Teaching construction workers to train and think like top athletes Construction company CEO Steve Barker noticed there were a lot of similarities between the extremely physical nature of many construction jobs and high-performance sports, and that, unlike athletes, workers did not train for the extreme physical activity they were doing onsite. “Many of our construction team play rugby or other …

    Up to 30,000 additional construction and infrastructure workers are needed in the Wellington region, for $17 billion of projects planned over the next four years. “It’s time to build. Whether you’ve got no experience or twenty years’ experience, there are opportunities available,” says Amy Henare, director of Employment Programmes at the Ministry of Social Development (MSD). A Lower …

    Onsite safety and streamlined operations are essential to the success and protection of tradies working across Australia. With the daily exposure to potential electrical hazards, understanding and employing basic and advanced safety measures are crucial for the protection of both the electricians and the integrity of the project at hand. David Holmes, CEO of Fergus, said, “Recently, our …

    Less than a third (29%) of New Zealanders are satisfied with our national infrastructure, with flood defences receiving the lowest quality rating (18%) among different types of infrastructure and identified as the number one investment priority in the country. A new 31-country Ipsos Global Advisor survey found that New Zealanders are significantly less satisfied with the country’s national …

    Otago and Southland region apprentices were more productive, knowledgeable, confident and engaged following a 16-month trial by Te Pūkenga | New Zealand Institute of Skills and Technology, to unify the approach to the New Zealand Certificate in Carpentry Level 4. The Otago Regional Service Delivery Trial involved Otago Polytechnic, Southern Institute of Technology (SIT) and the Building and …

The BRANZ Board has announced that Acting CEO, Claire Falck, has been appointed to the permanent chief executive role. BRANZ Chair Nigel Smith said that after an extensive recruitment process, he was delighted to make this appointment. “In her previous role as GM System Transformation and more recently as Acting CEO, Claire has impressed with her dedication, leadership qualities and …

Unlocking the potential of the wood processing sector, growing our economy and contributing to New Zealand’s climate change response is the aim of a new fund announced by Forestry Minister Peeni Henare Speaking at the Wood Processers and Manufacturers Association conference in Rotorua, Peeni Henare said the $57 million fund would enable the Government to partner with wood processors to …

The New Zealand plumbing industry plays a vital role in this country’s health, housing, and infrastructure. Each year, the New Zealand Plumbing Awards recognise and honour outstanding contributions and achievements in the plumbing, gasfitting and drainlaying sector. 2023 Kava Cup The Kava Cup Award celebrates community projects by regional Master Plumbers Branches and Associations. Canterbury Master Plumbers secured Hospital the …

  A national association has recognised Watercare’s collaborative approach to health, safety and wellbeing. Watercare major projects engineering manager, Craig Matthewson, says Civil Contractors New Zealand (CCNZ) awarded the special recognition to Watercare and their eight construction partners for the collaborative health, safety and wellbeing toolbox programme, Back 2 Basics. The programme was born out of our leadership working group …

  The Construction Sector Accord and Callaghan Innovation have agreed to partner to accelerate growth and innovation across construction businesses of every size and stage. The partnership seeks to address systemic challenges and build resilience across the construction sector. As part of the agreement Callaghan Innovation will deliver several. Accord initiatives through a new programme: Construction Activator. The Construction Activator …

The Wellington Regional Skills Leadership Group (RSLG) and over 50 representatives from across the infrastructure and construction sector met at WelTec | Te Pūkenga in Petone to discuss workforce development needs for the region and creating a regional partnership to progress priorities. “With approximately 3,000 job openings expected in this sector from 2025 to 2028 there is an urgent need …

A survey in late 2022 of design, construction and building professionals into the perceptions and barriers to mass timber use in construction has highlighted the growing awareness and adoption of mass timber, but it also revealed that more can be done. The survey was distributed to manufacturers, builders, architects, designers, engineers, building officials and quantity surveyors. It was commissioned by …

Building a sustainable and resilient future with precast concrete Concretec NZ are leaders in Auckland’s precast concrete industry for their innovative and sustainable construction solutions. You need look no further than Concretec NZ for expert service and quality concrete. Their extensive range of precast concrete products have helped over 850 construction projects come to life. Concretec have cemented themselves as …

Concrete NZ’s Readymix Sector Group strives to research, develop, promote and protect the interests of the ready mixed concrete industry by implementing a range of targeted initiatives. The Group’s areas of activity include representing the industry before Government, disseminating technical information, participating in standards development, offering health & safety advice, and first and foremost ensuring members maintain a high standard …

Stress is normal. We can feel stressed because we feel overwhelmed with work, feel under pressure, are experiencing new challenges, worried about something, and the list goes on. Stress at work can happen often, but when we feel stressed in our personal lives, this can impact our work lives too. Doctor Adrienna Ember – who has a double doctorate – …

Prendos, a full-service property and construction consultancy, has achieved Toitū carbonreduce certification. Fiona Gavriel, chief executive at Prendos, says the certification is reflective of the company’s desire to lead the way towards a more sustainable future for the construction and property industry, which is known to be one of the biggest contributors of greenhouse gas emissions in New Zealand. “As …

  Greg Hutchins has joined Hirepool as a Hub Manager, with overall responsibility for Lower Hutt, Thorndon, Wellington Central, Kapiti and Wellington Heavy locations. Greg has over 15 years’ experience in the financial services industry, having worked in retail lending and management in banking environments in New Zealand and the US. Greg has worked as a banker, estate company manager, …

The next step in improving the building consent system is underway, with both the construction sector and the public, being actively encouraged to have their say on how it could be improved. Minister for Building and Construction, Dr Megan Woods, says “Following last year’s consultation, we have developed options to get a more efficient building consent system, that should minimise …

The 2023 range of WIA Stick, MIG and TIG welders along with a new Plasma Cutter incorporate new operating platforms that provide full digital control over the welding process for greater efficiency and precision. The next generation of WIA welders have been introduced to Australia and New Zealand for 2023. Every model has been redesigned from the component level and …

Construction firms lose NZ$53b pa in labour costs on unproductive work ‘Unproductive work’
is costing construction businesses in New Zealand and Australia nearly NZ#$53 billion a year, according to new research. The findings are part of a survey of the global construction industry covering
599 respondents internationally. The Construction Disconnected research included 80 construction leaders and decision makers from New Zealand and …

Lost out to a cowboy again! Local builder Josh is fuming. He’s just learned (through the grapevine) that he’s missed out on the King Street reno. The local cowboy has undercut him again! By nearly a third this time. But there’s no way he could have made any money at a rate that low. At that price, would have only …

Women make up just
2.6 percent of workers
‘on the tools’ in New Zealand’s construction sector and the Building Construction Industry Training Organisation says correcting this imbalance is vital to addressing ongoing skills shortages. Employment forecasts for the construction sector, which BCITO covers, suggest
there will be more than 80,000 new and replacement jobs openings in the next five years. Traditional workforce pools …

Smart plays in a tight environment WHAT ARE THE VISA OPTIONS TO ASSIST WITH THE CONSTRUCTION WORKER SHORTAGE? NZ is desperately seeking 50,000 construction workers over the next five years. This is excluding the government’s KiwiBuild programme which anticipates to building in excess of 100,000 houses over the next 10 years. Given the changes under the Essential Skills Work Visa …

New Zealand’s building industry has yielded some stunning results – from creative architectural typology in the residential sector, to industrial construction that pushes the envelope. Unequivocally, there are compelling results to be celebrated and that have set a high benchmark. But like many facets of life, the good often comes with the not-so-flattering reality of what can happen when standards …

Henderson, Nevada, USA (18th January 2019) Snorkel™, a leading full-line manufacturer of aerial lifts, is very pleased to announce that 2019 marks the company’s 60th anniversary. Founded in 1959 by Art Moore, with roots in the fire-fighting industry, Snorkel has grown into a global leader within the aerial lift industry. To kick off a year of celebrations, Snorkel has today unveiled a brand-new global …

Why are construction companies going bust in the biggest boom period in New Zealand history? The MBIE’s 6th National Construction Pipeline Report released this year provides for a sustained growth in the construction industry over the next six years-$41 billion worth. Despite this however, some of New Zealand’s most well-known construction companies continue to experience difficulties. Previously Hartner Construction and …

Most tradies say the same thing: It’s hard to find good staff. MTA recently said there are 1,600 jobs throughout NZ that haven’t been filled. It’s a problem. So if you have too much work, how do you find more skilled staff to grow your business? Well, even in a shortage, there will always be good people who are looking …

Improved productivity, lower costs, a strong image and a platform for competitive advantage – these are just some of the benefits of running a sustainable business. Compelling research by NZI shows that those who run a sustainable business (taking into account environmental, social and economic factors), are twice as likely to grow as those not engaged. Despite this, one third …

Builders, big, independent, small and medium, now have a levelled playing field and the simple approach is leaving many wondering, “why didn’t I think of that?” Combined Building Supplies Co-operative chairman Carl Taylor talks about making small operators more competitive. The Combined Building Supplies Co-operative or, in simpler terms, CBS Co-op, allows anyone in the construction industry who are members …

Nestled amongst the foothills of the Richmond Ranges, taking in the picturesque Tasman Bay and contiguous plains, the Tasman View House sits unassumingly within its environment. It is a fine example of Modo Architects’ overriding desire to produce buildings of poetic beauty and place. Modo’s brief for the Tasman View House was simple but not easy – ‘sleek with no …

The impressive trajectory of the concrete industry cannot be overstated. From the Roman Pantheon finished in 128 AD — the largest unreinforced concrete dome in the world — to the historic Brutalist masterpieces of Le Corbusier, concrete offers vast potential and can help realise spectacular structural and architectural results. Although relatively rare following the collapse of the Roman Empire, concrete …

A survey conducted by the Registered Master Builders of the industry’s leading figures has revealed over half believe the sector is not performing to its potential, due to risk allocation in contracts and a lack of skills. The survey went out to over 50 select CEOs and senior managers from the leading commercial and residential building companies, property developers and …

Have we learned our lessons from the leaky buildings fiasco? How far has New Zealand come since leaky buildings started making front page headlines in early 2000? As a country have we mastered the art of constructing weatherproof buildings yet? Or have we still got a way to go in terms of learning from the mistakes we made with untreated …

The growing trend of lighter roofing options As the trend towards lightweight roofing and cladding continues, Roofline Canterbury Limited is leading Christchurch’s roofing industry. Roofline Canterbury is a 100-percent locally owned and operated roofing and cladding manufacturer, with more than 40 years’ experience in the industry. The company provides a wide range of solutions to customers, including new residential and …

By Martz Witty, Head of Martz Group It’s not entirely uncommon for business people to occasionally feel that they’re not in control as they would like to be. In fact, there are times where they might feel that the excrement is hitting the oscillating air mover. There are tons of courses and suggestions on how to deal with these moments, …

Charles Clifton can see a steel frame building going up outside his window. It’s the new Auckland University engineering school redevelopment. It’s called ‘B405’ and he says thanks to the university’s wish to “express the structure for the benefit of engineering teaching and research” it has leading edge steel work that is highly engineered and as advanced as you’ll get …

Much more must be done to tackle the amount of climate change pollution produced by New Zealand’s buildings, suggests a recent report released by a team of international independent sustainability consultants. The report by Thinkstep, who works with some of the world’s leading companies, shows that New Zealand’s built environment is culpable for belching out approximately 20 percent of the …

By Geoff Hardy, Auckland commercial lawyer People often underestimate the significance of a legal contract. Too many times the completion of a contract is seen as a ritual that you go through at the commencement of a deal, following which the contract is filed in the bottom drawer, hopefully never to be seen again. If you treat it as a …

London’s fatal Grenfell Tower fire has raised questions of the adequacy of building systems worldwide, and New Zealand is no exception, says an industry expert. Maynard Marks, director and New Zealand Institute of Building Surveyors (NZIBS) pastpresident, Trevor Jones, says it’s time to turn our attention towards New Zealand’s own building and construction regulatory processes to determine whether they are …

Landlords now have only one year to comply with new insulation requirements for rented properties, and face a fine of up to $4000 for not doing so. The requirement to insulate ceiling and underfloor spaces of a rented property by the 1st of July 2019 is compulsory under the Residential Tenancies Act. Confusion over legislation Insulation Association of New Zealand …

Rotorua, North Island, New Zealand (3rd July 2018) Snorkel New Zealand is pleased to announce the launch of a brand-new website dedicated to the New Zealand market. Snorkel New Zealand provides sales, parts and service for Snorkel aerial lifts in the North & South Islands, through its Snorkel sales team and nationwide service dealer network. Backed by the Snorkel manufacturing …

Ford has unleashed the first-ever Ranger Raptor – an off-road pickup loaded with toughness and performance. Hailing the Raptor as its first “performance ute for NZ” the extreme version of the Ranger has been designed off-road performance in mind. Powered by a two litre twin-turbo diesel that makes 157kW/500Nm, the Raptor is larger than a standard Ranger in every dimension. …

Having proven systems in place and focussing on delivery are just two parts of a winning formula for Paul Smith Earthmoving. “Potential clients look at a company’s history and at its known attributes when they are considering giving that company a contract,” says Tony Moir, co-owner with Bruce Tinnelly of Paul Smith Earthmoving. “Over the past 17 years of operation …

A major event for the Frame and Truss Manufacturers’ Association this year is a planned national two-day conference in September to discuss key issues and challenges for the industry. While an annual meeting of the association is held each year, providing an opportunity for its membership to catch up and discuss their issues, FTMA president Alan Westwood says the conference …

As Minister for Building and Construction, my job is to ensure New Zealand has an efficient building regulatory system that encourages innovation, while ensuring buildings are safe, healthy and durable. My priorities are to support the wider transformation of the construction industry and help enable KiwiBuild. There are four essential parts to the building system and my work programme has …

It’s a familiar story and it goes like this: A few people haven’t paid you or you’ve had a couple of slow months. Your bank account is looking empty and you still need to pay staff and suppliers. Things are getting stressful; the heat is starting to rise and the business is feeling a little out of control. It’s bothering …

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 1st of March 2018 An Australasian supplier of the world’s best drywalling tools is today beginning the hunt for its first-ever brand ambassador. The chosen Intex ambassador will win almost $20,000 worth of tools and become a leading figure in the New Zealand drywalling industry. To apply, contestants only need to submit a short video of themselves …

  By Michael Hempseed As the new year is now well under way, many companies will need to think about recruitment, either to replace staff who changed jobs during the summer, or to expand their current workforce. Often a poor recruitment process leads to serious workplace problems. We’ve all worked in a business or heard of a situation where the …

Visually stunning, 20 Customhouse Quay, the 14-storey office building on the Wellington waterfront, is perhaps, technologically, the most advanced structural solution for high-rise buildings in New Zealand. Designed to survive a one in 500 year earthquake with no structural damage, the building is estimated to meet 180 percent of the building code. It features base-isolating technology, which substantially reduces the …

The concept of future proofing is the process of anticipating the future and developing methods for minimising the effects of the shocks and stresses of future events. How does this concept apply to the construction of houses? As Nick Gaites, an executive member of the New Zealand Institute of Building Surveyors explains, we all want a comfortable home to live …

By Amanda Chase Ideally, you have a business where the team is doing well – people are motivated, they work cohesively, punctuality and reliability is not a problem and you have confidence they enjoy their jobs. All your staff respect the business and the management team, and are aligned with the company’s values. There are no performance improvement plans in …

It has been another great year for the Canterbury Safety Charter – they’ve had a lot to celebrate. In June the Charter took out the supreme award winner at the New Zealand Workplace Health and Safety Awards. It won the WorkSafe New Zealand/ACC best overall contribution to improving workplace health and safety in New Zealand. The award recognises the huge …

The team at Survus Consultants  are surveyors, planners and engineers with all the necessary expertise to advise on the specialist issue of subdivisions. What exactly is a subdivision? “It’s the term for splitting a piece of land into individual lots,” says Craig Hurford, survey manager at Survus Consultants. “Subdivisions can be as basic as a residential two-lot in-fill development where …

As Heraclitus famously said ‘The only thing that is constant is change,” – and it seems the rate of change has never been as rapid as today. Although this has probably always seemed the case to successive generations, social, technological and natural forces seem to be drawing momentum from one another to keep (quite literally in Canterbury’s case), moving the …

Great leadership is indeed a difficult thing to pin down and understand. You know a great leader when you’re working for one, but even they can have a hard time explaining the specifics of what they do that makes their leadership so effective. Great leadership is dynamic; it melds a variety of unique skills into an integrated whole. Great leadership …