NZCB InHouse magazine February/March 2022

The official magazine of New Zealand Certified Builders Association

NZCB AGM, Conference and Expo 2022 Pg 18

H1 Building Code updates Pg 40

What is – and what isn’t – a variation?

Pg 54

February/March 2022

COVID-19: working under the new Traffic Light System Pages 32–35

Metroview balustrades offer a range of elegant frameless glass solutions that are fully tested and compliant to the New Zealand Building Code and come with a 10-year warranty.

Metroview solutions are suitable for decks, balconies, staircases, or pool fences. Providing safety and security without compromising your views.

Designed & Tested for New Zealand Conditions

10 Year Warranty

The Metroview range can be installed onto timber, steel, and concrete, with solutions for both face and base fixing Metroview PS1's for your location are readily available providing a NZ Building Durable & Long Lasting Fittings, Code pathway to compliance. Metro’s expert glaziers ensure a quality with Toughened Safety Glass, or Toughened Laminated safety Glass, installation to the highest standards nationwide.

Metroview® Channel •

Can achieve a “floating” look by recessing into the cladding.

•

Allows wider panel spans which make for clean viewing lines.

Metroview® Point Fix •

Unobstructed views with its side fixing detail.

•

Ideal for external balconies and staircases, as well as internal stairs and landings.

•

Architecturally styled fittings make for a sleek exterior finish.

Metroview® Mini-Post •

Sleek post design provides both strength and a modern, minimalist aesthetic.

•

Easy to maintain and effective in wet environments where drainage is required.

Contents HEALTH, SAFETY AND WELLNESS

FROM NZCB Message from the NZCB Board

2

Being an NZCB member is good for business

3

Chief Executive resigns

4

Board Bites

4

Message from our Chief Executive

6

On-the-job learning LBP workshops 2022

7

Message from our Education and Technical Manager

8

How is the NZCB advertising levy spent?

10

Putting our partners in the spotlight

12

Choosing the right small business insurance broker

14

Submissions open for REVERE Volume 6!

15

Congratulations on 10 years of service

16

NZCB welcomes new employment law helpline

16

NZCB AGM, Conference and Expo 2022

18

Application process for Spec Builds and Multi Unit Applications

22

Meet the NZCB Team

24

NZCB Affinity Partners

64

NZCB National Partners

65

29 30 32

IN THE KNOW Product substitution guidance The hidden danger of project delays H1 Building Code updates Case studies: Why you should use them, and how to get started Making 2022 the year you nail your finances Workplace law update for the year ahead

36 38 40

Dream, plan, do, be – unicorns and tiaras Tight summer ahead but the end is in sight Making our buildings more energy efficient A certification scheme for precast concrete What is – and what isn’t – a variation?

Build efficiency with Digital Boost

48 50 52 53 54 56

42 44 46

NEXT GENERATION

AROUND THE REGIONS Waikato/Coromandel raise $3000 for IDFNZ

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Nelson Bays donate $3905 to Gumboot Friday Campaign

27

Otago members wind down for Christmas

27

Events Calendar

28

Thanks to our NZCB Strategic Partners

Project Plus: the power in your subbies’ hands Positive workplace culture brings financial gains COVID-19: working under the new Traffic Light System

ITAB Apprentice Completions Applications for the 2022 NZCB Apprentice Challenge are now open!

Message from the AST Trust

58 59 60

TECH TIPS Marmox makes light work of insulating and waterproofing GIB® Plasterboard Composting Guidelines

61 62

Find NZCB on

Contact: 10 Marsh Street, Tauranga 3110 PO Box 13405, Tauranga Central, Tauranga 3141 Phone: 07 927 7720 Freephone: 0800 CERTIFIED Fax: 07 927 7721 www.nzcb.nz Print ISSN 2463-3305 Online ISSN 2703-2418

InHouse is the official bi-monthly magazine of New Zealand Certified Builders Association. We’re always on the lookout for interesting stories or build projects that NZCB members have been a part of! To share your story with us please contact Linda. Alternatively, if you are interested in advertising in the InHouse magazine, we have a range of opportunities available to suit every budget.

Linda Moody INHOUSE EDITOR linda@nzcb.nz | 07 557 9214

FROM NZCB —

Nick Farrelly NZCB Board Vice Chairperson

What a time to be a builder!

Not only are we battling material shortages, COVID-19, and changing lockdown levels we also need to run a business that is profitable and hold onto staff at the most trying of times.

As a business owner the buck stops with you. You are responsible for the continuous development of your staff to aid in productivity, quality, professionalism, reputation, and for the longevity of the industry. Keeping employees engaged and showing them a career pathway within your business is important in today’s environment.

When I was an apprentice, my boss sacked me as soon as I was qualified. He told me to come back in a year’s time, otherwise I would always remain the “apprentice”.

Attitudes have changed a lot since then and so have working environments. I recall finishing my three-month trial period and sitting in the boss’s office where he asked, “Where do you see yourself in 10 years?” As a very youthful apprentice on trial, I responded with “in your chair”. I was promptly informed that the only way I would get there would be if he died, or a plague wiped out the other builders above me. If only he could see me now, and what has happened on the plague front.

Creating a pathway to success As employers, we create a career pathway for our crews.

We take on apprentices and show them how they can move from journeyman to carpenter to licensed building practitioner (LBP) and site foreman. The reason we have this pathway is that very few of us in the industry have what it takes to succeed. As a small business in construction, and as an employer, you not only need to be a good carpenter, but you also need to understand business and everyone else’s trade.

That way, you can solve complex problems under pressure and ensure a successful outcome.

When you have the business model set up, key support around you, the complex set of building skills on board, and the necessary tools and equipment to do the job, along comes the homeowner/client.

I have had many builders over the years tell a homeowner their thoughts on how they would have done the job, asking them what the architect was thinking with the design, and that they could have saved them thousands. This “throwaway” comment (said as he packs up his gear and leaves site) causes a whole lot of damage. Late night phone calls and emails for the business owner, not to mention the stress on the homeowner, who’s undergoing a project that’s often the biggest investment of their lives. (I bet a lot of you reading this are now nodding, grinning, and know exactly what I am talking about.)

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This kind of situation can be avoided by providing a pathway and training for staff. We need to get our employees in front of clients, sub trades, and architects early on to expose them to the different levels of complexity within our industry. It’s not just about turning up to site each day and banging in nails!

We need our future people to step up and take the opportunities presented to them and have the drive to push further.

Always learning My father’s advice early on in life was “Son, you either learn from education in the classroom or from life experiences.”

I never went to university and learned my fair share of life’s experiences the hard way. I know I do not stand alone on that front.

We need our future people to step up and take the opportunities presented to them and have the drive to push further.

Today’s environment provides so many more growth opportunities for builders. These opportunities are supported by education available on various platforms and e-tools online, a buoyant building market, and support from New Zealand Certified Builders (NZCB). NZCB provides business support and a countrywide network of like-minded small business owners and industry contacts with shared experiences.

I am an inaugural member of NZCB. I wonder if NZCB had been around at the time I started out in business, fresh out of my apprenticeship, some of my hardships could have been avoided. But I would not change my journey because it has made me who I am today.

It is important for business owners and employers of staff to have their own vision and pathway. The after-hours networking, attending seminars, conferences, trade evenings, and supplier product information events are all avenues for growth. From NZCB Auckland Committee Member to NZCB President Auckland to Vice Chairperson of the NZCB Board, I too am continuing to challenge myself while following the industry pathway.

FROM NZCB —

Being an NZCB member is good for business We’re the only builders association in New Zealand with strict entry criteria where the minimum entry requirement for all members is a recognised industry trade qualification in carpentry.

You’ll save time, money and stress

Get your voice heard

We give you access to a range of support to help you with your business including: • Halo 10-Year Residential Guarantee, specific to our members via Halo Guarantees Limited • Access to specialised insurance brokers • A range of home plans via our Certified Plans • Free helplines to contact industry experts for advice • Help finding new staff through our Employment Centre • Business templates to improve your efficiency • Advertising options in our REVERE magazine, distributed nationwide • Employee Assistance Programme for you and your staff

As your building industry spokesperson, we sit on a number of national boards and industry groups, including: • Building & Construction Industry Training Organisation • Building Research Association of NZ • Building Research Advisory Council • Construction Industry Council • Construction Safety Council • Construction Strategy Group • Sector reference groups created by the Ministry of Business, Innovation & Employment (MBIE)

Members’ only Toolshed website

As an approved NZCB builder, you’ll also get exclusive deals and discounts on a range of products and services, some of which you can pass on to your clients.

Access our great range of building merchandise and equipment online via your own members’ only Toolshed website. Resources include: • Building contracts to complete online, download and email to your clients • Notice of Variation • Disclosure Statement • Employment agreements to suit your staffing needs • Employer’s guide to the construction industry • Online shop for clothing, footwear, business stationery and more • Access to NZCB logos • Regional and National event calendars • ‘Find Your Builder’ regional search engine

Grow your skills Keep up-to-date with best industry practice with the following professional development opportunities: • Free copies of InHouse magazine – our official publication • Regular and informative email newsletters, including; deals and discounts, education and training and industry updates • Access to training videos, vlogs, podcasts and webinars • Building Trade Professional seminars held around New Zealand several times a year • Regulations updates • Annual Conference and Expo with expert workshops and keynote speakers

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Deals and discounts

Save time and money with cheaper vehicle support, fuel, appliances, mobile and broadband plans, technology, site safety, building publications, office stationery, tyres and more.

Free helplines In need of help or advice and not sure who to talk to?

NZCB has a network of experts in their fields ready to help, offering support, advice, and information as you need it: Business Legal 20 minutes of legal advice on building contracts and any issue affecting your business.

Building Contracts 20 minutes of practical advice around contractual issues, payments, subcontracts and variations.

Employment Law 15 minutes of advice on any employment related issues.

Insurance Related For advice on any insurance related questions.

Health and Safety 30 minutes of advice on Health and Safety.

Health and Wellbeing 3 x free counselling sessions with an experienced professional, for you and your staff.

Technology Advisor 15 minutes of advice on getting the best tech for your business.

For more information on any of the above services, log on to the members’ only Toolshed www.nzcb.nz or give the National Support Office a call on 0800 237 843.

FROM NZCB —

Ian Chamberlain NZCB Board Chairperson

Chief Executive resigns I regret to advise you that New Zealand Certified Builders (NZCB) Chief Executive, Grant Florence, has resigned as Chief Executive of the Association, effective as of 11th March 2022.

Grant joined the team at the NZCB National Support Office (NSO) on the 5th of December 2011 bringing with him a wealth of knowledge, having been involved in the building and construction industry for over 20 years.

Over the past 10 years, Grant faced many challenges and has seen many changes within our industry. At all times, Grant rose to the challenge and had the Associations best interests at heart. Grant guided his team at NSO along with contributing to the wider building sector and all of which, has been widely recognised and appreciated.

A strategic thinker, Grant brought a thoughtful, considered view to our NZCB Board discussions.

Grant has also been instrumental in the foundation and development of many successful initiatives for the Association. Some of which include, rebranding the Association, orchestrating a new purpose-built premise for the NSO, facilitating an architecturally designed range of house plans known as Certified Plans and launching REVERE, a members’ only celebratory magazine. In addition, Grant created and implemented the Halo 10-Year Residential Guarantee and Halo Guarantees Limited.

Working hard to ensure NZCB has remained current and relevant for our members, Grant has been able to flex with the times and has always achieved the desired result.

Together with his NSO team, he has increased and sustained membership numbers. Grant’s knowledge of the building sector has helped inform and influence Government officials, Ministers, Councils/Building Consent Authorities, and many more ensuring our voice was heard on various topical issues.

Grant will be sadly missed, and I hope he retains his connection with the building sector as he has indicated he would like to do.

On behalf of the NZCB Board we wish Grant all the best!

Board Bites Here is an update on the advocacy work the NZCB Board has been doing lately.

Construction sector leaders’ perspective on the impacts of COVID-19 Meeting with Minister of Energy and Resources of New Zealand, Hon. Megan Woods 21 November 2021, Auckland Eleven Chief Executive Officers/Chief Executive representatives of construction companies, Construction Health and Safety New Zealand (CHASNZ) and Construction Sector Accord attended a meeting to discuss how well the construction industry has performed under

Alert Level 3 lockdown. Minister Woods said we were the poster child of “how to work with COVID-19” across all industries. Minister Woods was very aware of the importance of having a business-to-business strategy in place that is consistent and practicable to use under the new traffic light system. The government will assist businesses with tools to step through the new traffic light system.

Nick Farrelly, NZCB Board Vice Chairperson

Auckland Council Customer Advisory Group Meeting 25 November 2021 | Online via MS Teams I was asked to attend and present at the Auckland Council Customer Advisory Group Meeting on the impact COVID-19 is having on our industry and members.

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The council also presented on recent findings from its inspections and areas of concern.

Nick Farrelly, NZCB Board Vice Chairperson

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FROM NZCB —

Grant Florence Chief Executive

Message from our Chief Executive The impact and management of the Coronavirus pandemic continues to dominate our daily lives here in New Zealand. Despite attempts by many of us to try and work to a new world norm, this often is just not the case as the impacts of the virus continue to evolve in different shapes and places.

The building materials supply situation is a great example.

If we cast our minds back to February 2020, who would have thought that we would be facing this complexity and daily disruption to our projects, especially the impact on global supply chains on imported building materials. I for one did not see this coming.

COVID-19 has also had a significant impact on locally manufactured products. Manufacturers, many of who are Auckland based, have been faced with manufacturing plant closedowns that have delayed the supply of goods, some of which may take many months to recover. And this is on top of the skyrocketing demand they are seeing, due to record consent and building activity. Some are reporting increases of 30% on past record highs.

From the view of many experts unfortunately this is not a short-term issue and an issue that will take many, many months before we get back to normality.

A reminder that NZCB provides all members a set of helplines that you can access to discuss your situation in complete confidence with experts in their specific fields.

With the price rises that we have witnessed over the past few months, it will be interesting what results and recommendations come from the study with this pricing activity as a backdrop. I will be particularly interested to see if any outcomes are shaded by the abnormal times, we are currently working in.

NZCB will of course be fully engaged with the Commerce Commission on the study over the coming months.

The situation regarding vaccination for COVID-19 and employment conditions is a very rapid moving situation at present with the “legal and best practice ground” on this topic moving often and fast. I would encourage members to keep an eye out for the regular updates that are sent out by my team here at the New Zealand Certified Builders (NZCB) National Support Office (NSO).

Market Study into Residential Building Supplies The Government has recently announced a Market Study by the Commerce Commission into Residential Building Supplies. The intention to commission this market study was signalled by the Government during the 2020 general election. The study follows on from the last market study into Supermarkets and it is due to be completed by December 2022. The brief provided by the Government was to consider: • Industry structure for key building supplies • Nature of competition for key building supplies, including industry pricing practices or acquisition requirements that impact on competition • Impediments to the entry or expansion of new or innovative building supplies The major components for residential building have been stated as being foundation, flooring, roof, walls (Structural and non-structural interior and exterior) and insulation.

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NZCB Services A reminder that NZCB provides all members a set of helplines that you can access (mainly free of charge) to discuss your situation in complete confidence with experts in their specific fields. In particular, Employment Law specialists Copeland Ashcroft Workplace Lawyers, for any employment related issues and Health and Wellbeing specialists, EAP Services, who offer wellness programmes in the workplace and counselling services for you and your staff. Both are very valuable in these unusual times and I would encourage all members to use these support lines. Contact details for both can be found under the ‘Free Helplines’ section of the NZCB members’ only Toolshed: www.nzcb.nz or give the NZCB NSO a call on 0800 237 843.

The relaunched Halo 10-Year Residential Guarantee continues to be well accepted by both our members and their homeowners. I hope you have taken advantage of this relaunched guarantee product and offering it to your homeowners as part of your trust and service package.

Till next time.

Proudly sponsored by

On-the-job learning LBP workshops 2022

D E ON

N O G SO

N P I M ST CO

New Zealand Certified Builders (NZCB) is dedicated to providing their members with continuous learning material and recognises that the ‘on-the-job learning’ component of Licensed Building Practitioner (LBP) licensing, can often be difficult to achieve.

O P

Session times:

Morning

8:00am to 12:00pm

Afternoon

12:30pm to 4:30pm

CITY

DATE

VENUE

To assist our members to fulfil these obligations, NZCB in conjunction with ITM has put together a series of workshops to be presented in seven locations nationwide during the months of February and March 2022.

CHRISTCHURCH

Wed 9th Feb

Addington Raceway & Event Centre

QUEENSTOWN

Fri 11th Feb

QT Hotel

Attendees will have the opportunity to choose from either a morning or afternoon session. Each session will include three one-hour workshops and an additional one hour to network with 15 trade industry experts who will be there displaying their products and services. The presentations will include speakers from GIB®, Metro Performance Glass and Pink® Batts®.

WHANGAREI

Tue 15th Feb

Seminoff Stadium

AUCKLAND

Thu 17th Feb

Alexandra Park Raceway

HAMILTON

Tue 22nd Feb

Te Rapa Waikato Racing Club

TAURANGA

Thu 24th Feb

Trustpower Baypark

WELLINGTON

Tue 1st Mar

Lower Hutt Event Centre

As part of the LBP requirements, members need to produce at least two examples of ‘on-the-job learning’ for their license class over a two-year skills maintenance period. Each example should describe something new which has been learnt ‘on-the-job’.

NE

S E AT D W

With the transition to the COVID-19 Protection Framework (traffic light system) on 3 December 2021, all guests 12 years and above who will be attending the On-The-Job Learning Workshops will need to be fully vaccinated and present a current vaccine pass to enter the premises. This is at the request of the venues and is a requirement at all seven locations.

You MUST register to attend these workshops.

For more information and to register check out the Events Calendar on the members’ only Toolshed at www.nzcb.nz

FREE

to attend

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EARN

4

LBP POINTS

FROM NZCB —

Shane Ririnui Education and Technical Manager

Welcome back!

I hope everyone has had a well-deserved rest and batteries are fully charged ready for the year ahead.

This year is going to be a humdinger, with a lot of change coming our way. Hopefully we will see some easing of the COVID-19 effects on the building industry regarding supply constraints. Working in the building industry with COVID-19 and the challenges it brings may become the “new norm”, which means we will need to learn how to work with COVID-19 and its challenges, if we haven’t done so already.

Business Management

For builders and business owners, here are a few things to consider:

• Make sure all staff understand the COVID-19 Protection Framework (Traffic Light System).

Operational • Ensure you and your employees understand and practice COVID-19 health and safety protocols on building sites and when undertaking work-related errands.

• Undertake health and safety assessments for each building site, ensuring COVID-19 protocols can be practiced by everyone who visits the building site and to ensure any risk is identified and managed.

• Maintain a healthy relationship with your merchants and suppliers, communicating regularly so you can manage your build schedule, identify delays, communicate these to your client, and reallocate staff and labour.

• Ensure you explain in detail how the business will operate in each colour (if you haven’t done so already).

• Discuss the COVID-19 Protection Framework (Traffic Light System) with clients and confirm how your business will operate under each level. This will build customer confidence in the event of regional colour changes.

• If you are using New Zealand Certified Builders (NZCB) Building Contracts, explain how the contract responds to price increases and delays due to COVID-19 constraints.

Or even better, print off the COVID-19 Contract Clause Addendum letter with the contract and give it to your client.

• Regularly monitor your team’s mental wellbeing as a result of having to work under the COVID-19 protection framework protocols.

As I engage and talk to builders about how they are going, the underlying response is that they are all stretched by the additional COVID-19 challenges. My advice to members is to stay resilient, nimble, and follow the guidance from the Government. If changes are made to the COVID-19 protection framework, embrace it, understand it, and implement it into your business.

The most important takeaway is to keep communication lines open with clients and staff as this will help tackle the challenges COVID-19 brings.

If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to give me a call on 0800 237 843 ext 7220 or email shane@nzcb.nz. Alternatively, here are some useful COVID-19 resources: • Join the NZCB closed Facebook group: www.facebook.com/groups/CBANZ • Visit the dedicated COVID-19 section of the NZCB members’ only Toolshed: www.nzcb.nz/members/covid-19-health-safety/ (Toolshed login required) • Get advice and support from the NZCB National Support Office: 0800 237 843 • Any advocacy questions can be sent to NZCB Chief Executive Grant Florence: grant@nzcb.nz Nga mihi.

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NZCB MEMBERS

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ON CAR, VAN AND 4WD TYRES

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enquiry@carterstyres.co.nz

FROM NZCB —

How is the NZCB advertising levy spent?

The results from the New Zealand Certified Builders (NZCB) membership survey in October 2021 showed us you would like to see more local advertising. So far, most of the budget is spent on digital advertising on Facebook, Instagram, and Google.

Taking your feedback on board, we’ve investigated local newspaper options in our main 22 regions. Our findings concluded that if we transferred the current 12-month advertising spend from digital to print, we would only get three months of advertising reach to homeowners. Newspaper advertising is now far too expensive and not a viable option for the advertising levy spend.

Therefore, we will continue with our digital strategy, which has tracking that shows us how many homeowners view our advertisements and where the leads are coming from.

Google tells us a lot about our homeowners and Facebook tells us even more!

A breakdown of the advertising plan for the year ahead Digital advertising In June 2021, we launched our new ‘Special’ campaign digitally and in glossy print (see opposite advert for the creative).

So far, our new digital advert has been a huge success in driving traffic to our NZCB website and increasing brand awareness among our homeowner audience.

We will continue placing your organic content on social media (Facebook and Instagram), Google Adwords, Programmatic Display, and Video On-Demand to raise awareness and drive traffic to the NZCB website.

Your monthly contributions (organic content) are a key component for our digital campaign, so please keep sending us photos of your completed projects. We always need more photos because we place fresh content online every 4-5 days.

We also use all contributions from NZCB’s Revere Magazine.

Each Revere project gets one month of exposure on Facebook and Instagram, so it is definitely worth your while getting your special projects featured in here.

Print media – external NZCB advertises in two leading homeowner targeted magazines – homestyle and NZ House & Garden, as well as supporting industry BRANZ publication, BUILD Magazine, to target the building industry.

The latest market research from homestyle magazine indicates that magazines online and in print continue to dominate homeowner inspiration for new builds, additions, and alterations. Print media is predominately a female audience (67%, stats 2021). NZCB has a special relationship with homestyle, having supported this publication for many years. Our own publication Revere Magazine is inserted with homestyle and sent to all subscribers on the release of each issue (over 3,000 copies sent nationally).

NZ House & Garden is the authority publication on interiors, homes, and gardens in New Zealand. Owned by Stuff.co.nz, this publication has an impressive readership of 393,000 with a core demographic of affluent homeowners aged 35+. NZCB receives additional free exposure for the brand through Stuff’s printed and online titles nationally. The NZCB monthly online articles (blogs) get re-circulated by Stuff at no additional cost.

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Karla Farrar General Manager – Marketing and Services

Public relations SweeneyVesty provides NZCB with public relations services primarily around the NZCB Conference and covers the regional exposure for all the NZCB Apprentice Challenge events from regionals to the final. We will continue with this strategy for 2022 after the highly successful campaign of 2021, which produced over 150 articles published nationwide both digital and in print.

BUILD is New Zealand’s premier building industry magazine, with a circulation of 33,575. As well as being sent to all subscribers, BUILD is sent to all NZCB members.

Print media – internal NZCB launched Revere Magazine in 2018. Revere is produced annually and distributed nationally. The purpose is to showcase some of New Zealand’s most inspiring homes built by NZCB members to the homeowner target audience. As well as in print, Revere is available digitally via Houzz NZ and Issuu, as well as providing key content monthly for the NZCB ‘Always-On’ digital strategy.

Other allocated advertising levy budget • Website maintenance for the online ‘Find A Builder’ function, which plays a key part in all our advertising’s call to action • Promotional items/giveaways at regional events, as well as brochures and signage.

If you have a completed project you would like to submit towards NZCB advertising, please email karla@nzcb.nz.

FROM NZCB —

Putting our partners in the spotlight New Zealand Certified Builders (NZCB) is proud to partner with a wide range of companies with multiple branches nationwide. These companies have aligned with the Association to provide significant support to our members and have the option to engage with them across a wide range of opportunities. Known to the Association as “National Partners” we are delighted to tell you a little bit more about two of them.

Introducing Red Stag Timber

Introducing ASSA ABLOY Open Solutions New Zealand

Red Stag Timber is an independent, privately owned timber company, based in Rotorua. It is currently New Zealand’s largest sawmill, focussing on producing high-quality timber products for the residential construction markets in New Zealand, Australia, and the Pacific Island.

The ASSA ABLOY Group is the global leader in access solutions. Every day, we help billions of people experience a more open world.

Builders want a superior grade of structural timber that reduces rework, cuts wastage and provides an exceptional finished job for their customers. Red Stag Timber understand the needs of builders and over the past 16 years have established the largest and most technically advanced structural sawmill in the southern hemisphere to provide high quality structural and landscaping timber to precisely meet these exacting requirements.

Red Stag Timber products are available through leading builders merchant chains.

For more information visit our website: www.redstagtimber.co.nz

ASSA ABLOY Opening Solutions leads the development within door openings and products for access solutions in homes, businesses, and institutions. Our offering includes doors, door and window hardware, mechanical and smart locks, access control and service.

Here in New Zealand, we specialise in customised door and window products, with a full manufacturing facility on-site at our head office on Auckland’s North Shore, and 250 employees nationwide.

Our strength lies in our brands, which include some of the best-known and most trusted names in security, including Lockwood, Henderson, and Yale. Each of our brands complements the others with their different strengths, allowing us to offer tailored solutions for any project.

For more information visit our website: www.assaabloy.co.nz or call 09 448 9188.

A full list of NZCB National Partners can be found on page 65 of this issue of InHouse or on the members’ only Toolshed under Our Partners.

FROM NZCB —

Choosing the right small business insurance broker Owning a small business requires a lot of attention to detail. You’re responsible for your livelihood and the livelihoods of your employees, so there’s a lot of pressure and incentive to make sure you’re covered for every eventuality.

But how do you know which insurance broker is right for your business?

Six hallmarks of the right insurance broker: 1. Expertise. The right insurance broker will have proven expertise and a track record of success working with companies in your industry.

2. Relationships. A strong insurance broker will have existing relationships with the right insurance providers for your business. This will help them negotiate the best policy for you and it will also help streamline the process if you need to make a claim.

Most small business owners are well aware that this includes insuring the business against adverse events as well as diligently managing the risks inside the business to minimise the chances of an incident occurring.

However, knowing that insurance and risk management are important, and having the know-how and resources to get it right are two different things.

The value of an expert Many small business owners treat insurance as a box to be ticked. They know they need insurance, so they do a basic comparison of insurance providers and, generally, choose the policy that looks the most affordable.

Unfortunately, this can be a recipe for disaster. This approach can often mean that the business is under-insured, leaving the owner out of pocket if an incident does occur.

Most small business owners are experts in their own fields but are seldom experts in small business insurance. With the vast amount of information available online these days, most owners can at least get a sense of the types of insurance they need, and start to investigate the different policies available to them.

However, this approach overlooks the crucial benefits that can be provided by a professional insurance broker and risk advisor.

A professional insurance broker can walk you through the fine print on the different policies available and help you understand which one is right for you. They can also unlock insurance products that are only available through brokers.

And, importantly, they can help you manage the claims process from beginning to end, giving you a much higher chance of a positive outcome.

3. Understanding. Your insurance broker should understand your business including your unique challenges and risks.

They should take the time to get to know your organisation so they can make the most effective recommendations.

4. Approach. Some insurance brokers are just looking to sell insurance products. The right insurance broker will work with you as a risk management consultant, helping you to identify the risks in your business and act to mitigate them, and where possible, insure against them.

5. Availability. The right insurance broker will be there for you when you need them. That means they’ll take your calls and respond to your emails in a timely fashion, not leave you hanging. If you find it consistently impossible to get your insurance provider on the phone, it could be because they have too many clients, can’t manage their time well, or simply don’t have time for you.

6. Reliability. Your insurance broker needs to do what they say they’re going to do. They should send through documents and information when they say they will, and follow up before any deadlines to keep processes on track.

To find out how a NZbrokers member can help you manage risk in your business, give the team a BrokerWeb Risk Service Limited a call today: 0800 644 444.

REDi Builders’ Insurance is administered by BrokerWeb Risk Services Limited and is exclusive to NZCB members. BrokerWeb Risk Services also operate the NZCB members’ only, Insurance helpline and can be contacted on redi@bwrs.co.nz or 0800 644 444.

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Submissions open for REVERE Volume 6!

6

Built by Atrium Homes Limited

REVERE

7

Fan-tastic result Tauranga | Bay of Plenty

The journey to building this unconventional Bay of Plenty home was paved with cedar, schist, and curved, laminated beams. Three distinctive roof planes overlap to form three fans, creating bends and interesting angles throughout the house.

Builder Allan Shaw of Atrium Homes says you will not find a right angle anywhere but the garages.

“There are cavity sliders sitting in a curved wall, which is amazing. The wooden support beams were up to 21 metres long. We made it work through multiple calculations and careful planning.”

“It is a home of exceptional design and quality. We cannot believe our good luck.”

Solid oak parquet flooring throughout the open plan layout, with radial inlays to accentuate the curved floor-plate, exemplify the quality of materials and craftsmanship of the home.

At 375m², the home is big enough to entertain guests while providing a homely atmosphere for its owners. Allan says it is immediately welcoming.

“You open the door and look straight through the hall and living spaces and out to the view. The water is just 50 metres from the house.”

Keith and Brenda can now relax and enjoy what Allan’s team has masterfully created from Kelvin’s design.

“We love the place,” says Keith. “When we wake in the morning and open the curtains to a huge, sweeping view of the Tauranga Harbour, we get a real sense of ‘wow’. It is a home of exceptional design and quality.

We cannot believe our good luck.”

NZCB Member

⁄ Allan Shaw

allan@atriumhomes.co.nz

New Zealand Certified Builders (NZCB) are excited to announce that submissions for REVERE Volume Six are now open!

Homeowners Keith and Brenda enlisted architect Kelvin Peck to design a modern home that capitalised on its perch above the shimmering waters of Tauranga Harbour.

Kelvin says the clients sought an interesting roof-form that would extend to the interior. “They wanted to make the most of the site because it is a beautiful location.”

The intricate design work and precise execution involved have paid off handsomely. The roof is angled to let sunlight and full moon reflections into the internal spaces of the house, creating elements of surprise and delight. The spectacular cantilevered fan over the deck provides shade in the summer, but warming sunshine floods the deck in winter, allowing the owners to enjoy year-round indoor/outdoor living.

Designed and published by NZCB, Revere magazine celebrates and displays some of New Zealand’s most inspiring homes built by NZCB members.

How does it work?

A great sales tool Revere is a magazine to be proud of as well as a great sales tool. Those members that successfully contribute to Revere will each receive 20 complimentary copies per submission along with a digital file of all professional photographs taken, an electronic copy of their article(s) and, also become eligible to use the ‘Revere Accredited’ logo.

Revere Accredited logo To add to the value and excitement of Revere, all members that contribute to this magazine will have access to the ‘Revere Accredited’ logo.

This gold standard logo is available to current and past contributors of Revere further promoting recognition of our members involvement in this magazine, in honour of their craftsmanship, work ethic and quality as some of the industry’s best in the business. The Revere logo can be included on all company collateral including your vehicles to further promote the members business.

We make it easy for you! All you need to do is complete an application form and submit it to Julie at the National Support Office. Julie will organise a professional copywriter to write an article about your project and a professional photographer to come to site to complete the photography.

Your investment Such a publication is a large financial undertaking and does require some financial support from those NZCB members submitting successful material along with a limited number of merchants/national partners that may also contribute to the magazine.

A two-page submission is $1500+gst and four pages $2750+gst.

For more information or an application form please contact Julie at the National Support Office:

julie@nzcb.nz or 0800 237 843 ext 7227.

0800 BUILD

Distribution Distribution of Revere is far and wide to our target audience, the homeowner. Over 10,000 printed copies are circulated nationwide to our members, partners, Air New Zealand Koru lounges, architects, lawyers, various media outlets and offices of influence as well as with various other magazines. It is also electronically posted onto the well-known websites, Houzz and Issuu, reaching over 200,000 people.

Joe Builder DIRECTOR

ph 021 123 4567 joe@creativebuild.co.nx www.creativebuild.co.nz

15

REGISTR ATION OF PLEASE COMPLET INTEREST FOR RE E YOUR DETAILS VERE BELOW:

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FROM NZCB —

Congratulations on 10 years of service 5th December 2011 – 11th March 2022 A big thank you to New Zealand Certified Builders (NZCB) Chief Executive, Grant Florence, for 10 years of service at NZCB. You are a true testimony of your dedication to the Association and are truly valued for your contributions.

Key Milestones achieved: 2014 – Certified Plans launched 2015 – Halo Insurance launched 2016 – NZCB new brand launched 2017 – New purpose-built National Support Office building 2018 – REVERE Magazine launched 2020 – Halo Guarantees Limited launched

Your innovative vision for the NZCB Association has not only lifted the professionalism but has paved the way for the Association to grow and prosper.

Thank you for supporting NZCB and the Association – we take pride in your many accomplishments.

NZCB welcomes new employment law helpline In late 2021, New Zealand Certified Builders (NZCB) preferred employment lawyers, Trudy Marshall and Danny Jacobson of Employment Lawyers Tauranga informed us they would be moving on from employment law and pursuing a different path.

Trudy and Danny have worked alongside the Association since 2008, supporting our members with advice as part of the NZCB Employment Helpline. We wish them both all the best with their new adventure.

To ensure our members have continued help and support when they need it, for employment related issues the Association has appointed Copeland Ashcroft Workplace Lawyers.

Copeland Ashcroft Workplace Lawyers provide specialist advice, representation and support across employment, health and safety and immigration law matters, to businesses throughout New Zealand.

Who are Copeland Ashcroft Workplace Lawyers?

Why us? Put simply, as workplace law specialists, we know our stuff. That means we efficiently assist you with pragmatic and specific advice, to suit your needs. We know what works, and we partner with you to achieve the results you want, so you can get on with business.

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We hold memberships with the New Zealand Law Society, our local Chambers of Commerce, the Human Resources Institute of New Zealand, and the Institute of Directors.

We embrace collaboration and where needed, work with other specialist providers and insurers, to deliver the services you need.

Copeland Ashcroft operates from offices in Invercargill, Dunedin, Queenstown, Auckland, Tauranga and Hawke’s Bay, servicing clients nationwide. Partners Janet Copeland, Kate Ashcroft, Naoimh McAllister and Myriam Mitchell, together with the firm’s team of solicitors can assist with all workplace law matters.

For a 15-minute free consultation, NZCB members can call 0800 354 821 – make sure you have your NZCB membership number handy to identify yourself as a member.

You can also find a raft of resources on our website at www.copelandashcroft.co.nz, from articles on legal updates to e-resources covering a range of workplace law topics.

FROM NZCB —

NZCB AGM, Conference and Expo 2022 Resilience and Recovery 2021 was quite a year. The building industry has been left reeling from the effects of COVID-19. Mainly due to timber shortages, material supply issues, and labour shortages. Climate change also caused major havoc for builders and can’t be ignored. With most building work initially suspended under alert level 4, building companies have struggled to manage cash flow, retain staff, and remain viable.

There is some light at the end of the tunnel with strong consumer demand for alterations, additions, and new home builds. Resent research of our members suggests this growth will remain constant for the next 12 months.

Moving forward, the building industry boom will start to slow down and there will be a need for more resilience as we learn to live with the effects of COVID-19. How will we do this? By showing strong leadership, looking after our staff wellbeing, keeping communication lines open, helping each other, and learning from our past experiences.

With this in mind, the theme for the 2022 New Zealand Certified Builders (NZCB) Conference and Expo is Resilience and Recovery. This will be an invaluable opportunity for you to network with trade industry experts and like-minded builders/members in a face-to-face and casual setting, while ensuring you and your staff are up-to-date with the continual changes within the building and construction industry.

19th to 21st May 2022 Claudelands Events Centre Hamilton

Factory Tour Thursday 19th May | 9:30am to 4:00pm Only 100 spaces available The popular Thursday Factory Tour returns with two exciting stops. Join us for an educational tour with a little fun along the way. The tour will depart the Claudelands Events Centre at 9.30am sharp for APL Window Solutions.

At APL Window Solutions your tour will include visits to INEX, Anodising/Thermal, PPL (design and innovation), Colourworks (powdercoating) and APL Window Solutions itself. This stop will also include morning tea and lunch.

From APL Window Solutions you will be picked up and taken to Good George Brewery.

After the Good George Brewery, you will be returned to the Claudelands Events Centre by 4:00pm.

PLEASE NOTE: Factory Tour locations are subject to change due to availability.

Dress code: Smart casual with closed in shoes

MC Friday 20th and Saturday 21st May | Ben Hurley We are excited to announce our MC for the duration of the Conference and Expo will be star of hit TV3 Show 7 Days – Ben Hurley.

Ben is one of the standout success stories of New Zealand comedy. Winner of all of the major comedy awards including the coveted Billy T Award, and the NZ Comedy Guild awards for Best Male Comedian and Best MC. One of the few Kiwi acts to be invited to perform on the prestigious Comedy Store TV show. Also, one of the stars of the UK Festival Circuit playing to thousands in the comedy tents at Reading and Leeds Festival, Bestival and Latitude.

Ben also starred alongside British comic, Andy Parsons, in a new BBC Radio for sitcom The Lost Blog of Scrooby Trevithick.

Ben has wowed audiences around the globe; including Switzerland, Dubai, Spain, Australia, Singapore and Bahrain.

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Annual General Meeting

Spouse/Partner High Tea

Friday 20th May | 8:00am to 10:00am Claudelands Events Centre

Friday 20th May | 10:30am to 2:45pm Zealong Tea Estate

The first official day of Conference will start with the 24th members’ only Annual General Meeting (AGM). This is a chance for you as a stakeholder to have your say in what is happening in the Association.

Will your spouse/partner be accompanying you but their unsure if they’d like to attend the Conference and Expo on Friday?

We’ve organised the ultimate high tea excursion at Zealong Tea Estate for them to enjoy.

Conference and Expo Friday 20th and Saturday 21st May | 10:30am to 5:00pm Claudelands Events Centre Friday 20th – following the AGM on the first official day of Conference will be an amazing line-up of keynote and educational speakers to get you thinking and motivated.

Our keynote speakers this year include Dr Lucy Hone, Adjunct Senior Professor at the University of Canterbury and Tony Alexander, economics speaker and writer. Dr Hone will speak on Sustainable High Performance: Going the distance and avoiding burnout and Tony will be speaking on the outlook for home building.

Saturday 21st – the second day of Conference is all about upskilling and educating you and your team on current and relevant industry topics. Whether you’re an individual member, business member, work on-site or behind the scenes in the office, our dedicated Workshop streams have something for everyone: • Stream one – Leadership. Executive level workshops to help you grow your business.

• Stream two – New to business. Designed to help you grow your business.

• Stream three – Apprentice. Hear from our key partners.

The Expo Area is open throughout the duration of the Conference and Expo on Friday 20th and Saturday 21st.

This year we have also added dedicated expo time on both days to allow you extra time to get around all the expo stands.

This is the perfect opportunity to catch up, stay up-to-speed, and meet face-to-face with the 100 industry-specific, trade partners ready to showcase their latest services and products.

Dress code: Smart casual

Zealong Tea Estate is widely regarded as a Waikato icon and is the only commercial tea estate in New Zealand offering serene views and producing 100% organic award-winning tea. The high tea will include a culinary experience with a thoughtfully crafted selection of savouries, sandwiches, sweets and beverages.

Attendees will be picked up at 10:30am from the Claudelands Events Centre and returned by 2:45pm.

Please Note: This tour is subject to change and maybe cancelled if a minimum number of 40 guests is not reached.

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NZCB AGM, Conference and Expo | Resilience and Recovery

Events and Functions Friday 20th May | 5:00pm to 6:00pm

Saturday 21st May | 7:00pm to midnight

Mitre 10 Great Apprentice Race and Happy Hour Claudelands Events Centre

ITM Awards Dinner Claudelands Events Centre

From 5pm on Friday 20th, join us for the Great Apprentice Race and Happy Hour.

Don’t miss the thrills and spills as the 2022 NZCB Apprentice Challenge Regional Finalists go head-to-head in the Great Apprentice Race. Support your region or favourite while enjoying nibbles and a beverage in this action-packed Happy Hour.

Dress code: Smart casual

With a Casino Royale/James Bond theme, we will be celebrating in style for the grand finale of the 2022 NZCB AGM, Conference and Expo, from 7pm at the ITM Awards Dinner on Saturday 21st.

Friday 20th May | 7:00pm to 9:00pm PlaceMakers Friday Night Mingler SkyCity Hamilton Casino This year our Friday Night Mingler will be held from 7pm at the SkyCity Hamilton Casino. The Friday Night Mingler is the most popular evening function and is attended by both trade partners and conference delegates.

Food stations and beverages will be available throughout the evening and entertainment will include the conclusion of an electronic silent auction to raise funds for the Apprentice Scholarship Trust (AST) and a ‘casino night’. We have organised for staff from the casino to teach attendees how to play blackjack or roulette – with fake money.

Dress code: Business attire

The Claudelands Events Centre will help us host a fanciful affair to celebrate and to announce the winners of the 2022 NZCB Apprentice Challenge sponsored by ITM. Join us for a three-course meal and let your hair down for the evening with one of Hamilton’s busiest professional cover bands The Monroes.

Dress code: Fancy dress or formal Theme: Casino Royale/James Bond NOTE: With the transition to the COVID-19 Protection Framework (traffic light system) on 3 December 2021, we need to inform you how this will impact the NZCB AGM, Conference and Expo.

All guests 12 years and above who will be attending the NZCB Conference and Expo, events and all evening functions will need to be fully vaccinated and present a current vaccine pass to enter the premises.

This is a requirement for all conference event locations and has been requested by the venues.

Register now! www.events.nzcb.nz

20

Accommodation Accommodation will fill up fast so we highly recommend you start looking now. To assist members, we have secured a number of hotel/motel rooms within the Hamilton and Cambridge areas (listed below).

To book a room, please quote: NZCB2022.

Hamilton Central accommodation

Cambridge accommodation

Ramada by Wyndham Hotel HHHH 20-minute walk to Claudelands 287 Victoria Street, Hamilton Phone: 07 839 4993 www.wyndhamhotels.com/ramada

Abbots Hamilton HHH 30-minute walk to Claudelands 222 Ulster Street, Hamilton Phone: 07 838 3299 www.abbotshamilton.co.nz

Hidden Lake Hotel HHHH 24-minute drive to Claudelands 34E Lake Street, Cambridge Phone: 07 282 1593 www.hiddenlakehotel.co.nz

Brooklyn Motor Lodge HHHH 8-minute walk to Claudelands 42 Brooklyn Road, Hamilton Phone: 07 855 0774 www.brooklynmotorlodge.co.nz

Mill Lodge HHH 27-minute walk to Claudelands 135 Ulster Street, Hamilton Phone: 07 838 1282 www.milllodge.nz

Kelly Road Lodge HHHH 21-minute drive to Claudelands 1 Kelly Road, Cambridge Phone: 07 282 0578 www.kellyrd.co.nz

Albert Court Motor Lodge HHHH 29-minute walk to Claudelands 29 Albert Street, Hamilton Phone: 07 929 4047 www.albertcourt.co.nz

Auto Lodge Motel HHHH 34-minute walk to Claudelands 298 Ulster Street, Hamilton Phone: 0800 524 232 www.autolodgemotel.co.nz

Podium Lodge HHH 21-minute drive to Claudelands 20 Peake Road, Cambridge Phone: 07 974 1710 www.podiumlodge.co.nz

Camelot On Ulster HHHH 30-minute walk to Claudelands 231 Ulster Street, Hamilton Phone: 0800 231 000 www.camelotonulster.co.nz

Novotel Hamilton Tainui HHHH 17-minute walk to Claudelands 7 Alma Street, Hamilton 07 838 1366 https://all.accor.com/hotel/2159/ index.en.shtml

Henley Hotel HHHHH 33-minute drive to Claudelands 151 Maungatautari Road, Cambridge Phone: 07 823 3421 www.thehenley.co.nz

Pricing

Quote

All costs below are excluding GST and are per person

NZCB2022

Thursday Factory Tour Includes transport and food.

$100.00

Registration (two days) Registration to attend both the Friday and Saturday of the Conference and Expo. Includes morning tea and lunch for both days.

$145.00

PlaceMakers Friday Night Mingler at SkyCity Hamilton Casino Includes drinks and canapés

$80.00

Don’t forget...

Saturday Night ITM Awards Dinner Includes drinks and a three-course meal

$110.00

Friday Partners Excursion Includes high tea, drinks and return bus to and from Claudelands Events Centre

$100.00

Conference is tax deductible!

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when booking your accommodation

FROM NZCB —

Gabby Surtees Administration & Customer Liaison Halo Guarantees Limited

Application process for Spec Builds and Multi Unit Applications

Whatever building projects you have lined up for 2022 and beyond, it’s important to understand the benefits and application process of the Halo Guarantee 10-Year Residential Guarantee.

Spec Builds

Multi-Unit Builds, Townhouses, and Duplexes

The Halo Guarantee 10-Year Residential Guarantee provides cover for any Spec or Builder-Owned Homes. However, the cover only commences once the property has been sold or the ownership of the property has been transferred to the new purchaser. Despite this, the Halo Guarantee Application must be submitted prior to the works commencing, which is standard for all Halo Guarantee Applications.

You’ll be pleased to know the Halo Guarantee provides cover for your Multi-Unit Builds, however the most common misconception is that only one Halo Guarantee Application is required. We actually require a Halo Guarantee Application for each individual dwelling. Even if there is only one Owner at the time of applying, these could potentially be sold down the line to separate owners. Not only this, in the event of a claim, each Unit will have a designated pool of money to draw on. In effect, the Halo Guarantee sits with the house and can be passed on from one owner to the next.

Halo Guarantees Limited deems a Spec Build as any Residential Dwelling(s) that are owned or part-owned by the Builder or anyone who effectively controls the Builder (such as a majority shareholder or Director of a building company).

This includes Residential Dwellings that are intended to serve as their home or built for the purpose of resale (Spec-homes).

Even if the property is not sold straight away, when the new owners take possession, they will still benefit from what is remaining of the 10-Year Guarantee from the Completion Date of the build. Therefore, it’s a good idea to always apply for the Halo Guarantee even if you think this will be your own home for a time. It gives you options down the track and could well enhance the sale of the Spec-home.

To apply for a Spec Build: H For a streamlined online application, select the New Zealand Certified Builders (NZCB) Online Building Contract through the NZCB members’ only Toolshed website. Under the intended use section of the contract, select the Spec Build button. Then under the Public Liability section, select the Halo Guarantee button and this automatically sends us your application. Job done.

H Alternatively, you can download and complete the Halo Application form* and submit it with your Signed Building Contract (if you have one). In the absence of a Building Contract, submit the application form and we’ll respond with a few additional questions, which would normally be answered within the Building Contract.

Typically, a Multi-Unit Build has one Building Contract between a Builder and a Developer that addresses the construction of all the Units. If this is the case, you will need to download and complete one of our Halo Guarantee Application forms* for each Unit, even if you’ve submitted an automatic Halo Guarantee Application via the NZCB members’ only Toolshed.

To apply for a Multi-Unit Build, please ensure you submit the following: H Halo Guarantee Application form* for each unit H Copy of the Signed Building Contract (The Original Contract Price on the application form should reflect the cost for that specific Unit only, not the overall build price if there is only one Building Contract.)

H Copy of the plans. *The Halo Guarantee Application form can be downloaded from the Halo section of the NZCB members’ only Toolshed website: www.nzcb.nz/members/halo/ If you need any further information or have questions, please contact the Halo Guarantees Limited team on 0800 141 490 or applications@halo.nz

Your Halo 10-Year Residential Guarantee is administered by Halo Guarantees Limited, a company owned 100% by New Zealand Certified Builders Association. All Halo Guarantee documentation can be found on the NZCB members’ only Toolshed www.nzcb.nz/members/halo/.

22

ONLINE TOOLS TO SUPPORT YOUR BUSINESS You told us you wanted to be able to order online and see your account information more easily, so we developed CARTERS Online Tools - our Trade App and Trade Portal.

With access to your CARTERS pricing and account details all in your pocket – we’re making it easy for you to do business on the go.

Let’s partner together.

0800 CARTERS | www.carters.co.nz/onlinetools

150 50 YEARS

BRANCHES

1

ACCOUNT

FROM NZCB —

Meet the NZCB Team Here at the New Zealand Certified Builders (NZCB) National Support Office we are a close-knit team, who are dedicated to the work we do. We all have different roles and provide a broad spectrum of service to our members.

Below you will find a brief summary of what we do and how we can support you!

Membership and Education Team

Grant Florence Chief Executive Leading the delivery of the Associations Strategic and Management Plans Governance, advocacy and operational engagement with the NZCB Board of directors and liaison with other strategic stakeholders Public relations including managing all press/news stories Leading the operations of the Association including overseeing the National Support Office Staff grant@nzcb.nz 07 557 9211

Trudi Pipes Executive Assistant to Chief Executive Executive Support to the Chief Executive and NZCB Board of directors Supports Regional Presidents and National Support Office Staff NZCB Mentoring Programme trudi@nzcb.nz 07 557 9211

Shane Ririnui Education and Technical Manager

Nick Matthews Industry Pathways and Apprenticeship Manager

Kelly Sheridan Customer Liaison Coordinator

Manages, plans and delivers builder education and compliance Manages membership acquisition strategy and the Membership and Education Team Support for members and homeowners when things go pear shaped on-site Support for NZCB Presidents shane@nzcb.nz 021 906 489

Manages the ITAB Apprenticeship Programme, AST and the NZCB Apprentice Challenge Manages the delivery and impact of RoVE to members Membership acquisition – South Island Delivers builder education and supports regional events and activities – South Island nick@nzcb.nz 021 906 483

Homeowner enquiries and consumer information Provides dispute resolution information and liaises and facilitates between homeowners and members to assist in project completion Supports the New Membership Coordinator with processing

Shaye Baker New Membership Coordinator

Andrew Macdonald Business Development Manager Auckland

Manages and processes all new membership applications, company structure changes and membership upgrades. shaye@nzcb.nz 07 987 2293

Membership acquisition – Auckland Auckland Member Support

We are just a phone call or an email away

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customerliaison@nzcb.nz 07 557 9210

andrew@nzcb.nz 021 906 844

Marketing and Membership Services Team

Karla Farrar General Manager – Marketing and Services

Ashleigh Fletcher Marketing Executive and Digital Marketing Specialist

Georgia Courtney Membership Benefits Coordinator

Julie Thomas Revere Magazine Editor and Project Coordinator

Manages all marketing and communications for NZCB including the NZCB brand Manages all aspects, including the planning and delivery of the NZCB Annual Conference and Expo Manages the benefits and services available to members, including sourcing and maintaining relationships Manages the Marketing and Membership Services Team and the relationships with NZCB Affinity, Strategic and National Partners karla@nzcb.nz 021 906 234

Content creation, digital marketing and communications National event organisation and regional support Website maintenance, design and creation of marketing collateral

Manages all aspects of NZCB merchandise, Fisher & Paykel and AA NZCB Toolshed support for building contracts and employment agreements Coordinator of NZCB monthly Deals & Benefits email newsletter

Revere magazine editor – coordinating content and imagery from application to publication Administers and manages the NZCB Certified Plan collection of house designs AST grants and ITAB administration

ashleigh@nzcb.nz 07 557 9217

georgia@nzcb.nz 07 987 2292

jullie@nzcb.nz 07 557 9213

Gavin Lord Finance Manager

Rose-Anne Smith Accounts Administrator

Esmerelda Loots Customer Service/Accounts Administrator

Managers the financial function of NZCB including overseeing the end-to-end finance operations Monthly accounts for Debtors and Creditors Regional account maintenance and administration Managers the Finance Team

NZCB and ITAB financial account queries Membership category confirmation and advertising levy maintenance and administration General accounts administration

First point of contact for NZCB main phoneline Accounts receivables and credit control esmerelda@nzcb.nz 07 987 6337

gavin@nzcb.nz 07 987 2321

roseanne@nzcb.nz 07 557 9218

Linda Moody InHouse Magazine and InTouch eNews Editor InHouse magazine editor – coordinating, planning, sourcing and collating all content Coordinator of the NZCB monthly InTouch email newsletter Partner advertising management linda@nzcb.nz 07 557 9214

Finance Team

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Still not sure who you need to speak to?

Give the National Support Office on 0800 237 843

AROUND THE REGIONS —

Alan Warburton NZCB President Waikato

Waikato/Coromandel raise $3,000 for IDFNZ

WAIKATO

On Friday 10th December, New Zealand Certified Builders (NZCB) Waikato/Coromandel held their annual Charity Golf Day at the Ngaruawahia Golf Club. The golf day was initially supposed to take place in October but due to COVID-19 lockdowns and alert level restrictions it was postponed.

After much anticipation, it was fantastic to see our teams were taking a break from their busy schedules. With many entertaining and diverse challenges throughout the course – a great day was had by all.

Thanks to our generous donors, there were some fantastic spot prizes on offer, and all teams received a bag full of goodies.

This year our chosen charity was the Immune Deficiencies Foundation of New Zealand (IDFNZ). IDFNZ support families with immune deficiencies and liver issues. Thanks to the generosity of our sponsors and members we were able to raise $3,000 for the foundation.

A big thanks to our hole sponsors; Franklin Plumbing and Builders Supplies, Avant Aluminium, PlaceMakers Clarence Street, Bunnings, AEG, EnergySmart, Carpet Mill, Winstone Wallboards, Trowel Trades and Milwaukee Tools and our charity sponsors; Hampton Downs Raceway, Milwaukee Tools, Ngaruawahia Golf Club, Noel Leeming and Northern Districts Cricket!

This was the last event that Merynn Connors – the NZCB Coordinator for Waikato – was overseeing, after three years in this position. On behalf of the NZCB Waikato Committee and members, we would like to extend thanks to Merynn for

From left to right: new NZCB Coordinator Waikato Savana Maria, NZCB President Waikato Alan Warburton and departing NZCB Coordinator Waikato Merynn Connors.

her hard-work and dedication. Merynn was presented with a gift to recognise her commitment. We also welcome Savana Maria who will take over Merynn’s position as the NZCB Waikato Regional Coordinator.

NZCB President Waikato, Alan Warburton (right) presenting Baily Nathan from Dynasty Homes (left) with our Apprentice only spot prize thanks to Milwaukee Tools.

26

Michael Collins from Carpet Mill (left) presenting the winner of the putting competition, Jacob Hamilton from Robust Homes (right) with the $2000 prize they donated – thanks Carpet Mill.

AROUND THE REGIONS —

Dave Gunter NZCB President Nelson Bays

Nelson Bays donate $3,905 to Gumboot Friday Campaign

NELSON BAYS

At the end of last year, New Zealand Certified Builders (NZCB) Nelson Bays President, David Gunter, and Registered Master Builders (MB) Representative Russell Campbell, presented a donation of $3,905 to the ‘I AM HOPE’s’ Gumboot Friday Campaign. ‘I AM HOPE’ is a Youth and Community focused support group that assists in providing urgent private care and counselling in schools and communities throughout New Zealand to Youth who require support.

The funds raised were as a result of the Nelson Bays NZCB and MB Annual Charity Golf Day, held on the 5th November 2021, at the Greenacres Golf Club. The main focus of the day was to raise money for mental health support.

A big thanks to all our sponsors on the day for their generous donations, and to everyone who attended, and participated in raising funds for the Gumboot Friday Campaign.

The day was a huge success with 76 builders coming together to raise money for a worthy cause, while enjoying a game of golf. To keep the day entertaining, there were a few other challenging games along the way such as mini putt, gumboot throwing, and a marshmallow drive – with the furthest marshmallow hit recorded at a distance of 50m!

Gumboot throwing challenge.

Mini putt challenge.

NZCB Nelson Bays President, David Gunter (right) with MB Representative Russell Campbell (left) holding the receipt from their $3905 donation to the I AM HOPE Gumboot Friday Campaign.

Sacha Gray NZCB President Otago

Otago members wind down for Christmas

OTAGO

On Wednesday 8th December, the New Zealand Certified Builders (NZCB) Otago members gathered for their annual ‘Christmas Mingler’ at the Village Green Café & Bar in Dunedin.

Great company and conversation shared over a meal and a cold beverage or two, made for a rewarding way to end the year. The NZCB Otago members would like to extend a thank you to the NZCB National Support Office for providing their branded hats and sunscreen.

27

NZCB Otago members wearing their new NZCB hats, while winding down together at their end of year Christmas Mingler.

AROUND THE REGIONS —

NOTE: With the transition to the COVID-19 Protection Framework (traffic light system) on 3 December 2021, all guests attending a New Zealand Certified Builders (NZCB) Regional or National event will need to comply with the current traffic light colour regulations at the time of the event.

Email notifications from the NZCB National Support Office will contain information current at the time.

Events Calendar NZCB REGIONAL EVENTS AUCKLAND CHARITY GOLF DAY

WHANGAREI CHARITY GOLF DAY

Thu 03 Mar REGISTRATION

10am

Fri 18 Mar

SHOTGUN START

12:30pm

Akarana Golf Club 1388 Dominion Road | Mount Roskill

The Pines Golf Club 750 Whangarei Heads Road | Tamaterau

• $280 for a team of four or $70 per player • Limit of 100 golfers • Charity auction and prize giving • Proceeds going to the Cancer Society of New Zealand Registrations are open now, for more information check out the Events Calendar on the NZCB members’ only Toolshed www.nzcb.nz or contact Trelawne on auckland@nzcb.nz

• $1000 per team of four • NZ registered handicap is compulsory for entry • Proceeds going to Alzheimers Society Northland Inc. Registrations are open now, for more information check out the Events Calendar on the NZCB members’ only Toolshed www.nzcb.nz or contact Jodi on 09 438 3467 or whangarei@nzcb.nz

NZCB NATIONAL EVENTS NZCB ON-THE-JOB LEARNING WORKSHOPS

Feb – Mar 4:00pm – 7:00pm NZCB is dedicated to providing their members with continuous learning material and recognises that the ‘on-the-job learning’ component of Licensed Building Practitioner (LBP) licensing, can often be difficult to achieve.

D E N N O

P SOO G T N I POS ES COM CITY

DATE

VENUE

Christchurch Wed 9th Feb

Addington Raceway & Event Centre

Queenstown Fri 11th Feb

QT Hotel

Whagarei

Tue 15th Feb

Seminoff Stadium

N at each venue.

Morning and afternoon sessions available

Auckland

Thu 17th Feb

Alexandra Park Raceway

Hamilton

Tue 22nd Feb Te Rapa Waikato Racing Club

For more information see page 7 of this issue of InHouse or check out the Events Calendar on the members’ only Toolshed www.nzcb.nz.

Tauranga

Thu 24th Feb

Trustpower Baypark

Wellington

Tue 1st Mar

Lower Hutt Event Centre

NZCB APPRENTICE CHALLENGE REGIONAL COMPETITIONS

NZCB AGM, CONFERENCE AND EXPO

AT EW D

To assist with this, NZCB in conjunction with ITM have put together a series of workshops to be presented in seven locations nationwide.

Sat 9 Apr

This year, regional challenges will take place on Saturday 9th April at ITM stores nationwide, with the national final taking place at the NZCB Conference and Expo on 20th and 21st May at the Claudelands Events Centre in Hamilton.

For more information check out page 59 of this issue of InHouse or visit www.apprenticechallenge.nz

Fri 20–Sat 21 May Claudelands Events Centre | Hamilton Resilience and Recovery This year’s Conference and Expo will deliver innovative ideas for you and your staff, and provide motivation to tackle your business challenges in today’s market.

For more information check out pages 18 to 21 of this issue of InHouse or visit www.events.nzcb.nz

28

HEALTH, SAFETY AND WELLNESS —

Project Plus: the power in your subbies’ hands Managing your project on-site is all about multi-tasking. Your team, your client, as well as all of your contractors, so it’s no surprise things can get pretty hectic on-site with a lot to juggle and priorities to manage. Having a health and safety management system for your business helps you feel on top of your health and safety responsibilities and reduces the risk of hazards, so you have peace of mind that you’re keeping your team, and your business safe.

Practicing good health and safety goes beyond just compliance, and when workers are engaged in work health and safety, everyone benefits. Your business is a healthier and safer place for everyone, performance and productivity increase, and a more engaged workforce means better builds, a stronger and more well-regarded brand in the market, more work, higher margins, and ultimately more money!

HazardCo is New Zealand’s leading health and safety management solution and trusted by over 10,000 companies across NZ, created for Kiwi home builders and tradies, no matter the size. We make health and safety simple, giving you the confidence, you are keeping your crew and business safe while cutting the time you spend on health and safety admin in half.

Don’t let paperwork bog you down as your business grows, make the switch to Project Plus to ease your load.

As the main builder, you can unlock the HazardCo App for everyone on-site by upgrading to Project Plus and see even more Health and Safety activity on your sites.

Project Plus gives everyone on-site the power to connect with your on-site health and safety system by putting easy-to-use tools in their hands with full access to the HazardCo App. When you upgrade to Project Plus, anybody that scans onto your site with your QR code will gain full access to the HazardCo App, and all reports will be instantly shared with you, including Inductions, Task Analysis, Site Reviews, Risk Assessments, ToolBox Meetings and reported Incidents and near misses for that site. Easy to follow and quick to complete, anytime, anywhere. As the Main Contractor, you will have full and real-time visibility of all on-site activity stored securely in your Hub. It’s an option to: Create full visibility for health and safety on your sites – regardless of whether your contractors are HazardCo members or not.

To provide a free H&S tool for your valued contractors as a perk for working for you.

Contactless health and safety for navigating COVID alert settings.

Having the HazardCo system set up on your site will show your clients, contractors, and anyone walking past your site that you take health and safety seriously.

You don’t need to be a health and safety expert to use the HazardCo system, HazardCo was designed by tradies, for tradies. We know health and safety isn’t your full-time job and you don’t want it to be! But where health and safety is concerned, it’s the doing that counts. It doesn’t need to be hard, but it needs to be done.

Bottom line? Safe sites are better sites. So, if you’re interested in unlocking the magic of Project Plus and empowering your workforce to do better health and safety, give us a call on 0800 555 339 or email info@hazardco.com.

Save time without chasing paperwork.

The HazardCo Team. HazardCo is a NZCB National Partner and, as your trusted safety partner, we provide you with the tools and support you need to #SortYourSafety.

29

HEALTH, SAFETY AND WELLNESS —

Positive workplace culture brings financial gains There are so many factors that affect the success of your Business, and it can feel overwhelming – where do you start? How can you simultaneously keep everyone happy while also growing a successful business? so grateful. What difference did their actions make to your day, or to the job?

Whether you’re an Employer or an Employee – you all have a role to play in creating a Positive Culture and enjoyable workplace, both on-site and off.

Here are four simple actions which will improve your workplace culture and mindset and can be implemented easily, with no costs or resources required: 1. Start each meeting on a positive note by asking for input from each team member on what has gone well that week.

What are your wins? What went smoothly? What fell into place nicely? What great savings did you make without compromising on quality? Use this in your weekly meetings, plus every time you do a site visit or get together with your team. When you make this a habit, your team members will start looking for and thinking about the positives to bring to the meeting.

2. End each meeting on a positive note by asking each team member the question ‘what would make today great?’

Materials turning up on time? An appreciative customer?

A tricky job going smoothly? End your meeting by thinking and focusing on what you do want, rather than what you don’t want. This gives everyone a positive feeling to take into their day.

3. Give with purpose and reap the rewards. As a business owner it can feel like you are always being asked to donate money to local charities and groups. Rather than donating little amounts of money to lots of different charities, ask your Team members to collectively decide on one or two charities which they feel are worthwhile supporting and come up with an action to support them that involves some time and effort from your team.

There is nothing quite as rewarding as an Intentional and Physical Act of Kindness – physically spending some time together as a team to help those in need. The memories of the experience and incredibly rewarding feelings of giving back will stay with you all for months afterwards.

For example, helping to build a House for Homes of Hope, fixing broken toys and furniture for those who can’t afford new ones, helping to serve food at a homeless shelter or chopping firewood for the elderly.

4. Appreciate, appreciate, appreciate your team members.

When it comes to appreciation a little doesn’t go a long way.

A passing ‘thanks for that’ will often miss the mark. Back up your appreciation by telling your team WHY you are

It may feel strange at first, but when employees know their hard work is fully appreciated and recognised, they feel that their work is truly valued. And this not only makes them feel great, it also motivates them to maintain and improve their performance. Genuine, frequent, and heartfelt appreciation helps build staff loyalty and keeps the team engaged in the task at hand.

Take this to the next level by trying the ‘Two Minute Appreciation Message for 21 days’ by Shawn Achor. Spend two minutes at the beginning of each day sending a message via email, text or any other means, thanking someone for something they have done for you.

It could be a quick message to your favourite cafe thanking them for the delicious coffee, a text to your friend thanking them for the great catch-up last night, an email to your team member thanking them for their help on an important project, or a message to your subbie thanking them for their quote or for getting the job done!

Each message should be two to three sentences long, which means it should also explain WHY you are so grateful to them.

What difference did they make to your day? Would you have been stuck without their help? What happened to you as a result of what they did?

Taking a few minutes each morning to really appreciate someone will absolutely make their day, and yours. The good feelings you’ll both receive will stay with you long after the messages have been sent and received.

‘Appreciation can make a day, even change a life. Your willingness to put it into words is all that is necessary.’

– Margaret Cousins Need help creating a positive culture within your Team? Contact me on 027 6836 777 or info@positivemindsetchallenge.com and we can make a time to discuss your needs.

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 30-Day Positive Mindset Challenge. She is also a Social Entrepreneur dedicated to Sharing Kindness, Touching Hearts and Changing Lives. www.positivemindsetchallenge.com

30

Overview

Technical Literature

System Sheets

CAD Files

Archive

Technical updates

What a wild ride 2021 has been! Just in case you might have missed it, here’s some updates of what’s happened and what we have planned for the year ahead.

In February we released the revised GIB® Wet Area Systems

As an industry, we’re working online more than ever before,

literature. Due to improvements of our GIB Aqualine®

which means the most up-to-date and current information

boards, and the inclusion of our new GIB Weatherline

®

has never been more accessible. However, we’re finding

boards, the literature now includes allowances for tiling on

that although we are continually updating and adding to our

GIB Toughline Aqua and GIB Weatherline . Key changes

online Supplements portfolio, not everyone is aware of the

are new tile weights (10mm now up to 26kg/m2 and 13mm

additions - or even where to find them! For easy access,

now up to 40kg/m ) and screw centres increased to 150mm

please select your desired system under the ‘Systems’ tab,

centres. We’ve also added and updated the CAD details.

then click on the ‘Technical Literature’ tab. You will find the

Literature can be downloaded from gib.co.nz.

Supplements page in PDF format.

Since their release in 2016, our GIB Barrierline® systems

We are also continually adding to our library of CAD details,

have taken the market by storm. But, as with any new

these are being updated (sometimes on a daily basis!) on

release, we’ve continued to test and develop products

our website.

®

®

2

and systems, all the while updating and adding to the details and information we provide. This also means

Overview

Technical Literature

System Sheets

CAD Files

Archive

we’re at the stage where we are preparing to release the ‘GIB Barrierline® 2.0’ literature very soon. This will include a 30 min system and 13mm GIB Weatherline® option in place of 16mm GIB Fyreline® where this is laminated to the

GFS162 Wall To Wall Plasterboard Strip

GFS200 Smoke Separation Roof Detail

GFS020 Two Way FRR Steel Frame

DWG RTV PDF

DWG RTV PDF

DWG RTV PDF

GF...

25mm GIB Barrierline® in the roof space. Watch this space in February/March 2022!

As our literature is widely referenced, we endeavour to keep the key publications up to date. Currently we are working on updates for the GIB® Site Guide (last version 2018). The

With 2021 suffering even more disruption than 2020, many

changes to AS/NZS2785:2020 ‘Suspended Ceilings – Design

of our scheduled regional training sessions were either

and Installation’ (released in 2020) has had an impact on

postponed or cancelled. In light of this,

the industry, from the way ceilings are designed and tested,

we are still planning training sessions

through to how they are installed and lastly, how they should

for 2022. But as we book them,

be maintained. We recognised it was time for us to also

we’ll include an ‘Option B’ for virtual

update and review our GIB Rondo Metal Batten Systems

sessions, just in case things ‘go south’.

manual. Both books are currently being worked on with the

We are looking forward to seeing you in

expected release date of early 2022.

2022!

®

DECEMBER 2021

®

Russel Perdersen Technical Support & Training Manager

GIB® HELPLINE 0800 100 442 OR GIB.CO.NZ FOR MORE INFO

HEALTH, SAFETY AND WELLNESS —

COVID-19: working under the new Traffic Light System In December 2021, Construction Health and Safety New Zealand (CHASNZ) released the revised COVID-19 Protection Framework Protocols and Guidelines for the Construction Industry.

As of 3 December 2021, the new Traffic Light System (TLS) protocols replaced the individual Residential, Vertical and Horizontal Alert Level protocols, which were developed for the first COVID-19 lockdowns in early 2020.

The COVID-19 Protection Framework Standards are the starting point guide for the construction industry. They indicate what actions need to be taken to plan for and work under restrictions that may be required to be implemented on-site. The Framework protocols are live working documents, and will be updated to coincide with the changing Government requirements.

There are two versions of the Protection Framework, a shorter version and a longer (complete) version. Both contain the protocols with links to the resources and documents you need to guide you on how to apply the protocols on-site. The difference is the longer version contains all the resources you need (so you don’t have to click through to them via the links).

The shorter version (COVID-19 Protection Framework for Construction only) Pages two to four of this document take you through each zone/ colour of the ‘Traffic Light System’ (TLS) and identify what controls a business will need to implement under the TLS to operate.

The following page five suggests additional controls that can be implemented where a risk assessment has been undertaken and vaccination is not required on-site. These suggestions are found on top of the controls listed in the red, orange and green alert levels. While not mandated controls, these suggestions aim to support safer site operations, that can be implemented where necessary, based on the outcome of individual site risk assessment(s).

In addition, on page six you will find a page of ‘Supporting Resources’, allowing you to access the specific information you want and need in one place. It contains a list for employers and managers who are wanting to implement these protocols on-site, a list of guides for employees, alongside some helpful services and links.

32

Lastly, ‘Site Signage’ page seven, gives you access to all site signage you will need on-site. You can select the required sign to download and print.

The longer (complete) version (COVID-19 Protection Framework for Construction plus supporting resources) If you have downloaded the longer version, you have access to all of the information mentioned above, with the additional supporting resources such as: • risk assessment flowcharts – all sites should undertake a risk assessment of their activities; this includes the risk of COVID-19. The risk assessments will help establish if a site requires vaccination to be mandated • contact type definitions - a breakdown of the contact types • contact classification process – information on what the worker should do • response plan flowchart • managers checklist • COVID-19 vaccination information • personal health flowchart • cleaning and hygiene and returning home after work guidance • safe practices when using face masks and gloves on site • a usable sign-in register • mental health how to guides, tips and assessments for employers and employees • posters and site signs • Frequently Asked Questions The above New Zealand COVID-19 Construction Protocols document should be used in conjunction with the COVID-19 – Standard for New Zealand Construction Operations document. These documents can be found and downloaded at: www.chasnz.org/covid19 or under the COVID-19 section of the NZCB members’ only Toolshed: www.nzcb.nz/members/covid-19-health-safety/

COVID-19 Response Plan Flow Chart

START

Worker presents with symptoms

Worker is a [close/ casual] contact of a confirmed COVID case

Worker has PCR test for other reason

Stand-down, isolate and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test

PCR result

Worker receives positive rapid antigen test (RAT)

NEGATIVE

Business as usual (BAU)

POSITIVE

Was the worker on-site 48 hours before time of test?

WORKER: Stands down and isolates NO

SITE: Resumes BAU

YES

WORKER GUIDANCE

SITE GUIDANCE

Stand down and isolate CLOSE

Assess Close and Casual Contacts for last 48 hours FULLY VACCINATED

Isolate and get a PCR test immediately Get additional PCR tests on day 5 after last exposure or onset of symptoms Isolate until negative result of day 5 test or for 7 days, whichever is longer UNVACCINATED

Isolate and get a PCR test immediately Get additional PCR tests on day 5 and day 8 after last exposure or onset of symptoms Isolate until negative result of day 8 test or for 10 days, whichever is longer

CASUAL

See COVID-19 contact type definitions within the NZ COVID-19 Construction Protocols booklet

FULLY VACCINATED

Return to work but monitor for symptoms for 10 days If symptoms develop, stay home and get a PCR test immediately – isolate until a negative result is received

Can you identify the Close and Casual Contacts?

YES

Follow WORKER guidance Notify site and ask them to monitor for symptoms Clean shared facilities

NO

Treat all workers as Close Contacts Follow WORKER guidance Notify site and ask them to monitor for symptoms Clean shared facilities Instigate surveillance testing if available

UNVACCINATED

Isolate and get a PCR test immediately Get a second PCR test on day 5 Isolate until negative result of day 5 test or 7 days after last exposure, whichever is longer If symptoms develop after day 5, isolate until you get a negative test result

Based on the New Zealand’s COVID-19 Protection Framework –Construction Protocols | Version 1.1

33

Reporting rule: Report one Event for each positive case, but list out the number of close contacts

Manager’s checklist CHECK DETAIL

QUICK REFERENCE

Don’t forget your normal health and safety obligations still apply. These Protocols are in addition to your usual health and safety controls.

Vaccination is an additional protection for all workers against COVID-19 including the Delta variant. Communicate the facts and benefits to workers included at:

https://covid19.govt.nz/covid-19-vaccines/get-thefacts-about-covid-19-vaccination/

See the latest government guidance for travel under the COVID-19 protection framework at:

https://covid19.govt.nz/travel/

Have an up-to-date site plan that is communicated and agreed with the appropriate persons. This plan must be aligned to the New Zealand COVID-19 Construction Protocols.

Each contractor must have a plan detailing the steps they will take to mitigate risks,including those presented by COVID-19.

The details of the plan must be communicated to appropriate workers before they start work.

You must have a COVID-19 response plan in place to identify processes for dealing with suspected and confirmed COVID-19 cases.

COVID-19 Response Plan Flow Chart on previous page

Maintain a sign-in register and of all workers in the event of an exposure to COVID-19.

https://www.sitesafe.org.nz/globalassets/guides-andresources/protocol-resources/sign-in-register.pdf

Stay in contact with workers who may be in isolation or working remotely. Assist workers to access mental health and wellbeing information.

https://www.nzcb.nz/members/health-wellbeing/

New Zealand Certified Builders offers all members FREE help through EAP Services each year. EAP Services is New Zealand’s leading employee assistance programme.

Hold Toolbox Talks regularly to keep workers up to date with COVID-19 protocols as we move between stages.

Ensure all workers understand when additional PPE may berequired due to COVID-19 and that workers have access to the correct PPE as per the Ministry of Health PPE Guide and WorkSafe guidelines.

Ministry of Health PPE Guide and WorkSafe guidelines

When the site moves between levels, all workers must complete a re-induction to the site with the COVID-19 Controls Plan before coming on-site.

COVID-19 Construction Protocols booklet (pages 2–5)

Establishment of communication channels for workers to raise any concerns about the effectiveness of COVID-19 controls or identify improvement opportunities.

Confirm that higher risk workers have been identified as per the COVID-19.govt.nz guidelines and that they have discussed with their employer and or health advisor ways to keep safe while at work, if they cannot work from home and want to return to work.

www.COVID-19.govt.nz

Review mental health tips to use on-site available in the COVID-19 Construction Protocols resource section.

COVID-19 Construction Protocols booklet resource section (page 6)

Based on the New Zealand’s COVID-19 Protection Framework - Construction Protocols | Version 1.0

34

What to do if your staff won’t reveal their vaccination status to you?

Generally, a worker does not need to disclose (or prove) their vaccination status to a business.

If certain work cannot be done by an unvaccinated worker, a PCBU (or business) can ask a worker about the worker’s vaccination status. If the worker does not disclose (or provide evidence about) their vaccination status, the business may assume the worker has not been vaccinated for the purposes of managing health and safety risks. However, businesses should first inform workers of this assumption, and what will happen if the worker is not vaccinated or does not disclose their vaccination status.

Employees cannot be redeployed or disadvantaged for refusing to disclose their vaccination status, unless particular work cannot be done by unvaccinated employees.

New legislation (an amendment to the Employment Relations Act 2000) is now in effect. This means employers are now required by law to provide: • a minimum 4-week notice period if employment agreements are terminated because an employee is not vaccinated, and their role requires it

For more information and guidance on vaccination requirements in the workplace can be found under the ‘Vaccines and the workplace’ section of the Employment New Zealand Website: https://www.employment.govt.nz/leaveand-holidays/other-types-of-leave/coronavirus-workplace/

• reasonable paid time off for an employee to get vaccinated.

Stressed? Find yourself yelling or snapping at your workmates?

What to do when you are stressed out and can’t think straight:

Need to talk to someone right now about any of the issues below?

1. Stop what you are doing – remove yourself from the situation immediately

• Feelings of anxiety, stress or depression

2. Take a few minutes for yourself – take a walk around the block

• Parenting problems, elder care support

3. Talk to someone and tell them you don’t feel so good right now, or that you need their help

• Conflict and tension with colleagues, managers, partners

• Family challenges, relationship issues

• Pressures placed on you in the workplace or personal situations • Coping with serious illness, trauma, grief or bereavement • Building resilience during times of change and uncertainty • Preparing for retirement or redundancy • Frustrations and confusion over your career direction • Living with addictions and minimising their impact on your life • Addressing financial matters or personal legal concerns.

New Zealand Certified Builders offers all members FREE help through EAP Services each year. EAP Services is New Zealand’s leading employee assistance programme.

For more information on what is available visit https://www.nzcb.nz/members/health-wellbeing/ or contact the National Support Office on: 0800 237 843.

35

IN THE KNOW —

Product substitution guidance The Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) has recently re-published Product Substitution Guidance in light of supply chain issues facing the sector.

Relaunch of the Product Substitution Guidance The international effects of COVID-19 has created supply chain disruptions affecting many countries around the world.

In New Zealand, demand for residential construction is also at an all-time high. In the year to March 2021 New Zealand issued the most residential building consents in one year since the 1970s. Figures from October show this momentum has continued every month since, and the latest National Construction Pipeline Report shows this demand is expected to continue for some time.

What this means is in some cases, specified building products may need to be substituted to ensure that construction can continue using alternative available products. This can happen after a building consent is issued, and often, at a late stage in the building process.

MBIE has republished its product substitution guidance to reflect current materials, in order to provide practical assistance to designers, contractors and building owners, and to help building consent authorities and others who need to explain to clients what is involved in the substitution of products.

This will ensure appropriate building products are used in the right way so that projects impacted by material shortages can continue to be built in a safe and durable way without unnecessary delays.

In order to safely substitute a product or material, builders should: • get in contact early with suppliers, especially if you are aware of current supply chain constraints • be upfront and engage with your designers and/or council early, to ensure that the correct process is followed

36

• take the three-step approach outlined in our product substitution guidance.

Step 1: consider the legal context, particularly any additional obligations you might incur from product substitution Step 2: consider the broader implications of using a different product to that specified, including whether it is fit for the same purpose and still meets the owner’s needs, and then Step 3: implement any changes; for example, if substituting the product requires an amendment to a building consent.

Visit www. building.govt.nz website to read about the product substitution guidance and the threestep approach.

COVID-19 Construction Risk Management Guidance The Construction Sector Accord recently published COVID-19 Construction Risk Management Guidance for construction clients to address supply chain related issues and material shortages resulting from COVID-19. The guidance encourages open and transparent dialogue between clients and their supply chain partners in managing and allocating risks, and being transparent in the sourcing phase to try and achieve the best outcome for the project.

Visit https://www.constructionaccord.nz/good-practice/ resource-hub/procurement-and-risk/ for more information.

Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment. MBIE is the over-arching 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.

New Zealand. Always.

In this changing world, there’s one thing we want to stay the same. Our country. We want it to be

In this changing world, there’s one thing we want to stay the same. Our country. We want it to be as beautiful as as beautiful as it is now, for the generations of Kiwis to come. Everything we do, from using over it is now, for the generations ofcareful Kiwis to come. we do, from using over 80% recycled glass to to careful 80% recycled glass to water andEverything energy conservation at our plant, ensures that we strive water and energy any conservation at ouron plant, ensures thatOur weEnvironmental strive to minimise anyDeclaration negative impact minimise negative impact the environment.

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It’s how wetransparent recently earned a highly prized EPD,information an Environmental Product Declaration. provides 100% and independently verified on the environmental footprint Look for ® it on our packaging.

It means when you choose Pink® Batts , you’re selecting an insulation productan that works ® of our manufacturing and products.

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IN THE KNOW —

The hidden danger of project delays The story on most builders’ lips at the moment is around material shortages and constant price rises.

It is frustrating and contributing to increased stress for both the builder and their clients.

Projects are being delayed and budgets are being strained.

What is also being strained is the relationship with your client.

Despite press coverage about lengthening supply chain timelines, most clients have an unrealistic expectation that their project won’t be affected and delays to their move in date can make them frustrated.

regular project budget and timeline reviews, you can be sucker punched by an apparent sudden change in your financial situation. In reality it doesn’t happen suddenly. It builds up over time and then comes to a head. A bit like the build-up of cholesterol in the arteries causing a heart attack. If you don’t monitor your health, you risk unseen diseases suddenly rearing their head.

Sometimes one problem can lead to another, and timelines are further pushed out. For example, a product that is specified on the consented plans may suddenly be unavailable or severely delayed. A decision is made to substitute an alternative material in an effort to keep the project moving. Unfortunately, this may require the architect to prepare amended drawings, which takes time, and then apply for an amendment with Council, which takes more time. Most Building Authorities are already straining at the seams and these substitution amendments just add more fuel to the fire.

Consider the building company in the table below. It is a fictitious company, but a real example of the significant effect that project delays can have on the bottom line of a company.

The company in this example turns over around $1million per year. I have taken a 6-month period and spread the Income, Cost of Sales and Overheads evenly over the period in question. The top chart shows a Gross Margin of 18% and a Net Margin of 6%.

The lower chart shows what happens when a project is delayed by 1-month during months 2 and 3. In reality projects often have multiple, smaller delays but for ease of calculation I have lumped all the delays in 1-month. Income is halved across months 2 and 3. Cost of Sales is not quite halved because you often have employees to pay during delay times. (Not everyone has only contractors on a “no work, no pay” basis).

The costs of materials and labour are also increasing and not all of these are able to be passed on to the client if the wrong or outdated contract is in place.

The net effect of these supply and price pressures is forcing down profits and putting additional strain on business cash flow. If you are not keeping on top of this situation through 1

2

3

4

5

6

TOTAL

Income

$83,000

$83,000

$83,000

$83,000

$83,000

$83,000

$498,000

CoS

$68,000

$68,000

$68,000

$68,000

$68,000

$68,000

$408,000

Gross Profit

$15,000

$15,000

$15,000

$15,000

$15,000

$15,000

$90,000

18%

18%

18%

18%

18%

18%

18%

Overheads

$10,000

$10,000

$10,000

$10,000

$10,000

$10,000

$60,000

Net Profit

$5,000

$5,000

$5,000

$5,000

$5,000

$5,000

$30,000

6%

6%

6%

6%

6%

6%

6%

Gross Margin

Net Margin 1

2

3

4

5

6

TOTAL

Income

$83,000

$83,000

$83,000

$83,000

$83,000

$415,000

CoS

$68,000

$80,000

$68,000

$68,000

$68,000

$352,000

Gross Profit

$15,000

$3,000

$15,000

$15,000

$15,000

$63,000

Gross Margin

18%

Overheads

$10,000

Net Profit

$5,000

Net Margin

6%

4% $10,000

18% $10,000

($17,000) –20%

18%

15%

$10,000

$10,000

$10,000

$60,000

$5,000

$5,000

$5,000

$3,000

6%

38

18%

6%

6%

1%

Overheads continue uninterrupted and so the Net Margin over this delay period goes from +6% to -20%. Over the 6-month period the total Net Profit drops from $30,000 to $3,000, which comes straight out of the owner’s pocket. The Net Margin drops from 6% to 1%.

As you can see project delays can have significant effects on profitability and subsequent cash flow in a construction business.

If margins are thin these effects can be even more serious. So, what are some things you can do to prevent or manage these situations?

The following are some suggestions to think about. In the interests of brevity, I will just outline the various strategies.

Know your numbers and monitor them regularly I can’t stress this enough. If you don’t know what you should be aiming at, as far as project profits and monthly cash flow, it is easy to miss the warning signs. The advent of up-to-the-minute software solutions such as Xero and project management tools such as Buildaprice, Buildertrend, Co-Construct and the like, means there is no excuse for not being able to closely monitor how a project is tracking. But having the software tool is one thing. Knowing how it fits into the bigger picture in your company’s financial management is another. I always go through a Budget Overview process with clients, so they know what the average target Gross Margin of their projects needs to be in order to have a stable and successful business. Do you know what that figure is for your business?

Educate the client on what may happen and what you will do about it Regardless of whatever contract you end up using with your client, you are wise to spend more time educating them about how the invoicing process will work. Include a frank and open discussion prior to start-up on the potential issues that may arise, what you have done to mitigate them, but what may still be unforeseen and if the client has sufficient contingency to cover.

Don’t be too greedy on the amount of work you go for Do you really need that extra job? Will this put too much strain on your financial and production resources? The next couple of years may be a time to play a bit more of a conservative game so be a bit more careful and don’t bite off more than you can chew.

It is a common cause of business failure when companies “over trade”, meaning they take on too many projects and run out of cash to service them all.

Buy and store key materials Are you able to pre-purchase critical materials and safely store them? One could argue that is further exacerbates the current situation on supply shortages (a la the great toilet paper grab of 2020) but if it means your project runs smoother, it is worth considering. Check on your insurance cover and negotiate for the client to pay for these.

Plan for the worst

Higher deposits and bill ahead

More time spent planning prior to start-up on where potential issues could arise and what alternatives are available could save you days or weeks of problems. I know life is busy and the pressure to crack into a project asap after the contract is signed is always strong.

Spending additional time in the planning stage is viewed as a waste by many people but sitting around a whiteboard with sub-trades, designers and your key team members can be invaluable in running through multiple “what-if” scenarios and having some contingency plans in place. Not every bump in the road can be foreseen but it incumbent on you as part of your legal responsibility as the head builder to try your best.

To maximise your cash flow, seek a larger deposit and ensure you are “billing ahead” with your progress invoices. Billing ahead means that you are invoicing and being paid by the client before you need to pay the suppliers for the goods and services that go into the project. This won’t be possible for your labour but should be for your materials and perhaps even some sub-trades. Many business failures are due to a lack of cash so assiduous management of your project cash flow is essential to keep your business solvent.

Use the right contract Traditional Fixed Price contracts are becoming too risky to use at the moment, especially for lengthy projects. Many banks require them as part of their lending rules, however, when the required level of contingency is added into the loan figure to cover potential cost increases, the client is often pushed over what the bank says they can afford. One option is to move to a Hybrid pricing model. Those elements of the project you can fix via sub-contracts or guarantees can be added into the Hybrid contract as fixed price elements and those that are subject to potential price increases can be added in as cost-plus. You may be able to fix as much as 75% of the contract this way, which will go a long way to allay any fears the client (and their bank) has about budget blow-outs.

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These are a few ideas that you should consider implementing into your business plan in 2022. The current business environment certainly requires you to approach your operation a bit differently than in recent years. By putting a more proactive plan in place you will be better prepared to handle these current challenging times and come out the end in a strong position.

For further guidance on adapting your business plan to maximise your success, contact me at andy@tradescoach.co.nz or visit my website www.tradescoach.co.nz

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.

IN THE KNOW —

H1 Building Code updates With the recent H1 Building Code updates, windows have large impact on heat lose in homes, so have been a key focus.

The changes are reflected in the following categories of buildings: • All Housing regardless of size, and small buildings less than 300m2 are covered in Acceptable Solution H1/AS1 • Buildings other than housing over 300 m have been combined into the new Acceptable Solution H1/AS2 2

From a compliance perspective for all Housing and Building <300m2, there are the following options available: • Schedule (H1/AS1) 0- 30% window to wall ratio (table shown) • Calculation (H1/VM1) 0-40% window to wall ratio • Modelling (H1/VM2) > 40% window wall ratio

There has been a substantial change to the climate zones moving from three climate zones to six that are linked to Territorial Authority boundaries, now with varying levels of window thermal performance required across climate zones based on heating demand.

Climate zone 1 Climate zone 2

Far North Whangarei

Climate zone 3 Kaipara

The changes were effective from 29 November 2021. However, there is a one-year transition period before the changes become mandatory for consents submitted after 2 November 2022.

Climate zone 4 Climate zone 5

MatamataHauraki Piako Tauranga Waikato Western HAMILTON CITY Bay of Plenty Waipa Ōtorohanga Rotorua Ōpōtiki South Kawerau Waikato Gisborne Waitomo Whakatane

For Climate Zones 1 and 2, which includes Auckland, there will be a two-step change to window R-Values. Increases in thermal performance requirements are effective firstly after 2 November 2022 and then again after 2 November 2023.

The biggest impacts are moving away from standard aluminium frames and standard double glazing over time – moving to Low E double glazing and more thermally efficient joinery. With an average 35-50% of heat lost in standard homes through windows, this has been a key driver in the building code update. The intention of the changes is a 40% reduction in the energy use in housing and small buildings.

Metro has been servicing the New Zealand market with Low E coated glass for 20 years, from its geographical spread processing plants. In fact, the sites cover Climate Zones 1, 3 and 5 for local knowledge and service. The original Low E coatings were but a steppingstone to the new soft coat technology. New solar control Low E’s also reduce solar heat gain not dissimilar to body tinted glass, while keeping the home warm and letting in more natural light.

Low E technology continues to evolve and improve, with the Metro soft coat Low E range evolving since its inception in 2013, changing and growing from three options to four with an expansion into triple glazing and double Low E triple glazed units.

Using the new Window Schedule in H1/AS1, we can map out the Metro Glass Low E range against the performance values.

The table illustrates which double glazing and which joinery system will work in each Climate Zone, for housing with a window to wall ratio up to 30%, using a 16mm spacer.

As mentioned, Climate Zones 1 and 2 which equals approximately 59% of the New Zealand population sees a step change on 2nd November 2023. This change will see Climate Zones 1 and 2 come into line with Climate Zones 3 and 4 in respect of window R-Value requirements.

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ThamesCoromandel

AUCKLAND

Climate zone 6

New Plymouth

Ruapehu

Taupo

Hastings

Stratford

Wanganui Manawatu Horowhenua

Tasman

NAPIER CITY

Hastings Mangaweka

Kapiti Coast

Tararua

Marlborough

Central Hawke’s Bay

Ōhingaiti

PALMERSTON NORTH CITY Masterton

Carterton

Buller

Taupo

Rangitikei

South Taranaki

NELSON CITY

Ruapehu

WairoaStratford

South Wairarapa

PORIRUA CITY UPPER HUTT CITY WELLINGTON CITY HUTT South CITY Wairarapa

Kaikoura Grey Westland

Selwyn Ashburton

Hurunui

Waimakariri CHRISTCHURCH CITY Banks Peninsula

Mackenzie Timaru Queenstown-Lakes

Waimate

Central Waitaki Otago

Southland

DUNEDIN CITY Gore

Otekaieke Waikaura

Clutha WAITANGI

INVERCARGILL CITY

Chatham Island County

We estimate that 60% of all housing projects are likely to be inclined to use the schedule method. We also anticipate window system partners generally picking up the next layer of 0-40% window to wall ratio projects.

For buildings other than housing > 300m2 there is no published schedule.

• Compliance is by Calculation (H1/AS2) (H1/VM2) • Curtain wall excluded from (H1/AS2) refer (H1/VM2) In addition to the Glass Workshop at the New Zealand Certified Builders On-The-Job Learning Workshops (see page 7 for more information), you can visit the Metro Stand to learn more about the Metro Low E range for your climate zone and or other customer requirements.

The schedule method is a good guide of what is possible, however it can only be used compliance where: – The glazing area is 30% or less of the total wall area – Calculation can be used for 0–40% or Modelling >40% for these it may be possible to use a lower performing glass or frame on the margins *U value is centre of glass (in W/m2.K) calculated for glass oriented vertically, with proprietary software using CEN boundary conditions. Other space U Value data freely available from Metro Glass website.

Note Argon Gas in Classic Double Glazing coming 2022. **Step change to R0.46 2nd November 2023.

Metro Performance Glass. Metro Performance Glass are Strategic Partners of NZCB and New Zealand’s leading supplier of Double Glazing, Retrofit, Frameless Glass Balustrades, Showers, Mirrors & Splashbacks.

Supplying New Zealand homes and businesses for over 30 years. For more information visit www.metroglass.co.nz or call 0800 545 800.

IN THE KNOW —

Case studies: Why you should use them, and how to get started Choosing a construction company can be a big step for prospects. Here’s how case studies help buyers get over the line more easily – especially if they contain a bit of drama.

What is a case study?

In sales and marketing, a case study is an in-depth look at a customer’s buying journey. It covers the challenge the customer was experiencing; the company’s solution to this problem; and the final outcome.

Case studies tell the customer’s story and like all good stories, they should contain a bit of drama. That’s why they discuss the problem as well as the solution.

Case studies can be in a written format, or video, or both.

They can feature on your website, and you can engage a graphic designer to create attractive documents as part of your marketing collateral.

Seven benefits of using case studies in your marketing:

Tips on getting started with case studies

1. Believable – A good case study is more believable and credible than a testimonial, because it contains a bit of drama. Tell the story of how you dealt with engineering challenges, or delayed joinery and how there was a successful outcome.

• Build it into your sales process – Position the prospect in your very first sales presentation by saying you’ll ask for a testimonial when their project is complete.

Getting started with case studies is easier than you may think:

2. Relatable – A case study turns the customer journey into a story prospective buyers will relate to, and they will start imagining themselves in that scenario.

3. Addresses objections – A good case study also talks about any apprehensions past customers had and how they were overcome. Addressing objections upfront in a case study can alleviate worries a prospect may have.

• Keep checking in – At key points in your construction programme, make sure everything’s on track, and your customer is enjoying your work. This means conversations shouldn’t just be about the nitty gritty details of a project (e.g. choosing tapware), but also about your relationship, communication, and so on.

• Pick a happy time – Tee up the case study interview once the building project is complete, and the client is delighted with your work.

4. Relationship – A case study should cover the relationship between yourself and the client. This lets future customers know what it’s like to work with your business. This is particularly important in the construction industry where the work with the client is over a longer period.

5. Values – A case study can bring your company values to life and demonstrate that your business really walks the walk.

6. Competitive advantage – If a prospective buyer is shortlisting suppliers, a strong case study can elevate you over competitors.

7. Online benefits – A case study can increase your website traffic if keywords and Search Engine Optimisation (SEO) tactics are used. Plus, case studies can increase the number of enquiries you get online.

• Hire a professional – If interviewing clients and writing case studies isn’t your strength, engage a copywriter.

Being impartial, a copywriter can also ask for constructive feedback that the client may not otherwise give.

Need help? Contact us for a free consultation to see how we can help with your sales and lead generation at: https://excc.co.nz/executive-coach-booking/ And to see what a good case study looks like, please see our case study on the following page.

Jason Dinan, Executive Coaching & Consulting. With 28 years of leadership experience working in 23 countries, Jason specialises in growing organisations through developing peak performance leaders, teams, sales effectiveness and strategy. He was the project head for a leading home builder, helping grow annual sales from between 47% to 311%.

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Case Study: Tomik

Outcomes Improved company culture and motivation “Our company culture is pretty bloody excellent now! It was never terrible, but we’ve now got a team that’s completely engaged.

They’re driven; they’re motivated; and you can see that they’re all standing an inch taller. They’re actively participating in work.”

Breaking the chains to create a more engaged and more productive team Summary A residential construction business engaged Executive Coaching & Consulting (EXCC) for a 90-day programme focusing on team development, personal growth, and goal setting.

Company values, purpose and vision that really resonate “I’d already done some work on the company values with another partner, but Jason worked with me to really fine-tune it. I enjoyed that process, as it created a solid foundation. It now resonates with who I am; how I want my business to flow; and how it’s presented to my staff, peers, clients, and the community. The values are now ingrained in the company culture, and it’s received very well.

This was one of the biggest lifts of the journey.”

Extended DISC took communication from being challenging to being calm “The team’s now talking and communicating in a way we’ve never done before. Being trade-based, communication traditionally involved a lot of effing and blinding at others, and it was all quite blunt. We needed to break that old industry culture as it wasn’t serving us, and it’s not appropriate in the modern age. Clients see this communication; and subcontractors see it. This negative communication is heavy and weighs us all down.”

Todd Flashman, Owner and Managing Director of Tomik

Background Tomik is a residential building company specialising in ultra-highend, luxury holiday homes on Waiheke Island. Owner and Managing Director, Todd Flashman, has a team of 12 people and engaged EXCC for a focused, customised 90-day programme.

The problem The first COVID-19 lockdown had a severe impact on Tomik.

“Projects were cancelled and we went from hero to zero in days, with no work,” says Todd Flashman. “In the stress of all that, I figured I was stuck in an old cycle and needed to rebuild my business.

I wanted to break the chains and barriers that were holding us back.”

“I’d lost a couple of key team members in the previous six to eight months, which was quite devastating. And one of the common feedback points was that the company felt disconnected, and the staff members felt a bit abandoned. So I knew that I had to strengthen the unity of my team and really bind them together. As a residential building company, staff are my key asset, and losing 20% of my key resource was significant. There was also a significant emotional cost in losing those people.”

“We got stuck in a rut in terms of communicating internally, to the point where it was sometimes challenging, fierce, and abrupt.”

“We now have a better way of communicating, and that rubs off on the contractors on-site too. Clients may not necessarily see the shift, but what they do see is an engaged team of individuals. We’re now bonding and communicating in a way that’s fresh and new it’s hugely beneficial to our mental health, which is awesome.”

The Tomik Team

Personal empowerment for improved mental health “My approach is to empower others and provide a platform where individuals can stop and think about the way they’re communicating with people. Not only in the workplace, but taking it home too.

This has a huge bearing on wellness and mental health.”

“While I knew I had to address these challenges, there was also the problem of funding any coaching, as we just didn’t have the cash flow for it.”

The solution “I engaged EXCC to really focus on team development, personal growth, and goal setting for a 90-day programme. I had already covered off sales and marketing with another coach, so I didn’t want to double up. Jason was great in putting together a personalised plan for us; he really listened to our needs. I was initially worried that with his background in large corporates he might not be able to pull it back to the needs of a small residential building company, but he adapted his programme perfectly for us.”

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“Looking after mental health has a renewed focus in my business.

It’s a new way of breaking down the old barriers and chains that were holding us back.”

Vibrant, engaging and adaptable coaching approach “My favourite part of working with Jason is that he is so bloody passionate and obviously good at what he does. He has a platform that’s adaptable to various industry sectors. He’s vibrant. And he’s engaging, and easy to work with because of the way he communicates, and his personal presence. The coach working with us really adapted well to our mindset, and was a great fit for our company.”

IN THE KNOW —

Making 2022 the year you nail your finances We were all hoping that 2021 would hold better things than 2020… but thanks to Covid, we also all know how that turned out! to 15% of your income – which is a great rate of return if you can find it. Look for inefficiencies in tax and mortgage structures, late payment fees, unarranged overdrafts, outdated insurance policies and credit card interest. We pay ‘lazy tax’, too – where we simply haven’t bothered to shop around for a better deal or hit ‘cancel’ on an unused membership.

Develop systems to do the heavy lifting

If you reached the end of 2021 having worked really hard but without much to show for your mahi, you’re not alone.

Uncertainty can make it more difficult to make financial decisions and while we know we can’t rely on this year being blissfully Covid-free, there are ways to make 2022 more financially fruitful.

Start with a performance review How are the decisions you’ve already made about how to use and invest your money serving you? Now is the time to review your KiwiSaver, any managed funds, index funds or direct shares you may hold, perhaps digital currencies, investment properties or other assets. What have they returned over the past year?

What fees are you paying? Are those returns acceptable amid high inflation? What about the impact of rising interest rates?

Do regulatory changes impact whether your investment property remains one you should continue to own?

Consider what keeps you up at night Before you race off in search of higher returns, you need to be confident that you have the stomach, the time, and the resilience to tolerate the higher risk that strategy entails.

Will you sleep soundly, or worry all night long if there’s a market correction? What would losing some of that money mean for your financial situation? What are the chances you’ll need it in a year, in five years, or tomorrow? All of these factors must feed into your investment strategy.

Daily life erodes – and sometimes completely exhausts – your willpower, so you need robust systems to make sticking to your plan easy. For example, setting up a separate account for everyday food spending, or withdrawing it in cash, can help stop you overspending. Using a weekly meal kit service can help reduce the number of nights you resort to takeaways.

Setting up your bills to be paid by direct debit can help ensure you always get the prompt payment discount.

Determine your mortgage strategy We all know that interest rates are on the rise – so you need consider whether your priority is the lowest rate possible to allow you to make progress right now – or whether you want the certainty of a longer fixed rate. But try not to get too caught up with interest rates in isolation – remember, the pace at which you repay your mortgage is what will make the most difference to how much interest you pay in total.

That’s why you need to have a plan in place to repay it faster than the standard 25- or 30-year term. Rates are still low by historic standards, so if things are already tight, we have other problems to fix – and need to fix them quickly.

Mindset matters If you want to get ahead – you need to work on your head!

In our experience, few things alter your money mindset faster than seeing results. So, get clear on what the goal is, what milestones you need to be hitting along the way, measure your progress towards each one, and crucially – celebrate those wins! The dopamine hit you get from seeing results will provide the encouragement you need to keep it up.

If you’d like guidance and support in making and implementing a financial strategy, head to www.enable.me for more information or to book an initial consultation.

The power of finding the fritter If you’re chasing the best investment return, don’t overlook the gains you could make – risk-free – by focusing on your own financial management. Fritter can amount

Hannah McQueen is a financial adviser, chartered accountant, personal finance author and the founder of enable.me. enable.me, a NZCB National Partner, is a financial strategy and coaching, and financial advisory company dedicated to helping Kiwis do better. To book an initial consultation with an enable.me financial coach, head to www.enable.me

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Solution Street, Glenfield. 7 Homestar

All New Zealanders deserve a warm, healthy, happy home.

In 2020 over 4900 homes registered across Aotearoa and counting.

Find out more nzgbc.org.nz/homestar

IN THE KNOW —

Workplace law update for the year ahead Copeland Ashcroft Workplace Lawyers are excited to be supporting New Zealand Certified Builders (NZCB) members moving forward with employment and immigration law queries.

With offices around New Zealand from Auckland to Invercargill, our team are poised and ready to take your calls via our helpline, offering a 15-minute free consultation to help you troubleshoot issues with your team. To access this free helpline NZCB members can call: 0800 354 821 – make sure you have your NZCB membership number handy to identify yourself as a member.

You can also find a raft of resources on our website at www.copelandashcroft.co.nz, from articles on legal updates to e-resources covering a range of workplace law topics.

What’s on the horizon for 2022: prepare for change COVID management key in workplaces COVID will still be a “thing”, and as we settle into the new COVID Protection Framework, with businesses and borders opening up, responsibility for managing the risks relating to the spread of COVID will increasingly land with employers.

Clear communication with employees about your COVID workplace plan, from vaccination to protecting their safety, has never been more important – if you do not already have policies in place around this, you should make this a priority.

Challenge to independent contractor arrangements Scrutiny of independent contractor arrangements will continue, following several Employment Court decisions recently where contractors have successfully argued they are employees, including a builder, as well as the courier industry which has also until now almost exclusively operated using contractors. Employers should look at their arrangements here to avoid potentially significant claims.

Immigration changes The Government has announced that all employers are required to be accredited with Immigration New Zealand effective July 2022, with applications opening in May. If you employ migrant workers, being prepared early ensures the application process is as seamless as possible, given the high volume of applications expected.

Holidays Act changes In terms of new employment laws, the Government has indicated changes to the Holidays Act, adopting recent Working Group recommendations.

This will impact all employers and payroll providers and could see implementation of yet another “leave pay” calculation, as well as extended leave entitlements, and payslips to be required for all employees.

Mental health and workplace culture Awareness of mental health impacts of work has increased and is a focus for WorkSafe. Your health and safety management plan needs to address this if it doesn’t already – training on psychosocial risks, and what this means in your workplace is a place to start.

Alongside this, workplace culture to support retention and recruitment has also never been more important. Think about what makes you an employer of choice, and how you communicate this to the market.

Employees are in demand, and they know it. They are looking for their best work life. Expect your team to be looking elsewhere if you haven’t taken steps to front foot that and secure their commitment to you. This is almost always more effective (and often cheaper) than having to counter a potential new employer’s offer.

Fair Pay Agreements We anticipate the introduction of a new fair pay agreements framework, which aims to lift minimum industry standards.

Fair pay agreements will effectively operate as an “award” system similar to Australia and will set minimum terms and conditions for workers across an industry or occupation by a prescribed framework to bargain for these.

Preparation is key After two years of necessary reactivity to change through the start of the pandemic, the best employers will be well advised to look ahead for 2022 at what the coming changes will mean for them, and prepare early, especially given the importance of getting it right, in today’s tight labour market, and to manage the risk of expensive and time consuming claims.

Kate Ashcroft, Partner, of Copeland Ashcroft Workplace Lawyers.

Copeland Ashcroft Workplace Lawyers operate the NZCB Employment helpline and providing specialist advice, representation and support across employment, immigration and health and safety law, to businesses throughout New Zealand. Why us? We know what works, and partner with you to achieve the results you want. www.copelandashcroft.co.nz

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Helping you get the job done is our trade.

At Bunnings Trade, we know that in this competitive environment time is critical. Our dedicated Account Managers will help you manage your projects from start to finish. From organising quotes, to arranging your supply and delivery. They work with you to make sure you have what you need.

Find out how we can help your business at bunnings.co.nz/trade

Helping business is our trade.

IN THE KNOW —

Dream, plan, do, be – unicorns and tiaras I’ve often suffered from illusions of grandeur. You see, in my mind I’m terribly important. I spent a good while allowing myself to celebrate the ‘me’ that I am. Jokes aside, deep down I know that I’m special. We all are in our own way. (Sorry for the cliché. Had to.) Do you believe that about yourself? Do you share that with others? How do we articulate the ‘things’ that make us special? More often than not we don’t. We’re quite good at listening to the naysayers and erring on the side of caution, aren’t we?

Note 1 – It starts with a dream – start high

I know that I have ideas that add value to people’s lives.

Do you feel the same about your ideas... but…?

There’s that but, right? That little, tiny piece of you that says ‘hey you, who do you think you are?’. It might have been something Mum or Dad said, maybe a teacher, perhaps even a partner; but the ‘but’ has lingered. I believe it’s in all of us, which is why sharing how we kicked our ‘buts’, is so vital for the young men and women whose journeys are just beginning, and for those of us, here, who have a Dream.

You may know the saying, that a dream without a plan is just a dream. Curiosity is something I’ve never been shy about.

Leading in the armed services in operational environments triggered a deep interest in the neuroscience of controlling anxiety, fear and stress. Toned down somewhat into our ‘standard’ civilian world, the fascination of controlling the daily stresses of family, work, building a village and conquering that world became my field of passion and expertise.

Task A – Articulate your dream, your passion Get a huge flip chart (ginormous piece of paper), grab some coloured pens and start smashing out every crazy idea that comes into your incredibly passionate head. All of it, no judgement. High Level.

Once I chose to put on my Tiara and chase down my Unicorns, the realisation that I was worthy, became abundantly clear.

I’m quite old now, and don’t have time for too much in the way of niceties. Consequently, there are no longer any ‘buts’ in my vocabulary. Once I chose to put on my Tiara and chase down my Unicorns, the realisation that I was worthy, became abundantly clear.

As an ex-military officer, owner of my consultancy, an outdoor centre, and having just built my own Village (Arete.nz) based in New Zealand; the notion that I’d achieved success, was clear. So, how did I kick my own ‘but’? If you’re wanting to take the next big step, lean into the pie in the sky project but there’s this little bit of doubt scratching at the back of your mind or your accountant is tut-tutting – don’t listen. No truly put your fingers in your ears, and don’t listen, accountants are often too darn dull to see the Unicorn in all its glory. Bless them.

I don’t want to just tell my story. I want you to have a road map at the end of these few words. Your job in all of this is to get out your pencil and start writing as we walk together or pass this article onto the youngster in your team or family that has a dream.

Task B – Define your unicorn – go deep Gather a small tribe of other fabulous men and women whose role is to challenge your assumptions (get at least one nice bugger in there or you’ll feel a bit put on); they’ll ensure you really chew through the pros and cons of your idea; the costs, timeframes, who, how, when and your why. My advice is go deep and narrow. Choose one or two things that you could melt the ears off your friends with – when you’re speaking with fire in your belly – about ‘your Dream, your Unicorn’.

Note 2 – Learn to plan Planning is the absolute key to kicking your but. My IMPACT4Q Model, was the result of many years of thought leadership and deep thinking. Not only does planning control stress, but it reduces overwhelm, lines up all of your ducks into a gorgeous waggly row, and identifies where to start. Oh, and as an aside, increases billable hours by some staggering percentages.

And start you must. My latest big hairy audacious Unicorn Dream was to build my own luxury off-grid retreat for my leadership clients. A space with no WIFI, no plugs to recharge devices, a place of extraordinary beauty, but one that was carbon neutral, elegant, a space to refocus, recharge and refresh.

Of course, I didn’t have any money, well no spare few million.

You too?

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Well, I did and I didn’t. The outdoor center and my consultancy provided a steady source of operational funds, but I had to walk in absolute faith that I was being supported by my husband, my staff and my management team. In absolute truth, my friends, family and staff thought I was stark raving bonkers. Several sandwiches short of a picnic. Not the sharpest knife in the top draw, two cans short of a dozen… you get it.

My latest big hairy audacious Unicorn Dream was to build my own luxury off-grid retreat for my leadership clients. A space with no WiFi, no plugs to recharge devices, a place of extraordinary beauty... a place to refocus, recharge and refresh.

Huh. I wedged that Tiara down on my head, flipped my flipchart, made sure my Unicorn was in sight and then laid out a 24-month building project (not a budget, just the project); from gardening to pathways, to a trip to Bali to buy furniture, to bedding, on down to the stunning Italian wood fires that I imported. Did I know the whole budget? No. Did I know where I was going to find the funds? No. Did I know if I was going to succeed? Abso-blimming-lutely! Why? Because I had a Plan and blind faith that I was onto something.

Remember those illusions of grandeur.

Note 3 – Start – just start Like eating an elephant; choose which end to begin and take one bite at a time. You can rejig your course once you’ve set sail. But you can’t reach your destination if you’re still tied up in port contemplating your navel. Choose one or two things to do and start there, preferably in an order that makes sense, but if you have to start somewhere a little illogical because of lack of funds, or knowledge, that’s ok too.

Note 4 – Tick it off You must have a checklist. Allocate chunks of your time, uninterrupted, to allow deep thinking and to redefine your plan. That first mind-map session; hang it on the wall so it’s in front of your face every day. This is science. Seeing your Dream, ticking off your list, triggers the release of a fabulous bunch of neuro chemicals that increase satisfaction, increase your desire to do it again tomorrow, and let you sleep at night knowing that you’re on the pathway.

Arete Retreat. Four years in the Dreaming, three years in the Planning, two years in the Doing, and now I can sit with my Tiara slightly askew, a delicious lemon gin in my hand and Be. Was it easy? Heck no. Will I rest on my laurels? Heck no.

Is there more? Sure is.

What’s next? Reflect – what would I do more of? What would I do less of? Reassess, reapply. Dream, Plan, Do, Be. Your turn.

Join me on one of our planning retreats and learn to use the IMPACT-4Q Model. It’s absolute gold if you’re looking for a way to kick your own ‘but’ and bring your Dream to fruition. Visit www.arete.nz or www.sallyduxfield.com for more information or to book yourself a spot.

Sally Duxfield. Sally is an expert in designing experiential programmes to allow participants to ‘feel’ leadership; supported by the science that supports leadership behaviours.

Sally has immense knowledge of the motivation required to activate business leaders and teams, increasing their mental toughness and passion for leadership.

For more information, visit www.sallyduxfield.com

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IN THE KNOW —

Tight summer ahead but the end is in sight The August ‘Delta’ lockdowns stopped sawmill production right when mills traditionally start to build stock for the busy summer months and the Christmas maintenance shutdowns. As a result, the market looks set to be tight again this summer. This dynamic is being mirrored around the world, and is worse in Australia than here.

Looking further out there are several key demand and supply forces that will come into play. On the supply side, mills have tweaked as much volume as possible. Red Stag Timber and Carter Holt Harvey Woodproducts (CHHWP) have initiated plant upgrades, and that volume will come onstream in 2023. Waiting times, shipping delays and steel price increases have made plant purchasing expensive and slow compared to a few years ago.

The only spare capacity in the market now is from the new Red Stag Wood Solutions factory producing Cross Laminated Timber (CLT) and, next year, glulam. The glulam will be lintels and beams out to 17m long from around March 2022. CLT is experiencing strong uptake in mid-rise buildings, as well as mid-floors and stairs for townhouses. The key to making that work is to design the building with CLT use in mind from the concept stage, rather than trying to get it into already-consented plans.

There are a number of forces that will both reduce and increase timber demand in the years to come. Key among factors set to reduce demand are rising interest rates, increases in building costs closing the speculative build window, low population growth and practically no immigration for the last two years. At 47,000 building consents – even if only 40,000 are actually getting built – we are very rapidly filling the housing shortage that developed since the Global Financial Crisis (GFC).

However, it’s not all doom and gloom. Firstly, there is sufficient momentum in the market to ensure two strong summer build seasons for the next two years.

Secondly, once Omicron circulates throughout New Zealand it will be harder to justify stringent border controls and the current MIQ system. Easier migration should follow. Those 20–30,000 kiwis in the MIQ queue trying to come home will add to demand.

Thirdly, there are regulatory levers waiting to be pulled pending availability of timber to fulfil the regulatory agenda the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) is driving around healthy homes and climate change.

On healthy homes, MBIE has delayed introducing changes to wall thickness/insulation requirements so as not to put

pressure on the already-tight structural timber market. They still plan to introduce the requirement for higher insulation and thicker walls once timber supply for ‘wider’ (150mm) timber comes available. 2023 would be a logical time to roll this out.

On climate change, it is well recognised that wood reduces atmospheric carbon whereas steel and concrete add to it.

The carbon within building materials is known as Embodied Carbon, and amounts to around 10 percent of New Zealand’s emissions. The government has reducing it in its sights in the form of the ‘Building for Climate Change’ regulation.

This will require building designers to complete Life Cycle Assessments of the emissions of the buildings they design.

Caps will be put in place from at least 2024, or potentially 2023. The caps will limit the carbon per square meter of building allowed, and will need to be met to obtain a building consent. The caps will gradually reduce this decade, driving out Embodied Carbon.

There is international recognition that emissions need to reduce by 50 percent this decade, and this is an easy area for government to make change. Those trying steel framing will have a hard time getting building consents under this regulation.

Balancing all these factors up we expect good supply-demand balance from 2023, and stable pricing. There may be a small timber price increase next year, but it is still far below the 45 percent plus increase in heavy steel pricing during the last year or so.

Marty Verry, CEO, Red Stag Group. Red Stag Timber is an independent, privately owned timber company, based in Rotorua. It is currently New Zealand’s largest sawmill, focussing on producing high-quality timber products for the residential and commercial construction markets in New Zealand, Australia, and the Pacific Islands. A recent addition to their production portfolio is Cross Laminated Timber. For more information visit www.redstag.co.nz

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The all-new Staria Load.

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Discover futuristic styling, a spacious interior, and out of this world safety and technology features in this reimagined work van.

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IN THE KNOW —

Making our buildings more energy efficient On 29 November 2021, The Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment released the biggest energy efficiency changes to the Building Code acceptable solutions and verification methods in more than a decade.

These updates will allow people to heat their homes more easily and efficiently, making them more comfortable and healthier to live in as well as providing health benefits and energy savings to New Zealanders.

Minimum insulation requirements for new building work are increasing for roofs, windows and floors. The updates aim to reduce energy needed to heat and cool new buildings by 23 per cent and to heat new homes by up to 40 per cent.

About the changes: • Six new climate zones are being established to reflect the specific weather experienced in different parts of New Zealand. Each zone has specific minimum insulation requirements, meaning homes will need to be designed and built for the climate they’re located in.

• Minimum requirements for roof insulation levels are doubling across the country. This is because roof insulation is one of the simplest and most cost effective ways to boost thermal performance.

• Windows represent the largest source of heat loss in homes. The minimum insulation levels for windows are being increased across the country, with a focus on higher upgrades in those colder climate zones.

• For underfloor insulation, higher floor insulation levels will be required generally, but further time has been allowed for slab-on-ground construction practices to change.

• A new verification method for the energy efficiency of HVAC systems has been introduced to simplify the process for demonstrating compliance with the Building Code. Creating this pathway will allow building owners to better monitor the performance of their HVAC system and know that the system is using energy optimally.

• Suitable daylight solutions for buildings over three stories have been developed. New acceptable solutions and verification methods will ensure homes and buildings have sufficient amounts of daylight for the people who occupy them as outlined in the Building Code.

• A test method for Verification Method E2/VM2 that can be used to demonstrate that cladding systems are sufficiently weathertight has been revised. The new version does not significantly change the minimum performance requirements and existing tested cladding systems will not need to be retested.

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Image taken by Erica Sinclair and purchased via www.truestock.co.nz, by MBIE.

This update is being made following a consultation process that received more submissions than the last five years of Building Code updates combined. MBIE received overwhelming support for the insulation changes from all parts of the sector including residential homeowners and tenants, with over 98 per cent of all responses supporting increases in the shortest time possible. Feedback on the Building Code typically comes from the various parts of the construction sector. A number of responses also came direct from the public – building owners, occupants and renters – reflecting the high levels of public interest in improving the energy efficiency of the homes we build.

There will be a one-year transition period for the sector to understand and prepare for the changes before they become mandatory in 2022. However, new window insulation requirements in the warmest climate zones will see a two-step approach with an interim increase in the next year and an additional increase in the following year. By the end of 2023, all parts of the country will have a similar minimum level of window insulation requirements.

For more information on the upcoming changes to the Building Code, and to sign up to get the latest information and updates from us visit www.building.govt.nz

Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment. MBIE is the over-arching 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.

IN THE KNOW —

A certification scheme for precast concrete Although the construction sector is busy managing the continued uncertainty created by COVID-19, building quality must never be compromised.

Concrete NZ’s Precast Plant Certification Scheme provides purchasers and specifiers with peace-of-mind that their precast concrete products meet quality requirements.

Within a construction environment dominated by concerns around operating during the pandemic there have been recent reports of building material supply issues, and in turn, potential quality concerns.

The media picked-up on a recent industry survey which reported a number of concerns, including building consent delays, increased costs, customer complaints, and product substitutions due to a lack of building materials.

While the concrete industry is not immune to operating challenges such as a shortage of truck drivers, and is monitoring aggregate supply, there are no capacity issues that should force building contractors to replace the quality concrete products supplied by members of the Concrete NZ Precast Certification Scheme with inferior alternatives.

The Precast Plant Certification Scheme is gaining traction amongst Concrete NZ Precast members and their clients.

The manufacture of precast concrete products requires considerable experience and skill, as they often form a building’s primary structural system. Poor precast manufacturing practices have the potential to compromise a structures durability and the life safety of its occupants.

In addition, safety considerations are paramount during the manufacturing, handling and installation of precast products, with any short cuts potentially resulting in unsafe outcomes with significant consequences.

The Precast Plant Certification Scheme provides specifiers, contractors and their clients with confidence that products purchased from a Precast Certified Plant are backed by an established operator with appropriate facilities, experienced staff and quality assurance programs.

Regardless of the precast product’s application – architectural, structural, cladding, civil or other – purchasing from a Concrete NZ Precast Certified Plant ensures that the product has been manufactured at a facility with systems audited by an independent, third-party body.

Certified Plants invest heavily in modern equipment, oversight procedures and staff training with the intention of delivering “quality”. While cheaper alternatives may be available, cost must never be the only consideration.

Procurement decisions should always factor in quality as a prerequisite, and in terms of precast, the mark to look for is the Concrete NZ Precast Certified Plant logo.

For more details on the Precast Certification Scheme and a link to the precast plants currently registered, visit the Concrete NZ website www.concretenz.org.nz

Rob Gaimster, Chief Executive of Concrete NZ, which supports industry to position concrete as the material of choice for a modern and resilient New Zealand.

Concrete NZ is comprised of the Learned Society and various Sector Groups, including the Precast Sector Group.

Contact Rob on 021 928 651 or rob@concretenz.org.nz

IN THE KNOW —

What is – and what isn’t – a variation?

Variations to the scope and specifications of the building project as originally agreed, occur on virtually every project, and they complicate what would otherwise be a straightforward process. They occur for a variety of reasons, including the discovery during construction that aspects of the design are impractical or can be improved upon, site conditions proving to be more difficult than anticipated, clients changing their mind about structural or aesthetic components part-way through, some of the intended materials becoming unavailable, or the Council insisting on changes.

In the larger projects in the highly competitive commercial construction sector, contractors often underbid to secure the job and then hope to make up the deficit in variation claims.

There is a rigid process for directing and pricing variations, and either party can end up missing out if they fail to follow the rules. The project then becomes a fractious contest where competing teams of designers, quantity surveyors and lawyers battle it out on a more or less continuous basis from commencement to practical completion.

It is a much more contentious issue in fixed price projects rather than cost-reimbursement projects, because in a cost-reimbursement project, the owner pays the same whether the work is a variation or not. In a fixed price project the building owner naturally argues that the work in question isn’t a variation, or if he loses that argument, then it isn’t worth the amount the builder is asking for it. The builder naturally argues that it is a variation, and it is worth every cent he says it is, because otherwise the builder ends up doing extra work for free or at least at a substantial discount.

Because this process is so common and has been going on for centuries, you would think that the law would be very clear on what is a variation and what isn’t. But surprisingly, the Courts haven’t been called upon to make a ruling on it that often.

Possibly that is because these debates usually get settled by negotiation, arbitration or adjudication, all of which are confidential processes where the outcome is rarely disclosed.

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The starting point is generally your building contract, because that will invariably define what a variation is. New Zealand Certified Builders (NZCB) contracts define a variation as “any Building Work or materials that are not, whether expressly or by necessary implication, provided or allowed for in the plans, drawings or specifications forming part of the Contract Documents at the time this Contract is signed by the Builder, or any other event or circumstance described in this Contract which is, or is to be treated as, a Variation, and includes any preparatory work done in connection with a proposed Variation whether or not it proceeds.”

Master Builders contracts, New Zealand Standards contracts, NZ Institute of Architects contracts and Building Hub contracts all have their own definitions, but they are all pretty general.

Variations are often talked about as being work outside the “scope” of the project or outside what was “contemplated” by the contract, which doesn’t help much either.

The rule of thumb that I suggest you use is to compare what you actually built and the materials you actually used, to what was shown on the plans and what was stated in the specifications at the time you signed the contract. Whatever the differences are, should be variations. Where it gets more complicated, is where the designs are vague or lack detail, in which case you have to make it up as you go along. In those cases, you will struggle to claim a variation even though the job proves to be a lot more complicated than you thought it would

be, as long as the end result you achieved was what the plans and specifications called for.

In the residential sector the process for making variations is a little less formal than in the commercial sector, and changes are often requested by the clients or recommended by the contractor, on the spot, and without any formal documentation or pricing. In both fixed price projects and cost reimbursement projects these variations are often responsible for the price ballooning out beyond the parties’ expectations, frequently leading to payments being withheld and disputes having to be resolved.

There is a rigid process for directing and pricing variations, and either party can end up missing out if they fail to follow the rules.

It might surprise you to know that under the common law, a variation that is insisted upon by just one of the parties, is not binding. That is because a deal is a deal, and the deal the parties struck at the outset of the project was to build – and pay for – the structure that was originally designed and specified. Unless you have a contract that

allows for variations, or you both agree, then the clients cannot make the builder deviate from the plans and specifications, and neither can the builder do so at his own discretion.

For that reason, and because there is usually a sensible reason for variations, all of the standard-form building contracts in common use in New Zealand allow the client to require the contractor to carry out variations to some extent or other. The contractor is then entitled (or obliged, in the case of variations which make the job cheaper) to adjust its charges accordingly, and to claim an extension of time.

However, even if there is a variation clause in the building contract, there are still limits on what the building owner can demand of the contractor – unless the contract makes it very clear that there are no such limits. If that isn’t made clear, then the common law will not permit the owner to direct variations that place an unreasonable burden on the contractor or require the contractor to do something well outside the general nature of the responsibilities the builder took on at the outset. Nor will it allow the owner to remove work from the builder’s scope so that the owner can do it or give it to another contractor.

Geoff Hardy is a partner in the Auckland law firm Martelli McKegg Lawyers and is a construction law specialist.

Geoff also operates the Business Related Legal helpline for NZCB members, contact Geoff on 09 379 0700 or geoff@martellimckegg.co.nz for 20 minutes of free advice.

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

IN THE KNOW —

Build efficiency with Digital Boost A Digital Boost app is now available to make digital skills training more accessible for their 40,000 users.

One of these users is Brent Chatterton, Managing Director of Chatterton Builders – a building business based in Rangiora that specialises in energy efficient homes.

Valintine says exclusive content, such as the Clearhead podcast, provide a simple, hands-free way for business owners to absorb key information from experts. “Push notifications allow users to keep up-to-date with events, while the single sign-on saves time,” she says.

“Digital Boost users now have the flexibility to switch between the Digital Boost website and the app depending on their unique and evolving needs.”

Chatterton says he would highly recommend Digital Boost to other business owners, especially those also in the construction industry.

“Builders are very good at building, but a lot of them struggle with technology and paperwork. But customer expectations have changed a lot, so that external support and help with digital tools has become very important.”

“I would definitely encourage the guys to give it [Digital Boost] a go.”

Chatterton (pictured above) discovered Digital Boost at the start of 2021 through New Zealand Certified Builders.

He says the initiative allows him to research and understand what particular digital tool is best for any given task.

“There’s so many [digital tools] out there, and it can be hard to know what’s going to work.”

Digital Boost is free for any registered business to sign up at www.digitalboost.co.nz. It is a self-paced learning journey, with no assessments, Q&A sessions, regular fireside chats and access to support people.

The Digital Boost Live app continues to provide access to: • Over 500 short three-to-five minute learning videos, including how to use digital marketing to increase sales, real world case studies and Q&A sessions with experts.

“It’s not the expense of the tool, it’s the implementation that’s absolutely key. If you don’t get the right thing it can be expensive. So that’s been really helpful.”

Chatterton uses digital tools such as Xero for accounting, VisTab and BWARE for health and safety, and CoConstruct for project management. He says that the tools give the team more control when it comes to finances and workflow.

• Podcasts with business owners.

“They’ve been especially important with COVID. We’ve had to have our finger on the pulse so much more.”

• Live Q&A sessions with experts and past recordings.

• Hundreds of downloadable learning summaries.

• Case studies featuring Kiwi small business owners.

Digital Boost Live is available for free now on the App Store and Google Play.

The Mind Lab built the free Digital Boost Live app in partnership with The Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) as an extension of digitalboost.co.nz.

The Mind Lab CEO Frances Valintine says her team is acutely aware of the pressures small business operators are currently facing with COVID-19 alert level fluctuations. In response, access to support via mental health support services, such as Clearhead, are now available to all Digital Boost users.

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Digital Boost is an initiative launched by MBIE in partnership with digital innovators in the private sector to help small businesses upskill their digital capability. Any registered business or sole trader can sign up for free at www.digitalboost.co.nz or the Digital Boost Live app.

NEXT GENERATION —

ITAB Apprentice Completions Congratulations to all the ITAB Apprentices who have recently completed their National Certificates in Carpentry!

Ara Institute of Canterbury

Otago Polytechnic

Nicholas Bisphan

CP Construction Limited

Rhys Thompson

Jackson Hall

Hillview Construction

Dave Middleton Building (2015) Limited

Sjoerd Nijhof

Damon Clement

Calder Stewart Construction

McKenzie Builders Limited Derek Scott Builders Limited

Samuel HurleyMcKerchar

Streamline Construction

Carl Syme

Isaac Graham

Naylor Love Construction Limited

Lachlan Brandham

Naylor Love Construction Limited

James Riach

Naylor Love Construction Limited

Reuben Savage

Naylor Love Construction Limited

Cameron Haysanders Contract Holdings Limited Maitland Le Compte

Lanyon & Le Compte Limited

Scott Muir

Saunders Building Limited

Christopher Mills

K Argyle Builders Limited

Brendan Hassall

Naylor Love Construction Limited

Lila Love

MT Grey Building Limited

Tutangata Bates

Big Sky Construction Limited

Jack Western

Brendan Murray Construction 2019 Limited

Quentin Gare

BA Building Limited

Taylor McCutcheon

Willowview Building Limited

Doosik Lim

Master Ace Construction

Carne Wilson

Chris Bell Construction

Harrison Derry

Buxton Projects

Marshall Masterson

HiSpec Building Limited

Isaac Matson

Gallagher Trade Building Limited

Northtec – Future Trades Perry McDiarmid

Jay Are Construction Limited

Unitec New Zealand ITAB Apprentice Isaac Matson (centre) with his employer Dan Gallagher from Gallagher Trade Building Limited (left) receiving his completion certificate from Ron Bedyn, ITAB Co-ordinator and Carpentry Tutor at Ara Institute of Canterbury (right).

Josh Den Hartog

Coleman-Ginsberg Construction Limited

Marc Tohill

KGB Construction Limited

Christopher Muller

Dymond Construction Limited

Ranbir Singh

Klair Renovation and Construction Limited

Katainatoa Taukeiaho Onsite Building Construction Limited Laupepa Jeremia

Construction Management Group (Building) Limited

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Are you up for the challenge?!

Applications for the 2022 NZCB Apprentice Challenge are now open!

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!

REGIONAL CHALLENGES

SAT 9 APRIL 2022

WHERE: ITM STORES NATIONWIDE + selected venues

NATIONAL FINAL

The Challenge is open to apprentices employed by NZCB builders or enrolled with ITAB. *conditions apply

20 – 21

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

HAMILTON

MAY 2022

To apply for the challenge checkout www.apprenticechallenge.nz PROUDLY SUPPORTED BY

facebook.com/itabnz *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 May 2022, 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.

NEXT GENERATION —

Brian Dillon AST Trust Chairman

A silver lining amongst the disruption As we reflect on 2021 and all of the disruption it presented, many of us will be thinking ‘surely 2022 must be better?’ Unfortunately, many of the key indicators suggest that it could be just as tough, with interest rates set to shift, supply chain pressures around for a while yet, and employment to stay at 4% or below.

The latter of those pressures, that of staffing, has increased in profile in the last two years or so, as employers, and the wider sector consider what different approaches could be taken to attract and retain staff. It’s probably fair to say that an extra dollar or two per hour will only be attractive for so long, and that other, more person-centric approaches are now been seen as the ones to adopt. One element of this retention approach is supporting of training for staff, and as we move further into the transition into Te Pūkenga – the merging of all polytechnics (ITPs) and Industry training Organisations (ITOs) – the opportunities for a greater array of training will emerge.

No longer will an employer or employee be limited to what their local polytechnic offers, or the trades in which an ITO operates.

Te Pūkenga will open up access to a broader offering, and being delivered in more ways – online, blended, face-to-face, in-work, and more. Micro-credentials will come to the fore – smaller

chunks of learning which have value in their own right, and which don’t necessarily lead to a qualification (but may do in time).

The Industry Training Association Building (ITAB) management met recently to discuss the future of ITAB under Te Pūkenga.

Robust discussion took place about the purpose and intent of ITAB, and the value it’s provided over the years, and we also questioned the relevance and role of ITAB as the tertiary environment undergoes significant change. The ITAB provider partners met the following day, to look at ITAB from a provider perspective. No decisions were made at these huis; instead, recommendations will be presented to the New Zealand Certified Builders Board in February or March.

I trust you’ve all managed to enjoy a decent break away from work and have come back refreshed and ready to tackle another year in this very rewarding industry.

Ka kite anō

Are you in dispute over the interior finishing and completion of a project?

We have specialised assessors who can provide an independent report to review what has happened - call AWCI today.

TECH TIPS —

Marmox makes light work of insulating and waterproofing The building industry is always evolving. Every year, new trends and products appear in line with demand for higher quality, more sustainable builds.

Multiboards – one board, multiple uses Marmox Multiboards comprise a range of extruded polystyrene (XPS) foam boards finished on both sides with a polymer-modified cement facing reinforced with a glass fibre mesh. The boards are lightweight yet strong and waterproof.

These features are unique to Marmox Multiboards and eliminate the need for primers. Marmox Multiboards are also BRANZ appraised which means builders can use them safe in the knowledge that they meet the highest standards.

Marmox Multiboards can be used to insulate floors of new or existing buildings, saving up to 50% of the heat lost through conventional underfloor heating. Multiboards also accelerate heating and reduce running costs. Simply put, for those looking to cut energy costs, Marmox Multiboards are a must.

As the name implies, there’s more than one use to Multiboards.

Multiboards can be used to build partitions, have acoustic properties, and don’t absorb moisture so they’re perfect for bathrooms or wet areas where they can be used as tilebackers.

In terms of installation, Marmox Multiboards can be installed with the greatest of ease by anyone with a basic understanding of tiling as the same principles apply. All you need are the instructions, a handsaw and tile adhesive. It’s as simple as that.

For full installation instructions, view our step-by-step guide at www.t.ly/lVpQ

While a few more tools and a little extra know-how are needed to install Marmox shower bases, they are significantly easier to install than traditional shower bases, freeing you up to move on to the next job. For full installation instructions, view our guide at www.t.ly/hSf9 Marmox shower bases are available in a range of sizes to suit all shower and drain layouts. We can also fabricate shower bases to fit custom installations. Whatever your requirements, our low-cost, easy-to install shower bases will help you create a fully waterproof, hygienic tiled shower area with ease.

Timesaving shower bases We understand that time is money, which is why we supply prefabricated, ready-to-tile over shower bases that can be placed directly onto an existing concrete or wooden floor.

Marmox shower bases are acoustically better than sand and cement, are strengthened by a stainless-steel plate around the cut-outs and are compatible with all waterproofing and tiles.

Our shower bases are a popular choice with builders because they are lightweight, completely waterproof and feature a built-in slope which makes them incredibly quick and easy to install. With the fall built-in, there’s no need to create one out of sand and cement which can be time consuming and messy.

For more information visit www.warmup.co.nz/marmox

This Tech Tip was supplied by Warmup NZ Limited. Warmup is a NZCB National Partner and specialises in electric underfloor heating and has heating solutions for any type of flooring – undertile, undercarpet, inslab, wood, and laminate. Warmup also installs wetrooms that meet insulation, waterproofing, and undertile heating standards and requirements.

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TECH TIPS —

GIB® Plasterboard Composting Guidelines Why consider including Gypsum into composting products? Gypsum is a soft sulfate mineral and widely used as a fertiliser, compost, or cement additive. It’s also used as the main constituent in plaster and plasterboard.

Recycled gypsum sourced from plasterboard off-cuts is commonly used as a bulking material in composting manufacture. Gypsum contains calcium and sulphur, both of which are essential plant nutrients. Calcium for proper cell division and for normal cellular functions, while sulphur help plants to create specific amino acids and as well as being a component for plant vitamins and enzymes.

Gypsum assists to build and revitalise the soil structure by encouraging small clay and silt particles to bind together to form stable soil aggregates. This provides improved water retention, storage, and drainage. Plants exhibit better root development and yield. Gypsum does not alter pH of the soil.

What GIB® plasterboard offcuts are suitable for recycling into compost products?

The gypsum contained within the vast majority of GIB® plasterboard is suitable for use in composting applications, this includes: • GIB Ultraline® • GIB® Standard, including GIB Wideline® • GIB Braceline® • GIB Aqualine® • GIB Noiseline® • GIB Fyreline® • GIB Barrierline®

Do the non-gypsum additives used in GIB® plasterboard represent an issue for use in compost products?

GIB® plasterboard mostly consists of gypsum and front and back paper liners. A small percentage of non-gypsum additives are also included depending on the type of GIB® plasterboard.

Based on an extensive review of local and international research, Winstone Wallboards is of the opinion there are no known health concerns or toxic risk to soil organism’s through the inclusion of recycled gypsum sourced from GIB® plasterboard listed in this guidance document being used in composting products.

This includes review of the effect of fibreglass strands which are included in some GIB® plasterboard products. It should also be noted the presence of fibreglass in the core of some GIB® plasterboard products is at an extremely low level compared to the overall sheet mass and some of this content may be further removed during the plasterboard crushing and refining process.

Recommended gypsum ratio for composting products

GIB® plasterboard sheets not suitable for use in composting applications include: • GIB X-Block® • GIB Toughline®/ GIB Toughline® Aqua • GIB Weatherline® Other considerations when recycling GIB® plasterboard offcuts into composting product: • Only uncoated GIB® plasterboard offcuts should be accepted for recycling. Painted or coated offcuts may contain sources of unknown contaminants.

• Plasterboard offcuts should only be sourced from new build construction sources. Old offcuts typically sourced from renovation or demolition projects may contain unknown contaminants.

• As much as practically possible plasterboard offcuts sent to recycling should be touch dry.

• Plasterboard offcuts should be crushed into fine particles as well as being screened to remove the paper liner leaving the recycled gypsum for inclusion in composting products.

As a general guide Winstone Wallboards recommends a gypsum ratio of 15 to 30%¹. To manure during composting. This should give an optimal balance of gypsum in the compost mixture.

1 Content Source: Can we build better compost? Use of waste drywall to enhance plant growth on reclamation sites,Journal of Environmental Management 129 (2013) 503509. M. Anne Naeth, S.R. Wilkinson.

Other useful sources of information Other useful sources of information related to the use of recycled and natural gypsum in composting product include: • Using recycled wallboard for crop production, WasteCap Wisconsin R. P. Wolkowski, I. Ndukwe, Q. Yuan, Recycling 2016, 1, 311-320: https://www.semanticscholar.org/paper/ Using-recycledwallboard-for-crop-production-Wolkowski/ 204964422727542b25df98d6480cc5a86c880e1b • Worm Growth Study: https://www.cibr.org.nz/research/soiland-plants/vermicomposting/ • Phys Org Article: https://phys.org/news/2015-04-drywallgoodcomposting-material.html • NZ Compost Standard NZS 4454: https://www.standards. govt.nz/shop/nzs-44542005/

This Tech Tip was supplied by Winstone Wallboards. Winstone Wallboards is a NZCB Partner 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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With solutions for every room of the home and featuring industry leading technology like nanoeTMX air purification on our air conditioning, let us help you bring your next project together

FROM NZCB —

NZCB Affinity Partners New Zealand Certified Builders (NZCB) is proud to partner with the following companies who are aligned with the Association to bring our members discounted services and products.

UTES Cost + % discount on most Noel Leeming products

Exceptional vehicle deals with Renault, Hyundai and Isuzu

Exclusive pricing on Fisher & Paykel and Haier products

Deals and discounts on your mobile and broadband plans

Exclusive Builders’ Insurance packages

Exclusive Health Insurance packages with NIB (Business Members only)

Discounted rate on AA Business Care

Fuel Card Programme – offering discounts

25% off car, van and 4WD tyres

Fuel Card Programme – offering discounts

Discounts across a wide selection of products

Save every time you stop at Z, Caltex and Challenge The simple choice for your business with Z Business. The fuel card programme full of fresh features and extra value, all designed to help your business go further.

As a member of NZCB you’ll get even greater value with the Z Business Partner offer. Some of the benefits include: • Everyday discounts, everywhere. Enjoy 9 cents off the pump price on every fuel grade at any Z, Caltex and Challenge service station, every day of the week. Plus, you’ll enjoy 9 cents off National Price at any Z and Caltex truck stop nationwide.

• Convenience. Now even closer. With over 550 service stations and truck stops throughout NZ, you’re bound to find a warm welcome close to you.

• Reward your fuel spend. Add your Fly Buys or Airpoints™ to your Z Business Partner account and earn rewards every time you fuel up at Z or Caltex service stations – rewards you can use for gifts, flights and more.

• See more with Xero. Get a copy of your invoice data fed directly into Xero – so it’s easier to keep your accounts up to date.

• Keep the cash flowing. Get up to 27 days credit to help you manage your cash flow.

To sign up for a Z Business Partner offer today, visit: www.z.co.nz/business and enter the offer code CERTBUILD.

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FROM NZCB —

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

COMPANY

WEBSITE

Abodo Wood Ltd

www.abodo.co.nz

Milwaukee Tools NZ

www.milwaukeetools.co.nz

Altus NZ Ltd

www.altus.co.nz

MiTek New Zealand Ltd

www.mitek.co.nz

APL Window Solutions

www.aplnz.co.nz

Open2view

www.open2view.co.nz

ASSA ABLOY Open Solutions New Zealand

www.assaabloy.co.nz

Pacific Steel (NZ) Ltd

www.pacificsteel.co.nz

Bahco

www.bahco.co.nz

Paslode New Zealand

www.paslode.co.nz

Bowers Brothers Concrete Ltd

www.bowersbrothers.co.nz

PlaceMakers

www.placemakers.co.nz

Builda Price (2016) Ltd

www.buildaprice.co.nz

Pro Clima New Zealand Ltd

www.proclima.co.nz

Bunnings Ltd

www.bunnings.co.nz

Productspec Ltd

www.productspec.net

CS For Doors Ltd

www.csfordoors.co.nz

Proven Systems Ltd (DVS)

www.dvs.co.nz

CSR Building Products (NZ) Ltd

www.csr.co.nz

Red LBP Ltd

www.redlbp.co.nz

ECKO Fastening Systems

www.ecko.co.nz

Red QS Ltd

www.redqs.nz

enable.me

www.enable.me

Red Stag Timber

www.redstag.co.nz

FMI Building Innovation

www.aslnz.co.nz

Resene Construction Systems

www.reseneconstruction.co.nz

Franklin Plumbing and Builders Supplies Ltd

www.franklins.co.nz

Resene Paints Ltd

www.resene.co.nz

Rosenfeld Kidson & Co. Ltd

www.rosenfeldkidson.co.nz

Free Up

www.freeup.kiwi

Futurewood

Schneider Electric

www.pdl.co.nz

www.futurewood.nz

Gerard Roofs

www.gerardroofs.co.nz

Sellwood Products Ltd

www.sellwood.co.nz

GTEE.co.nz

www.gtee.co.nz

Senco Brands (NZ) Ltd

www.senco.nz

HazardCo

www.hazardco.com

SIKA New Zealand

www.nzl.sika.com

Hilti (New Zealand) Ltd

www.hilti.com

Simx Ltd

www.simx.co.nz

HomePlus

www.homeplus.co.nz

Soudal Ltd

www.soudal.co.nz

Independent Building Supplies

www.ibs.co.nz

Tasman Insulation New Zealand Ltd

www.pinkbatts.co.nz

INTAKS NZ Ltd

www.intaks.co.nz

Tax Management New Zealand

www.tmnz.co.nz

Jacobsen Creative Surfaces Ltd

www.jacobsen.co.nz

The Trades Coach

www.tradescoach.co.nz

James Hardie New Zealand

www.jameshardie.co.nz

Thermakraft Ltd

www.thermakraft.co.nz

JSC Timber

www.jsctimber.co.nz

Tile Space

www.tiles.co.nz

KLC Ltd

www.klc.co.nz

USG Boral New Zealand

www.usgboral.com/en_nz

Kopine

www.kopine.co.nz

Utecture

www.utecture.com

Laminex New Zealand

www.laminexnewzealand.co.nz

Viking Roofspec

www.vikingroofspec.co.nz

Marley New Zealand Ltd

www.marley.co.nz

Warmup NZ Ltd

www.warmup.co.nz

Marshall Innovations Ltd

www.mwnz.com

YourQS Ltd

www.yourqs.co.nz

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