News

The Government is introducing a major shake-up of how infrastructure projects are assessed and approved, with a stronger focus on independent oversight, clearer advice to Ministers, and improved value for money in public investment.   Infrastructure Minister Chris Bishop and Finance Minister Nicola Willis say changes to the Investment Management System are designed to ensure […]

In 2026, ANZAC Day falls on a Saturday, which changes how the public holiday is observed for many New Zealanders.   While the date itself remains April 25, workplace entitlements shift under the country’s Mondayisation rules, which are designed to make the system fairer for employees whose schedules don’t include weekends.   Mondayisation was introduced […]

Overseas-sourced building products are yet to make a significant impact on the construction market, despite sustained pressure from rising build costs and ongoing concerns about affordability across the sector.   While parallel importing and direct offshore procurement are legal and increasingly accessible, industry commentary suggests uptake remains limited, with most projects still relying heavily on […]

A growing number of New Zealand graduates are reconsidering the value of a university degree, with new research showing many would opt for a skilled trade if given a second chance. A global study by MoneySuperMarket has found that 67% of New Zealand degree holders would choose a vocational pathway over university if they were […]

Checking for underground services before you start upheaving the ground really matters. We all know that what’s beneath the ground can often be more dangerous (and expensive) than what’s above it.   Thousands of kilometres of underground infrastructure criss-cross construction zones. These include telecommunication cables, gas mains and service lines, water and wastewater pipes, and […]

The nation’s crane activity has fallen to its lowest level in a decade. New Zealand’s construction slowdown is now clearly visible from above.   Crane counts are one of the most reliable indicators of real-time building activity. The Crane Index by quantity surveyors Rider Levett Bucknall (RLB) studies crane numbers in the nation’s main centres. […]