New Zealand schools that dealt with the play sand asbestos scare last year are facing fresh questions, after new reporting found that safety assurances given to parents and schools in New Zealand and Australia were largely based on suppliers’ own assessments rather than independent verification. The saga began in November last year, when routine testing […]
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Our magazine is the go-to source for professionals looking to stay informed of the latest trends in the building and contracting industries. We explore issues and insights concerning energy and utilities, property management, property development, scaffolding, residential & commercial projects, and concrete applications for housing.
The Live Well, Build Well initiative began in late 2022 to help residential construction workers improve their mental health and wellbeing. Backed by the Mental Health Foundation and ACC, the programme is designed to help builders and tradies build the mental strength and resilience needed to cope with the demands of working in a challenging […]
Canterbury’s meth use is now almost 40% above its average level from last year, recent wastewater testing shows. National consumption has risen to an estimated 36.6kg per week. This level of methamphetamine use has a weekly social harm cost of almost $40 million. Cocaine use has decreased since it spiked in the October 2025 quarter, […]
When MATES in Construction NZ heard from more than 2300 workers through the 2025 Industry Well-being Survey, supported by ASB, the message was clear: connection matters. Not in a vague or abstract way, but in the everyday moments that shape life on site. In fact, 27% of workers said mateship and social connection positively contributed […]
Fast-moving floodwater dramatically increases the risk to urban pedestrians, new modelling has shown. A Wellington case study showed that walking and driving routes to hospitals, public transport and essential services can be cut off during peak flooding. Researchers overlaid flood risk maps onto Wellington’s transport network to assess whether people could reach essential services during […]
With accidents occurring on the road every day, vehicle safety is a huge concern for all New Zealanders. For every fleet of vehicles, safety should be made the main priority. Safety is not the sole responsibility of the drivers, however – it’s also the technicians, dispatchers, and upper management who are responsible. One way that […]
New vehicle suppliers are growing increasingly optimistic about a sustained rebound in sales, as August results continue the upward trend that began earlier this year. A total of 11,739 new vehicles were registered in August, slightly up from 11,671 in July and significantly ahead of the 9,986 units sold in August 2024—a year-on-year increase of […]
Kia has officially entered the pickup truck segment — and not quietly. The all-new Kia Tasman, the brand’s first-ever ute, makes a powerful debut with rugged off-road credentials, impressive towing and payload capabilities, and a level of refinement not typically found in this class. This isn’t just another dual-cab with a badge swap — the […]
Continuing its crackdown on road cones, the Government is soon to force local councils to adopt a risk-based approach to minimise spending on orange witch hats. “New Zealanders have become increasingly irritated by the too-frequently over-the-top use of road cones and costly temporary traffic management around roadworks,” Transport Minister Chris Bishop says. “This approach causes […]
Championing change in New Zealand’s trades, the 2026 Bunnings Trade Women in Apprenticeships Awards are now open for nominations, offering a powerful platform for women at the start of their trade careers to step forward and be recognised. Six female apprentices will each receive a support pack valued at over $11,000, designed to help them […]
The outstanding project 48 Tuarangi Road in Auckland has won the Resene Supreme Award in the recent NZ Wood- Resene Timber Design Awards, brought to you by the Wood Processors and Manufacturers’ Association (WPMA). It is a project judges called an “impressive integration of timber material and manufacturing precision”. TOA Architects designed the 156sqm home. […]
Kiwi teens are looking into trades as AI eats into entry-level office work. Budget 2026 leant in, doubling secondary school Trades Academy places to 20,000 over four years. But the apprenticeships they’re signing up for look little like the ones their parents did. Automation has already reached the workshop floor. Take training itself. Apprentices now […]
A national programme aimed at increasing the number of women entering construction, BCITO’s Girls in Construction initiative exposes the next generation to the trades sector. Built around the idea that ‘if you can see it, you can be it’, the programme takes students out of the classroom and into active worksites and supplier yards. So […]
A new report argues that New Zealand’s senior secondary education system is still failing to provide clear, structured pathways for the majority of young people leaving school, with university remaining the dominant and most clearly defined route. Published by Skills Group, Multiple Pathways to Success calls for a major shift in how schools, employers, […]
A heavy diesel mechanic and a policy analyst can complete similar lengths of training and, in some cases, enter the workforce with little or no student debt. Despite this, university education continues to be more highly regarded than vocational training in New Zealand, according to The New Zealand Initiative. The organisation says the […]
BCITO has launched a campaign to highlight the achievements of Māori tradespeople. “We’ve seen the percentage of Māori workers in building and construction grow from 12 per cent in 2018 to 17 per cent. However, we also want to see a corresponding rise in Māori students completing their apprenticeships and qualifications,” said BCITO Director, Greg […]
Tradies face demanding schedules, early mornings, and physically exhausting work. Long hours may feel necessary, especially for business owners managing their tools by day and paperwork by night. But this work culture comes with risks to your lifestyle, your health and those around you. The tradie lifestyle is notorious, but how do we prevent burnout? […]
Q&A with NZCB CEO Malcolm Fleming Uncertainty about forward workloads and a lack of government direction regarding the future of vocational education and apprentice training; these are the two biggest challenges chief executive of New Zealand Certified Builders, Malcolm Fleming, believes Kiwi tradespeople face today. But with construction costs growing and regulations changing, his role […]
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