NZCB InHouse magazine February/March 2024

The official magazine of New Zealand Certified Builders Association

Tradies be wary of the ‘faceless’ IRD Pg 28

The new NZS3910 Pg 36

Making your business systems more efficient with automation Pg 40

February/March 2024

And that’s a wrap!

Take a look behind the scenes at our latest homeowners campaign shoot Page 12

Contents NZCB NEWS

SUSTAINABILITY

From the Editor Chairperson’s report Chief Executive’s report NZCB advocacy NZCB 2024 diaries NZCB welcomes new Affinity Partner – The Interiors Group

2 4 6 8 8 9

Creating healthier homes in the Bay of Plenty Let’s build better homes

National Support Office report

10

And, that’s a wrap!

12

WELLNESS

NZCB welcomes new National Partner – Enveloped

13

NZCB homeowner advertising campaign data Get up to speed with NZCB’s building contracts Halo Guarantees Ltd appoints new Chief Executive Farewell to a visionary leader NZCB Strategic Partners and Affinity Partners NZCB National Partners

14 16 17 18 72 73

INDUSTRY NEWS Building in pursuit of Kaitiakitanga New retention money requirements now in force

20 22

NEWS BITES

24

TRADIE ACADEMY Don’t let hot work turn into a hot mess 26 Tradies – be very wary of the ‘faceless’ IRD 28 Your paperwork rescue plan 30 Workplace Law update 32 Could your business benefit from Google Ads? 34 The new NZS3910 36 Planning for the year ahead!

38 Making your business systems more efficient with automation 40

LEADERSHIP DISC profiling – your secret weapon Building a sustainable business through sustainable leadership

42 44

1

45 46

HEALTH & SAFETY A wake-up call for workplace safety

Tips for a great 2024 Mental fitness goes hi-vis Psychosocial risk vs psychological safety

48

50 52 54

EVENTS Auckland Golf Day a hit An engaging day for Tauranga Districts NZCB Regional Events Calendar NZCB Apprentice Challenge Sponsored by ITM 2024 NZCB AGM, Conference & Expo 2024

56 57 58 59 60

APPRENTICE SUPPORT A gateway for second chance learners NZCB Apprentice Network is now FREE to enrol!

65 66

FROM OUR PARTNERS Sealing decking timber Why financial reporting is so important Check the weather before painting

66 67 68

IN THE MEDIA

69

Pg 50

Pg 57

NZCB NEWS

From the Editor Hello and welcome to 2024! I hope you had the opportunity to unwind and enjoy the holiday season with family and friends, indulging in delicious pavlova, hearty laughs, outdoor activities, and summer BBQs.

InHouse Published bi-monthly in print and online, InHouse is the official magazine for New Zealand Certified Builders Association (NZCB). InHouse aims to educate and inform our members and their staff of the latest news from the Association and the Building and Construction Industry.

New Zealand Certified Builders PO Box 13405, Tauranga Central, Tauranga 3141 10 Marsh Street, Tauranga 3110 07 927 7720 0800 237 843 www.nzcb.nz Editor Linda Moody 07 557 9214 linda@nzcb.nz NZCB Partnerships and Services Malcolm Fleming 021 439 237 malcolm@nzcb.nz Advertising and Content Linda Moody 07 557 9214 linda@nzcb.nz Designers Wave Agency www.waveagency.co.nz

As we step into the new year, let’s embrace it with enthusiasm. While challenges may arise, remember that New Zealand Certified Builders (NZCB) is here to support you every step of the way.

The NZCB National Support Office is bustling with activity as we plan a range of exciting national and regional events for our members.

Our calendar features Annual General Meetings (AGM) and the NZCB Apprentice Challenge Sponsored by ITM. What will apprentices be tasked with building this year, and who will be the 2024 NZCB Apprentice Challenge winner?

We also have new Business 101 and Carpentry Role training, Certified Plans 2.0, and the biggest event of our calendar; the 26th NZCB National AGM, and our 25th Conference & Expo, taking place at the new Tākina Wellington Convention and Exhibition Centre in June.

This issue of InHouse includes articles from NZCB Chairperson, Nick Farrelly, and Chief Executive, Malcolm Fleming. We hear from the regions about their successful events, recap the journey of the latest homeowner campaign (being released early 2024), farewell a visionary leader, highlight media clips NZCB has featured in, and discover the latest products from our Partners.

You will meet our newest Affinity Partner, The Interiors Group NZ. The Interiors Group has aligned with NZCB to bring you discounted services and access to their fantastic range of flooring, window furnishings, and accessories. We also find out more about our newest National Partner, Enveloped.

I hope you enjoy this latest issue, brimming with insights, expertise, and inspiration to fuel your journey through the coming months. Learn more about the new NZS3910, automating business systems, practical ways to keep onside with the IRD, benefits of Google Ads, workplace law updates, DISC profiling, creating healthier homes, and more.

To each of our builders: I wish you, your family, and your team a prosperous 2024. May this year bring you numerous opportunities and great success in all your projects.

Stay safe and happy reading.

Linda Moody NZCB InHouse Editor

Print and Distribution Kale Print Limited www.kaleprint.co.nz Mailing List If you have received a copy of InHouse and wish to opt out, you would prefer to receive it via email, or would like to update your details please email linda@nzcb.nz.

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Print ISSN 2463-3305 Online ISSN 2703-2418

InHouse magazine, including the wrap, is 100% recyclable. InHouse is printed on PEFC-certified paper, supporting the growth of responsible forest management worldwide. The press used to print InHouse utilises a UV light drying system (LED), meaning there is no solvent to evaporate, and no environmental pollutants are formed. It also uses less power than traditional print technology, which helps reduce overall CO2 emissions.

The contents of InHouse may not be reproduced in any form, either in whole or in part, without written permission of the Editor. All material received will be assumed to be intended for publication unless clearly labelled ‘Not for Publication’ and will be published at the discretion of the Editor. Views expressed in articles in InHouse are not necessarily those of New Zealand Certified Builders Association. While every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information included in this publication, the designers, publishers, and Editor take no responsibility for errors, omissions or for any consequences of reliance on this information.

Articles are not intended to be relied upon as legal advice.

2

NZCB NEWS

Chairperson’s report Welcome back to the busy world of construction.

I hope you have all had a chance to spend time with family and friends away from the echoes of hammers, saws, and building inspections, and are now refreshed and ready for 2024.

got you to where you are now and take strength knowing you have the backing of an established Association.

As we return to our building sites, let’s celebrate the spirit that defines our New Zealand Certified Builders (NZCB) family. Each concrete slab put down, each frame stood, every joinery unit installed, and all the blood, sweat, and tears poured into our sites, testify to our shared commitment to excellence. This is what sets us apart from other builders.

I would suggest reaching out to your Regional Committees. Engage and get involved in their events because they are a great chance to network with like minded and similarly skilled professionals. There is truth in the saying; “business brings business”.

In 2024, let innovation be our cornerstone. Embrace the everevolving landscape of technology, focus on improving your business systems, and join us in training industry leaders with sustainable building practices. NZCB is here to support you in all areas of innovation and professional development in 2024.

Log onto the Toolshed (www.nzcb.nz/members/) for valuable videos, podcasts, tools, and templates to help your business survive during these testing times. If you need assistance with your login details, or anything else, call the National Support Office on 0800 237 843 for support.

This year is going to have its challenges, just as we experienced towards the end of last year. It’s time to reach out to your contacts: the architects, engineers, project managers, trade merchants, and previous clients. It will be our relationships, and our proven quality and delivery of work, that become invaluable in securing future work during this economic climate.

In closing, welcome back to a year that promises exceptional opportunities, challenges, and rewards. May the start of the year be marked by safety, innovation, and above all, craftsmanship.

I look forward to seeing you in your region, and at our member events, throughout the year.

We will continue to see many of the bigger players enter our market as they wait for their next “big job to start”. These big players can afford to buy the work to keep their large machines running. Do not get caught up in the price war and end up in a race to the bottom. You need to remember and value what

Nick Farrelly NZCB Board Chairperson

4

NZCB NEWS

Chief Executive’s report Welcome to 2024.

At the time of writing, the new coalition government has been sworn in and the agreements National has signed with Act and New Zealand First are being carefully scrutinised. One of the government’s 100-day pledges relates to the construction sector: introducing legislation that mandates approval of building materials and product systems that meet international standards considered equivalent to New Zealand’s standards.

New Zealand Certified Builders (NZCB) and the wider construction sector welcome this intent with the caveat that all new products and systems that become available for local building projects need to be supported by a recognised third-party certification system, such as the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment’s (MBIE) CodeMark. This requirement will ensure that new products or systems introduced from international markets will perform in the New Zealand environment. When you’re reading this article, the details of how this will work in practice should have been worked through.

election, members saw enquiry levels fall from the 2022 peak of 50,000 new home consents. Please note, 2021, 2022, and 2023 are the only years since 1974 where new home consent levels exceeded 40,000 per year.

NZCB members transitioned from a year (2022) that represented some of the toughest trading conditions many have experienced (historical high demand, a pandemic, ongoing cost escalations, supply chain restrictions), to a year (2023) where builders had to adapt and recalibrate their business strategies to sustain a robust workflow as residential building activity decreased.

The new government has a full agenda for construction, most of which (with a couple of notable exceptions) aligns with recent NZCB submissions on the MBIE 2022 and 2023 proposals to review the building consent system. Leading this work is the Minister for Building and Construction, Hon Chris Penk. While it’s not ideal that the Building and Construction portfolio is now held by someone outside of Cabinet, it is encouraging that Minister Penk also holds responsibility for the Land Information portfolio, which could lead to a welcome alignment between resource and building consent processes. NZCB Chairperson, Nick Farrelly and I met Minister Penk at a parliamentary function on his third day in the ministerial role.

As the government gears up to deliver changes to the building consent system across its first year in office, NZCB is preparing to offer a broad range of refreshed and new membership services.

What we learned from 2023 is that trade qualified builders, such as NZCB members, are well positioned to take on alternative work types. For example, being seen as a trusted advisor as homeowners explore other building options, and taking on nonregular work types such as light commercial work, cyclone and flood remediation works, or government agency projects (Kāinga Ora and Ministry of Education most notably).

As the government gears up to deliver changes to the building consent system across its first year in office, NZCB is preparing to offer a broad range of refreshed and new membership services.

This includes Version 2 of Certified Plans, a new NZCB app, and the launch of the Business 101 and Carpentry Role training programmes. These new member services and offerings will elevate the NZCB membership proposition.

Throughout 2023, NZCB members demonstrated adaptability and resilience, which bodes well for the year ahead.

Underpinning a year of delivery for NZCB is a new homeowner marketing campaign that infuses client testimonials. Also, in Q1 2024, the new Education and Event team will be at full capacity.

This will allow the National Support Office (NSO) to assist the Regions with the creation, planning, and delivery of local events in a truly collaborative manner.

On the workload front, NZCB members have reported a boost in enquiries from homeowners since the October 2023 election.

This is welcomed news because in the 12 months prior to the

Malcolm Fleming NZCB Chief Executive

6

NZCB NEWS

NZCB advocacy Providing a voice to represent New Zealand Certified Builders (NZCB) is a collective effort. The NZCB Board, NZCB Members, and NZCB Executive Leadership Team members sit on several national boards and industry groups. Below you will find some of their recent advocacy work.

New Zealand Construction Industry Council (NZCIC)

BCITO’s Carpentry National Advisory Group (NAG)

The launch of the 2023 NZCIC Guidelines Responsibilities Schedule at Parliament on 27 November, in what is thought to be the first official engagement for the new Minister for Building and Construction, Hon Chris Penk. NZCB’s Malcolm Fleming followed the Minister in the speaking line-up as NZCIC Chair.

The NAG met on 1 November 2023. Unfortunately, I was unable to attend due to being on annual leave. The following NZCB members attended as employer representatives: Dave Whitehead, Sacha Gray, Otto Rasch, and Adrian Reid. The meeting focused on inclusiveness; encouraging more apprentices into the trade regardless of gender, ethnicity, or age.

NZCB representative: Chief Executive, Malcolm Fleming

NZCB representative: Industry Pathways and Apprenticeship Manager, Nick Matthews

Waihanga Ara Rau’s Onsite Construction Strategic Reference Group (SRG)

Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment Building Advisory Panel

The SRG met online on 2 November 2023. Unfortunately, I was unable to attend due to being on annual leave. However, the minutes report it was a productive meeting, providing an update on SRG work undertaken to date, including the advice provided to the Tertiary Education Commission (TEC) related to priority mechanisms needed to support industry. This included a report from the Workforce Development Council’s (WDC) qualifications team on the reviews of Carpentry and Construction standards.

The final Building Advisory Panel (BAP) meeting of 2023 was held in Wellington on 27 November, a matter of days following the swearing-in of the new coalition government.

Three key work streams were tabled: 1. A summary of the key outcomes of the 2023 Building Consent Review engagement; 2. Building for Climate Change programme; 3. Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment’s seismic hazard workstream.

NZCB representative: Industry Pathways and Apprenticeship Manager, Nick Matthews

NZCB representative: Chief Executive, Malcolm Fleming

MBIE’s C/AS1 2024 Project

NZS 3604 (Timber-framed buildings) Standards Development Committee

NZCB continues to represent on the C/AS1 2024 Project with a meeting held on Wednesday 22 November to go over possible changes to C/AS1. We were there to provide feedback on papers supplied by MBIE. No updates can be provided at this time. .

NZCB continues to be represented on the NZS 3604 review, with a subcommittee meeting held in November 2023. The final draft for the revised NZS 3604 is set to be released to the industry for feedback in early 2024.

NZCB representative: Past NZCB Board Chairperson, Mike Craig

NZCB representative: NZCB Board Member Director, Ian Chamberlain

8

NZCB NEWS

NZCB welcomes The Interiors Group New Zealand Certified Builders (NZCB) are excited to welcome and introduce our newest Affinity Partner, The Interiors Group NZ! The Interiors Group has aligned with NZCB to bring you discounted services and access to their fantastic range of flooring, window furnishings, and accessories.

Together, the businesses that make up The Interiors Group comprise New Zealand’s largest specialist flooring and window furnishings retail network with more than 100 locations and over 600 employees dedicated to creating an unbeatable customer experience through our service, product range and passion for delivering to our customers’ needs.

The Carpet Court, The Floor Store and CurtainStudio teams are passionate about transforming New Zealand’s living spaces and as a proudly Kiwi run company that’s 100% focused on our customers’ requirements and access to fantastic ranges of flooring, window furnishings and accessories we believe we can provide our customers with the best experience through the service and expertise that supports our offer.

Who we are We are New Zealand’s largest, most trusted and preferred flooring retailer with over 65 Carpet Court showrooms nationwide and we work hard to ensure our customers enjoy the process of purchasing flooring which can often be a confusing and stressful experience.

Our Customer Service focus has been recognised by winning Gold in 2018–2024 for flooring stores in the Reader’s Digest Quality Service Awards seven years in a row – an area we continually strive to improve upon.

Who we are At CurtainStudio we are passionate about helping our customers create beautiful homes and expressing their style through a choice of curtains, blinds, shutters and coordinated soft furnishings. We have over 40 retail stores and showrooms nationwide, an online store and an expert team allocated GHB Consultants.

We have proudly placed in the Trusted Brands Awards in 2022 and 2023 and are striving towards being New Zealand’s number one trusted brand in window furnishings.

What we are offering NZCB members • Access to the latest on-trend fabrics and window furnishings • Custom and readymade options • Allocated GHB Consultant for you and your clients • Showroom support • Health & Safety compliant • Professional installation

What we are offering NZCB members • One competitive national SQM price for all of your builds • Quotes done within 48 hours • Show Home support (less 50%) • Dedicated person calling on you • Access to the most extensive flooring ranges available in New Zealand • Health & Safety compliant

How NZCB members can partner with curtainstudio CurtainStudio is now a preferred supplier to NZCB, the steps below show how easy it is to partner with us.

1. Open an account to trade on terms, or link your current account to the NZCB master account.

2. CurtainStudio offers a full range of window furnishings professionally installed 3. Pricing is based on an assumption that it is a new build 4. NZCB members have been offered preferential commercial pricing 5. Email commercial@curtainstudio.co.nz to send us your plans for us to quote and return to you

How NZCB members can partner with Carpet Court Carpet Court is now a preferred supplier to NZCB, the steps below show how easy it is to partner with us.

1. Open an account, or link your current account to the NZCB master account 2. Carpet Court offers a full range of flooring fully installed 3. Pricing is based on an assumption that it is a new build 4. Renovations would incur more costs, uplift, prep, disposal, etc 5. NZCB has been offered preferential commercial pricing 6. Email ghb@theinteriorsgroup.nz your plans for us to quote and return.

A full list of NZCB Affinity Partners can be found on page 72 of this issue of InHouse or on the members-only Toolshed under Our Partners www.nzcb.nz/about-nzcb/#nzcb-partners.

9

NZCB NEWS

National Support Office report Here is an update on what the teams at the New Zealand Certified Builders (NZCB) National Support Office (NSO) have been working on. Should you require any further information about what has been keeping us busy, please contact the respective Team Manager using the contact details below.

Finance Team

• Regional events have slowed; assisting with development and communications.

• Assisting with the launch of the NZCB Apprentice Network; online campaigns, collateral and communications.

• Revere Volume 8: submissions now closed, articles and photographs compiled, ready for final proofing.

• Certified Plans; further market research undertaken to improve the product.

• Toolshed Online Shop; new brand HardYakka launched and more products to come in 2024.

• InHouse Magazine; preparation and planning, content sourced, articles collated, proofed and finalised for print and distribution.

• New NZCB database programme/CRM; testing has begun. This is the first phase of the new app that will be launched in 2024/25.

• Affinity Partnerships; renewals and retention, with one new partnership signed up. Welcome The Interiors Group! See page 9 for more information.

• Strategic Partnership; renewals and growth plan development.

• National Partnerships; renewals and retention.

• Support of Territory Managers for new NZCB Presidents with events and communications.

• NZCB new public facing website; currently being built and launching in 2024.

Manager Sandra Kennerley | 021 566 224 | sandra@nzcb.nz • Processing of Regional fundraising activities.

• Budgets for NZCB and Halo Guarantees Limited.

• Monthly accounts.

• Assisting with the development of the new CRM database.

Membership and Education Team Manager Shane Ririnui | 021 906 489 | shane@nzcb.nz • • • •

Assisting and delivering the NZCB Strategic Plan to NSO staff.

Assisting with the transition to the new CRM system.

Assisting with training new staff.

Customer Liaison – Old complaints and enquiries are being revisited by homeowners.

– The nature of the enquiries is still contract implementation or client management.

– Working with Karla to create an FAQ for the NZCB public facing website.

• New Membership Coordinator – Shaye has noticed a decrease in the number of New Membership Applications.

– Resignation of membership is starting to taper off.

– Company changes ongoing and steady.

• Territory Managers – Supporting the Regions with events to close out 2023. ● Planning the 2024 Event Calendar with regions alongside the new Education and Events Manager.

– Territory Managers workshop that involved ongoing education, including: > NZCB products and services > Halo 10-Year Residential Guarantee product updates > New Member inductions.

Apprenticeship Support Team Manager Nick Matthews | 021 906 483 | nick@nzcb.nz •● NZCB Apprentice Network – Regional delivery of Apprentice Network to Mid and South Canterbury.

– NZCB Business Member enquiry; support for dyslexic learners.

– Mitre 10 Trade sponsored promotional campaign.

– Enrolment and process of Apprentice Network new member applications.

– Planning and delivery of 2024 Apprentice Network regional events.

• NZCB Apprentice Trust – Trustee Meeting – Scope and expansion of the NZCB Apprentice Trust.

– Review of Trust Deed.

– Trustee elections to office.

• Assisting and delivering the NZCB Strategic Plan (Apprentice Network component) to NSO staff.

• Assisting with the development of Trainee Membership category on new CRM.

Marketing and Membership Services Team Manager Karla Farrar | 021 906 234 | karla@nzcb.nz • NZCB AGM, Conference & Expo 2024 planning.

See pages 60–64 for more information.

• The 26th Members-only AGM preparation and planning.

• NZCB new homeowner advertising campaign for 2024; three photo shoots completed and editing underway.

• NZCB membership recruitment advertising campaign 2023/2024; launched in December 2023.

• NZCB News, Education, and Deals and Benefits; monthly email newsletter preparation, planning and delivery.

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Helping your clients choose the perfect appliances We’re making it easy to support homeowners with our new curated appliance catalogue. Featuring top brands conveniently grouped into packages, it’s your go-to resource for helping your clients choose the perfect appliances.

Available online an hard cop d y

Packages include a range of entry-level through to premium brands, from Robinhood, Eurotech and Artusi, to Haier, Samsung, Fisher & Paykel and Smeg.

Scan the QR Code to view online or get your hard copy from our trade team: twgtrade@twgroup.co.nz

We are carbonzero certified and aim to make sustainable living easy and affordable for everyone

NZCB NEWS

And, that’s a wrap!

Last November, we completed our final shoot for our 2024 homeowner campaign ‘Special is for all of us’.

The goal is to attract a broader audience by showcasing the exceptional, high quality work being produced

by New Zealand Certified Builders (NZCB) members.

With the changing economic climate, the focus has shifted to more affordability, so we wanted to help overcome the perceived barrier that all new builds and renovations are expensive. Our campaign focuses on a younger demographic with smaller budgets. While still being inspirational, we are highlighting achievable work. We want to show Kiwis that with NZCB builders, something special is within reach.

Our new campaign concentrates on reassurance. We want to help NZCB keep its pipeline of work full during the uncertain year ahead. The campaign’s objective is to find a way through the current setbacks or barriers and ensure any prospective homeowners have NZCB top-of-mind when seeking a builder.

Secondly, we strive to continue to build on our brand position of ‘Let’s build something special’.

After reviewing the New Homeowners Satisfaction Survey 2021, we found the following stats helpful: • 22% base their preference of builder on recommendations from friends and family • 40% choose a builder based on their show home • 80% consider reputation/quality as the most important feature • 61% stated timely completion of their build as being the most important On top of this, we know homeowners have a crucial interest in more sustainable and energy-efficient homes, often meaning a smaller house footprint.

During the development phase, we heard stories from homeowners and builders about their journey and the decisions they made. We discovered how their relationships grew, how our NZCB builders overcame obstacles, and how each build was unique. The results are extraordinary.

We also know that NZCB builders mostly cater to bespoke projects.

From the first layer of the campaign, we drop down to 6-10-second videos (your average attention span online these days!). The new commercials are designed for social media and Google advertising. The focus is on:

Coming up with new creative concepts was a challenge.

Homeowners still want uniqueness, quality, and something special. We also needed to reassure Kiwis and continue inspiring them to build something true to their needs. We also wanted to break down the barriers about trust, cost, and experience. Not too much to ask for, aye!

1. Energy efficiency

4. Smaller footprint

2. Quality

5. Relationships

3. Cost

6. Uniqueness

We are super excited to launch this campaign and we’re sure it will help educate homeowners on what makes you so special. Keep an eye out for the new online commercials over the coming months. We will put a copy on the NZCB website for you to view.

We are proud of the new creative concepts we’ve developed with our award-winning creative partner, Wave Agency. They’ve created a multi-layer campaign that focuses on three core principles: 1. Sustainability and materials

Karla Farrar NZCB Marketing & Services Manager

2. Renovating under $300k 3. Small home builds 12

NZCB NEWS

NZCB welcomes Enveloped New Zealand Certified Builders (NZCB) are delighted to welcome and introduce you to our newest National Partner, Enveloped! Read on to discover more about what they can do for you as a member of NZCB.

Enveloped is proud to be a National Partner for New Zealand Certified Builders. We import and distribute building materials to help enhance the energy efficiency and healthiness of Kiwis’ homes. With a showroom in Silverdale, Auckland, and warehousing in Auckland, Wellington, and Christchurch, we cover the entire country. Visit www.enveloped.co.nz for more information.

has a 70-year warranty, and is an easy substitution on-site, which can often save you money. Eliment® is available to order from any ITM and PlaceMakers and is installed by a wide range of professional installers around most of the country.

Visit www.elimentinsulation.co.nz for more information.

Rockwool® is considered a premium solution for acoustics and fire and is commonly used on commercial applications.

Visit www.rock-wool.co.nz for more information.

Enveloped represents Neuffer windows and doors in Germany.

Neuffer have been manufacturing and distributing window joinery for over 150 years, and export around the world. Windows and doors are one of the primary areas of a home’s heat loss in the winter and heat gain in the summer. Therefore, installing high-quality, high-performance windows and doors is critical to the thermal performance of a home. Enveloped has supplied these windows to numerous projects throughout New Zealand, offering ranges that cover all price points.

Enveloped also import and stock PIRMAX® insulation panels, which are a high performance PIR insulation solution. PIRMAX® can be a cost-effective substitution for other similar products and can be used in a wide range of applications in both commercial and residential. Visit www.pirmax.co.nz for more information.

Enveloped has developed a highly cost-effective glasswool insulation called “Eliment®”. Eliment® is CodeMark certified,

A full list of NZCB National Partners can be found on page 73 of this issue of InHouse or on the members-only Toolshed under Our Partners www.nzcb.nz/about-nzcb/#nzcb-partners.

13

NZCB NEWS

NZCB homeowner advertising campaign December 2023 activity results Below you will find an update on the performance of the New Zealand Certified Builders (NZCB) Advertising Levy budget. This digital report highlights our Google Adverts, Facebook, Instagram, and Programmatic Spending for December 2023.

11,239

1m 28sec

812,398

191k

NZCB website visitors/users

average time spent on website +8% MOM

total page impressions delivered to homeowners

social media reach

–32% MOM

–17% MOM

–26% MOM

17% of all website visitors are converting

2,819

171

515

61

‘Find a Builder’ search conversions –60% MOM

emails sent to Members from website

homeowner requests for builder’s phone number –86% MOM (GA4)

NZCB Membership enquiries –32% MOM

–29% MOM

53.5k

1,326

10.47%

7,295

NZCB video thru-plays on social

social engagements across all campaigns (likes, comments, shares, post saves)

Google advertising homeowner clicks

overall digital advertising link clicks

+128% MOM*

–42% MOM

–6% MOM

MOM = Month on Month. The comparison of data from one month to the previous month. *Due to impression delivery change to include Display Network within our membership recruitment campaign on Google.

Summary Despite most metrics being down MOM, due to paused campaign spending across Membership Recruitment campaigns and programmatic channels, some metrics have increased considerably, demonstrating that our content is relevant to our audiences (hypothesis being that whilst everyone is on holiday, there is more time to view content).

• Time on site increased by 8% MOM • CTR on Google increased by 128% MOM • Video views of our Special video on Meta increased by 10% and link clicks were up 50% MOM

Karla Farrar NZCB Marketing & Services Manager 14

PLACEMAKERS FRAMOLOGY SMART THINKING, MANUFACTURED PlaceMakers Framology is our new initiative designed to help increase the R-Value of your new build, making New Zealand’s homes drier and warmer.

When you get your frame & truss with us, we can quickly find opportunities to streamline the construction design, increase the insulation in wall framing, and also provide you with a detailed R-Value report to save your business time and money.

For more information scan the QR code

NZCB NEWS

Get up to speed with NZCB’s building contracts Business Members only Are you complying with the building laws? Before entering into a residential building contract with your client make sure you hand over a Checklist and a completed Disclosure Statement if the building work is $30,000.00 including GST or more.

• Portable Building/Prefabricated Building Component (hardcopy only) This Contract is intended for use where the building work carried out by the Builder will result in a portable building (whether temporary or permanent), or building component, that will be relocated from the construction site to another location, on the completion of such portable building/building component.

This Contract is intended to be used whether the Builder is only responsible for the construction of the portable building/ building component or is also responsible for any (or all) of the transportation, installation, and site works associated with the relocation of the portable building/building component.

A Checklist can be downloaded from the Compliance tab on the NZCB members-only Toolshed (www.nzcb.nz/members/ compliance/) and a Disclosure Statement is available under the Building Contracts section of the NZCB members-only Toolshed website (www.nzcb.nz/members/disclosure-statements/).

Different types of building contracts • Building Contract – for all projects over $30,000 This contract should only be used when the overall management of the project (including the procurement of the materials, the hiring of the contractors, and the coordination of their activities on-site) is being performed by the Builder.

• Sub Contractor Agreement A separate agreement with each subcontractor for the trades they perform, i.e., Builder to Electrician.

• Preliminary Services This Contract is intended for use where the Builder has been asked to do some preliminary work in connection with a proposed building project, either prior to the project commencing or as part of a feasibility study to determine if the project will go ahead.

Building contract payment types • Fixed Price+ This contract is used when an aspect (or all) of a project has a quoted element to it. Should there be variations to the quote then this contract allows for flexibility while still maintaining payment security. The deposit is held by the Builder during construction and balanced at the time of final invoice.

• Small Works and Alterations – for projects $30,000 and under This Contract is intended for use where the building work is expected to be of such short duration that the Builder will only need to invoice the owner once. The Builder has the option to select whether the works will be charge up or a fixed quote.

A more comprehensive contract is recommended if multiple invoices and payments are involved.

• Cost & Mark Up This contract is used when the total price payable for the building work is not fixed, specified, or known at the time of entering into the contract. Instead, the progress payments and the final contract price are to be calculated by reference to the actual costs incurred by the Builder in carrying out the building work, plus a margin for the Builder’s administration, overhead, and profit.

• Spec Build When the Builder is building a spec home, and: • Owns the land on which he/she is building something; and • Sells the land to someone before he/she is finished building.

These terms should NOT be used when:

Additional project management types

• The Builder intends to sell the land and commence building work after settlement; or

• Renovations Similar to the standard building contract except for three main differences:

• The Builder has completed the building work.

1. First, the Builder only gets possession of the part of the building they are working on.

It doesn’t matter whether the Builder hasn’t started building yet (i.e., has sold off the plans) or is just a few weeks away from completion.

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A Checklist can be downloaded from the Compliance tab on the NZCB members-only Toolshed and a Disclosure Statement is available under the Building Contracts section of the NZCB members-only Toolshed website.

Complete your contract online Online building contracts are simple to use and raise your professionalism, so give it a go!

• Enter the job information on an easy step-by-step template • Save and close at any time if you need to come back later • Email the draft contract to your client so they can read it over before signing

2. Secondly, the Owner always takes out the contract works insurance.

• Print the completed contract and drop it round to your client.

3. Thirdly, if you are charging on the basis of having reached defined stages of completion of the works, those stages have been left blank so you can fill them out to fit the requirements of the project.

All contracts (with the exception of the Portable Building/ Prefabricated Building Component) are available to complete online on the NZCB members-only Toolshed (www.nzcb.nz/ members/building-contracts/).

• Labour Only This contract should only be used when the overall management of the project (including the procurement of the materials, the hiring of the contractors, and the coordination of their activities on-site) is being performed by the owner or a specialist project manager appointed by the owner such as an Architect, Engineer or another Builder. The contract allows for the supply of incidentals (low value) and variation rates and margins are also agreed upon.

Need further assistance?

If you are unsure which contact you should be using or need assistance completing one, please contact the National Support Office on 0800 237 843. If you have any legal questions about the contracts, contact Martelli McKegg Lawyers for 20 minutes of free advice on 09 379 0700. Martelli McKegg Lawyers, has recently revised the NZCB Building Contracts, and operates the NZCB Legal Helpline.

Halo Guarantees Ltd appoints new Chief Executive The Halo Guarantees Limited (HGL) Board is pleased to announce the appointment of Shaun Riley as the new Chief Executive (CE) of HGL. Shaun takes over the role from David Lee, who finished at Christmas.

The HGL Board looks forward to Shaun building on the excellent work done by David Lee over the last 18 months to take the company to the next level for the benefit of homeowners and New Zealand Certified Builders Members.

Shaun is an experienced senior executive with a background in finance, insurance and the residential building sector. His previous roles have included Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Geneva Finance Group, CEO Mike Pero Mortgages Ltd, and CEO and Director of Platinum Homes. Shaun also owns a small construction company and holds a Bachelor of Business Studies in Accounting from Massey University.

The Board would like to acknowledge and thank David for his work getting HGL on to a sound footing and for the leadership and commitment he has shown. David will be missed, and we wish him well in his new role.

Well-acquainted with the building sector, Shaun brings a wealth of knowledge and leadership experience to Halo Guarantees Ltd.

Shaun started his CE position in January.

Shaun and his family live in Pāpāmoa, and he will be based in Tauranga. He is passionate about cricket and serves as a Director of the Northern Districts Cricket Association. He was previously Board Chair of the Bay of Plenty Cricket Association.

Roger Taylor Halo Guarantees Limited Board Chairperson 17

NZCB NEWS

Farewell to a visionary leader With both sadness and gratitude, on Friday 8 December, we said goodbye to an exceptionally talented leader, mentor, colleague and friend; New Zealand Certified Builders (NZCB) Marketing & Services Manager, Karla Farrar.

Karla joined the NZCB National Support Office (NSO) in December 2018, bringing a wealth of knowledge. Her previously held roles included National Marketing Manager for a New Zealandwide automotive parts distribution company and owning a boutique advertising and communications agency.

When she started with us, Karla held the position of Communications and Group Services Manager – a multifaceted role that included leading the Communications and Group Services Team, overseeing all communications to members (including REVERE, InHouse magazine, and email communications), membership services, running our annual AGM, Conference & Expo, and NZCB brand development.

Karla’s passion and drive to add value to and advance the Association was evident from the start. Over the past five years, she has played a vital role in the development and growth of the Association by implementing and contributing to numerous successes we are all proud of.

Karla’s strong relationships with partners and sponsors have been key to the success of the retention of and onboarding of many new and improved service offerings. Her tireless efforts have been instrumental in sponsorship relations, event management, advertising campaigns, and NZCB’s website.

Karla made our annual Conference & Expo ‘her own’ and the event is now a highlight in members’, stakeholders’, partners’, and the industry’s calendars. She continually elevated the event with new keynote and educational speakers and sessions, MCs, comedians, technology, ideas, and entertainment.

Whether she’s interacting with members, stakeholders, partners, or staff within the Association, Karla is always eager to help.

She is kind, compassionate, and has an unwavering commitment to the betterment of the team and the Association. Her leadership, shared wisdom, encouragement, and mentorship have guided the team at NSO through many changes and challenges.

Thanks to Karla’s hard work, the marketing direction of the Association has raised the profile of NZCB across the board.

This is evident in successful homeowner and membership recruitment advertising campaigns, the recent NZCB 25th anniversary video, and the upcoming 2024 NZCB marketing campaigns. All of which showcase Karla’s marketing flair and storytelling, which helps showcase the NZCB brand and has defined the Association’s direction of travel.

On behalf of all past and present members, staff, and stakeholders, we extend our congratulations and heartfelt thanks to Karla for her hard work, passion, loyalty, and dedication over the past five years. Your efforts have truly made a positive impact, and we appreciate your commitment to excellence. You have set the Association up for a successful future. We will miss you dearly and wish you all the best for the next chapter in your life.

With her talented and creative mind, Karla has played a vital part in the development of the new NZCB website, upkeep of our current website (including updating all online building and employment contracts), new marketing collateral, compiling the Annual Report, the website and the CRM system for Halo Guarantees Limited and its product, assisting with the development of collateral and launch of the NZCB Apprentice Network, supporting regional events, and the new (in progress) NZCB CRM.

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INDUSTRY NEWS

Building in pursuit of Kaitiakitanga A building with many firsts for Aotearoa The Living Pā is the bold redevelopment of Te Herenga Waka Marae, on Kelburn Parade at Victoria University of Wellington, into one of the world’s most environmentally responsible hubs.

Photo credit – Frank Productions

Rhonda Thomson (Ngāi Tahu), Pou Hāpai and Co-Project Manager, reflects that this project directs everybody involved to:

Responsive to Māori dreams, the Pā will stand as proof of Māori beliefs, values, and passions, and guide many thousands of people to reconnect to their whakapapa (relationship) with nature.

• centre Papatūānuku and a relational approach with Te Taiao (the natural world)

The 3000sqm project will extend the marae’s capacity to bring people together to learn, live and share a sustainable future.

It will be a space not just for the University, its staff, and students, but for the wider community.

• intentionally apply innovation and advance benchmark practices • tackle intersecting and difficult problems, such as the changing climate, by thinking about them in the context of their system – the interacting elements, big or small, such as people and community, equity and inclusion, history, ecosystem, tikanga, and economic models

The Living Pā is one of the largest-scale buildings to work towards Living Building certification. This comes with many firsts for Aotearoa, each bringing a unique suite of challenges. It is the first mass timber building to target the Living Building Challenge, and the first mass timber building undertaken by the contractor.

It is one of only a few mass timber buildings in Aotearoa.

• create and advocate for change.

The use of te ao Māori principles is key to the project, both during build and into its future. These principles are the foundations of Māori culture and provide valuable insights to help guide and protect everyone involved. The principles highlight cultural identity, cultural understanding for Māori and non-Māori communities, and sustainability.

Project Sponsor, Professor Rawinia Higgins (Ngāi Tūhoe), Deputy Vice-Chancellor Māori at the University, chose the challenge largely to build a facility complementary to the adjacent wharenui, Te Tumu Herenga Waka, and to advance thinking about sustainability and the needs of future generations.

She acknowledges this pushes the team into a space which can be quite difficult.

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The project is under construction: Features: Inclusive of all iwi, this university-based marae incorporates an existing whare whakairo (carved meeting house).

It will substantially increase marae engagement and teaching spaces. The redevelopment is a new 3000 square metre midrise build featuring a low damage engineered timber structure, 202 photovoltaic array (PV), a highly technical closed loop threewaters system, ethnobotanical planting plan.

Site: High-profile 980sqm urban, mixed-use site on steep excavated land. The building sits on an inconsistent geological foundation and is adjacent to several multi-storey institutional buildings that restrict solar access. The street is a major hub of arrival and departure from the campus, and a major access route to the city.

Approach The construction of the Living Pā recognises the need for solutions that are achievable, accessible and without hidden social, cultural, economic, and environmental costs. It embeds the founding principles of the marae, Te Herenga Waka (the gathering of canoes), in a tangible way through the process of its build and future operations. The client’s goal has been to work within and across multiple systems to centre kaitiakitanga (guardianship) as a value that is not to be compromised.

Building better The building is clad with a timber façade and includes planter boxes which provide shading where required and help connect the building and occupants to the external environment. The building uses stack ventilation processes, and has a rooftop completely covered in PV panels to generate the energy required to meet 105% (including resilience) of the building’s needs.

Kaitiakitanga – Taking responsibility Kaitiakitanga and taking responsibly are notions central to the purpose of the Living Pā. Kaitiakitanga means guardianship and it requires Māori to protect and nurture the environment which, in turn, will protect and nurture the people. Inherent in this approach is an understanding that sustainability is not a goal, it is a process.

The building also incorporates an intricate water system which collects water from the roof, has evapotranspiration from the planters, and a complex tank wastewater treatment plant including a membrane bioreactor system to manage black and grey water. This system includes tanks underground that collect roof water, collect and treat grey water for vacuum flushing toilets and provides water for nearby buildings. The build requires a minimum of 90% waste diversion from landfill, consisting of 100% from soil and biomass, 99% paper and waste, 95% carpet and insulation, and 90% everything else.

As an example, Living Building certification requires the project team to screen all products down to their chemical composition, and ensure that nothing in the building leaches toxins that pose risk to human health or the greater ecosystem. There is also a requirement to support local economy product and labour sourcing, and local waste diversion projects.

Integrated design and early contractor involvement Mā te taiao, ka kōrero – The Living Building Challenge To deal with the inherent complexities in LBC, the project used both an integrated design process (IDP) and early contractor involvement. Integrated design means that a project is designed through a collaborative process that involves stakeholders from across the value chain from the very beginning. IDP considers the architecture, engineering and building inputs of construction as a whole system. It seeks to increase input and discussion at the planning and design phases, with decisions made jointly by participants. The IDP system is iterative and considers the connections between the various disciplines.

The Living Pā is one of the largest-scale buildings to work towards Living Building certification. This comes with many firsts for Aotearoa, each bringing a unique suite of challenges. It is the first mass timber building to target the Living Building Challenge, and the first mass timber building undertaken by the contractor.

It is one of only a few mass timber buildings in Aotearoa.

One distinguishing feature of Living Building projects is the holistic framework. This means that the pā must achieve something significantly good across a range of seven performance categories (LBC calls them petals) and 20 imperatives, each with their own subimperatives. The seven performance areas are energy, water, materials, equity, beauty, health and happiness. The imperatives interweave in many ways and these interrelationships, and what they mean to community and the environment, are integral to the framework.

Want to know more?

To watch the five-minute video, or read the full case study and how to guide visit https://www.constructionaccord.nz/good-practice/ beacon-projects/the-living-pa-building-in-pursuit-of-kaitiakitanga/

Marae and University leadership were attracted to the LBC programme because it is a legitimate attempt to raise the bar in the way we build, teach, learn and live.

Construction Sector Accord. The Construction Sector Accord is a joint commitment from government and industry to work together to create a thriving, fair and sustainable construction sector for a better Aotearoa, New Zealand. www.constructionaccord.nz

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INDUSTRY NEWS

New retention money requirements now in force New requirements to protect subcontractors, who have retention money withheld from them, commenced on 5 October 2023.

The new retention money requirements have now been in force for about four months. They strengthen the retention money regime by making it easier for subcontractors to access retention money without a court order, in the event of a head contractor’s insolvency.

The new requirements apply to new commercial contracts signed on, or after, 5 October 2023 and existing commercial contracts renewed on, or after, that date.

New requirements head contractors need to be aware of If someone chooses to withhold retention money, they must comply with the new requirements. These include: • clarifying that retention money is automatically held on trust by the head contractor once the contract allows it to be withheld from the subcontractor;

with the new requirements are also available. These are: • A detailed guidance document to support property owners, developers, contractors and subcontractors, along with legal, accounting and insolvency professionals, in understanding their rights, duties and obligations.

• The recording of a webinar held by MBIE for main contractors, sub-contractors, clients, and payment certifiers (QSs and Engineers to Contract), which helps to explain what the changes mean for these groups. It includes a question-and-answer session.

• Examples for each type of reporting requirement.

• ensuring that retention money held as cash is also held separately in a bank account with prescribed ledger accounts; • using retention money only to rectify non-performance of subcontractors’ obligations under the contracts – if retention money is used to remedy those defects, subcontractors must be given ten working days’ notice; • providing quarterly reports to each subcontractor retention money is withheld from; • providing each subcontractor with a report after each transaction with their retention money, promptly and free of charge;

For more information about retention money requirements under the Construction Contracts Act 2002 visit, www.building.govt.nz/ projects-and-consents/why-contracts-are-valuable/constructioncontracts-act-2002/

• paying out retention money when it’s owed.

Penalties for not complying with the new requirements

You will find resources to support compliance with the requirements on the Building Performance website, www.building. govt.nz/projects-and-consents/why-contracts-are-valuable/ construction-contracts-act-2002/retention-money-resources/

There are now liability offences for failing to hold retention money properly, with penalties of up to $50,000 for a director and up to $200,000 for a company. Offences include: • failure to comply with accounting, recording and reporting requirements;

Background

• use of retention money for a purpose other than remedying defects in the subcontractor’s performance;

In April 2023, the Construction Contracts (Retention Money) Amendment Act 2023 (the Amendment Act) was passed by parliament, which covered the new retention money requirements.

These changes built on retention money provisions already in the Construction Contracts Act 2002. On 5 October 2023, the Amendment Act became part of the Construction Contracts Act 2002, and the new requirements came into force.

• failure to provide regular information to the subcontractor on retention money.

Where to go for further information You can read more about the new requirements on the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment’s (MBIE’s) Building Performance website. Resources to support you to comply

Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment. MBIE is the central regulator of New Zealand’s building system. Our Building System Performance (BSP) branch provides policy and technical advice on New Zealand’s building system, rules and standards, and implements building legislation and regulations to meet New Zealand’s current and future needs. Find out more at www.building.govt.nz

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News Bites

NEWS BITES

Franklins launches: Viega Copper Outdoor Shower Franklins has introduced a gamechanging outdoor copper shower that combines superior German quality with efficient installation.

Crafted with the Viega Pressfit System and Wieland copper tube, this innovation redefines outdoor shower installations.

The Viega Pressfit System ensures a hassle-free installation process, making it the perfect addition to any backyard or pool area. This innovative system eliminates the need for traditional soldering, significantly reducing installation time and ensuring leak-free performance for years to come.

Wieland copper tube, known for its top-tier quality, not only gives the shower an appealing, rustic appearance but also offers unmatched durability and corrosion resistance, making it the perfect fit for outdoor use.

The level of customisability offered by the copper shower makes it a compelling choice. Thanks to versatile mounting options, it can effortlessly meet a wide range of homeowner needs and preferences.

The outdoor copper shower not only promises aesthetics and robustness but also environmental consciousness. Copper, renowned for its recyclability, and the use of the Viega Pressfit System further minimises waste during installation.

To view the shower in person, visit our Silverdale design studio, located at Unit 8/30A Foundry Road, or learn more at www.franklins.co.nz.

Reach more customers with ‘Always-On’ digital marketing Why the buzz about ‘Always-On’? It offers three key advantages: consistent brand visibility, ongoing engagement with your audience, and the establishment of a lasting and reliable online presence.

Styles meet durability with At Wave, we develop ‘Always-On’ strategies that drive continuous growth with captivating content.

Lockwood’s new Vivid Collection Executed well, an ‘Always-On’ digital strategy Beyond aesthetics, the PVD coatings This new residential will deliver you: offer unmatched durability, UV resistance, collection encompasses • Lasting impressions: Be the first and are four times sturdier than chrome. a full internal door hardware choice even when customers These coatings ensure excellent scratch suite, available in bold colours; aren’t actively buying. and wear resistance and minimal satin brass, satin bronze, and satin • Boundless outreach: corrosion. Being eco-friendly, the PVD gun metal.

They infuse luxury and Seamlessly omnipresent process also aligns with conscious versatility, effortlessly complementing across digital platforms. purchasing. various decors.

Simultaneously, natural • Trust building: materials like brass and copper are The Vivid Collection is available now Consistent value from ASSA ABLOY. Find out more at increasingly in demand, echoing warmth addition fosters www.assaabloy.com/nz and individuality. trust and credibility.

• Insights for success: Insightful reporting fine-tunes strategies, ensuring your message resonates.

Talk with us today on 07 927 4444 hello@waveagency.co.nz

Pictured from left: Isabel Vickers, Ryan Belz and Jessica Blake from Wave Agency.

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It’s all in the wash Achieve semi-transparent colour changes on a wide range of concrete surfaces, both indoors and out, with the new Resene ‘In The Wash’ collection of concretewash colours.

This range can be used to bring subtle, buildable sheer colour to concrete walls (interior and exterior), interior floors, exterior walkways and decorative elements like concrete planters and furniture. The product leverages Resene Concrete Clear, Resene Concrete Wax, and Resene Concrete Clear Walk-on technology to offer customers a variety of different finishes to both colour and protect set concrete. Five colours are currently available; Resene Whitewash, Resene Greigewash, Resene Blondewash, Resene Claywash, and Resene Stonewash – to impart a range of different natureinspired hues.

The beauty of Resene ConcreteWash colours lie in their subtleness, with buildable colour that can be used to create a variety of looks.

SunPivot® – HomePlus’s newest Pivoting Louvre Roof system engineered to enhance outdoor living areas, transforming them into versatile spaces that can be enjoyed year-round. Utilising the classic New Zealand veranda/gazebo concept, this modern louvred roof, designed for New Zealand weather, makes for a seamless transition between indoor and outdoor spaces. Available in wall-mounted, freestanding, or integrated options, SunPivot® offers wide-ranging configuration flexibility.

The Louvre blades pivot 90 degrees or anywhere in between at the click of a button, fitting tightly against

The HomePlus SunPivot® enhanced Pivoting Louvre Roof redefines indoor-outdoor living and aesthetic appeal.

SunPivot® is one of the latest additions to HomePlus’s range of New Zealand designed and manufactured Louvre Roof systems. Building on the success and popularity of the HomePlus’s tried and tested Pivoting Louvre Roof design, the SunPivot® takes outdoor living to new heights.

Providing homeowners with the perfect blend of style, functionality, and durability, SunPivot® is

Available from Resene ColorShops.

the gutter when closed to minimise water splashes. A seamless, architectural look is achieved through an integrated gutter, solid aluminium gutter box and cover plates, along with hidden drainpipes running through the support posts.

The ability to integrate an optional Drop-Down screen into the outer beam or add Glaslide® glass sliding doors or Louvrelite® 88 Series Shutters will create the ultimate outdoor room.

Please contact HomePlus for more information at specify@homeplus.co.nz

Trevor’s journey from builder to property inspector extraordinaire Licensed Building Practitioners (LBP’s), like Trevor, are embracing new opportunities in property inspections, moving away from the traditional model that limited both income and leisure time.

Meet Trevor, a seasoned builder who found a fresh path in the property inspection industry with Red LBP. Their streamlined reporting system empowered him to effortlessly produce multiple reports daily, significantly improving his work efficiency.

Red LBP’s innovative marketing system simplifies the process of attracting clients, allowing franchisees to grow their business organically.

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Trevor’s story is not unique. On average, Red LBP franchisees earned over $142,000 in 2022, and Red LBP consistently secured a market share of approximately 40% within their territories for monthly house inspections in New Zealand.

Beyond financial success, the transition granted Trevor the precious gift of time. He now enjoys the freedom to indulge in his passion for fishing whenever he pleases.

Red LBP’s franchise system, with its minimal administrative requirements, allowed Trevor to regain control of his schedule and prioritise what truly matters to him.

Trevor’s journey serves as an inspiring example of how LBP’s can thrive in the property inspection industry while achieving a healthier work-life balance.

Explore your opportunity with Red LBP today; call 0800 113 191 or email sales@redinspect.co.nz

TRADIE ACADEMY

Don’t let hot work turn into a hot mess We’ve all seen the news headlines where someone doing some welding or using a blow torch has inadvertently caused a huge fire, resulting in extensive damage to a building or construction site.

Depending on who you are insured with, there will be conditions around the policy which means cover may be excluded in situations such as: • The organisation not having a hot work permit.

• Any glass not being located at a safe distance from where the hot work is being undertaken.

• Flammable liquids or materials being located near where hot work is being done.

• Inadequate firefighting equipment being available on-site, such as fire extinguishers.

• Not having sufficient people on-site who are trained to use any firefighting equipment.

• Failing to do regular checks on where the hot work is being carried out – especially during works breaks and at the end of the day.

Whilst it is important to mitigate any risks to avoid such an issue, incidents do happen, and that is where insurance can come into play to help remedy any damage caused.

Some insurers will also have specific conditions for roofers or waterproofers who are doing hot work a lot more frequently.

It is important, however, to understand what is in your policy and what it does and does not cover.

What do you need to look out for?

What is defined as hot work?

It is extremely important to ensure all sub-contractors abide by your conditions to avoid a claim being declined.

Most insurers define hot work as the use of any process that generates or involves heat. This includes activities such as: • Welding

If you are the contractor, we recommend you check the main contractor’s conditions to help protect you if you end up being brought into a claim.

• Using cutting and grinding equipment involving wheels or abrasive disks

If you are working on larger commercial projects, it would also be a good idea to review your liability limits.

• Applying bitumen, tar or asphalt

By knowing what you are and are not covered for, you can help to ensure your hot work doesn’t turn into a hot mess.

• Working with a blowtorch, blowlamp, hot air gun, flame gun, or hot air stripper

ICIB Brokerweb is the trusted insurance broker for New Zealand Certified Builders. If you concerned about your cover for hot work, give us a call on 0800 644 444.

• Operating a thermal lance

How is hot work covered under insurance?

Almost all liability and/or property policy wordings include a Hot Works Liability clause setting out the conditions to follow when doing any work involving: • The application of heat, a naked flame, or open heat source or work that produces sparks.

• The use of gas welding, arc welding, oxyacetylene welding equipment, including cutting with such equipment.

• Soldering, brazing, or use of heat guns.

REDi Builders’ Insurance is administered by ICIB Brokerweb and is exclusive to NZCB members. ICIB Brokerweb are NZCB’s preferred insurance broker and operate the NZCB Insurance helpline. They can be contacted on redi@bwrs.co.nz or 0800 644 444 or www.icib.co.nz

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TRADIE ACADEMY

Tradies – be very wary of the ‘faceless’ IRD Being an owner of a tradie business over the past three to four years has had its moments. Having worked closely with a significant number of business owners through this period, many have come through to this point in reasonably good financial shape – but if you ask them, they’ll agree that it hasn’t been easy or fun.

If you read the headlines and talk to tradies, you’ll discover that staff shortages, product shortages, cost escalation, red-tape, and ongoing project delays are the main dominating themes. For some, this has been too much to bear and has contributed to a significant increase in liquidations of companies associated with the construction industry.

is essential. On top of this, outsourcing part or all your payroll function can be a very cost-effective and appropriate risk management strategy.

IRD (quite rightly) take a very dim view of the non-payment of payroll taxes, as these are effectively funds you are withholding on behalf of your employees. One strategy to ensuring you can make the correct PAYE payments is to set-aside this tax each pay run ready for payment to IRD when due.

What you may not realise is that most of these liquidations (estimated at over two-thirds by New Zealand Companies Office) were instigated by the Inland Revenue Department (IRD) for unpaid taxes. For business owners, it’s often tempting to treat IRD as a last priority. If the choice is to pay staff, make loan payments, or pay the sub-contractor down the road who you see every day, then you can understand why. But could this be a risky move?

Another risk for tradies is providing benefits to staff. Non-cash benefits to staff typically fall within the ‘Fringe Benefit Tax (FBT)’ tax framework, so understand your obligations and manage this risk. Common areas that can catch you out with IRD include the private use of business vehicles, subsidised insurance, or health schemes, and sometimes rebates/points provided to employees.

Read on for practical ways to ensure your trade business doesn’t fall foul of the ‘faceless’ creditor, the IRD.

Tips for managing employee taxes: • Ensure you are on an up-to-date software system for payroll.

Payroll and employee taxes

• Consider outsourcing as it can be efficient and cost-effective.

For smaller tradies, taking on employees or contractors is generally one of the first growth steps they make and one of the most important to get right. A good employment contract and relationship between employee and employer is vital from the outset.

• Consider your payroll cycle and whether it needs to be weekly, fortnightly or monthly.

• Set aside the payroll deductions every pay run to ensure that you have PAYE available.

In addition, managing the payroll and tax obligations for employees is also important and sometimes difficult. At a basic level, having a current and up-to-date software for management of payroll

• Understand your obligations relating to non-cash benefits to staff and manage these carefully.

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Goods and services tax (GST)

In addition, there are also some legitimate year-end strategies to reduce your year-end tax position. These include:

GST is the other key periodic tax to manage closely as a tradesbased business. The requirements for compulsory registration are a relatively low threshold of $60,000 of taxable supplies per annum – so this effectively means any tradie engaging in full-time services will have this requirement.

• deducting consumable stock (unused) at balance date • deducting any holiday pay paid within 63 days of balance date back into the prior tax year • reviewing and writing off any bad debts prior to year end

Businesses should think hard about the optimal GST period and basis (invoice vs cash) to suit their scale and cash cycle. There are limits in place depending on your scale, but these things can make a practical difference to managing the cashflow needs of the business.

• reviewing and writing off any obsolete/scrapped vehicles and plant prior to year-end.

Tips for managing income tax: • Review your numbers regularly so you know what your tax position is.

Another exercise for smaller scale businesses operating on a cash basis is to take a ‘normal’ trading period and work out which percentage of sales banked should be set aside for GST. This can be done reasonably easily if you look at sales, less COGS, and overheads, and you should be able get an approximate estimate.

As a guide, most trade businesses this will equate to around 5-8% of total income banked each period.

• Talk to your accountant about how to manage provisional tax requirements, and potentially the use of ‘tax pooling’.

• Consider paying taxes on a cycle to suit your cashflow. This could be during busy trade periods, or in monthly instalments.

• Get in early. With a good system and up to date records, there is no reason why you shouldn’t get on top your annual tax numbers as soon as possible at year-end.

Tips for managing GST: • Adopt an efficient and compliant software system for the preparation and filing of GST returns.

• Consider any one-off possibilities to reduce your tax prior to year-end.

• Consider the compilation or review of GST by your accountant or adviser.

What if you find yourself behind with IRD? Despite all the best intentions, there can be legitimate circumstances outside the business owner’s control which lead to non-payment of taxes, and subsequent pressure from IRD. These might include a particular contract that hasn’t gone to plan or an unexpected life event.

• Work out what your average GST per $ banked is and set aside money on a regular basis.

• Decide the best method (i.e. cash vs invoice) and period for your business to suit compliance and cashflow.

Income tax

Tips for managing if you fall behind: • Act fast, talk to your accountant and engage with IRD.

So, you have navigated your way through the year successfully, setting aside enough for your ‘periodic’ taxes. Now the accountant tells you that you have a significant income tax bill for the great year you have had – where did that come from?

• Consider funding options and potential tax pooling.

• Decide on a plan and stick to it.

The key to managing your income tax is staying close to your performance numbers, as well as understanding what the provisional tax requirements for your business look like. This is where a good accountant should play an important role monitoring these with you and keeping you informed.

Key takeaway While there are many challenges facing tradies, the one that tends to cause the most problems is non-payment of taxes. Avoid this by setting up systems and processes to proactively manage your taxes in terms of PAYE, GST and FBT. Then ensure you have a strong relationship with your accountant or adviser around managing your year-end and income tax requirements.

One other useful tool in managing income tax payments is to consider the use of ‘tax pooling’. For those not familiar with this concept, tax pooling companies exist and operate between taxpayers and IRD. By signing up with a tax pooling company, you can manage taxes in a way to suit your needs and cashflow.

This can be particularly useful to take the lumpy nature out of provisional tax payment obligations.

Learn more about how Findex can help at www.insights.findex.co.nz/services/tradies-business-coaching/ While all reasonable care is taken in the preparation of the material in this document, to the extent allowed by legislation Findex accept no liability whatsoever for reliance on it.

All opinions, conclusions, forecasts or recommendations are reasonably held at the time of compilation but are subject to change without notice. Findex assumes no obligation to update this material after it has been issued. You should seek professional advice before acting on any material.

Shaun McNamara, Partner, Findex (NZ) Limited. Findex is a leading integrated financial services provider, offering a comprehensive range of solutions tailored to meet the unique needs of businesses and individuals. With expertise in accounting, tax, business advisory, wealth management, and insurance, we provide trusted advice, innovative strategies, and exceptional service. www.findex.co.nz

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TRADIE ACADEMY

Your paperwork rescue plan While it can be tedious and time-consuming, staying on top of your admin will help your business run smoothly and reduce your stress levels. If you feel like you’re drowning in paperwork, follow these handy tips.

1. Make a schedule Get in the habit of using a calendar to block out time across your week, and get the most important things done first. If you’re a morning person, get the heavy work done early and leave more basic tasks for later in the day. Make sure to always stick to your schedule unless something urgent crops up.

or think it’s quicker to do it yourself, effective delegation helps build a stronger, more resilient team. Think about which repetitive tasks can be passed on, and who has the expertise or potential to get the job done. Don’t rule out hiring an experienced bookkeeper or virtual assistant, especially if your time is better spent focusing on managing staff or growing your business.

2. Set boundaries and stay focused

5. Avoid burnout When you own a business, it can be challenging to settle on a healthy work-life balance. Even when there’s a lot to take care of at work, you still need to look after yourself, take care of your family and handle your responsibilities at home. When you’re making your schedule, allow time for exercise and relaxation to reduce stress, help prevent burnout and make you more productive.

It’s impossible to be really productive if you’re constantly being interrupted. Let your team know you’re not available to them at certain times, and organise for someone else take any client calls. Don’t let yourself be distracted by incoming emails and messages either – turn your notifications off and deal with them once you’re done.

3. Prioritise important tasks

6. Reward yourself

Take control by making a list of everything you need to get done, including your daily, weekly and monthly tasks. If you’re old school, carry a notebook, or try an app like Nebo that lets you convert to text, colour code, insert and erase easily. Set priorities based on each task’s importance, urgency and where they fit with your business and personal goals. While you may need to adjust your list as issues crop up or priorities change, the ultimate goal is to break the cycle of procrastination, missed deadlines and last-minute rushes.

If, despite your best intentions, you’re still struggling for motivation, reward yourself for completing a task, meeting a deadline or reaching a target. It’s a powerful way to boost productivity and motivate you to complete those tasks that don’t really appeal.

When you’re in business, admin is just one of those repetitive jobs that has to be done. Use technology to automate tasks and remember to ask for help when you need it. Don’t let that pile of untouched paperwork stress you out. Sit down, turn off your phone and get started!

4. Learn to delegate

For more information go to www.mysmartoffice.co.nz or call Amanda on 021 886 120.

While everything on your to-do list needs to get done, it doesn’t all have to be done by you! While you may want to stay in control,

Amanda Chisholm, Director, My Smart Office and National Partner of NZCB. Amanda runs a successful residential building company with her husband and uses her 20+ years’ experience in bookkeeping, administration, customer communication and sales to help builders manage their accounts and administration, increase revenue and gain time. www.mysmartoffice.co.nz

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TRADIE ACADEMY

Workplace Law update As we head into 2024, many employers are buoyed by the new National led coalition government. In this article, we explore what this will mean for New Zealand’s employment, health and safety and immigration law over the next year and update you on the emerging themes we are seeing in workplaces.

Workplace laws under a National-ACT Coalition Government

more than simple translations that seek to embed tikanga/Te Ao Māori in Pakeha concepts. Employers are expected to engage appropriate Tikanga experts or cultural advisors to build on their understanding and application of the same.

National and ACT agree on the following workplace law changes, which we expect to happen in 2024:

Employee or Contractor?

• Repeal the Fair Pay Agreements Act 2022 (and end fair pay agreement bargaining currently underway with six industries).

Scrutiny of independent contractor arrangements by the Court continues and employers are well advised to review these arrangements to make sure they are fit for purpose.

• Reinstate 90-day trial periods for all businesses (meaning those with over 20 employees would be able to use 90-day trial provisions with unjustified dismissal protections).

Health and Safety

• Remove the requirement to pay Immigration New Zealand’s (INZ) “median wage” to meet Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV) requirements.

Mental health is firmly on WorkSafe’s radar. It is investigating complaints, and we anticipate a prosecution in respect of harm to mental health to happen soon.

• Amend the Parental Leave and Employment Protection Act 1987 to allow parents to divide paid parental leave between them in the way that they think is best, e.g., taking this at the same time, one after the other or in overlapping instalments.

Employers whose health and safety management plan does not deal with bullying, harassment, discrimination or psychosocial risks and mental health are likely to be exposed in this respect, with recent statistics indicating 29% of complaints to WorkSafe are mental health related.

• Create a new visa category that will allow parents and grandparents sponsored by their children or grandchildren to apply for a multiple entry visa, allowing for travel over a period of five years. Finer details are to be agreed but National has said it would require visa holders to have health insurance for the duration of their stay, while ACT says visa holders will need to pay a $3,500 annual fee towards a public health fund.

WorkSafe will also continue its focus on key industries such as agriculture, construction, forestry, manufacturing, healthcare and social assistance according to its Harm Reduction Plan, including holding those at the top of organisations to account for health and safety failings.

National has also indicated further immigration changes (although the coalition make up will impact progression of these policies) including:

Employers are expected to engage appropriate Tikanga experts or cultural advisors to build on their understanding and application of the same.

• New visa categories.

• Priority processing services for fast tracking INZ applications.

• Doubling the Regional Seasonal Worker Scheme cap and exploring new countries for this and changing the Working Holiday Visa (WHV) Scheme, including increasing the age from 30 to 35 and allowing second and third WHVs for some workers.

Other law changes There are also possible key law changes coming around: • Human rights, proposing to make discrimination on the grounds of gender identity or expression, or variation of sex characteristics unlawful, and to include an obligation to make reasonable accommodations for all LGBTQIA+ people in the workplace; and

Tikanga in the workplace Recent Employment Court decisions regarding the application of tikanga/tikanga values in the workplace have highlighted the importance of employers applying these values appropriately for their workplace context, at least where they have committed to this or are otherwise asked to take account of cultural considerations by employees.

• Privacy, proposing changes including a new notification obligation on an agency when it collects personal information indirectly, to update New Zealand’s privacy laws in line with international best practice. Under the new principle the collecting agency would be required to notify an individual of a range of matters, including its name and address, the purpose of collection, and rights of access to and correction of information.

The Court has commented that in order to uphold tikanga/tikanga values in the workplace, effort must be applied and sustained from beginning to end of the employment relationship and this requires

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Immigration – post accreditation checks and new infringements offences Accredited employers can expect Immigration New Zealand (INZ) to be completing audit checks (INZ targets are that this will be on 15% of accredited employers each year) on accreditation and general immigration requirements including to ensure that migrant workers are not being exploited. These checks were expected, after INZ granted accreditation to numerous employers at pace and without any deep review of the applications for these.

As such, employers who are audited are well advised to seek advice in engaging with INZ as their accreditation is at stake. INZ has advised that as of 6 November 2023, 94 employer accreditations have been revoked and 21 suspended, following these checks.

The list of immigration requirements that employers will need to keep on top of continues to grow. The Worker Protection (Migrant and Other Employees) Bill (Act) is scheduled to come into force from 6 January 2024. This Act will allow the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE)/INZ to raise a new strict liability infringement offence where a migrant worker is employed in a manner that is inconsistent with the conditions on their work visa or where a migrant worker is employed when they do not hold an appropriate visa.

The finer details of how MBIE will operationalise the Act has not been released yet, however it is likely that the infringement penalty

($3000 per worker for companies) will be added to existing penalties that can be raised. The offence is widely worded and captures scenarios including where a migrant worker is: paid below the wage rate, working outside the location or in a role that is not the role, set on their Accredited Employer Work Visa.

Keeping up to date with changes As changes come into play with the new government, employers can maximise the opportunities presented by changing workplace laws by seeking the right advice and documentation to support this, ensuring they remain competitive in the current market and managing risk appropriately amidst the headwinds that business faces.

Need further help?

Copeland Ashcroft Workplace Lawyers operate the NZCB Employment Helpline, for a free 15-minute consultation, give us a call on 0800 354 821.

Disclaimer: We remind you that while this article provides commentary on employment law, health and safety and immigration topics, it should not be used as a substitute for legal or professional advice for specific situations. Please seek legal advice from your lawyer for any questions specific to your workplace.

Kate Ashcroft, Partner, of Copeland Ashcroft Workplace Lawyers.

Copeland Ashcroft Workplace Lawyers operate the NZCB Employment helpline, offering specialist advice, representation and support across employment, immigration and health and safety law, to businesses throughout New Zealand.

Call 0800 354 821 or visit www.copelandashcroft.co.nz.

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TRADIE ACADEMY

Could your business benefit from Google Ads? Did you know that over 94% of online searches are done via Google?

I regularly use Google to research products and services, both on my desktop and mobile phone, often finding what I need. This is because Google has been gradually updating its search algorithms, making ads more noticeable in the search results for local services in New Zealand. So, if you are not using Google AdWords, there is a good chance you are missing out on reaching potential customers.

The good news is you don’t have to spend a lot to get enquiries coming in. It costs nothing to set yourself up and then you pay per click. You set a daily budget and Google spreads that budget across the month, so there may be days when you underspend and days when you overspend but it never goes over your budget.

Keep in mind: • Click costs can vary considerably and differ by keyword and targeting variables like location and ad position.

• Click costs are determined primarily by the level of competition for that particular keyword.

• Typically $5 per day is the minimum spend. I recommend starting at $10 or $15 per day. Some campaigns may need more than this to reach your customers.

• Your ads will stop showing once your daily budget is spent and then the advertising will reset for the next day.

8 reasons to consider using Google Ads 1.

Targeted reach: Reach potential clients in specific areas of New Zealand by targeting your ads based on location, demographics, and what people are searching for.

2.

Increased visibility: Your ads appear prominently at the top of relevant search results, making it more likely potential clients will notice your services.

7.

Flexible campaign management: Quickly adjust your campaigns based on market trends and optimise performance.

8.

Competitive advantage: Stand out from competitors by running smart ad campaigns that position your business as the top choice.

Not sure where to begin?

Here are New Zealand companies I have worked with over the years and highly recommend.

3.

Cost-effective: You pay only when someone clicks on your ad, allowing you to manage your budget efficiently.

• Wave Agency (see page 24) – www.waveagency.co.nz

4.

Enhanced local presence: Advertise to people in your service areas, building a stronger connection with your local community.

• Sprocket Digital – www.sprocketdigital.co.nz

5.

Measurable results: Get detailed insights into how your ads are performing, helping you make data-driven decisions.

6.

Tailored advertisements: Create ads that showcase your unique services and specialisations, increasing the chances of converting potential clients.

• Adhesion – www.adhesion.co.nz • Firefly Digital – www.fireflydigital.co.nz

Karla Farrar NZCB Marketing & Services Manager

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Made for a better footprint

A more measured existence is a



Thermally efficient frames



High performance glass



Centrafix™ installation

commitment to leaving the world better than we found it.

You can’t manage what you don’t measure so we have teamed up with leading organisations to fully understand the shape

We’ve proudly worked towards: 

Completing our Environmental Product Declaration



Becoming ‘Declared’ through Living Future Institute

as we meaningfully can. This measured



Going Carbon-Neutral with Certified Energy (NZECS)

existence is critical for us and our future and



Biodiversity credits through Ekos

is something we are extremely proud of.



The journey to carbonzero with Toitū Envirocare

of our footprint. We are totally committed to measuring as many aspects of our business

The future is here. Ready now.

Find out more at aplnz.co.nz/our-responsibility

Exclusively available through:

TRADIE ACADEMY

The new NZS3910 Standards New Zealand has spent most of the last two years revising one of the most common construction contracts in New Zealand, the now 10-year-old NZS3910:2013. The product of this is NZS3910:2023, published on 28 November 2023. The new standard has superseded the 2013 version, and aims to modernise NZS3910 and how it addresses the current construction sector landscape.

This has been attempted through a combination of the introduction of brand new terms, in addition to the updating of terms carried forward from the 2013 version. While the new Standard may look the same on the surface, there are some important points to become acquainted with.

Members of the team contributing to the Standard’s updating held a discussion panel which included answering questions submitted by attendees. One of the first questions put forward was what the reasoning was for the decision to allow the two roles to be held by a single person. The panel defended the clause by calling it necessary for the contract’s use on smaller-scale projects.

However, it is unclear why a monetary threshold (or similar mechanism) could not be introduced to determine whether this subclause is in effect for any specific project.

New terms in NZS3910:2023 NZS3910:2023 introduces clauses which outline new roles, pricing methods, plans, accounts, and more.

Of these clauses, one of the biggest introductions is a new pricing method for the contract – the target price method. This is in addition to the other three methods carried forward from NZS3910:2013. This new method uses a target price which the contract parties specify at the project’s outset. Any difference between the target price and the contract’s actual price is split between the contractor and principal, in proportions specified in the contract’s specific conditions.

Any difference between the target price and the contract’s actual price is split between the contractor and principal, in proportions specified in the contract’s specific conditions.

The proportions both for under and over-estimating the price are chosen by the parties, which introduces some complexity into negotiating the contract’s terms. Contractors will need to be wary of whether they are being allocated a fair proportion of any over or under-runs. For instance, if the contractor retains a smaller proportion of an under-run to the target price than the principal, the proportion of cost over-runs should roughly match – meaning that the ‘risk’ a builder faces if the contract price lays on one end of the target price should match the ‘reward’ they receive if it lands on the other side. These proportion allocations must not affect how contractors prepare their estimates when tendering for projects – they are still obligated by the law to provide carefully prepared estimates.

The final major introduction into NZS3910:2023 is a clause limiting the contractor’s liability – although this clause is optional.

It also doesn’t apply to some specific instances of the contractor’s liability, including liability the principal incurs against third parties for property damage caused by the works, the contractor abandoning the contract, or in respect of penalties imposed by statutes.

While those are the three biggest introductions into the contract, there are a few more smaller additions worth mentioning.

Both the contractor and principal now have obligations to notify each other of matters which may affect the contract price, the completion date for the works, or breach a statutory duty connected to the works. If the contractor fails to meet this obligation, the amount they may recover from any variation stemming from that matter may be reduced. It’s worth mentioning that there is no mirroring deterrent to the principal for a similar failure.

Possibly the change most spoken of in NZS3910:2023 is the removal of the “Engineer to the Contract”. This role has been replaced with two new roles – the contract administrator and independent certifier. The engineer historically wore two hats under NZS3910:2013 (acting both as an agent for the principal and an independent agent valuing the work, issuing certificates, etc.), and these functions have now been split between the new roles. While this sounds like a huge change designed to remove any potential conflicts of interest, excitement about this may be dashed, some 36-odd pages into NZS3910:2023, by the line:

There are further, minor introductions to NZS3910:2023 not worth delving into for now, but suffice it to say, any builder intending to accept work under the new contract will need to spend a decent bit of time familiarising themselves with the new terms and changes.

The Contract Administrator and Independent Certifier may be the same person.

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Changes to old terms in NZS3910:2023

Final thoughts

In addition to the introductions into NZS3910:2023, there are significant changes to the terms carried forward from NZS3910:2013 for builders to come to grips with.

With these introductions and changes to the contract, one change notably missing is that there is still no obligation on either the independent certifier or contract administrator to meet with both the principal and contractor in equal proportions, or even meet with the contractor at all during the works. It would be naive to suggest that both are not meeting with the principal often during the project, yet NZS3910:2023 relies on their goodwill alone to ensure they meet with the contractor too.

The first change to note is that an “order of precedence” now applies to the contract documents where they are listed in the contract agreement section. The documents appearing higher in the list trump those that appear lower. For example, builders will need to take note that if they intend for the specifications to have the final say over the drawings, they will need to amend the contract because, by default, the drawings take precedence over the specifications.

This point touches on the overall tone of the new Standard. It has been drafted idealistically – it relies on the contract administrator and independent certifier using the “best practises” which the panel who contributed to its drafting (full of former engineers to the contract) presumably use in their capacities as engineers under NZS3910:2013. There has been no significant increase in the protections available to the contractor or to ensure independence under the new Standard, meaning their ultimate option for disputes is still adjudication – which is rarely an appropriate solution for smaller issues or on smaller projects (which just happen to be the types of projects where the contract administrator and independent certifier are likely to be the same person).

A major improvement to NZS3910:2023 is the new flexibility of pricing methods under the contract. Along with the introduction of the target price method, contracts can now use a combination of the four pricing methods for separate parts of the contract price. This change is likely in response to the variable prices we have experienced in the construction sector over the past few years.

Another positive change from the contractor’s perspective are the new limits to their indemnity requirements under the contract.

The contractor now only indemnifies the principal for loss suffered that is linked to the contractor’s negligence, or breach of the contract. If this is used in conjunction with the liability-limiting clause, the contractor’s liability exposure under the contract is now fairer that it has historically been under NZS3910.

A major improvement to NZS3910:2023 is the new flexibility of pricing methods under the contract. Along with the introduction of the target price method, contracts can now use a combination of the four pricing methods for separate parts of the contract price.

As mentioned above, with the introduction of the contract administrator and independent certifier, the roles of the engineer and engineer’s representative have been removed from the contract. The functions divided between the two roles have the independent certifier now largely acting as an independent agent under the contract, except for specific circumstances (for example, deciding payment schedule values), where they act as agent for the principal. While on the topic of payment schedules, it is worth mentioning that the amount which the independent certifier schedules for payment for any payment claim under the contract may still be amended by the principal before it is finalised.

NZS3910:2023 has introduced improvements which will allow the base contract to meet the needs of a wider range of projects without the mountain of amendments that NZS3910:2013 was generally subjected to. That said, it leaves something to be desired in terms of meeting the interests of the builders which will be party to it – both as contractors and nominated subcontractors.

Another major role of the independent certifier under the contract is deciding on an outcome for disagreements between the contractor and contract administrator. While this provides some comfort to prospective contractors, this comfort may understandably be lessened by the context of the principal still paying the independent certifier, and the independent certifier and contract administrator possibly being the same person.

This article is not intended to be relied upon as legal advice.

Nevenka Toma, solicitor Martelli McKegg Lawyers.

Martelli McKegg Lawyers operates the NZCB Building Contracts and Business Related Legal helpline for NZCB members, call 09 379 0700 for 20 minutes of free advice.

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TRADIE ACADEMY

Planning for the year ahead!

I hope everyone has had a well rested, relaxing summer break and is back into swinging the hammer.

Technology and innovation

With a constantly changing building environment, managing your business will always bring its challenges. With a strong Annual Business Plan, these challenges can be managed or mitigated to ensure your business is productive through a changeable building climate.

Embrace technological advancements to streamline operations, improve efficiency, and reduce costs. There are many programs and applications that will assist you in both business and project management. It is best to engage a specialist in the field to find the best programs or apps for your business.

Want to ensure your Annual Business Plan is effective? Here are some things to consider.

Maintain the extension of knowledge, especially when it comes to new building methods or products in the market. Keeping up with the times will allow you to stay competitive and enhance your offerings.

Operational strategy When you look at your project pipeline, it is important to plan upcoming projects, timelines, and resource allocation. Ensure you have quality assurance checklists and templates to maintain a high standard of work and project/client management excellence.

Embrace technological advancements to streamline operations, improve efficiency, and reduce costs. There are many programs and applications that will assist you in both business and project management.

Supplier management is critical to the success of each job because delays will increase costs and extend timeframes in an already challenging building environment. Be proactive with your suppliers with strong negotiations of quotes/contracts and request regular updates on delivery times.

Financial planning When reviewing and setting financial goals, revenue targets, and expense projections, ensure they are realistic and achievable.

Planning your financial year with an achievable goal will ensure you achieve this goal despite an unexpected crisis. If everything is running smoothly for the year, you might have the capacity to take on more projects and more profit.

Human Resources Invest in your team and their development to extend and increase skills and productivity. Maintain regular health and safety practices and education to make sure your whole team is kept up to speed – and safe.

It’s also good practice to identify potential risks and develop contingency plans so you’re well-prepared to manage risks if they arise.

Tailor your business plan to suit your company’s unique strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats. Regularly review and adapt your business plan to navigate the ever-evolving business and building environment.

Marketing and branding

Ngā mihi,

Developing a strong brand identity and a marketing campaign is a powerful skill and tool for your business. It’s about telling your story in a genuine and relatable way because that will lay a solid foundation for your relationship with clients.

Market analysis With a wide-ranging demographic in New Zealand, it is important to identify your audience, and more importantly, their needs.

Having this knowledge will assist you in your marketing and position your business in front of your target audience.

Shane Ririnui NZCB Membership & Technical Manager 38

TRADIE ACADEMY

Making your business systems more efficient with automation Efficiency is gold for busy business owners. Time saved is time that can be spent on billable work and big-picture growth projects or on rest and recuperation to avoid burnout.

One way to minimise busy work and make things run more smoothly is to automate as many processes as possible in your business. There are so many fantastic digital tools available that reduce the amount of time you or your people spend on repetitive and replicable tasks; why not take advantage?

• Investigate the capabilities of the productivity software you’re already using. Check out the tutorials on their website, join Facebook groups, and scour YouTube. We are currently using ClickUp, and some of our team members have created incredible systems to automate their to-do processes as much as possible.

Rather than delving into the individual automation capabilities of each individual tech tool, we’re looking at the bigger picture (with some recommendations thrown in).

• Have your website auto-send any emails captured to your email marketing platform so they can be added to your email lists.

Keep it simple to start with

• Set up a business bank account so you can make batch payments rather than doing them all separately.

Using automation doesn’t have to mean grappling with the latest apps and AI programs. You can start somewhere much more accessible! Here are some ideas:

It’s all about working smarter, not harder! Before you invest in new software and apps to help you automate, make sure you’re getting full functionality from the ones you have.

• Use filters in your email provider to full effect. For example, in Gmail you can use labels to automatically sort incoming messages, automatically forward emails, create templates for common responses, and snooze or schedule messages. All of these can save you a good chunk of time.

Check some favourite automation tools The FreeUp team has been around the block when it comes to digital tools for accounting, job management, productivity, and more. We’re sharing some of our favourites to help you on your journey to seamless automation.

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A major aspect of good, automated processes is choosing digital tools (apps and software) that speak well to each other. Stack ‘em up and reap the benefits!

Job management software: ServiceM8 ServiceM8 is one of our top picks for many reasons, but its fantastic automation capabilities are a major bonus.

So many of the repeating high-level customer service tasks, ServiceM8 can automate. The software is aimed at tradespeople doing lots of small jobs, like plumbers, electricians, handymen and even small builders, making it already the ideal environment for this type of automation.

I have my email set to auto-send anything with “invoice” in the subject line straight to Hubdoc to be processed. You can also capture data through Hubdoc by snapping a picture on your phone which is great for your team to send through receipts and invoices from suppliers.

It can: • Automate communications like booking reminders and quote follow-ups with customers.

• Email or text feedback requests.

Stack your apps

• Auto-schedule recurring jobs, create a new job card, make the booking, and advise the customer without you having to lift a finger.

A major aspect of good, automated processes is choosing digital tools (apps and software) that speak well to each other. Stack ‘em up and reap the benefits!

• Track your position via GPS and use this information to text a customer letting them know you’re on the way.

We’ve mentioned that Xero integrates with almost every job management software, making it a great choice for tradespeople.

Some will also integrate with MYOB, another common pick. You may also consider how your payroll software enters the equation.

Smartly, for example, can send payroll information straight to Xero.

Consider any other tools in your arsenal: your takeoff software, your CRM, and anything else. Groundplan currently integrates with SimPro, AroFlo and Ascora, in addition to Xero and QuickBooks (And watch this space, a few new integrations are in the pipeline currently!), which makes it a potential app stack for a savvy tradie.

• Use AI to help ensure accurate time tracking.

Accounting software: Xero This homegrown accounting software has taken the world by storm for good reason. We love how comprehensive it is and how it integrates with almost every job management software on the market in New Zealand. When you’re working with a lot of invoices, suppliers, and overheads, a seamless connection between your accounting software and your other digital tools saves a huge amount of time.

• Automatically send invoice reminders or repeating invoices.

Zapier is an automation powerhouse, a third party that can make any two programs with an API connection talk to each other. Once you’ve done what you can with the tools you already have, Zapier can automate your workflow even further. Actions within one app can trigger actions in another, creating a sequence of actions taken with no human input whatsoever.

• Automatically pull through invoices, tax rates, and income account codes from many JMS.

Get help with your automation

In 2018 the company also made a large purchase of another fantastic digital tool, which brings us to…

FreeUp exists to make life easier and more efficient for construction and trade businesses. With our extensive experience and knowledge, we can save you time, money, and frustration.

With Xero, you can: • Set up bank rules to automatically code transactions according to your criteria.

Data capture: Hubdoc When it comes to paying invoices, we love Hubdoc’s automatic data-capturing capabilities. It machine-reads the invoices straight from the inbox, importing all the necessary information so you can check and pay. While a human eye is still required at some point in the process, this cuts out a huge amount of manual data transfer.

If you’d like to make your business more efficient and give your processes a boost, get in touch with the team at www.freeup.co.nz and book a Systems Review.

Kelli Beaumont, FreeUp . FreeUp is a NZCB National Partner and tech advisor for builders – making the process quick and easy, from selecting the right software to setting up the system to training staff. FreeUp also operates the NZCB Technology and Software helpline for members.

Contact us on 021 149 8785 or visit www.freeup.co.nz.

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LEADERSHIP

DISC profiling – your secret weapon Wouldn’t it be great if you could have a clear understanding of how your team members or potential customers were thinking, and adjust your response accordingly? Using DISC profiling techniques, you can achieve this.

The history of disc The core ideas behind DISC date back to the ancient Greeks.

Hippocrates, the originator of the famous Hippocratic Oath, was the first to consider the human personality in terms of four separate factors. His ideas, based on the four Greek elements of Fire, Air, Water, and Earth, were still being used by physicians more than a thousand years after Hippocrates’ death.

While the modern DISC technique has a more scientific basis than the four elements used by Hippocrates, many of his principles remain valid today. Terms like ‘melancholic’ and ‘phlegmatic,’ invented by him, are still in common use.

The DISC system has grown to become one of the most widely used assessment systems in the world. A significant advancement was the development of the ‘DISC Graph,’ allowing the presentation of complex psychometric test results in a simple ’profile shape’ easily understood and interpreted by all.

How the technique works As you might expect, the actual mechanism behind DISC is quite complicated. The beauty of the technique, however, is that its complexity is hidden from the user. The DISC tests consist of just 24 questions, each with four options. Each question asks a candidate to identify which of four options is most applicable, and which is least applicable.

A Disc graph shows the relative levels of each of these four factors in a given personality. All DISC interpretations start from these four fundamental factors.

Of course, in reality, people’s personalities are made up from different combinations of the four basic factors, with a dominant factor or two. The various blends give rise to a number of sub-traits.

I am sure with a bit more understanding of what each factor is you can guess where you and your team members basically fit in the overall profile chart. The formal question process will fine tune this and give a whole lot more information as well.

DISC profiles are then presented in a simple graphical form, which can be easily understood. The profile shows the underlying “default” personality profile of true motivations and desires, as well as the external profile. The external profile shows what a person thinks their projected personality style should be. The greater the distance between the two profiles, the greater the potential for stress exists.

Using disc with customers Obviously, it would be difficult to ask a prospective customer to complete a 24-question DISC quiz when you first meet them!

You need to use your powers of observation and ask more subtle questions to determine their likely dominant D.I.S.C. factor. This will be invaluable in how you handle the customer from that point on, making the sales process much smoother, for both parties.

For example, if they are high D (a CEO, perhaps), just give them the facts promptly and avoid overwhelming them with details. If high C (engineer or accountant), be very thorough and include all the relevant details; down to 3 decimal points if necessary!

In reality, people will usually act in ways consistent with elements from both the preceding types. The summary profile is a combination of the other two profiles, describing a person’s likely normal behaviour.

Four pillars of disc A DISC test measures four main traits, or ‘factors’, of the personality, from which the system takes its name. These are: • Dominance – demanding, competitive, controlling, powerful

I have a quick look-up chart that can help you with adjusting your approach to certain customer types. Email me at andy@tradescoach.co.nz, and I will send you a free copy.

• Influence – open, friendly, gregarious, sociable • Steadiness – patient, persistent, personable, thoughtful • Compliance – logical, dispassionate, systematic, precise, practical

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DISC in practice The effectiveness of any assessment system is dependent on the ways that it can be put to practical use. DISC can help match the right person to the right job, both in the recruitment process and in developing the most effective team structure and training.

It is also useful in preventing and resolving conflicts within a team.

Knowing your team’s personality makeup will not only allow you to manage them better but also enable team members to improve relationships within the team.

Variety is good. The best companies and teams will be a mix of various personality types. Too much “D” in the team and can lead to arguments and conflict, as D people like to get their own way. Too much “S” may result in a lack conflict, but you probably won’t see much progress either. Learn to appreciate and enjoy the various personality types and also how to get the best out of each type.

DISC profile tests can be done online and cost less than $100 per person. If you would like to have your team complete the tests and then workshop the results, drop me an email at andy@tradescoach.co.nz and we can organise this for you.

Andy Burrows, Director of The Trades Coach and NZCB National Partner. I encourage you to take advantage of a free business strategy review session to see how we can improve your business performance. Call Andy today on 027 688 6721 or email andy@tradescoach.co.nz.

BOOK A TEST DRIVE

LEADERSHIP

Building a sustainable business through sustainable leadership The construction industry plays a pivotal role in shaping the physical landscape of our communities. As the demand for sustainable practices grows, businesses in this sector must evolve to integrate economic, social, and environmental considerations into their core strategies.

As a leadership expert, in this article, I present the crucial aspects of business sustainability tailored for the construction and property industry.

It’s vital that leaders then embody the organisation’s Vision, Purpose and Values, and be a living example of integrity, responsible behaviour, and transparency.

Leaders also need to encourage a culture of innovation for developing sustainable products, services, and processes, while being adaptable to changes in the business environment.

It is worth examining what systems and process your organisation has in place to achieve this.

What is business sustainability?

Business sustainability is a multi-faceted concept involving people, economic, social, and environmental considerations. Yet, many of these areas are not being discussed in detail in boardrooms in New Zealand – and they absolutely should be.

Poor leadership has become a cycle in New Zealand: hardly anyone has worked with an excellent leader; they’ve only had bad examples that they end up copying, and this cycle repeats over and over. I’d like to break that cycle, and that’s why Executive Coaching & Consulting (EXCC) has created the Art of War: a leadership, management, and sales capability masterclass for Chief Executives, managers, and leaders.

What is sustainable leadership?

First of all, it’s important to clarify the difference between leaders and managers. Whereas leaders look to the future, create the vision, and inspire people; managers concentrate on the present by implementing the vision and working on achieving the goals that have been set. Leadership is a learned skill, and in the Art of War masterclass, we work on all the different facets to create a new generation of great leaders.

Summary • There’s an important difference between leadership skills and management skills.

• Leadership skills can be learned – as can management skills.

• Self-awareness and good communication skills are important facets of strong leadership.

• Leaders take an innovative, long-term perspective that inspires the future direction of the business.

• Vision, Purpose and Value statements help to communicate and inspire stakeholders.

• A culture of innovation needs to be supported by suitable internal systems and processes.

A critical part of being a strong leader is having a good level of selfawareness in order to achieve the mindset of a leader. Extended DISC® is an essential tool I use with leaders in order for them to understand their own behaviour style, and how to adjust their style when working with different types of people. It provides a solid foundation of being able to communicate more effectively with others – and excellent communication is a critical skill for all leaders.

Need help?

In any organisation, it is the leaders who are the visionaries who innovate and inspire the future direction. Therefore, leaders Contact jason@excc.co.nz or 021 526 456, for a free consultation must adopt a long-term perspective that considers the impact to see how we can help with leadership training and coaching. of decisions on future generations, and sustainability strategies To find out more about the Art of War leadership, management, must align with business goals. For example, is sustainability sales capability master classes visit www.excc.co.nz featured in your organisation’s Vision, Purpose and Values or scan the QR code above. statements? In the Art of War masterclass, we spend an entire live training session creating and documenting the Jason Dinan, Executive Coaching & Consultation. With three decades of Vision, Purpose and Values. leadership experience working in 154 cities in 27 countries, I specialise in growing organisations through developing peak-performance leaders, teams and strategy.

I was the project head for a leading homebuilder in New Zealand, Australia and North America, helping grow their annual sales from 47% to 311%.

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SUSTAINABILITY

Creating healthier homes in the Bay of Plenty Did you know that drying your clothes inside the house can add up to 5 litres of moisture in the air? Or that sleeping in temperatures below 16°C can affect the respiratory system. Anything below 12°C starts affecting heart function, because your blood thickens and is harder to pump, which puts more strain on the heart.

These are just two of the things you’ll learn when you attend a 20 Degrees healthy housing workshop with Bay of Plenty’s Sustainability Options. Passionate advocates of sustainable living, their team is on a mission to “advocate, promote and engage as many people as possible in ethical and sustainable living solutions”.

We all know that damp homes, overcrowding and unacceptable housing conditions are the grim reality for thousands of Kiwi families but Sustainability Options is on a quest to change that.

And since 2019 Winstone Wallboards has been helping them.

and after replacing the broken floor, mouldy ceiling and walls in her bathroom, she felt empowered to tackle the rotting conservatory floor. She was so proud that she could actually do something herself, when we arrived she was pulling up the carpet to prepare for the builders’ arrival!

Witnessing these transformations was emotional. Seeing how grateful people were to have some encouragement and a helping hand, and seeing the pride they developed as a result. Sometimes life just happens, and it’s not always pretty. People might suffer a major health issue or lose their job, and suddenly the wheels come loose. It doesn’t take much for someone to suddenly need a helping hand to get back on their feet.

As one of the proud partners of their 20 Degrees programme, we’re helping tackle one of the Bay of Plenty’s biggest problems: the serious impact substandard housing is having on people’s health. The 20 Degrees programme undertakes home assessments and addresses the issues preventing houses from reaching 20 degrees (the temperature the World Health Organisation recommends for those who are vulnerable, unwell and prone to respiratory illnesses). By supplying lining material to repair or line walls, we’re one of the many funders, agencies and businesses playing our part in making a difference.

As one of the proud partners of their 20 Degrees programme, we’re helping tackle one of the Bay of Plenty’s biggest problems: the serious impact substandard housing is having on people’s health.

When Sustainability Options approached Winstone Wallboards three years ago supporting them was an easy decision as their values align closely with our mission to create healthier homes.

Towards the end of last year, we headed south to check out their work first-hand. The experience was deeply moving, uplifting and inspiring.

Winstone Wallboards, greatly admire the work Sustainability Options is doing and feel proud to be contributing to their journey.

But as Phil Gregg points out there’s a lot more work to do. He says, “There is a long way to go with 29,000 homes, in the Bay of Plenty alone, still in a state where it is unhealthy for people to live in”.

Sustainability Options Co-founder Phil Gregg and Lee Siegle, the Project Coordinator, introduced us to some of those who have benefitted from the programme, which was incredibly humbling. One lady shared her experience of living in her house since childhood, and it had always been cold. Now a grandmother, she worried about her grandchildren’s health, but thanks to 20 Degrees she was able to replace the mouldy walls, insulate the ceiling space, and create a warm healthy home for her family. Observing her joy emphasised the programme’s powerful impact.

Think you can help?

Sustainability Options is calling out for other Kiwi businesses to get on board and support them in their endeavours; visit www.sustainabilityoptions.org.nz or give Phil Gregg a call on 027 496 0995. And remember, regardless of how large or small your contribution may be, every little bit helps in supporting our communities to live in healthier homes.

Another was overwhelmed by the poor state of her home, but after picking up some great tips and tools at a 20 Degrees workshop, she’d been able to make life-altering changes.

Sustainability Options supported her every step of the way

Winstone Wallboards. Winstone Wallboards are Strategic Partners of NZCB and New Zealand’s only manufacturer and largest marketer of gypsum plasterboard, drywall systems, associated products and services. For more information, visit www.gib.co.nz or call 0800 100 442.

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SUSTAINABILITY

Let’s build better homes The Superhome Movement is a volunteer network of builders, designers, and suppliers committed to building better quality Kiwi homes. Right now, we’re seeing a growing need for change driven by several interconnecting challenges.

Many homeowners and builders want to do better than the minimum requirements of New Zealand’s Building Code, which are significantly behind international best practice. Many people understand the need for sustainability and new approaches to create healthier living environments and meet New Zealand’s emissions targets. Current code minimum homes are found to produce five to seven times the carbon emissions than necessary. This level of emissions contributes to New Zealand having one of the world’s highest rates of childhood asthma and rheumatic fever. New Zealand’s recent floods and cyclones have also highlighted the importance of building greater resilience into our homes and communities.

More often than not, people aren’t sure how or where to begin, or they think it will be too complicated and expensive. That’s why the Superhome Movement was set up in 2015; to share information and help people make positive, future-focused changes. Our motto: KISS = Keep It Super Simple.

Keep an eye on our website (www.superhome.co.nz) for details of these events. In the meantime, you’re welcome to contact us for information to support you and your clients to make better decisions. Plus, you can join the Superhome Movement, which connects you to our networks, makes you eligible for Superhome Awards, and signals your personal and company values to current and future customers.

We’re here to help you We educate and support homeowners and builders directly by offering practical solutions to healthy home challenges.

We run popular tours of new builds and renovations, showcasing the technical standards and design values that are the basis of a Superhome. We also work alongside councils, government, and industry organisations.

Here are the 10 core Superhome principles:

We’re delighted to partner with New Zealand Certified Builders because our two organisations are natural allies. We know builders have a crucial role in communicating with homeowners.

The Superhome Movement shares open-source, independent, and unbiased information. This helps builders make well-informed decisions that suit the clients’ needs, the site, and the budget.

We look forward to sharing ideas and information that are proven to deliver better performing, energy-efficient homes with lower operational costs for residents, reduced operational and embodied carbon, and reduced waste. And in many cases, there are savings along the way.

There’s a range of Superhome options to choose from; from BASE through BETTER and up to BEST. We’re currently updating our Superhome Design Guide, which will be released later this year. This will include a Super-Reno Guide, with specific tips that are easy to implement. We’re also rolling out a series of articles, workshops, and webinars with experienced practitioners this year. These will give you the practical knowledge you need to talk through options with clients and create more sustainable, healthy homes.

DESIGN Optimal orientation, function and aesthetics

THERMAL PERFORMANCE Energy modelled

STRUCTURE Super-insulated floor, walls, and roof

WINDOWS High-performance and recessed

AIRTIGHTNESS Confirmed by air test

VENTILATION Whole home heat recovery ventilation

ENERGY Solar system, heat pump, hot water

WATER Efficient systems and rainwater recycling

MATERIALS Low carbon and responsibly sourced

WASTE Plan, reduce, reuse, recycle

Dr Ronnie Cooper, Superhome Movement. National Partners of NZCB, and a group of industry participants nationwide, including builders, trades, suppliers, developers, architects, consultants, and more. The shared aim is advancing design education with a focus on reducing the effect of poor housing on the environment and improving the health of our communities. Helping Kiwis live better.

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We also build careers.

Remember when you started out and someone gave you a chance?

You’ve come a long way to become a great builder, picking up new skills on each project.

To ensure we continue to lead the industry with quality standards the next generation needs your kind of experience. The NZCB Apprentice Network is a programme designed to support you, your business and your apprentice to an unrivalled level.

nzcb.nz/apprenticeships

HEALTH & SAFETY

A wake-up call for workplace safety New Zealand fatality rate is twice that of Australia Given how close we are to our neighbours over the ditch, we compare ourselves to Australia in almost every aspect. From sports and culture to economics and lifestyle, we like to think we can keep up with our big brother and show them a thing or two. However, the stark difference in workplace safety and our fatality rate, in particular, is a wake-up call for everyone working in high-risk industries.

Behind these statistics are real people, with families and friends dealing with unimaginable loss when their loved one never returns from work. There is also a very real economic impact, with New Zealand’s workplace accidents and deaths costing the country $4.4 billion. If we could improve our workplace safety performance to match that of Australia, we would reduce costs by nearly $1 billion each year. With 137,939 people out of work in 2022 and receiving weekly compensation from ACC, our high injury rate is also contributing to labour shortage issues.

Why do workplace fatalities happen at twice the rate in New Zealand?

The 2023 State of a Thriving Nation report says that experts have identified “several factors generate more heat in the system overseas.” For example, in both Australia and the UK, the regulatory environment sets clearer expectations and is firm with enforcement. Australia also has more active trade unions and invests more in new technology.

On average, there are 73 work-related deaths in New Zealand each year. Relative to the number of people in employment, the New Zealand workplace fatality rate is double the Australian rate and hasn’t shifted in many years. The New Zealand rate is similar to those the United Kingdom experienced back in the 1980s, making it very clear there is significant room for improvement.

As a business owner or tradie on the tools, what should I focus on?

New Zealand’s workplace fatality statistics are a wake-up call for everyone working in the construction industry, an area that accounts for a large proportion of all fatalities.

Behind these statistics are real people, with families and friends dealing with unimaginable loss when their loved one never returns from work.

The best way to reduce fatalities is to Plan, Do, Check, Act. Focus on the risks on-site that could cause a fatality or a lifealtering injury. They are the ones that you want to manage first.

Remember, managing risks is more than just using PPE or putting in an administration control.

Looking at New Zealand construction industry safety statistics over the last five years, the areas that contribute to the greatest number of fatalities are:

The gap between New Zealand and Australia is consistent across most industries and occupations. Looking at just the construction industry, the New Zealand fatality rate is 4.41 workers in every 100,000 compared to 2.93 workers in every 100,000 in Australia.

Falls down a level (46%) Slips, trips and stumbles on the same level (15%) Vehicle incidents (23%)

Our workplace injury rates tell a similar story. New Zealand injury rates reported by ACC have improved over time, however, the Australian rate is 25% lower, and the United Kingdom is 45% lower.

Hit by moving object (8%) Trapped between moving and stationary Object (8%) These are areas of greatest risk and therefore the areas that should be monitored and reviewed most closely.

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“Communication is at the heart of all important safety procedures, and it’s the foundation of effective safety management.”

communication is vital for preventing incidents and keeping everyone safe on the construction site. Just remember, as with anything, it all starts with you. You need to lead by example, start conversations, work together, and create an environment where everyone feels encouraged to participate. You need to be the one to make the change, because if you don’t, nobody else will.”

The construction industry has additional Health and Safety (H&S) challenges arising from the volume of contractors and subcontractors from various specialties that must work together on a single site or project. This was reflected in our 2023 member survey where just 66% of building companies agreed that “workers on-site (including contractors) are reliable at following H&S procedures and managing/recording H&S where applicable.”

Although the comparison of workplace safety between New Zealand and Australia is concerning, it shows us that we can and should work to improve our workplace fatality statistics.

When it comes to how to improve safety engagement with workers and contractors on-site, Evette McClure, H&S Advisory & Customer Support Lead at HazardCo says, “When you break it down, ensuring safety on-site can actually be quite simple; it all comes down to communication. Communication is at the heart of all important safety procedures, and it’s the foundation of effective safety management.”

“Good communication creates a culture where everyone is aware and works together. It makes it easier for people to raise concerns and find solutions. In the end, having a culture of strong

Resources for further information: State of a Thriving Nation Report https://www.forum.org.nz/resources/state-of-a-thriving-nation/ Worksafe Data Centre https://data.worksafe.govt.nz/graph/summary/fatalities Safework Australia data centre https://data.safeworkaustralia.gov.au/interactive-data/ topic/work-related-fatalities

The HazardCo Team. HazardCo are your trusted safety partner, providing you with the tools and support you need to #SortYourSafety. They also operate the NZCB Health and Safety helpline for members and can be contacted on 0800 555 339.

Trust a Resene Eco.Decorator to do your job just right!

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Visit ecodecorator.co.nz to find out more

WELLNESS

Tips for a great 2024 With the Christmas rush behind us and 2024 well and truly kicked off, now is a great time to ensure you have everything in place for a successful year ahead.

smoothly? What fell into place nicely? What great savings did you make without compromising on quality? Who did you help today?

To start, take a moment to reflect on the success of your past year – what wins has your business had? What great staff do you have to thank for their dedication and efforts? What jobs went well?

And what do you need to change going forward?

End your meetings by asking each team member (or family member) ‘what would make today great?’ Materials turning up on time? An appreciative customer? A tricky job going smoothly?

This gives everyone a positive feeling to take into their day, which, when done consistently, attracts more positive outcomes into your day.

To help you on your journey, here are some tips for a fantastic 2024.

Mindset is everything Your mindset is the most important factor in determining your year ahead, the success of your business, and your ability to sail through the challenges you face. It affects how you interact with others, the decisions, and choices you make, and how you view the world around you. The more you are able to look on the bright side, the happier and more successful your days will be.

“Look after your body – it’s the only place you have to live.”

– Jim Rohn Good health is the number one most important asset you have – look after it! Get to sleep a little earlier, drink a little less coffee, drink a lot more water, and choose healthier foods – your body and mind will love you for it!

Think, do, be positive Everything you read, listen to, watch, and talk about rubs off on your mood – for better or worse. Turn off the negative news, choose to read the good stuff (there is plenty of it!), and focus on what you DO want, instead of what you don’t want.

Slow down to speed up Your brain is designed to work at its best when you’re feeling calm, happy, and relaxed – not stressed, rushed, or busy multi-tasking.

Schedule in screen-free time (even just 15 minutes) to switch off.

Go for a walk, run, swim, or surf, sit and enjoy that coffee, do a deep breathing exercise, or put your feet up and just admire the view.

Start and end each meeting with your team (and mealtime with your family!) on a positive note Begin by asking for input from each team member on what has gone well that day or week. What were your wins? What went

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Do something that totally lights you up

Take time to connect with your kids

Block out some screen-free and work-free time in your calendar to do a sport or activity you absolutely love to do – something that makes your heart race, your soul come alive, and leaves you with a great buzz of happiness. Is it walking to the top of a hill for a stunning view, playing sport with people you can laugh and have fun with, sharing your skills and time with people who need and appreciate them, spending time in your happy place, or doing your favourite activity?

Being a parent is perhaps the most important and invaluable role we will ever have. However, the work/family juggle often means our attention is drawn away from our kids, which can leave them feeling unheard, unsupported, and unloved. Every positive habit and activity we can add back into our kids’ day, and every extra moment spent giving them our full attention, helps to show them that their world is safe, happy, and a place worth being in. (Check out my ‘Helping our kids with their anxiety’ article on page 36 of the February/March 2023 InHouse magazine, if you need tips in this area.)

Check in on your mates Keeping a watchful eye on your friends and team members is crucial to recognising when someone is struggling and needs extra support. When we struggle, we often withdraw, feeling like everyone around us has their lives sorted, and we are the only ones who feel like they are falling apart. Actually, the opposite is most often true. Everyone has times when they struggle – we just aren’t good at showing it, or talking about it. We tend to show everyone our ‘best self’ and hide how we are really feeling or what we are really going through. Call your mate for a chat, go for a beer, organise a game of touch rugby, or catch up with the crew to check in and make sure everyone is ok.

Want to know more?

For more tips and ideas on ensuring the year ahead is a really good one, join us on the Positive Mindset Challenge at www.yourhappyplace.org.nz.

In the meantime, slow down, take time for those who matter the most, especially yourself, and here’s to a great 2024.

Rachelle Hawes is the Director of Your Happy Place Limited.

She brings a wealth of knowledge and experience in improving Mindset, Happiness and Success to their flagship Mindset Programme, the Positive Mindset Challenge. She is also a Social Entrepreneur dedicated to Sharing Kindness, Touching Hearts and Changing Lives. www.positivemindsetchallenge.com

WELLNESS

Mental fitness goes hi-vis An increasing number of builders and tradies are learning mental fitness skills to stay on top of their game.

Grant Schofield, Professor of Public Health at Auckland University of Technology, has been contributing his expertise to the programme through a series of short video clips.

A big part of the programme’s success to date has been tradies sharing their stories about their struggles and what they to do now to manage the pressures of the industry.

“Being mentally fit gives you the tools to negotiate the good with the bad in life. In practice, it means keeping physically fit, eating as well as you can, getting a good night’s sleep, and learning to regulate your thinking and emotions so you think more accurately and can manage negative thoughts,” says Grant.

In another video, first year building apprentice Kiko shares how he resets his thinking after a challenging week. “I work six days a week and I’m studying at the same time too, so life can get quite full-on.

That’s why I have a designated ‘reset day’ which is Sunday. Just kind of a day to switch off.”

Waihanga Ora Live Well Build Well was set up by the Mental Health Foundation and ACC in 2022 to share practical ideas that construction businesses can use to build resilience, reduce stress levels, and help prevent common workplace injuries.

The resources are available for free on the programme website www.live-well-build-well.com and are also shared regularly on its Facebook and YouTube pages.

A big part of the programme’s success to date has been tradies sharing their stories about their struggles and what they to do now to manage the pressures of the industry. Hamilton-based builder and developer Quintin Eruiti is a great example. In one of the videos, he shares a particularly tough time in his career and the impact it had on his mental health.

“I’d always been raised to work hard and help others, which was awesome, but I’d never learnt how to be of service to myself. Over the last couple of months, I’ve made this a priority which has really helped. I spend time with my coach each week, and rather than focus on what hasn’t gone right, like the materials that didn’t turn up, we focus on what has gone right. When you’re only focusing every day on the things that haven’t gone right, it can really build up and bring you down. You miss out on the wins.”

“I’ve realised I need to make my own wellbeing a priority.” – Developer and builder Quintin Eruiti appearing in a Live Well, Build Well Instagram Post.

“I reckon, if you’re able to switch your mindset from being nervous or anxious about something to being excited about it, it sets you up to have a good lens on what’s coming.”

– First year building apprentice Kiko sharing his thoughts in a Live Well, Build Well video.

The best of the programme’s advice is now being packaged into free, online learning modules that tradies will be able to access via their mobiles. The first of the planned modules will be rolled out in the coming year.

Programme manager Raf Caso is thrilled with progress to date.

“Live Well Build Well is a really positive initiative for our industry.

Many of these mental skills are common in the world of sport because they are effective in high pressure situations. The success of this programme shows they can easily translate to a building site too.”

To find out more follow Live Well Build Well on Facebook or visit www.live-well-build-well.com.

Waihanga Ora Live Well Build Well. Our goal is to increase mental and physical wellbeing across the residential construction sector. We are a community where tradies lead the conversation of what wellbeing means to them and share their own personal stories on how they overcame tough times to inspire and educate their peers. www.live-well-build-well.com

“Being mentally fit gives you the tools to negotiate the good with the bad in life,” – Grant Schofield, Professor of Public Health, Auckland University of Technology and Director the University’s Human Potential Centre.

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WELLNESS

Psychosocial risk vs psychological safety Psychosocial risk mitigation and psychological safety are both crucial aspects of fostering a healthy and productive work environment, but they address different dimensions of the workplace. To understand how they complement rather than compete, let’s explore each concept and discuss their importance.

Although different in theory and practice, psychological safety is a critical factor for fostering innovation, collaboration, and open communication within a team or organisation. When individuals feel psychologically safe, they are more likely to share their insights, admit to errors, and engage in constructive dialogue.

This creates a positive feedback loop, enhancing team performance, employee engagement, and overall organisational success. It also allows people to bring their ‘whole’ selves to work without fear of judgement or retribution.

Psychosocial risk mitigation and psychological safety are inherently interconnected. A psychologically safe environment can contribute to the mitigation of psychosocial risks by fostering a culture where employees feel secure in sharing their concerns or seeking help when needed. On the other hand, effectively managing psychosocial risks contributes to creating a foundation for psychological safety.

While conceptually psychosocial risk mitigation can be viewed as addressing foundational needs related to well-being, psychological safety contributes to higher-level needs of the individual. These needs include a sense of belonging, esteem, and self-actualisation.

Both aspects are integral for creating a workplace where employees can thrive both mentally and emotionally.

Psychosocial risk mitigation involves a comprehensive approach to identifying, managing, and alleviating factors within the work environment that can adversely affect employees’ mental health and well-being. This encompasses various elements, including the nature of job demands, levels of job control, quality of interpersonal relationships, overall organisational culture, and the broader societal context in which work occurs.

A psychologically safe environment can contribute to the mitigation of psychosocial risks by fostering a culture where employees feel secure in sharing their concerns or seeking help when needed.

The significance of psychosocial risk mitigation lies in its ability to prevent and address issues such as workplace stress, burnout, and mental health challenges. High job demands, inadequate support structures, poor interpersonal relationships, and workplace harassment are among the factors that, if unaddressed, can lead to negative psychological outcomes for employees.

By identifying and managing these risks, organisations can create a more supportive and health-promoting work environment.

In terms of mental health outcomes, both psychosocial risk mitigation and psychological safety play major parts. Addressing psychosocial risks, such as high job demands, lack of control, and inadequate support, can significantly reduce stress levels among employees. Chronic stress is a known contributor to mental health issues, including anxiety and depression, so preventing psychosocial risk helps create a calmer and more balanced work environment, which in turn contributes to burnout prevention (a state of emotional, physical, and mental exhaustion).

Psychological safety, on the other hand, refers to the shared belief within a team or organisation that individuals can express their thoughts, opinions, and concerns without fear of negative consequences. It involves creating an atmosphere where team members feel comfortable taking interpersonal risks, such as asking questions, admitting mistakes, and proposing innovative ideas. This concept was popularised by Amy Edmondson from Harvard Business School in the context of team dynamics and organisational culture.

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Creating a psychologically safe environment reduces anxiety and fear associated with expressing oneself at work. Fear of judgment or reprisal can contribute to anxiety so psychological safety inherently provides a space where individuals feel secure and validated, another positive impact on general mental health. Psychological safety also fosters an environment where individuals feel comfortable expressing their thoughts and concerns openly, which reduces feelings of isolation and promotes a sense of connection, belonging, and collaboration. This strongly contributes to positive mental health outcomes by creating a sense of community and mutual support.

Chronic stress is a known contributor to mental health issues, including anxiety and depression, so preventing psychosocial risk helps create a calmer and more balanced work environment.

This dual focus is essential for cultivating a workplace where individuals can thrive both personally and professionally.

Psychosocial risk mitigation and psychological safety are mutually This can all sound very complex, but there are easy ways reinforcing. A work environment that effectively manages to implement workplace strategies and policies. Get in psychosocial risks contributes to a foundation of psychological touch with us to find out how; hello@humanex.co.nz safety and vice versa. Together, these concepts contribute to a holistic approach to employee well-being, addressing both the external stressors and the internal dynamics that impact Kate Figgins, Director at Humanex and Accredited Mental Health mental health.

First Aid Instructor. Kate’s background is in complex service delivery and solution design organisations across both commercial and not-for-profit enterprises.

Kate has a focus on strategic development and business transformation, and is passionate about purposeful, measurable change. www.humanex.co.nz

EVENTS

Auckland Golf Day a hit

AUCKLAND

In contrast to our 2022 golf day, which was cold and wet, the 2023 Auckland Charity Golf Day had sunshine! It was another great success, especially for our 2023 charity of choice, LegaSea, who received over $20,000 of the day’s proceeds from our generous members and sponsors!

LegaSea is a non-profit organisation dedicated to restoring the abundance, biodiversity and health of New Zealand’s marine environment. They do a fantastic job, and the committee was pleased to be able to support them. LegaSea put up some amazing items for the evening charity auction and Yamaha, one of LegaSea’s partners, offered up a $35,000 jet ski as a hole-in-one prize! We were crossing our fingers that someone would take that away; sadly no one did.

I would like to thank the Auckland Committee for the efforts that went into this event. Especially Peter Headland, who organises the day each year.

Auckland Committee having plenty of activity planned. The annual Auckland Education Day is set for winter, and we have another inspiring Factory Tour Day planned for the second half of the year.

Keep your eyes peeled for invites to these events.

“It was great to see the sun out this time, and it looked like fun was had by all. A lot of work goes on behind the scenes to put on this event, and it’s great to see it remaining popular with our members and partners alike.” – Peter Headland, NZCB Auckland Committee member.

As announced last month, Barbara made the decision to step down from the Auckland President role at the end of 2023. I would like to thank her for her contributions and advocacy for the Auckland members over the last 2.5 years. It’s great that she has agreed to remain on the Auckland Committee as a representative of the partners and admin staff we have within our membership.

We are about to head into our 2024 Charity Golf Day, held at Akarana Golf Course on Thursday, 14 March. We are bringing this event back into the summer months, so the last two are quite close together. We look forward to seeing you there!

We held another Administrator Workshop back in October on essential marketing for building companies. This was run by Chris Boyle, owner of Mighty marketing agency as well as a member of the Auckland Committee. The workshop was well received, and Chris gave great practical insights on marketing with real impact, which is especially relevant in the current market.

I look forward to carrying on the work of supporting Auckland members with relevant and topical material delivered via both training and social events. If you have any ideas or feedback on how we can further assist you, please make contact with me or anyone from the committee.

2024 is looking to keep up the momentum from 2023, with the

Paul Webster-Young NZCB President Auckland

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EVENTS

An engaging day for Tauranga Districts

TAURANGA DISTRICTS

On November 9, New Zealand Certified Builders Tauranga Districts members, as well as industry colleagues, enjoyed an engaging day with visits to the Red Stag Timber Mill in Rotorua and the Ross Brother Car Museum in Cambridge.

The day began with a warm welcome and morning tea at the Red Stag Timber Mill before we prepared for a tour of its new USNR Tandem-Quadsaw sawmill line and associated timber processing operations for kiln drying, planing, treating, and remanufacturing.

The friendly crew at the museum treated us to a live demonstration, firing up some of the massive machines, giving us a first-hand experience of the power and scale of these impressive pieces of equipment. We ended the day with drinks and nibbles before heading home. A huge thank you to our generous sponsors for making this day possible; PlaceMakers Mount Maunganui, Tauranga ITM, and Carters Tauranga. Your contributions and support are invaluable and your commitment to the success of our Association is truly appreciated.

We are excited to announce the return of the Build It Tauranga Expo, now in its 7th annual edition, exclusively dedicated to building professionals in Tauranga and surrounding areas. We hope to see you there on Thursday 14 March – save the date!

Visit www.taurangadistricts.co.nz/build-it-expo/ for more information.

A behind the scenes look at the state of the art facilities showcased Red Stag’s operations. We learned about its current position and ambitious future plans, with investments totalling in the hundreds of millions. It’s important to note that while substantial funds are being directed towards innovative technologies, traditional timber is not being neglected.

In particular, the focus on timber-framed commercial buildings was highlighted as a growing trend. Expect to witness more of these projects as they become a viable alternative to traditional concrete columns, beams, and floor systems. The advantages are impressive, with the capability of creating massive floor spans, reaching up to 70m² in a single CLT span of floor. After an informative tour and discussions about the future landscape of timber in construction, we enjoyed a delicious lunch before heading to the Ross Brothers Car Museum.

The Ross Brothers Car and Earthmoving Machinery private museum is a hidden gem for automotive and machinery enthusiasts. The museum showcases an incredible collection of cars, motorbikes, dragsters, and open-wheel racers. As we ventured into the machinery area, we were greeted by jawdropping sights, including the largest bulldozer bucket we’ve ever seen – 17m³ – equivalent to three concrete trucks!

Mike Way NZCB President Tauranga Districts 57

EVENTS

NZCB Regional Events Calendar BUILD IT TAURANGA EXPO

AUCKLAND CHARITY GOLF DAY

Thu 14 Mar 1:00–7:00pm

Thu 14 Mar 12:00pm

shotgun start

Tauranga Yacht Club Keith Allen Drive | Tauranga Increase your product knowledge, LBP points and business growth!

• 24 Trade Stands with their • Activities to test builder’s skill latest building products and services • $10 entry fee • Prize draws • Nibbles provided • Networking opportunities

For more information visit www.taurangadistricts.co.nz/build-it-expo/

Akarana Golf Course Dominion Road | Mount Roskill

A fun day of golf, networking and fundraising.

• BBQ mingler before tee off • Charity auction, to raise money for the NZCB • $320 per team of 4 players Apprentice Network • 18 holes, Ambrose format • Great prizes and giveaways

For more information and to register visit www.tinyurl.com/2jtdpdu

Not sure if there are any events happening in your region? Check out the Events Calendar on the NZCB members-only Toolshed website www.nzcb.nz.

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SIKA BOOM® EXPANDING FOAMS

STICK, SEAL, FILL OR FIX IT WITH SIKA. BUILD WITH US. Wherever you are in Aotearoa, you’ll find Sika within cooee at every builder’s merchant. www.sika.co.nz

2024 2024

Are you up for the challenge?

Applications for the 2024 NZCB Apprentice Challenge are now open!

REGIONAL CHALLENGES

SAT 6 APRIL 2024

WHERE: ITM STORES NATIONWIDE + selected venues

Competitors will be tasked to complete a challenging project for a specific end user within the allotted 8.0 hours. Thanks to ITM’s sponsorship, every competitor will receive a prize pack for participating as well as major prizes up for grabs for 1st, 2nd and 3rd place getters!

NATIONAL FINAL

The Challenge is open to apprentices employed

by NZCB builders. *conditions apply

WELLINGTON

21 – 22

JUNE 2024

How much does it cost to enter?

NZCB Apprentice Network Trainee Member = FREE Apprentices not enrolled as NZCB Trainee Members = $50.00

Have you got what it takes to go all the way?

For terms and conditions or to apply check out, www.apprenticechallenge.nz

#nzcbapprenticechallenge *The fine print: Competitors can be at any stage of their apprenticeship, regardless of age or experience and if they are lucky enough to progress to the National Final in June 2024, they must still be a current apprentice. Competitors must be enrolled in a recognised apprenticeship programme and must be up to date with any associated apprenticeship fees or training related expenses.

NZCB AGM, Conference & Expo 2024 Building the Future

In the ever-changing world of construction, where progress and dedication to a brighter future are key, the 2024 New Zealand Certified Builders (NZCB) AGM, Conference & Expo is scheduled for 20 to 22 June, at the Tākina Wellington Convention & Exhibition Centre. Under the theme, “Building the Future,” this event has been thoughtfully tailored for you; our NZCB members and teams. Here are five reasons not to miss it.

1. Unbeatable networking opportunities

registration fee, travel costs, and accommodation as business related expenses. Win-win!

As a member of NZCB, you play an integral role in our community.

This event offers a unique opportunity to connect with fellow members and industry experts. It’s a chance to establish new connections, strengthen existing relationships, and make lifelong friends, all under one roof. Our carefully planned schedule includes dedicated breaks, expo time, and functions to facilitate these interactions.

The NZCB AGM, Conference & Expo 2024 is designed to benefit you in numerous ways. It’s a fantastic opportunity to network, learn, share, and celebrate with your fellow members. We look forward to seeing you in Wellington and making this event a memorable one.

Register now and be part of “Building the Future” together!

The venue

2. Stay at the cutting edge

3. Professional development

Located in the capital of New Zealand, the venue for the 2024 AGM, Conference & Expo will be the Tākina Wellington Convention & Exhibition Centre. Inaugurated in 2023, ‘Tākina,’ which means ‘invoke,’ is situated across from Te Papa Tongarewa. Its close proximity to Wellington’s stunning waterfront, nearby hotels, and top-notch catering services, makes it the ideal location for your event.

The educational workshops and keynote speakers will provide you with valuable tools and skills to enhance your professional growth.

Learn from industry experts and peers who have navigated and overcome challenges similar to yours.

Members-only Annual General Meeting

The construction industry is ever evolving, with new trends, innovations, and regulations emerging frequently. With an impressive line-up of 74 industry-specific trade stands, our expo is your gateway to gaining insights and knowledge to keep your business at the forefront of the industry.

Friday 21 June 8:00am to 10:00am Auditorium | Tākina Wellington Convention & Exhibition Centre

4. Fun, fun, fun When you’re working hard, it’s important to take time out to enjoy yourself. Our programme includes; an extended action-packed Friday Happy Hour, the Mitre 10 Great Apprentice Race with drinks, nibbles, thrills, spills and the popular Saturday Night Awards Dinner promises an evening of recognition and celebration.

The New Zealand Certified Builders Associations 26th Annual General Meeting is a members-only session and a chance for you as a stakeholder to have your say in what is happening in the Association.

5. Affordability Thanks to the generous support of our sponsors, we’ve managed to maintain lower registrations fees. What’s more, it’s tax-deductible!

Because you are increasing your knowledge and upskilling to generate more revenue for your business, you can claim your

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20 to 22 June 2024 Tākina Wellington Convention & Exhibition Centre

Keynote Speakers and MC

Factory Tour Thursday 20 June In the lead up to the AGM, Conference & Expo, join us on Thursday 20 June for a fun, educational tour. You will be picked up from, and dropped back to, Tākina Wellington Convention & Exhibition Centre. We are still in the planning stages and have the following suggestions for next year’s tour: • Wellington Town Hall Redevelopment Project • Archives New Zealand new building • Weta Workshop Experience (1 hour and 30 mins) Watch this space!

Petra Bagust New Zealand television presenter and radio host Conference and Expo MC

Sir Ian Taylor New Zealand businessman, former television presenter, and one of New Zealand’s foremost technology innovators.

Melissa Clark-Reynolds Serial technology entrepreneur; widely recognised as an inspirational role model and business leader.

Gilbert Enoka Internationally renowned mental skills coach to New Zealand’s corporate and sporting elite, including the All Blacks, Black Caps, Silver Ferns, Crusaders, and Haydon Paddon.

Conference and Expo Friday 21 and Saturday 22 June Tākina Wellington Convention & Exhibition Centre Friday 21, the first official day of the Conference, will start with the 26th members-only AGM and be followed by an amazing line-up of keynote and educational speakers to get you thinking and motivated.

Saturday 22 is all about upskilling and educating you and your team on current and relevant industry topics. Whether you’re an individual member, a Business member, work on-site, or behind the scenes in the office, our dedicated workshop streams have something for everyone. They include Stream 1: New to Business, Stream 2: Advanced Business Leadership, and Stream 3: Technical Sessions.

The Expo Area will be open throughout the day on Friday and Saturday. This will provide the perfect opportunity to catch up, stay up to speed, and engage with 74 industry-specific trade partners ready to showcase their latest services and products. We also have dedicated expo time on both days, so you won’t miss out on getting to the stands you want to see.

Dress code: Smart casual with closed-in shoes

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Functions

Educational sessions Saturday 22 June

Mitre 10 Great Apprentice Race and Happy Hour

Our educational workshops take place on Saturday 22 June, they will deliver innovative ideas for you and your staff, and provide motivation to tackle your business challenges in today’s market.

Friday 21 June | 5:00pm – 7:00pm Thanks to your feedback following the 2023 conference, we’ve extended the Mitre 10 Great Apprentice Race and Happy Hour by two hours instead of hosting a Friday night function. This action-packed Happy Hour will feature the Mitre 10 Great Apprentice Race and extended expo time.

On Friday, the 2024 NZCB Apprentice Challenge Regional Finalists are paired up and tasked with building a bespoke project.

At 5:00 pm, finalists will compete in a thrilling race with their creations – completing various challenges along the way. Don’t miss the excitement as the finalists go head-to-head in the Mitre 10 Great Apprentice Race.

This is your chance to explore more expo stands, support your region or your favourite apprentice finalist and enjoy snacks and beverages during this action-packed Happy Hour.

New to Business Stream

Dress code: Smart casual attire with closed-in shoes.

Designed for business owners with 1-3 years of experience.

1. The importance of understanding Building Compliance – ensuring accuracy every time.

2. Marketing basics – a practical guide on how to market your small building business.

3. Client management and understanding progress payments and deposits.

4. Cashflow management – how-to guide for small businesses.

Advanced Business Leadership Stream Tailored for experienced business owners.

1. Proposed Building Code updates and their impact on building for climate change.

2. Practical design and building techniques for creating healthier homes in New Zealand.

3. Business growth, sustainability, or downsizing in a challenging economic environment – what to consider.

4. Building your brand and its significance – understanding brand positioning, vision, values, and purpose to gain a competitive advantage.

NZCB Apprentice Challenge Final Awards & Gala Dinner Saturday 22 June | 7:00pm – midnight We will be celebrating in style at Tākina, with plenty of room to host the grand finale of the NZCB AGM, Conference & Expo.

During the evening we will announce the winner of the 2024 NZCB Apprentice Challenge, making it a truly festive occasion.

Join us in celebrating our future builders with a three-course meal, followed by entertainment provided

by The Relatives one of Wellington’s most sought-after professional cover bands.

It’s a night to unwind and enjoy.

NEW Technical Sessions Stream Open to all as a unique technical experience.

Based on your feedback on the 2023 conference, where many expressed a desire for a more distinctive Saturday workshop experience, we’ve introduced the technical sessions stream.

This innovative approach allows you to tailor your educational sessions to your preferences, for a flexible learning experience.

Dress code: Hollywood Oscar theme; formal evening wear.

There will be six 25-minute presentations (two per workshop stream), with a focus on technical content. You will have the opportunity to come and go from these sessions as you please.

Workshops are subject to change.

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Draft Agenda Thursday 20 June 2024 8:00am – 4:00pm

Saturday 22 June 2024

Factory Tour: details coming soon

Friday 21 June 2024 7:00am

Registration Desk opens

8:30am – 9:45am

NZCB members-only Annual General Meeting

9:00am

Expo Stand area opens

9:45am – 10:00am

Overview of 2024 NZCB programmes and products

8:00am

Registration Desk opens

9:00am – 10:00am

Educational Workshop Round One: Stream One, Stream Two and the NEW Technical Sessions

10:00am – 11:00am

Dedicated Exhibition Time

10:00am – 11:00am Morning Tea 11:00am – 12:00pm

Education Workshop Round Two: Stream One, Stream Two and the NEW Technical Sessions

10:00am – 11:00am Morning Tea 10:00am – 11:00am

Dedicated Exhibition Time

12:05pm – 1:05pm

11:00am – 12:00pm

Official Conference Opening: NZCB Chairperson and Minister

Education Workshop Round Three: Stream One, Stream Two and the NEW Technical Sessions

1:05pm – 2:35pm

Dedicated Exhibition Time

12.00pm – 1:00pm

Keynote Speaker 1: Sir Ian Taylor

1:05pm – 2:05pm

Lunch

1:00pm – 2:00pm

Lunch 2:00pm – 3:30pm

NZCB Apprentice Challenge Speeches: 1.5 hours new time!

2:35pm – 3:35pm

Education Workshop Round Four: Stream One, Stream Two

3:40pm – 4:10pm

Official Conference Closing

7:00pm – midnight

NZCB Apprentice Challenge Final Awards & Gala Dinner

2:00pm – 2:30pm

Dedicated Exhibition Time

2:30pm – 3:30pm

Keynote Speaker 2: Melissa Clarke-Reynolds

3:30pm – 4:00pm

Dedicated Exhibition Time

4:00pm – 5:00pm

Keynote Speaker 3: Gilbert Enoka

5:00pm – 7:00pm

Mitre 10 Great Apprentice Race and Happy Hour: now 2 hours!

Agenda subject to change

Pricing

All costs below are excluding GST and per person. This year we have Earlybird pricing available until 15 March.

Factory Tour Includes transport to and from the tour venue, morning tea and lunch.

Two-day Conference and Expo registration Attend both the Friday and Saturday of the AGM, Conference and Expo. Includes morning tea and lunch for both days and the Friday Happy Hour.

One-day Conference and Expo registration – Friday only Attend the Friday only of the AGM, Conference and Expo. Includes morning tea and lunch for the Friday and the Friday Happy Hour.

One-day Conference and Expo registration – Saturday only Attend the Saturday only of the Conference and Expo. Includes morning tea and lunch for the Saturday.

Saturday Night Awards Dinner

$150.00 Earlybird price $300.00 (When Earlybird ends price $375)

Earlybird price $200.00 (When Earlybird ends price $250)

Earlybird price $200.00 (When Earlybird ends price $250)

$145.00

Includes drinks and a three-course meal.

Don’t forget that the ‘Conference and Expo’ is tax deductible!

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Accommodation Below you will find a selection of hotels, all within 19 minutes walking distance to Tākina. We have negotiated special rates for NZCB members.

West Plaza Hotel HHHH

Novotel HHHH

InterContinental HHHH

7-minute walk to Tākina

19-minute walk to Tākina

13-minute walk to Tākina

110 Wakefield Street, Te Aro, Wellington Phone: 0800 731 444 Email: reservations@westplaza.co.nz

133 The Terrace, Wellington Central, Wellington Phone: 04 918 1900

2 Grey Street, Wellington Central, Wellington Phone: 04 472 2722

Queen Rooms – $190 or $215 including breakfast (prices include GST and are for one person per night) Use promo code: HB1199

NZCB members – 15% discount www.accorevents.com/offers/ nzcb-conference-expo-takina

www.wellington.intercontinental.com Use promo code: NZCBJUNE24

Ibis HHHH

QT Wellington HHHH

Copthorne Hotel Wellington Oriental Bay HHHH

14-minute walk to Tākina

2-minute walk to Tākina

8-minute walk to Tākina

153 Featherston Street, Wellington Central, Wellington Phone: 04 496 1880

90 Cable Street, Te Aro, Wellington Phone: 04 802 8900

100 Oriental Parade, Oriental Bay, Wellington Phone: 04 385 0279

NZCB members – 10% discount www.accorevents.com/offers/ nzcb-conference-expo-takina

www.qthotels.com/wellington Use promo code: NZCBC24

For more information and to register visit: www.events.nzcb.nz

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NZCB members – 15% discount www.millenniumhotels.com/en/wellington/ copthorne-hotel-wellington-oriental-bay

APPRENTICE SUPPORT

A gateway for second chance learners Collaboration between local community initiatives and the Building and Construction Industry Training Organisation (BCITO), Te Pūkenga have been instrumental in providing pathways for second-chance learners to gain meaningful employment in the construction sector.

Paul McDowall is a Kaitohutohu Māori, a Māori learning advisor at BCITO Te Pūkenga. He has been directly involved with “Building Futures” and highlighted how these short duration programmes benefit those transitioning into the construction industry or other work.

The Building, Construction and Allied Trades Skills (BCATS) programme is a BCITO, Te Pūkenga initiative that is harnessed by community organisations to provide learning resources, materials, and assessment opportunities to support learners needing a boost.

To ensure the learning is fit for purpose for the learners needs, BCITO, Te Pūkenga have developed programmes that are theory blended with on-the-job practical learning. Local initiatives approach BCITO often through the Ministry of Social Development, for support and resources. BCITO then equips these initiatives with the resources that best recognise the available learning opportunities to support the learners to be able to move forward with employment.

“The collaboration between BCITO and “Building Futures” has been really beneficial for the learners in the community, as it’s provided opportunities for people who perhaps weren’t suited to the traditional school system. We are able to give them the confidence to apply themselves and learn valuable skills that lead to employment.”

BCITO’s Implementation and Transition Manager, Mark Chalmers, has been instrumental in many of these initiatives.

The BCATS programme was recently harnessed by a community project in Napier called “Building Futures to Aid Second Chance Learners.” This programme was set up with funding from the Ministry of Social Development to provide more support for people looking for work, who had little work experience on their CV. BCITO fed into this programme by tailoring NZQA accredited unit standards for the programme.

“These initiatives combine industry related learning with community programmes, to provide excellent pastoral and educational support. These opportunities improve learning outcomes; learners are equipped with skills and a pathway to gaining meaningful employment,” says Chalmers.

Aotearoa New Zealand needs more people to upskill and grow their knowledge to create much-needed quality homes and infrastructure. BCITO has the resources and support systems in place to ensure everyone can enhance and refine their skills.

Firstly, the learners were evaluated so that the unit standards would meet their specific needs, time was then spent analysing which learning approaches would be best suited. Six standards were then developed which included workshop-based projects to provide the appropriate skills, which would be recognised under a formal qualification.

To learn more, head to www.bcito.org.nz or www.buildingfutures.co.nz

BCITO. Through on-the-job training and regular guidance, BCITO is building a skilled workforce in which talented people can excel. Alongside our industry employers, we create futures for dedicated tradies. We help them develop successful careers and become valuable contributors in New Zealand’s building and construction industry.

We honour and uphold Te Tiriti o Waitangi in all we do.

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APPRENTICE SUPPORT

NZCB Apprentice Network is now FREE to enrol!

Following the considerable media attention received by New Zealand Certified Builders (NZCB) regarding the NZCB Apprentice Network, and the positive feedback from our own members, the Apprentice Network is now FREE for all Business Members of NZCB. The Apprentice Network is serving a critical and important role in supporting our members, and it has therefore been determined that the programme should be available as a standard benefit of membership. Any apprentice employed by a NZCB Business Member can now become a Trainee Member of NZCB at no charge.

Liam Mackay Cameron Spence Tavita Uili

McGregor Construction Digby Toothill Builders Ltd QDC Works Ltd

I look forward to receiving completed Apprentice Network applications from the employers and apprentices that entered the promotion. It’s easy to do, simply apply at: www.nzcb.nz/members/ trainee-membership or email nick@nzcb.nz. I can also send you a hard copy application if you’d prefer. A massive thanks to Mitre 10 for their sponsorship of the Apprentice Network!

As the Apprentice Network continues to grow, you can expect to see dedicated events for apprentices in 2024. I look forward to providing you with updates and details.

We recently ran a promotion, in association with Mitre 10 Trade, to encourage NZCB employers and their apprentices to enrol in the Apprentice Network. The response was really positive.

Congratulations to the following apprentices who received a $50 Mitre 10 Trade gift voucher for registering their interest.

Coby Irving SC Harris Builders Ltd Nicholas Morla Renovation Builders Pierre Jombart Renovation Builders Campbell Poulton Brendan Graham Builders Josh Pope Pope Homes Ltd Bronson Page Building Works Ltd Benjamin Whittaker Younger Builders Ltd

Nick Matthews NZCB Industry Pathways and Apprenticeship Manager

FROM OUR PARTNERS

Sealing decking timber Too often, the first place of failure in timber decking for exterior applications is an exposed end grain.

Protector – End Seal is a high solids water-based wax with exceptionally low water permeability that stops excess moisture ingress up the end grain and assists with better weathering of timber.

Fungal decay requires moisture to develop, and the end grain of wood absorbs moisture at up to 100 times the rate of absorption of the face of wood. This means that, on average, the end grain retains more moisture than other parts of the wood and is more likely to decay first. This issue affects both treated timbers and naturally durable species such as Purple Heart, Kwila and Grapa.

It is critical, therefore, that the cut ends of wood are sealed prior to application with an end sealant. Any cutting of timber, whether from sawing, shaping, or planning, has the potential to expose the end grain and allow the uptake of moisture.

With no adequate room allowed for drainage and no quality end sealer applied, this cladding will quickly succumb to decay.

End sealants are available as a wax-based water repellent, designed to block moisture ingress, or as a chemical preservative, intended to protect the wood from fungal development. Abodo supplies a complete system of FSC® Vulcan and Tundra timber coatings systems.

Visit www.abodo.co.nz/products/coatings or call 09 249 0100 for more information.

Abodo Wood. A NZCB National Partner, Abodo timbers are harvested from FSC® certified, rapidly renewable, New Zealand plantation forests. Thermally modified with exceptional weatherability, the timbers stand the test of time, are beautiful and sustainable. Even better, they’re safe for people and the environment. Visit www.abodo.co.nz.

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FROM OUR PARTNERS

Why financial reporting is so important With many of the Rave team having worked in the NZ building industry, we understand the significance of reporting. Whether it’s playing financial fortune-teller or monitoring expenditures to pinpoint areas of overspending in your day-to-day operations, it’s crucial to have visibility at all times. So, let’s keep the cash from pulling a disappearing act. Stay sharp on all the expenses to make sure your building company doesn’t disappear with those overspends.

Progress payment forecast

Here we will highlight two exceptional reports found in Rave’s reporting portal, which provide a real-time snapshot of your projects.

Cash flow is King for all construction companies. Progress payments help companies recover a portion of their costs along a project’s way, and are crucial to maintaining a steady cash flow. They can also help protect companies in the case of client nonpayment. Rave’s Progress Payment Forecast Report is a great way to see a snapshot of expected, paid, pending, requested, overdue and outstanding payments.

Back costing report Rave Build’s Back Costing Feature breaks everything into two very easy-to-navigate options.

One being by your Categories and the other by Supplier. The default view for back costing is by category as this is how we have grouped all of your Quotes, Budget, Purchase Orders and Bills.

To the left, you will see your current Running Profit, the Variance between Bills & Quotes, and the Variance between Quotes and your Budget (if using a preliminary budget).

Then over to the right-hand side, we show your Budget total, Quotes total, Purchase Order total, Bills-In total, Project Value (agreed client price), total Client Invoices, and Expected Gross Profit.

NZCB member offer For the first quarter of 2024 Rave Build would like to extend an offer to all NZCB members to sign up and receive three months free upon signing a 12-month subscription.

Contact us on 07 210 2228 or sales@ravebuild.co.nz to find out more.

Rave Build Management. Our software has been created specifically for Kiwi Builders, packing a punch with three dynamic modules – Sales Management, Project Management, and Financial Management. A NZCB National Partner, Rave swoops in to grant your team the clarity essential for every job, ensuring you save time and rake in those extra dollars. www.ravebuild.co.nz

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FROM OUR PARTNERS

Check the weather before painting Just what makes the ideal painting day? It’s important to get it right, or chances are you’ll be less than satisfied with the results. ‘Ideal’ is a tough concept, though – like most things, you’re best to aim for moderation.

So, what is ideal? 15-20°C, humidity 70-80% and a very gentle breeze.

Common outdoor weather conditions may not appear to be particularly harsh, but they put tremendous demands on exterior paint. The most damaging of these are: sunlight and ultraviolet (U.V.) radiation, water and moisture, and temperature changes.

Higher quality exterior Resene paints help to combat the effects of each of these conditions. And if you’re painting in hot weather, use Resene Hot Weather Additive to help extend the wet edge of the paint to give more time to get a smooth finish.

Rule to remember: Is the washing on the line drying? If it’s not, neither will your paint.

In the absence of the ideal, the following is a useful checklist: • Is the washing on the line drying? If it’s not, neither will your paint.

• If water spilt on a concrete path doesn’t dry out, leave your painting until it does.

• If a thin coat of water applied to the substrate has not evaporated in 15 minutes, leave your painting until it does.

• A light breeze is ideal for drying your paint. If it’s too windy, your paint will dry too fast, so move operations to a more sheltered side of the building.

• Don’t paint in direct sunlight or in extremely hot weather. If you’re pushed, paint the shady side of the building or wait until the temperature drops. A good idea is to start ahead of the sun and work your way around the building, keeping ahead of the sun as you go.

Need help with your paint system or how to apply it?

• Cloudy or overcast conditions are ideal for painting… provided it’s not raining and rain is not expected.

Use the free Resene Ask a Paint Expert service (0800 737 363 or www.resene.co.nz/colorite/ask-the-experts.htm) or visit your Resene ColorShop for friendly and helpful paint, wood stain and colour advice.

• As a general rule apply waterborne paints at temperatures above 10°C and solventborne and industrial paints when the temperature is at least 5°C above the dew point. The lower the temperature, the longer the paint will take to dry.

• Read the label on your paint container. If you follow its recommendations, you’ll reap the full benefit of the protective capabilities and finish of your paint.

Resene Paints Limited. Resene Paints are NZCB National Partners Professional and have been making quality paints, wood stains, coatings and colours in New Zealand since 1946. For more information visit: www.resene.co.nz

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IN THE MEDIA

NZCB in the media

Choose Gisborne builders now certified hunks for charity The Right

Professional For The Job

Gisborne Herald Online 31 October 2023

Daily Post, Rotorua Bay of Plenty 22 November 2023

Bush Telegraph, Pahiatua, Wairarapa 30 October 2023

Whether you’re making a few small home improvements, undertaking major renovations or building a new home, you want to be sure things go to plan given the time and cost that is often to say it’s OK to be not OK and speak up. involved. So how do you choose the right builder?

“The calendar was a great avenue for our members to People often rely on word-of-mouth, but it’s also step out of their comfort zones in front of a camera and important to make sure you take into account help raise much-needed funds for a great local charity, builders’ training, skills and experience.

Hear4U, who help our Gisborne men, enabling them to If you are new to an area ask friends and neighbours speak up and finding pathways to assist them. for recommendations. If there’s a trade body such as “This is a first for NZCB nationally and Gisborne region Master Painters or Master Joiners, ask them for a is proud to be able to do this. recommendation. Follow up references and ask to The aim is to raise $20,000, selling 1000 calendars for look at their work if you feel it necessary. Check any $20 each. guarantees on offer, the terms, and if there is any Builders across the Gisborne region are featured additional cost involved. Be very clear about what throughout the calendar in various photo shoots. you want and seek the advice and guidance of your Production costs were covered by local sponsors, builder who often can suggest alternatives. so all proceeds from sales of the calendar will go to Firm up on your ideas and be specific because Hear4U. the more specific you are the greater chance of Hear4U is a charitable trust advocating for men’s getting an accurate quote and minimising the mental health, wellbeing and suicide prevention. chance for misunderstandings. Get a number of The calendar is available from Mitre10 Gisborne. quotes (not estimates), at least two or three, and take time to make sure you are comparing like with like. Agree to the job in writing – what is to be done, how long it will take, labour and materials to be used for the job and the final cost including GST. Consumers can have confidence in engaging a PMCA licensed copy. You may not further copy, reproduce, retransmit, se builder that is a member of Newrecord, Zealand Certified Builders Association Agency.

(NZCB). InPhone order to be the prior written consent of the Print Media Copyright +64-09-306 health and wellbeing support, including mental health services. eligible for membership builders must be trade“In our industry, we see lots of apprentices leaving before qualified. Trade-qualification means that a builder they get their qualifications. or tradesperson has robust minimum standards of “We hope that the Apprentice Network is a step towards training and skill. addressing that, by providing apprentices with the addiUnder the Building Amendment Act, if the work tional support they need to finish their apprenticeships and you intend to do includes work to the primary go on to work in the industry,” says Nick. structure of your house or its weather tightness, it’s As well as supporting apprentices, the service will also called Restricted Building Work. This work can only provide employers with tools and resources to enable them be done or supervised by tradespeople who are to create a supportive workplace.

Licensed Building Practitioners (LBPs). There are The NZCB Apprentice Network is open to any apprentice plenty of smaller jobs that need doing by experts employed by an NZCB Business Member builder, regardfrom time to time that might not necessarily need a less of what stage they are at in their apprenticeship. master tradesperson to complete.

Some of the Gisborne builders behind a new charity calendar. Proceeds from sales of the calendar will go to men’s mental health charity Hear4U. Back, from left, Nick Farrelly (NZCB chairman), Clay Parker, Willy Hallgarth, Dave Wallace, Bruce Knight, Brendan Fry (NZCB Gisborne president) and Brad Mitchell (NZCB territory manager). Front: Phill Claffey, Digby Toothill and Sam Gavin. Picture by Liam Clayton

Gisborne builders have downed tools and trousers, in a cheeky effort to raise awareness for men’s mental health.

New Zealand Certified Builders (NZCB) Gisborne Region officially launched its inaugural 2024 Charity Calendar, “New Zealand Certified Hunks”, at a special event attended by 300 people at the Lawson Field Theatre, last Thursday.

The project is the brainchild of Gisborne builder Brendan Fry. “The initiative around the calendar was to help raise awareness for men’s mental health and suicide awareness in our construction industry,” he told the Gisborne Herald.

“Within this sector the pressures can be huge not only on builders but on subcontractors like electricians, plumbers and painters. We needed to find a way to bring attention to how we can break the stigma for men

Another tool to apprentices’ belts Weekend Sun, Tauranga 27 October 2023

New Zealand Certified Builders has launched its new Apprentice Network, a new initiative designed to provide wraparound support to both apprentices employed by a NZCB member builder and their employer.

NZCB industry pathways and apprenticeship manager Nick Matthews says that the new Apprentice Network aims to reinforce learning on the job for apprentices, and provides access to vital services and resources. This includes access to industry and networking events, deals and benefits of NZCB membership and wider professional development opportunities.

As well as practical learning opportunities, the Apprentice Network provides apprentices with access to mentoring and

69

IN THE MEDIA

Apprentice subsidy rort Claims businesses receiving subsidies despite apprentices getting no credits Greymouth Star, Greymouth West Coast 14 November 2023

JOHN GERRITSEN

Businesses are pocketing thousands in apprentices, because builders were proud of the credits earned... so you incentivise them to subsidies for apprentices who gained no credits their contribution to training. be productive,” he said.

— and sector insiders say some are doing it Members had told him that some firms Waihanga Ara Rau is the Workforce deliberately. signed people up to access the Apprenticeship Development Council for the construction Official figures show the $687 million Boost funding, but were not providing the sector. Its chief executive, Philip Aldridge, Apprenticeship Boost scheme, which pays training. said part of the reason for the increased employers thousands of dollars a year for each “There are, or are likely to be, businesses percentage of inactive trainees was that there new apprentice, has prompted a spike in the that are enrolling employees such as labourers were more first-year apprentices and some number of apprentices but also a spike in the as apprentices and then not encouraging apprenticeships were structured in such a way percentage who complete no qualification those apprentices to work their way through that new apprentices completed very few or no credits each year. the qualification. That’s a practice that trade credits in their first year of training.

In some areas of training, about 60% of associations like ourselves frown upon and I “A lot of the attainment happens from a apprentices were inactive last year, rising as don’t hear of a lot of it occurring but I can quite credit-scoring point of view in the last six high has 97% with relatively few apprentices in imagine that it does occur,” he said. months of a four-year apprenticeship. So yes, one field: electronic engineering.

“The second one would be businesses that they’re meant to get some credits but they don’t Industry insiders told RNZ some employers are just not good at supporting apprentices due get that many,” he said. took on apprentices or signed existing staff to them being poor trainers or the employer Aldridge said the organisation had seen no up for apprenticeships in order to claim not being well organised. The result is the evidence that firms were abusing the system. government subsidies — initially worth as apprentice gets discouraged, they flounder.”

He said it was great that Apprenticeship Boost much as $12,000 a year — with little or no Fleming said another factor was that many had encouraged more apprenticeships. intention of actually training them. building firms did not do the broad range of “Based on our forecasting, there’s another Sector leaders say shortages of tutors and work covered by an apprenticeship, making $280 billion in infrastructure, housing and apprenticeship qualifications that involve few it difficult for their trainees to complete some construction needed, so we do need more credits in the first year of training were also parts of their qualification. people to come on board and increased contributors.

Roofing Association chief executive Graham diversity. We do think it’s a good initiative,” Apprenticeship Boost started in August Moor said more could be done to ensure Aldridge said.

2020 and the percentage of apprentices who employers supported their apprentices.

When introduced in August 2020, gained no credits in a year increased from 24% “Part of the problem is — and we said Apprenticeship Boost had a budget of $380m of 53,530 apprentices in 2019 to 33% of 61,885 this when they came up with free fees and for 20 months. It paid employers $1000 a month apprentices in 2020.

Apprenticeship Boost and all that sort of for first-year apprentices and $500 a month for Last year, 36% of 84,275 apprentices were thing — there should have been some work those in their second year, up to a maximum of inactive with the percentage ranging from 67% done around qualifying the employer so that $16,000 for 20 months of training. in creative arts — where there were only 105 it wasn’t a ‘get in and get a subsidised bit of The scheme was extended last year with a AUTHOR: John Gerritsen SECTION: GENERAL NEWS ARTICLE TYPE: NEWS ITEM AUDIENCE : 3,115 apprentices — to 17% in engineering, which labour’ approach to it,” he said.

PAGE: 4 PRINTED SIZE: 767.00cm² REGION: NZ MARKET: New Zealand ASR: NZD 1,739 further $230m but the first-year rate reduced had 26,110 apprentices.

The figures showed 30% of roof fixing to $500 a month from August 2022 and in this WORDS: 1105 ITEM ID: 1974645378 The architecture and building field had a apprentices were inactive last year, up from year’s Budget, it was extended to the end of particularly big increase in both apprentice 25% in 2019 but similar to figures in years prior 2024 at a cost of $77m.

14 NOV, 2023 numbers and the percentage of inactive to 2019.

In addition to paying employers, the Apprentice subsidy rort apprentices.

Moor said the Roofing Association monitored government also pays training providers an Last year, 51% of its 37,015 apprentices apprentices’ training and encouraged its average rate of $7300 per full-time equivalent were inactive, up from 28% of 21,150 apprentices members to keep up to date, which helped keep learner enrolled with them. in 2019. down the percentage of inactive apprentices.

The Ministry of Social Development In carpentry and joinery, 57% of 21,615 He said National Party MPs had told the administered the scheme.

Greymouth Star, Greymouth West Coast apprentices were inactive last year — up from construction sector before the election that It said 292 employers had repaid $511,125 in Page 3 of 3 29% of 13,575 apprentices in 2019. they intended to keep the Apprenticeship Certified Builders Association chief Boost scheme, which was good news but the subsidies covering 376 apprentices since the initiative started in August 2020. executive Malcolm Fleming said he was scheme could be improved.

“The main reasons for repayments relate to surprised by the high proportion of inactive “I would look at the payments being based on apprentices whose active learning with their training provider is on hold, and MSD has received that information after the payment validation date, or where an apprentice has left their job but the employee, submitting the claim on behalf of the employer, may not have been aware of that fact,” it said.

The ministry said it checked a random sample of 274 apprentices each month and discussed relevant cases with the Tertiary Education Commission.

The Education Ministry was in charge of the Apprenticeship Boost policy.

It said it had not received complaints about employers misusing the scheme.

The ministry said lower credit completion rates during 2022 could be attributed to lockdowns and Covid-19 illness, the rapid influx of new learners and a volatile labour market.

“Increased volatility could make it more likely for employers to take on employees without a long-term commitment,” the ministry said.

The Tertiary Education Commission has been approached for comment.

— RNZ About 60% of apprentices were inactive last year.

70

Apprentice subsidies outstrip credits earned IN THE MEDIA

Apprentice subsidies outstrip credits earned Whanganui Chronicle, Whanganui

Industry sources say applications up but not completion rates JOHN GERRITSEN OF RNZ Businesses are pocketing thousands in subsidies for apprentices who gained no credits — and EŝÝnjơƹƛǜ ŃŝơŃÝìƛơ ơ¯ǜ ơŧŗì sector insiders say some are doing it deliberately. ÂnjơŃŝìơơìơ ¯ƛì ƹ¯ōŃŝĭ Official figures show the $687 million Apprenticeship Boost scheme, which pays employers ƹĽì èƯôƪ ŗŃŏŏŃŧŝ thousands of dollars a year for each ¯ÝǙ¯ŝƹ¯ĭì new apprentice,ŧąhas prompted a spike in the number of ŽŽƛìŝƹŃÍìơĽŃŽ ơÍĽìŗìƄ apprentices but also a spike in the percentage who complete ŧŧơƹ no qualification credits each year.

In some areas of training, about 60% of apprentices were inactive last year, rising as high has 97% with relatively few apprentices in one field: electronic engineering.

Industry insiders told RNZ some employers took on apprentices or signed existing staff up for apprenticeships in order to claim government subsidies — initially worth as much as $12,000 a year — with little or no intention of actually training them.

Sector leaders say shortages of tutors and apprenticeship qualifications that involve few credits in the first year of training were also contributors.

Apprenticeship Boost started in August 2020 and the percentage of apprentices who gained no credits in a year increased from 24% of 53,530 apprentices in 2019 to 33% of 61,885 apprentices in 2020.

Last year, 36% of 84,275 apprentices were inactive with the percentage ranging from 67% in creative arts — where there were only 105 apprentices — to 17% in engineering, which had 26,110 apprentices.

The architecture and building field had a particularly big increase in both apprentice numbers and the percentage of inactive apprentices.

Last year, 51% of its 37,015 apprentices were inactive, up from 28% of 21,150 apprentices in 2019.

In carpentry and joinery, 57% of 21,615 apprentices were inactive last year — up from 29% of 13,575 apprentices in 2019.

Certified Builders Association chief executive Malcolm Fleming said he was surprised by the high proportion of inactive apprentices, because builders were proud of their contribution to training.

But members had told him that some firms signed people up to access the Apprenticeship Boost funding, but were not providing the training.

“There are, or are likely to be, businesses that are enrolling employees such as labourers as apprentices and then not encouraging those apprentices to work their way through the qualification. That’s a practice that trade associations like ourselves frown upon and I don’t hear of a lot of it occurring but I can quite imagine that it does occur,” he said.

“The second one would be businesses that are just not good at supporting apprentices due to them being poor trainers or the employer not being well organised. The result is the apprentice gets discouraged, they flounder.”

Fleming said another factor was that many building firms did not do the broad range of work covered by an apprenticeship, making it difficult for their trainees to complete some parts of their qualification.

Roofing Association chief executive Graham Moor said more could be done to ensure employers supported their apprentices.

“Part of the problem is — and we said this when they came up with free fees and Apprenticeship Boost and all that sort of thing — there should have been some work done around qualifying the employer so that it wasn’t a ‘get in and get a subsidised bit of labour’ approach to it,” he said.

Page

Whanganui Chronicle, Whanganui 14 November 2023

The figures showed 30% of roof fixing apprentices were inactive last year, up from 25% in 2019 but similar to figures in years prior to 2019.

Moor said the Roofing Association monitored apprentices’ training and encouraged its members to keep up to date, which helped keep down the percentage of inactive apprentices.

He said National Party MPs had told the construction sector before the election that they intended to keep the Apprenticeship Boost scheme, which was good news but the scheme could be improved.

“I would look at the payments being based on the credits earned... so you incentivise them to be productive,” he said.

Waihanga Ara Rau is the Workforce Development Council for the construction sector.

Its chief executive, Philip Aldridge, said part of the reason for the increased percentage of inactive trainees was that there were more first-year apprentices and some apprenticeships were structured in such a way that new apprentices completed very few or no credits in their first year of training.

“A lot of the attainment happens from a credit-scoring point of view in the last six months of a four-year apprenticeship. So yes, they’re meant to get some credits but they don’t get that many,” he said.

The Education Ministry was in charge of the Apprenticeship Boost policy. Aldridge said the organisation had seen no evidence that firms were abusing the system. It said it had not received complaints about employers misusing the scheme.

The ministry said lower credit completion rates during 2022 could be attributed to lockdowns and Covid-19 illness, the rapid influx of new learners and a volatile labour market.

Businesses funded while apprentices get no credit Hokitika Guardian, Hokitika West Coast 14 November 2023

JOHN GERRITSEN Businesses are pocketing thousands in subsidies for apprentices who gained no credits — and sector insiders say some are doing it deliberately.

Official figures show the $687 million Apprenticeship Boost scheme, which pays employers thousands of dollars a year for each new apprentice, has prompted a spike in the number of apprentices but also a spike in the percentage who complete no qualification credits each year.

In some areas of training, about 60% of apprentices were inactive last year, rising as high has 97% with relatively few apprentices in one field, electronic engineering.

Industry insiders told RNZ some employers took on apprentices or signed existing staff up for apprenticeships in order to claim government subsidies — initially worth as much as $12,000 a year — with little or no intention of actually training them.

Sector leaders say shortages of tutors and apprenticeship qualifications that involve few credits in

the first year of training were also contributors.

Apprenticeship Boost started in August 2020 and the percentage of apprentices who gained no credits in a year increased from 24% of 53,530 apprentices in 2019 to 33% of 61,885 apprentices in 2020.

Last year, 36% of 84,275 apprentices were inactive with the percentage ranging from 67% in creative arts — where there were only 105 apprentices — to 17% in engineering, which had 26,110 apprentices.

The architecture and building field had a particularly big increase in both apprentice numbers and the percentage of inactive apprentices.

Last year, 51% of its 37,015 apprentices were inactive, up from 28% of 21,150 apprentices in 2019.

In carpentry and joinery, 57% of 21,615 apprentices were inactive last year — up from 29% of 13,575 apprentices in 2019.

Certified Builders Association chief executive Malcolm Fleming said he was surprised by the high proportion of inactive apprentices, because builders were proud of their contribution to training.

But members had told him some firms signed people up to access the Apprenticeship Boost funding, but were not providing the training.

“There are, or are likely to be, businesses that are enrolling employees such as labourers as apprentices and then not encouraging those apprentices to work their way through the qualification. That’s a practice that trade associations like ourselves frown upon and I don’t hear of a lot of it occurring but I can quite imagine that it does occur,” he said.

“The second one would be businesses that are just not good at supporting apprentices due to them being poor trainers or the employer not being well organised.

The result is the apprentice gets discouraged, they flounder.” Fleming said.

The Ministry of Education said it had not received complaints about employers misusing the scheme.

The ministry said lower credit completion rates last year could be attributed to lockdowns and Covid-19 illness, the rapid influx of new learners and a volatile labour market. – RNZ

PMCA licensed copy. You may not further copy, reproduce, record, retransmit, sell, publish, distribute, share or store this information w the prior written consent of the Print Media Copyright Agency. Phone +64-09-306 1657 or email info@pmca.co.nz for further informatio

71

NZCB NEWS

NZCB Strategic Partners New Zealand Certified Builders (NZCB) would like to thank the following companies, our Strategic Partners (corporate sponsors), who play a vital part in assisting to cover costs for our members personal development/training through NZCB regional seminars, NZCB Annual Conference and monthly live Zoom webinars. Their support also assists to cover expenses with our marketing and communications.

NZCB Affinity Partners NZCB is proud to partner with the following companies, who are aligned with the Association to bring our members discounted services and products.

Cost + % discount on most Noel Leeming products

Exceptional vehicle deals with Renault, Hyundai and Isuzu

Discounted business management plans

Discounted rate on AA Business Care

Discounted services and access to their flooring, window furnishings, and accessories

Exclusive Health Insurance packages with NIB (Business Members only)

Exclusive pricing on Fisher & Paykel and Haier products

Deals and discounts on your mobile and broadband plans

NEW

Fuel Card Programme – offering discounts

25% off car, van and 4WD tyres

Fuel Card Programme – offering discounts

Discounts across a wide selection of products

Exclusive Builders’ Insurance packages

NZCB trade pricing

More information on these services and products can be found under the Member Benefits section, on the NZCB members-only Toolshed website, www.nzcb.nz/members/member-benefits/ or by contacting Kirsty at the NZCB National Support Office on 0800 237 843 or kirsty@nzcb.nz.

72

NZCB NEWS

NZCB National Partners New Zealand Certified Builders (NZCB) is proud to partner with the following companies who align with our Association and give NZCB members access to a wealth of expertise and support throughout New Zealand.

COMPANY

WEBSITE

National Partners Premium

COMPANY

WEBSITE

Hilti (New Zealand) Ltd

www.hilti.com

HomePlus

www.homeplus.co.nz

Independent Building Supplies

www.ibs.co.nz

INTAKS NZ Ltd

www.intaks.co.nz

APL Window Solutions

www.aplnz.co.nz

Comfortech Building Performance Solutions

www.pinkbatts.co.nz

NEW Enveloped Solutions Ltd

www.enveloped.co.nz

James Hardie New Zealand

www.jameshardie.co.nz

Gerard Roofs

www.gerardroofs.co.nz

JSC Premium Architectural & Building Solutions

www.jsc.co.nz

PlaceMakers

www.placemakers.co.nz

Kingspan Thermakraft Ltd

www.thermakraft.co.nz

Red Stag Timber

www.redstag.co.nz

KLC Ltd

www.klc.co.nz

Resene Construction Systems

www.reseneconstruction.co.nz

Kopine

www.kopine.co.nz

National Partners Professional

Laminex New Zealand

www.laminexnewzealand.co.nz

Milwaukee Tool New Zealand

www.milwaukeetools.co.nz

Marley New Zealand Ltd

www.marley.co.nz

Resene Paints Ltd

www.resene.co.nz

Marshall Innovations Ltd

www.mwnz.com

Sika (NZ) Ltd

www.nzl.sika.com

MiTek New Zealand Ltd

www.miteknz.co.nz

My Smart Office Ltd

mysmartoffice.co.nz

Open2view

www.open2view.co.nz

Pacific Steel (NZ) Ltd

www.pacificsteel.co.nz

Paslode New Zealand

www.paslode.co.nz

National Partners Standard Abodo Wood Ltd

www.abodo.co.nz

Altus NZ Ltd

www.altus.co.nz

ASSA ABLOY Opening Solutions New Zealand

www.assaabloy.co.nz

Pro Clima New Zealand Ltd

www.proclima.co.nz

Bowers Brothers Concrete Ltd

www.bowersbrothers.co.nz

Productspec Ltd

www.productspec.net

Builda Price (2016) Ltd

www.buildaprice.co.nz

Proven Systems Ltd (DVS)

www.dvs.co.nz

Connected Spaces

www.connectedspacesjoinery.co.nz

Rave Build Management

www.ravebuild.co.nz

CS For Doors Ltd

www.csfordoors.co.nz

Red LBP Ltd

www.redlbp.co.nz

CSR Building Products (NZ) Ltd

www.csr.co.nz

Red QS Ltd

www.redqs.nz

ECKO Fastening Systems

www.ecko.co.nz

Rosenfeld Kidson & Co. Ltd

rosenfeldkidson.co.nz

FMI Building Innovation

www.aslnz.co.nz

Schneider Electric

www.pdl.co.nz

Franklin Plumbing and Builders Supplies Ltd

Simx Ltd

www.simx.co.nz

www.franklins.co.nz

Soudal Ltd

www.soudal.co.nz

FreeUp

www.freeup.co.nz

Superhome Movement

www.superhome.co.nz

Futurewood

www.futurewood.nz

The Trades Coach

www.tradescoach.co.nz

GCH Aviation Ltd

www.gchaviation.com

Tile Space

www.tiles.co.nz

Green Light Escrow

www.greenlightescrow.co.nz

Viking Roofspec

www.vikingroofspec.co.nz

GTEE.co.nz

www.gtee.co.nz

Warmup NZ Ltd

www.warmup.co.nz

Harvey Norman Commercial

www.harveynormancommercial.co.nz

YourQS Ltd

www.yourqs.co.nz

73

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