careful coordination to make sure that not only does the merger make sense, but also that every team is excited to be on board with the change. To do that, we brought on Damien Rossi of FOUND Strategic, who has over two decades of experience in brand, marketing, commercial strategy and business growth.
So what makes this merger unique? Simply put, it was entirely natural. It’s not uncommon for mergers to struggle at first because of clashing egos, or a lack of cultural alignment. But what’s made this merger so successful is that both Monkeytoe and Alta share a values-driven ethos rooted in collaboration, a focus on doing good for the community, innovation, and leadership as an act of service. Monkeytoe and Alta’s people – our clients, and our teams – want the same thing: a seamless experience, led by experts, who will do the right thing. In fact, many people were wondering why we hadn’t merged earlier! So yes, efficiency, great products, and better solutions are a big part of what we’ve done and will continue to do. But there’s also the goal of leading the industry with values, technical expertise, and creative problem solving. The Monkeytoe-Alta merger represents more than two companies coming together. It signals a new standard for our industry – one where clients can expect seamless accountability, distinctive expertise, and a partner that owns the risk and the task.
Going forward, our clients can look forward to one partner, one contract, and one standard. Instead of juggling multiple contracts for ladders, platforms, fall arrest and compliance, Monkeytoe will handle it all, reducing burden and ensuring that you have one point of contact for our part of a project.
This merger also ensures that your system is not just installed, but certified, compliant, and backed by one team, reducing risks for developers, contractors, and building owners. This will only raise the standards of safety and performance for our jobs, so that we have better solutions for years to come.
This is the start of a new era for working at heights, and we’re so excited to have you on board.
Parallel Paths: A stronger Future That Builds Better Together
When it comes to understanding the merger of Alta Safety and Monkeytoe, we wanted to talk with the people who have been – and continue to be – the boots on the ground. So naturally, we spoke with Simon Hughes, who has been a big part of Alta Safety’s sales and projects for the last 15 years.
When Simon joined Alta Safety (then called PBI Safety) in 2010, it was a small company, where everyone did everything: sales, quoting, project management, and installation were all handled by a tight team, often in overlapping roles. But the company quickly grew, building a portfolio of work across Australia and New Zealand, PNG, the Solomon Islands, American Samoa, Tonga, Niue, and even a project in Beijing.
In the early 2010s, Monkeytoe was focusing on manufacturing, supplying to companies like PBI to install, so Simon became a familiar name to the Monkeytoe team. As Simon says, “When Monkeytoe moved into installation, PBI focused on fall arrest systems – anchor points, abseiling, compliance – while Monkeytoe concentrated on access and aluminium structures.” Each company went for a ‘narrow and deep’ approach in their respective fields, which allowed them to excel in their niche.
That also means countless projects have brought both companies together. That includes substantial projects like Christchurch’s Te Kaha Stadium and the LDS facilities in American Samoa and Tonga, where both companies have collaborated to deliver access and safety.
“On one project, we went in with the full height safety and Monkeytoe offering. On another, they supplied the access systems, and we installed them. It showed what two good, dedicated teams could achieve together.”
But clients increasingly wanted more certainty with one accountable partner. The merger delivers just that, making it easier for everyone to work safely at height.
“Take a standard warehouse,” says Simon. “You’ve got ladders, staircases, plant platforms, handrails, and then fall arrest. Instead of splitting that between two contractors, you get one contract, one proposal, one package. It’s a better option for everyone.”
And while part of the merger is about scale, the real benefits come from the shared values and culture. “Both companies had extreme positions in the marketplace. PBI had been around since 1999, and Monkeytoe dominated their space. Bringing the two biggest brands together makes one very strong team.”
This market position was helped by Harvey Fisher buying the business just a couple of years ago. One of the first things he did was revamp the internal systems before pushing for growth. This enabled the company to expand even further, offering more asset management and auditing services more easily, and eventually move towards the merger with ease.
So we’re on track to scale and deliver better together. More activity, more support, and more happening day to day. Our expanded, merged team is more grounded than ever, with an even stronger spread of technical knowledge and on-site experience to work on a wider range of products. And that means better outcomes for all our clients, who now have one business to call on for a full spread of solutions.
So here’s to many more years of growth, with an even stronger team working together.
All-of-Life: How We’ll Continue To Set Ourselves Apart
One thing that has made Monkeytoe so effective has been the way we’ve found smarter long-term solutions that protect client assets and deliver real value.
That doesn’t change with the merger of Monkeytoe and Alta Safety. If anything, it reinforces that point of difference. That’s clear, talking with our senior team members, such as Toby Broomhall, our Sales Team Leader and Senior Project Consultant.
Toby’s been with Monkeytoe for years now, so he’s seen a few cycles of policies and preferences from the market. But one thing that’s stood true is doing right in the long term.
As Toby explains, an all-of-life focus has been a part of Monkeytoe’s DNA since day one: not chasing the cheapest deal, but looking after people and their buildings for the long haul. We don’t just look at solutions that meet the basic client needs – anyone can do that – but also through the lenses of the building owners and service personnel: through the lenses of all-of-life cost, and the teams using those solutions over the next 20 to 30 years and beyond.
If you need proof of the importance of long-term thinking, then you only have to look back at the leaky homes crisis in New Zealand. As Toby explains, when that came to a head in the early 2010s, industry leaders and architects were coming directly to Monkeytoe and asking how another crisis like that could be avoided. And the answer was always the same: think long-term, and do the right thing.
This is something Toby’s been coaching the sales teams on for years now – to work with architects, consultants, roofing providers and more to offer solutions that meet today’s and tomorrow’s needs, to serve our people well, and to ensure peace of mind going ahead. That means more conversations with architects to show how we go through roofing membranes without creating ingress points, for example, or why we work with marine-grade aluminium that can withstand the elements better than steel or timber.
That focus on stewardship and long-term thinking is echoed in Alta Safety’s teams and work ethic, says Toby, who’s seen it play out on every shared project. Having long been the preferred contractor on big cornerstone and government projects, Alta has built a reputation for reliability and leadership; when it comes to safety and working at height, you need to be 100%. You can’t accept an undertightened bolt or an incomplete document, because when you fail, people’s lives are at risk.
As Toby says, if you want to be a leader, work with leaders. The merger is a great opportunity to share knowledge, align processes and QA, and run a well-oiled machine that delivers incredible value and results to all our customers. The main drawcard won’t just be the comprehensive fall protection and abseiling solutions, or durable walkways and access solutions, but that it can now be handled through one point of contact.
We understand what goes into undertaking projects of all sizes – so we understand the documentation, requirements, and how to get it right so that everyone has peace of mind today and well into the future.
Culture Committee Runs for Good
A big part of our culture here at Monkeytoe is – and will continue to be – giving back to the community, and rallying our teams behind good causes.
So as Blue September rolled around, we knew it was a chance for us to step up – literally – by raising funds and awareness for men’s health (in particular, prostate health), and start some conversations about the most commonly diagnosed cancer in Kiwi men.
Over the two weeks of the campaign, staff logged their runs and walks, with a goal of hitting 1,200km, and the Committee pledged $100 for every 100km walked.
By the end of the fortnight, we’d trekked an impressive 760km – not quite the full target, but an impressive effort that rounded up to a $800 donation to the cause.
A big thank you to everyone who took part and who showed that by moving together, we can have a huge impact.
Inspecta – WAHA-Based Height Safety Building Management Tool.
Monkeytoe have seen the need in New Zealand for people who manage and access buildings to better understand what best practise height safety planning looks like.
Contractor management, risk analysis, capital planning with areas that are at height are better managed when you understand and apply the WAHA (Working at Height Association) standards.
Monkeytoe have developed “Inspecta” that looks at a building and maps all the areas that need height access and then evaluates what is currently installed. From here we compare these findings to WAHA standards and produce a report that shows you a map of where you are compliant and where risk is present.
These maps are complimented with a written report that shows in detail the information needed to make informed decisions.
The Inspecta report then becomes the tool to help manage height safety risk for your day to day requirements from technicians, cleaners, painters, HVAC or anyone that needs access.
Knowing what systems you have in place and where they are lets you assess staff and contractors JSEA planning and gives you that peace of mind as a PCBU.
The Inspecta audits are a living document that can be added to over time as new plant or changes are made to the building. Having an ongoing relationship with one of our consultants lets you work with us and draws from our industry experience to make good decisions with good information.
We will sit down with you and talk you through the findings of the Inspecta report and then help you plan the changes needed to safely and economically manage access to areas at height.
Monkeytoe prides itself on working openly and diligently with our clients so they can get the best outcomes for their needs. We would value the opportunity to show your through a report to see if this could be something that works for you.
