ASWEFA x The Rock NZ Forklift Competition 2026: Precision, Skill and Workplace Excellence
Forklift Skills on Show: ASWEFA x The Rock Forklift Competition 2026
Forklift driving looks easy, until accuracy, pressure, and safety all collide. Last Friday, six operators proved that real forklift skill isn’t about speed, it’s about control, knowledge, and staying calm when it counts.
Last Friday, 31 January 2026, ASWEFA proudly hosted our second annual Forklift Competition, once again alongside The Rock NZ. With awesome weather, a great crowd, and the BBQ firing throughout the day, the event delivered high-level competition mixed with plenty of laughs and industry camaraderie.
This year’s competitors were:
Bill Hemopo, Macs Lindsey, Matthew Simpson, Michael Wallace, Richard Smith, and Robin Martin.
Each competitor faced three challenging rounds designed to test precision, load control, awareness, and forklift knowledge. The same skills required every day on real worksites.
Round One: Smooth Driving Matters
Before getting on the forklift, competitors completed a theory test, answering forklift knowledge questions that would later impact their final times.
Round One was a slalom course carrying buckets of water. For every 100ml spilled, 10 seconds was added to the competitor’s time, quickly separating rushed driving from smooth, controlled operation. At the end of this round, two competitors were eliminated.
Round Two: Control Under Pressure
Round Two raised the difficulty again. Competitors had to manoeuvre a plank carrying water through an obstacle course, carefully raising and lowering the load to guide the plank through obstacles blocking their path.
To make it even tougher, the entire course had to be completed forwards and then in reverse. After this round, two more competitors were eliminated, leaving just two operators to battle it out in the final.
The Final: Skill Meets Knowledge
The final came down to Macs Lindsey vs Richard Smith in a head-to-head showdown. The challenge involved navigating a course with a basketball balanced on the forks, scoring it into a basketball hoop, then with the ball placed back on the forks, navigate back to the start and finish by placing it onto a cone and parking up safely.
To keep things interesting, the earlier theory test came back into play. 10 seconds was added for every incorrect answer, reinforcing that knowledge matters just as much as practical skill.
A Back-to-Back Champion
Last year’s final saw Macs Lindsey narrowly defeat Robin Martin by just one second, and this year Macs once again showed exceptional control and composure. With another winning run, Macs claimed the trophy for the second year in a row, along with the $500 prize.
The Safety Takeaway
While the competition was entertaining to watch, the message behind it was serious. Every challenge reflected real-world forklift risks, load stability, precision, visibility, reversing, and decision-making under pressure. The skills that win competitions are the same skills that prevent injuries, damage, and fatalities in the workplace. Good forklift operation isn’t about rushing; it’s about control, awareness, and understanding the machine you’re operating.
More Than Just a Competition
Beyond the competition itself, the day was about celebrating skilled operators and bringing the industry together. With perfect weather, strong support, and a BBQ running throughout the event, it was a great reminder of what can happen when safety, skill, and community come together.
Events like this remind us that safe, confident forklift operation doesn’t happen by chance. It comes from proper training, the right mindset, and a strong safety culture, because the skills that win competitions are the same skills that keep people safe, workplaces running smoothly and creates A Safe Working Environment For All.
