The most dangerous thing on a construction site is not the fall or the machine. In Australia, construction workers take their own lives at a rate of 25.7 per 100,000, against 14.3 per 100,000 for other employed men, and suicide is by a clear margin the leading cause of death in the trade. New Zealand’s […]
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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.
Work-related disease kills far more building workers than falls, vehicles and machinery, and WorkSafe NZ estimates it claims between 750 and 900 lives across the nation’s workforce every year. Measured against the acute toll that dominates site safety, a worker is 15 times more likely to die from a disease the job caused than from […]
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, […]
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 […]
Air New Zealand’s Hangar 4, designed by Studio Pacific Architecture, has claimed the Resene Supreme Award, the highest honour at this year’s Timber Design Awards, at the 51st Gala Dinner hosted by Timber Unlimited. The judging panel called the project a benchmark achievement, praising its blend of innovation and engineering elegance. Built using a combination […]
More than 800 builders and industry stakeholders attended this year’s New Zealand Certified Builders (NZCB) Annual Conference and Expo in Wellington, which finished on Saturday. New Zealand’s top carpentry apprentice was named at the event, a celebration of emerging talent at a time when the sector faces a skills shortage among a number of other […]
Leaving school at just 16 to help support her family could easily have marked the end of Lexiga (Lexi) Pritchard’s education. Instead, it became the beginning of a remarkable learning journey that has seen the 25-year-old recognised as one of just six recipients nationwide of the 2026 Bunnings Women in Apprenticeships Award. Now a Production […]
For much of the past decade, the story around skilled trades has been one of decline, ageing workforces, falling apprenticeship numbers and a persistent perception among school leavers that a university degree was the only serious path to a stable career. That story is starting to shift, and the change is coming from an unexpected […]
Teachers across Aotearoa are being invited to take students on a free virtual journey through Central Otago this August, where they will learn how landslides shape the landscape — and what scientists and engineers are doing to better understand the risks. Funded by the Natural Hazards Commission Toka Tū Ake, the LEARNZ field trip, On […]
New Zealand’s leading vocational education research event is marking two decades of bringing researchers, educators, employers and policymakers together, with abstract submissions and registrations now open for the 20th New Zealand Vocational Education and Training Research Forum. Co-hosted by Skills Group and BCITO, this year’s forum carries the theme Building Bridges, reflecting the idea that […]
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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