Builders and Contractors Issue #166

ISSUE NO.166 - 2026 WWW.BUILDERSANDCONTRACTORS.CO.NZ

A CUT ABOVE Celebrating the best in timber design

Where are the workers?

Concrete solutions 2026 conference returns to Wellington

75,000 gone, 600 waiting to start

Insolvencies climb

Quake rules reset

The payment tools the law provides

What the reform means for new builds and old

Common ground Parties agree on ending consents flip-flop

ONLINE

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Contents Page: 8

ISSUE NO.166 - 2026 WWW.BUILDERSANDCONTRACTORS.CO.NZ

Page: 19

Page: 26

A CUT ABOVE Celebrating the best in timber design

Where are the workers?

Concrete solutions 2026 conference returns to Wellington

75,000 gone, 600 waiting to start

Insolvencies climb

Quake rules reset

The payment tools the law provides

What the reform means for new builds and old

Common ground Parties agree on ending consents flip-flop

ONLINE

This Builders and Contractors issue opens on the 2026 Timber Design Awards. Our cover image, Ashburton's Te Whare Whakatere, epitomises a sector that's clearly hit its stride. 132 entries, 52 projects, countless examples of engineered wood as the structure of choice, not the alternative.

The rest of the issue reads as an industry finding its feet after a hard couple of years. Consents have passed 40,000 again and confidence is returning, but the numbers carry a warning. Close to 75,000 people left the trade in a year, and the skills pipeline won't refill on its own. We look at what keeping people really takes, why the workers walking out the door take years of hard-won knowledge with them, and why the next boom will be built by the people we train now.

There's harder news too: a $60m deal to keep Golden Bay's Portland kiln firing to 2040, the biggest shake-up to earthquake rules in a decade, and company failures at an 11-year high.

And with concrete very much in focus, we look ahead to the Concrete NZ Conference 2026 in Wellington this October. Plenty to get into.

Contents Viewpoints

52

Golden Bay Cement stays open A $60m Crown deal to 2040

68

The long-term cost of site exposure The diseases that outlast the job

82

The drone is the easy part When you need a certificated operator

8

Fuel price volatility Watching oil in infrastructure costs

56

12

When the work returns, will we be ready?

Mitre 10 on lifting productivity

The innovators' missing middle HERA backs ideas on the way to market

72

Manufacturing Apprentice of the Year Devin Gibson's rise at Culham Engineering

86

The skills pipeline we can't afford to pause BCITO on why the shortage outlasts the downturn

74

News

Earthquake law reset hits Wellington Owners handed up to 15 more years

10

Cross-party consensus emerges Ending the consenting flip-flop

76

New builds, old debts Seismic rules pulling both ways

19

Celebrating the best in timber design Inside the 2026 NZ Timber Design Awards

92

Nation's largest solar farm, again Inside the 202MW Tauhei build

22

A different path to success Lexi Pritchard's national apprenticeship honour

Economy 8

Consents rise, costs follow Past 40,000, but costs climb

16

Diesel keeps a lid on building costs Stable on top, moving underneath

88

The money you're owed Retentions as failures hit an 11-year high

Materials & methods 32

Concrete solutions Concrete NZ Conference returns to Wellington

38

Low carbon steel for greener building Proving lower embodied carbon

44

Beyond asphalt Concrete roads for the next generation

64

A sharper case for reclaimed timber Rising landfill levies add up

84

A new era of waste reporting WM New Zealand explains what’s changing

Safety & wellbeing 26

Height safety reform targets falls The case for passive protection

Page: 32

Enjoy, The team at

/buildersandcontractorsmagazine

www.buildersandcontractors.co.nz

Builders and Contractors, a national

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This void has been successfully filled by Builders & Contractors. Distribution is by way of various outlets: PlaceMakers, Mitre 10, Builders Hardware, Site Safe Members, timber companies, hire companies, together with our database direct mail drop to architects, draughting professionals, consulting engineers, building consultants, designers and local Councils. By these means we aim to reach one of the most powerful buying groups in the industry.

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Viewpoints

Consents

Fuel price volatility Managing uncertainty in the infrastructure construction sector

By Peter Nunns, General Manager – Strategy, New Zealand Infrastructure Commission, Te Waihanga

Recent events affecting shipping through the Strait of Hormuz are a reminder that fuel prices can change rapidly in response to global events. We don’t know how long this disruption will go on, or what impact it will have if it continues. But we do know that prices are elevated and volatile.

We can expect global oil prices to flow through to local prices. The New Zealand Infrastructure Commission’s research shows that increases or decreases to global oil prices pass through to New Zealand almost immediately. Paying those higher global prices is necessary to keep supplies flowing our way.

We’re facing the biggest oil supply shock since the 1970s; however, the difference is that the New Zealand economy – like the world economy – is much less oil-intensive than it was back then. On the eve of the 1979 oil shock, New Zealand used roughly a third of a barrel of oil for every $1000 of GDP produced. Today that figure is closer to onesixth of a barrel.

Peter Nunns, General Manager – Strategy, New Zealand

Infrastructure construction remains exposed to oil prices, however. Diesel is the fourth largest material input to heavy and civil construction – behind only structural steel, aggregates, and concrete.

Construction firms’ direct purchases of diesel account for a bit under 2% of total spending in this sector, and diesel is also baked into transport costs and prices for other materials.

In the short term, there aren’t good substitutes for diesel or bitumen in construction, so infrastructure projects can expect to bear cost increases. We expect impacts to be larger for road maintenance and resealing work than for new construction, because bitumen costs make up a greater share of the cost of road maintenance projects.

So, what can firms and clients do? Monitor prices. Look at forward contracts if volatility is a major risk. Understand project-specific exposure – a road renewal is not the same as a new build. And make sure input price escalation, not just from oil, is clearly addressed in contracts.

This isn’t the 1970s. But for road works especially, oil is a cost worth watching closely.

Consents rise, costs follow New dwelling consents hit 40,581 in the year to June, up 19%, while building costs accelerated for a second straight quarter. Together the two data sets point to a construction sector shifting from an oversupplied, pricecutting phase to a tighter market where costs are climbing again.

On consents, Stats NZ recorded 40,581 new dwellings consented nationally in the year to June, up 19% on the year before.

It’s the first time the annual figure has

Non-residential consents told a different story. The category totalled $8.8 billion for the year, down 2.9%. Offices, administration and transport buildings led on value at $1.7 billion, down 2.7%. Education buildings rose 4.2% to $1.3 billion. Storage buildings fell 8.0% to $1.3 billion. The recovery so far is residential. Commercial and industrial building hasn’t turned the same corner.

As for costs, Cotality’s Cordell Construction Cost Index rose 1.1% in the June quarter, up from 1.0% in March and back at the longrun quarterly average. Annual cost growth reached 3.5%, up from 3.0%, the fastest annual pace since mid-2023. It remains below the roughly 4% long-term average, but the trend is now upward for two consecutive quarters.

Stats NZ recorded 40,581 new dwellings consented nationally in the year to June, up 19% on the year before. It’s the first time the annual figure has passed 40,000 since 2023. Consents per 1,000 residents rose to 7.6, from 6.4 a year earlier, ruling out population growth as the explanation. passed 40,000 since 2023. Consents per 1,000 residents rose to 7.6, from 6.4 a year earlier, ruling out population growth as the explanation.

The annual totals show a sharper shift.

Multi-unit homes reached 21,954 for the year, up 21%, overtaking the 18,627 standalone houses consented, up 17%. Multiunit dwellings now outnumber stand-alone houses on an annual basis. That changes what gets built and what gets priced.

Builders geared toward single dwellings are competing for a shrinking share of the market, while firms set up for mediumdensity and multi-unit work are picking up volume.

8 | WWW.BUILDERSANDCONTRACTORS.CO.NZ

The increases spanned structural steel, plumbing components, insulation and aluminium roofing accessories. No single material category is driving the rise on its own, which makes it harder to dismiss as a one-off spike. Cotality New Zealand chief property economist Kelvin Davidson said the sector isn’t seeing the pace of increases recorded in 2021 and 2022, but that the period of falling or flat costs has ended.

The two data sets point the same way.

Consents are rising fastest in the mediumdensity segment, and the materials used in that kind of build, framing, insulation, roofing, cladding, are the same ones now getting more expensive.

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News

Cross-party consensus emerges For years, construction firms have built around a moving political target. Consenting rules, building standards and housing settings swung with each change of government, and builders, developers and subcontractors absorbed the cost of the uncertainty. The coalition Government is now betting that its overhaul of the planning and consenting system can end that, and at this year's BuildNZ conference there were signs the rest of the spectrum is prepared to let it.

The pitch from the top is unapologetically about productivity and cost. Then Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk, who drove the overhaul of the consent system before losing the portfolio in a reshuffle this month, argued its delays were "driving up costs, making the average standalone house here 50% more expensive to build than in Australia." As BuildNZ opened in Auckland, National set out fresh building plans, with Penk noting the sector "employs around 10% of New Zealand's workforce and makes up at least 6% of GDP." The consent process, he said, too often added "extra checks, extra paperwork, extra cost and extra uncertainty, without making buildings any safer or better quality." For an industry of that size, the prize from getting it right is large.

What made BuildNZ notable was how little the politicians fought over the goal.

Representatives of Labour, ACT and the Greens, along with The Opportunity Party, shared a stage and agreed on the bigpicture problem even as they split on the detail. Labour's building and construction spokesperson Arena Williams said she wanted people to leave sensing a consensus was forming around infrastructure, housing and construction policy. ACT's Simon Court, who as an under-secretary helps drive the 10 | WWW.BUILDERSANDCONTRACTORS.CO.NZ

Government's resource management work, called it "a contest of ideas" but agreed cross-party work was already under way to steady a sector long whipsawed by changing rules.

That instability has a name on site. Flipflopping. Priorities change with each government, and projects consented under one regime can be reconsented, redesigned or shelved under the next. The volatility is expensive. It shows up in higher build costs, in firms folding between projects, and in skilled trades leaving the industry when the pipeline stalls.

The Government's answer is the biggest change to the planning system in a generation. The Resource Management Act reform now before Parliament, led by RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop, is designed to pare back what councils control, replacing more than a hundred regional plans with a single plan per region and one national direction, and cutting a tangle of consent categories down to a handful. Its stated aim is to make infrastructure quicker to deliver while giving councils, investors and communities more certainty about what can be built and where. Certainty, more than any single rule change, is what the sector says it is after.

By Ben O'Connell

Agreement on a conference stage only counts once it becomes work that does not stop when the government changes.

News

The industry has been pushing the same way. Civil Contractors New Zealand launched its 2026 Election Manifesto in July, built from twelve member workshops and addressed to every party. Its central demand is blunt. Stop starting and stopping the work. Citing the Cost of Stopping report alongside the National Infrastructure Plan, it puts the cost of stop-start investment at $11.8 billion over the past 25 years. Chief executive Alan Pollard says an uncertain pipeline is his members' single biggest challenge, and his asks track the reform direction, a stable, depoliticised pipeline with independent accountability, nationally consistent procurement with early contractor involvement, a risk-based approach to compliance, and workforce settings that back apprenticeships and fix immigration for the civil trades.

Not everyone wanted the brakes off entirely. Green MP Lawrence Xu-Nan warned that cutting corners on imported building products risked repeating the leaky homes era, a reminder that speed cannot come at the expense of quality.

The Government's answer is that simpler, clearer rules are not the same as weaker ones, and that a faster system can still be a rigorous one.

Workforce was the other common thread, and the clearest patch of genuine agreement. Williams warned of skill shortages that need fixing before the next upturn hits. The same concern runs through the CCNZ manifesto and the Government's own push on trades training and immigration settings, one area where the political noise largely falls away.

Extra checks, extra paperwork, extra cost and extra uncertainty, without making buildings any safer or better quality.

— Chris Penk

There are early signs the ground is firming.

Stats NZ figures released this month show close to 39,800 new dwellings consented in the year to May, up 19% and the first annual rise after three years of decline in which activity slid and firms closed their doors.

Attached housing, rather than the standalone home, is leading the recovery, and more consents generally mean more work on site and more orders for timber, concrete and fit-out materials over the following year or two. For a government that has staked its credibility on getting building moving, it is an early number in its favour.

The recovery is real but not yet secure, and the sector knows how fast confidence can drain if the rules shift again. That is why stability, more than any one policy, is what builders say they want from whoever governs next, and why the tone at BuildNZ this year felt different from previous election cycles.

That stability argument now has an awkward test case. Penk held the building portfolio from the coalition's first day in November

2023 through to BuildNZ, then lost it weeks later when an unsuccessful bid to replace Luxon as National leader cost him his Cabinet seat, and he has since confirmed he will leave Parliament at the November election.

Simon Watts inherits the portfolio with the RMA reform bills still before Parliament.

The legislation does not depend on any one minister, and its architecture sits mostly with Bishop's Resource Management Act reform.

But for a sector just told the flip-flopping is over, watching the government's own line-

up change mid-reform is a reminder that political stability and policy stability are not quite the same thing.

But for an industry that has spent years bracing for the next reversal, a reform agenda with a clear direction, and opponents willing to work within it rather than tear it up, is the closest thing to certainty the sector has had in years. As CCNZ puts it, agreement on a conference stage only counts once it becomes work that does not stop when the government changes.

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Viewpoints

When the work returns, will we be ready?

Mitre 10’s Head of Trade on the NZCBIA productivity report, and why building back better after the downturn depends on the whole supply chain, not just the site

By Mark Moffitt, Head of Trade, Mitre 10

The biggest challenge facing construction is not a lack of future work. New Zealand still needs more homes, schools, hospitals and infrastructure.

The real question is whether the industry will have the people and capability to respond when that work arrives.

Addressing productivity issues created by high workforce turnover and lack of coordination across the industry was one of the central issues raised in the new 2026 Building Construction Sector Report, commissioned by the NZ Chinese Building Industry Association (NZCBIA) and co-sponsored by Mitre 10 and BCITO. The downturn has been difficult, but the report also offers clear pathways forward to build back better, with collaboration right at the top.

A statistic worth noting – around 70 per cent of the construction industry’s contribution to New Zealand’s economy flows through supplier industries. That reminds us that the strength of the sector depends on a much wider ecosystem than what happens on site alone. Builders, merchants, manufacturers, transport operators, distributors and training organisations all have an important contribution to make.

Mark Moffitt

Productivity is not just created on site. It’s created throughout the value chain.

The report shows only 6% of workers remain in the same job after five years.

Many exit the industry entirely or head to Australia. Programmes like New Zealand Certified Builders Apprentice Challenge, which shine a light on emerging talent and help develop the future leaders of the industry, are one of the ways the sector is working to address this.

The report highlights the need to provide more meaningful work for apprentices from day one as crucial in incentivising them to stay. Most people take pride in making a real contribution, so investing in upskilling and getting apprentices into productive work earlier can help to retain talent as well as increasing productivity.

As merchants, we also have a role to play in improving productivity. One of our most important jobs is giving builders the certainty they need to plan confidently and operate efficiently, so the real work can go ahead.

When I speak with builders, the message is usually pretty clear: get the order right, get it there on time and, most importantly, don’t slow them down. As merchants, we need to make it easy for our builders to focus on building.

That’s why innovation is not only about new technology – it’s about creating better systems, better service, more reliable supply chains, and products that help customers work smarter.

We’ve already helped some customers analyse data on how many site deliveries or trips to pick up extra supplies they’re making. This has resulted in smarter quantities being ordered, fewer trips and suppliers offering a service that better meets customers’ needs. Time saved equals money saved, and that creates

The report shows only 6% of workers remain in the same job after five years. Many exit the industry entirely or head to Australia.

- Mark Moffitt

options like investing in upskilling people, so these businesses can take on bigger or more complex jobs and provide more career pathways to their people.

In our own Trade business, we’ve worked with customers to conduct highly detailed advance planning on some major projects to calculate exactly how many loads of exactly which materials will be needed, when they’ll be needed, and where on site they should be delivered. We’re working to create a highly efficient, repeatable model that will speed up the build process even further, sharing this with the sector to help others collaborate in similar ways across the industry.

The challenges identified in the NZCBIA report are too large for any one organisation or part of the sector to solve alone. At a government level, the report also notes opportunities to streamline the large number of policies and regulations that overlay construction, to create efficiencies and boost confidence.

There’s also potential to bring forward public infrastructure projects when demand slows elsewhere, to keep momentum going in the industry.

Harnessing the collective experience and expertise of everyone involved will be critical to building a more productive, efficient and sustainable sector. But if industry, government, educators, insurers and supply-chain partners work together, we have an opportunity to build a sector that is more productive, more resilient and better prepared for future growth.

12 | WWW.BUILDERSANDCONTRACTORS.CO.NZ

When you take on a business partner; put it in writing Taking on a business partner or setting up a business with someone is one of the bigger decisions you will make as a business owner. In construction it often happens naturally. Someone has been with you for years, they know the work, the clients trust them, and bringing them in as a shareholder feels like the right move. It usually is. But what happens if it stops working?

The Handshake Deal Most partnership arrangements in construction businesses start with a conversation and a handshake. Everyone has good intentions. Nobody thinks about what happens if one person wants out, stops performing, gets sick, or decides the direction of the business should be completely different from what you had in mind.

The problem is not the intention. It is the absence of anything in writing when things change. And in any business relationship, things always change eventually.

What a shareholders' agreement actually does A shareholders' agreement sets out the rules before you need them. Who makes decisions and how. What happens if a shareholder wants to sell their shares or if

one shareholder is not pulling their weight.

What happens if there is a deadlock between equal shareholders and nobody can agree.

These are not unlikely scenarios. They are the normal friction points of running a business with more than one owner. Having agreed answers to these questions before they arise is the difference between a disagreement that gets resolved and one that ends up in court or kills the business.

The buy-sell question A shareholders’ agreement and a buy-sell agreement are related but different.

The shareholders' agreement covers how the business is governed day to day and what happens when shareholders disagree.

The buy-sell agreement covers what happens when a shareholder dies, becomes incapacitated, or exits. Both are worth having. Neither replaces the other.

If you are thinking about bringing someone into the business or forming a business with someone, the time to sort the paperwork is before they come in or you join forces, not six months later when everyone is busy and the moment feels awkward.

A common situation I have seen construction businesses where a working relationship that made sense fell apart because there was nothing written down. The split was messy, expensive, and distracting at a time the business needed everyone focused on the work. It does not have to go that way.

If you are thinking about bringing someone into the business or forming a business with someone, the time to sort the paperwork is before they come in or you join forces, not six months later when everyone is busy and the moment feels awkward.

Getting this right does not take long. It takes the right conversation with your accountant and lawyer who understands your industry and business. The cost of doing it properly is a fraction of the cost of not having it when you need it.

If you already have one, review it. Businesses change, shareholders change, and an agreement that made sense when you were two people and a ute may not reflect where things stand today.

Talk to Logan Granger at Johnston Associates.

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News

Diesel keeps a lid on building costs

Construction costs held broadly stable for the second month running in July, and the reason sits in the fuel tank. Diesel fell 20.7% month on month in the latest QV CostBuilder update, and that drop flowed almost immediately into the trades that burn the most of it.

Excavation led the way, down 4.5%, the largest average reduction of any trade for the second month in a row.

QV CostBuilder spokesperson and quantity surveyor Martin Bisset said the fuel relief was doing the visible work. “Diesel has fallen from June to July, and that saving has flowed through to some of the trades most exposed to fuel costs,” he said. “Excavation is the clearest example of that this month. It relies heavily on machinery and transport, so when diesel falls, that tends to show up in the numbers pretty much straight away.”

The stable headline sits over a busier picture.

The July update captured 9,600 individual price changes, and plenty of them pointed up. Concrete blockwork rose 0.8% and concrete 0.9%, while sharper movement showed in expanded polystyrene sheet, up 9.3%, Aquatherm pipework, up 7.5%, copper pipework, up 4.0%, ready mixed concrete, up 3.7%, and wool insulation, up 3.0%.

“The headline result is very stable, but that doesn’t mean nothing is moving. We’re still seeing movement below the surface,” Bisset said.

Read by trade, those movements land unevenly. The copper and Aquatherm rises push straight into plumbing and gasfitting margins, where pipework is a large share of the job. The 9.3% jump in expanded polystyrene sheet and the 3.0% lift in wool 16 | WWW.BUILDERSANDCONTRACTORS.CO.NZ

insulation land on anyone pricing to the current insulation requirements, where the material volume is set by code rather than choice. Concrete blockwork and ready mixed concrete, up 0.8% and 3.7%, feed into foundations and structure on almost every build, so even small percentage moves carry a long way. The trades that got the diesel relief, excavation and the earthmoving that leans on machinery and cartage, are not the ones wearing the material rises, so the average that reads as stable is really two different stories sitting on top of each other.

What matters for anyone pricing forward work is what the stability is built on. The line holding costs flat this month is diesel, the single most volatile input on the list. It answers to global oil markets rather than to anything happening on a New Zealand site, and it can reverse in weeks.

The headline result is very stable, but that doesn’t mean nothing is moving. We’re still seeing movement below the surface.

— Martin Bisset, QV CostBuilder

“The recent drop in diesel has helped keep construction cost growth in check this month, but fuel prices remain highly volatile,” Bisset said. “Recent oil-market movements are a reminder that things can change quickly, especially while the situation in the Middle East remains so fluid.”

That makes the current calm a weak thing to bank into a fixed-price tender. The steadier signal is the material lines that kept climbing through the quiet month. Concrete, copper and insulation are moving with returning activity rather than a supply shock, and that is the kind of increase that tends to hold. A forward job priced on the assumption that July’s fuel saving stays put is a job carrying the risk if it does not.

It is worth remembering what the CostBuilder figure measures. The platform tracks supply and install rates across six main centres, from Auckland to Dunedin, and captures thousands of individual line items each month, so a flat headline is an average of a great deal of movement underneath. A firm pricing a specific job in a specific town carries its own basket of those items, not the national average, which is another reason to read the detail rather than the top line.

The most dangerous forklift operators are often the most confident It’s easy to assume that forklift incidents happen because someone is inexperienced. In reality, that’s often not the case.

Many incidents involve experienced operators who know the machine well. Years of operating without an incident can build confidence, but over time that confidence can become complacency.

Shortcuts begin to creep in. The seatbelt doesn’t get fastened because it’s only a short trip. Loads are carried a little higher than they should be. Corners are taken a little faster. Pedestrians become part of the background in a busy yard. None of these decisions feel significant on their own, but together they reduce the margin for error.

The reality is that most forklift incidents don’t happen during unusual or complex tasks. They happen during everyday work such as loading trucks, moving pallets, reversing through busy yards, or operating in familiar areas where operators feel comfortable.

and rushing a task can catch out even the most experienced operator.

Today’s workplaces add another layer of risk. Mixed traffic, pedestrians, tight spaces, changing ground conditions and constant pressure to keep work moving all increase the likelihood of a simple mistake having serious consequences. Fatigue, distraction

Forklifts have also changed. Modern machines include improved controls and additional safety features, but technology doesn’t replace good judgement. Safe operation still depends on the person in the seat making the right decisions every time.

That’s why refresher training and regular discussions about safe operating practices remain important. Competency isn’t measured by how many years someone has driven a forklift… It’s measured by consistently making safe decisions, every day.

The best forklift operators aren’t the ones who think they’ve seen it all. They’re the

ones who continue to respect the machine, the workplace around them and the risks that come with becoming too comfortable.

Keep your operators current.

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What We Do

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Resource Consents

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Founded in 2016, the firm brings together experienced planners with backgrounds in local government and international planning, offering practical guidance that keeps projects moving forward.

With a collaborative approach and deep understanding of regulatory processes, Plan Co. helps clients unlock the full potential of their sites.

From small residential projects to large-scale developments — no project is too big or small.

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End-to-end management of consent applications — from coordinating specialists to preparing and lodging submissions with council.

Due Diligence Strategic planning advice and feasibility assessments to help you make informed development decisions.

Development Planning Expert guidance for residential, subdivision, and commercial developments of any scale.

Why Work With Plan Co?

3 Extensive experience with councils across New Zealand 3 Clear, honest communication throughout the process 3 Collaborative approach with industry specialists 3 Proven track record delivering successful consent outcomes These principles allow projects to move efficiently through regulatory processes while maximising site potential.

Timber Design Awards

Celebrating the best in timber design A record field at the 2026 Timber Design Awards signals an industry hitting its stride, with engineered timber as the structure of choice

Te Whare Hononga by Tennent Brown Architects Photo by Andy Spain

Te Whare Whakatere Ashburton Library and Civic Centre, Athfield Architects Ltd, Lightforge, Photo by Johannes van Kan

The judging panel called the project a benchmark achievement, praising its blend of innovation and engineering elegance.

Built using a combination of laminated veneer lumber (LVL) and cross-laminated timber (CLT), Hangar 4 showcases timber’s environmental credentials, seismic resilience and corrosion resistance, offering a lighter alternative in a building sector traditionally dominated by steel. The project also picked up the Nelson Pine Commercial & Industrial Building Design Award (jointly with Kai Tahi, Porirua) and the Rothoblaas Innovative Timber Engineering Award.

Other standout winners included AUT Tukutuku by Jasmax, which took out both the Abodo Sustainable Development Award and the Red Stag Mid-Rise Building Design Award. The University of Auckland featured prominently across the student and innovation categories, with James Corles winning the Timber Design Society Student Design Award for Grainform, and Anthony Hōete recognised in the Spec Toolbox Innovative Timber Manufacturing & Technology Award for Whare Mīmirū, a seismically resilient structure incorporating Māori post-tensioning techniques.

This year’s awards drew 132 entries across 52 projects, with 17 category winners and 11 Highly Commended projects recognised on the night.

The Build Anatomy International Project Award was jointly awarded to Red Stag Timberlab for its Timber Nets on Melbourne’s West Gate Tunnel Project, and to PTL Structural + Fire for the Majuro ECC Sports Stadium in the Marshall Islands, recognising New Zealand timber expertise on the world stage.

The Simpson Strong-Tie People’s Choice Award went to 211 High Street, submitted by Ignite Architects, after more than 700 votes were cast during a 48-hour public voting window; a sign of the growing public interest in timber construction.

211 High Street, Ignite Architects, Jono Parker, Photo by Dennis Radermacher

Other category winners included Partridge Jewellers in Queenstown (Interior Design Award), Summerset Milldale (Residential Design Award for Multi-Unit Residential Building), Te Whare Hononga by Tennent Brown Architects (Public & Community Building Award), University of Auckland B201 by Jasmax (Hybrid Building Award), and Living House by RTA Studio (Residential Design Award for Single Family Dwelling).

WWW.BUILDERSANDCONTRACTORS.CO.NZ | 19

Timber Design Awards

Lavericks Bay Retreat, Studio Now, Photo by Mickey Ross

Timber’s environmental credentials, seismic resilience and corrosion resistance offer a lighter alternative in a sector traditionally dominated by steel.

Living House, RTA Studio, Paul Brandon, Photo by Simon Devitt

Daniel Scheibmair, Chair of Timber Unlimited, said the quality of entries reflected the growing maturity of New Zealand’s timber sector. “What stood out wasn’t just the quality of the winning projects, but the willingness of our industry to share knowledge so openly throughout the day.

That’s how we continue to grow confidence in timber and deliver even better outcomes for clients and communities,” he said.

Timber Unlimited thanked judges Tom

A lighter moment on the night saw native seedling table centrepieces, sponsored by PEFC New Zealand, given away to attendees at the end of the evening. Every seedling found a new home.

the awards and the industry.

Webster, Katie Symons, Huia Reriti and David Carradine, along with sponsors Resene, Simpson Strong-Tie, Red Stag, XLAM, Techlam, Prolam, Rothoblaas, Build Anatomy, Nelson Pine, Abodo, Spec Toolbox, Eurotec, Te Kāhui Whaihanga NZIA and the Timber Design Society for their ongoing support of Full results are available on the Timber Unlimited website. www.timberunlimited.co.nz

Te Whare Whakatere Ashburton Library and Civic Centre, Athfield Architects Ltd, Lightforge, Photo by Johannes van Kan

Architectural and structural timber made easy

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Timber Design Awards

Timber’s next evolution: from award-winning buildings to advanced manufacturing The 2026 NZ Timber Design Awards once again showcased the exceptional calibre of timber projects now being delivered across Aotearoa. From commercial offices and civic buildings through to education and community facilities, the awards highlighted how engineered timber has evolved from an emerging alternative into a proven structural solution.

Red Stag is incredibly proud to have supplied engineered wood products into many of the projects recognised this year, reflecting the strength of New Zealand’s architects, engineers, developers, contractors and project teams who continue to push the boundaries of what is possible with mass timber.

Among the many award-winning projects supplied by Red Stag, 90 Devonport Road (Mareanui) in Tauranga stands as a flagship example of what can be achieved through collaboration across the forestry, manufacturing, design and construction sectors. The project received the Mid-Rise Building Design Award (Over 3 Levels) at the 2026 NZ Timber Design Awards and was also Highly Commended in the Commercial & Industrial Building category. Earlier in

The Mid-Rise Wood Construction Programme has helped prove that mass timber is no longer an alternative — it is a mainstream structural solution. VoMo represents the next evolution, combining advanced mass timber with precision manufacturing to deliver faster, lower-carbon, higher-quality buildings that will help shape the future of construction in Aotearoa.

Wellington’s Tākina Convention and Exhibition Centre

the month, it was also recognised with the Rider Levett Bucknall Supreme Award at the Property Council New Zealand Property Industry Awards, together with the Resene Sustainable Building Property Award and the RCP Commercial Office Property Award.

Together, these accolades reinforce that engineered timber is now delivering New Zealand’s most celebrated commercial buildings—not only for sustainability, but also for design excellence, performance and innovation. While these projects celebrate how far the industry has come, they also point to where it is heading.

The next evolution is advanced offsite manufacturing.

Through VoMo, Red Stag is introducing proven European Mass Modular Timber

(MMT) technology to New Zealand.

Combining precision-manufactured volumetric modules with Cross Laminated Timber (CLT), buildings can be manufactured in a controlled factory environment before being rapidly assembled onsite. The result is higher quality, greater programme certainty, reduced site disruption and significantly faster project delivery.

- Jason Cordes, Managing Director, Red Stag Investments

the future of engineered timber extends well beyond traditional building types.

While VoMo is unlocking new opportunities in hotels, student accommodation, aged care, apartments, offices and commercial developments through advanced modular construction, TimberLab 2.0 is expanding the use of engineered timber into low-carbon industrial buildings, manufacturing facilities, warehouses and other large-span structures.

Together, these initiatives demonstrate that

New Zealand has a unique opportunity to leverage its renewable forestry resource through advanced manufacturing, creating higher-value engineered timber products and innovative building systems that support regional employment while helping decarbonise the built environment.

MASS TIMBER. MADE BUILDABLE. From award-winning buildings to advanced manufacturing.

Red Stag TimberLab combines precision off-site manufacturing and proven delivery capability to help contractors build with greater certainty.

From individual structural components to complete standardised building systems, we provide buildable mass timber solutions that reduce site time, improve quality and lower embodied carbon.

Red Stag TimberLab is proud to have supplied engineered timber solutions to many of this year's Timber Design Awards winning and highly commended projects.

90 Devonport Road, Tauranga | 2026 NZ Timber Design | Awards Mid-Rise Building Design Award

NZ-manufactured Glulam, CLT and fabricated LVL. From standard beams and lintels to complex prefabricated structural packages, our products are engineered and manufactured for accuracy, quality and efficient site installation.

Standardised building systems with greater certainty built in. Pre-engineered solutions for industrial, community and large-span buildings - developed to provide a greater certainty of design cost, programme and construction performance.

Talk to us early about your next project

CLT modular construction for faster project delivery . VoMo combines precisionmanufactured CLT modules with repeatable design and off-site production, reducing onsite activity and accelerating construction programmes.

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Buildability and cost input before the design is locked in. We work with contractors and project teams to develop practical structural solutions, improve buildability and identify programme and cost efficiencies early.

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News

A different path to success earns national apprenticeship honour How Lexi Pritchard went from leaving school at 16 to a national apprenticeship award, a production supervisor’s role and her own fabrication side hustle

Leaving school at just 16 to help support her family could easily have marked the end of Lexiga (Lexi) Pritchard’s education.

Instead, it became the beginning of a remarkable learning journey that has seen the 25-year-old recognised as one of just six recipients nationwide of the 2026 Bunnings Women in Apprenticeships Award.

Now a Production Supervisor leading a team of 13 at Auckland-based NCS Acoustics, which manufactures industrial and commercial noise control solutions, while still completing her New Zealand Certificate in Light Fabrication with industry training organisation Competenz, the Papatoetoe local has built a reputation for technical excellence, leadership and an unwavering commitment to continuous learning.

Bunnings New Zealand Head of Trade Matt Heinrich says Lexi was noticed for far more than her technical ability.

“Lexi stood out for her clear determination, leadership potential and the impact she’s already having within her workplace.

“What really set her apart was not just her technical capability, but the way she leads by example - demonstrating a strong work ethic, a commitment to learning and a willingness to support those around her. She’s also helping to shift perceptions in a traditionally male-dominated field, showing that success in the trades is driven by attitude and effort.”

22 | WWW.BUILDERSANDCONTRACTORS.CO.NZ

For Lexi, the recognition is particularly meaningful given the path that brought her here.

While attending Epsom Girls Grammar School, she had her sights set on a career that helped people, and human resources seemed like a fit. But at just 16, she made the difficult decision to leave school before finishing Year 13 so she could help support her family financially.

“I wanted to keep studying and go to university,” says Lexi.

“I was devastated at the time, but we needed the money. Looking back now, it turned out to be a blessing in disguise.”

When she later lost her administrative role during COVID, rather than seeing it as a setback, she enrolled in a feesfree mechanical engineering pre-trade programme, discovering a career she had never previously considered. Her experience reflects the growing emphasis on the visibility of vocational education in New Zealand, with stronger connections between schools, employers and industry creating more pathways for young people to discover careers through hands-on learning.

“I’d always enjoyed woodwork and graphics at school and realised I loved working with my hands and solving problems,” she says.

“Once I started learning fabrication and welding, I knew I’d found something I genuinely loved.”

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News

There were definitely moments early on where I felt I had to prove what I was capable of. Now I know I can do anything I put my mind to.

— Lexi Pritchard

That programme ultimately led her to NCS Acoustics, where she earned a Competenz apprenticeship and has continued to exceed expectations. Alongside completing her apprenticeship, the business has invested heavily in her development, supporting her through leadership programmes and promoting her into a supervisory role.

Competenz Training Advisor Joe Nuku says Lexi’s appetite for learning has set her apart from the beginning.

“Lexi has shown huge potential from day one and has carved out an impressive career in a relatively short time.

“Progressing from production operator to second-in-charge on the workshop floor while still completing her apprenticeship says a lot about both her capability and her attitude. Her assessment work is consistently completed to a very high standard, and you can clearly see the pride she takes in everything she does.”

“When I first started in the industry, I was really shy and lacked confidence,” she says.

“There were definitely moments early on where I felt I had to prove what I was capable of. But once you keep learning and back yourself, your confidence grows. Now I know I can do anything I put my mind to.”

She credits the support of her employer, mentors and Competenz with helping build that confidence and opening doors she never imagined possible.

Winning the Bunnings award has only strengthened her determination to build her skills.

Like many women entering a traditionally male-dominated industry, Lexi says she initially felt she had to prove herself.

Part of the $12,000 prize package will help fund a welding machine for The South Standard, her ‘side hustle’ furniture restoration and fabrication business she is building from her home garage. Alongside restoring furniture in her spare time, she hopes to undertake custom fabrication projects while continuing to use her skills to support local organisations, including carrying out welding work for her kickboxing club Oliver MMA in South Auckland.

I never imagined, and I hope my story shows other young people that there are so many different pathways to build a career you love.”

“I’ve always wanted to keep learning,” says Lexi.

“By sharing the stories of women like Lexi, who are demonstrating resilience, leadership and success in their fields, we hope others will see what’s possible and feel confident taking that first step into an apprenticeship.”

“Leaving school didn’t change that. My apprenticeship has given me opportunities

Matt hopes stories like Lexi’s encourage more women to consider a future in the trades.

“We hope these awards help shine a light on the range of opportunities available and show that the trades are a rewarding and viable career path for women.

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Insight - Inform

Height safety reform targets falls New fall-from-height data and looming health and safety reforms strengthen the case for building passive fall protection into the site plan from day one.

By Ben O’Connell

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Falls from height remain one of the most persistent causes of serious injury and death on our nation’s construction sites, with new data showing much of that harm could be avoided through better planning and equipment at the outset.

Reports say fall-related incidents still account for a disproportionate number of notifiable events reported to WorkSafe each year, many on residential builds where scaffolding, edge protection or netting was either absent or installed incorrectly.

The issue is squarely on the Government’s radar too. Amendments introduced to

Parliament earlier this year aim to sharpen how workplace health and safety law is applied, shifting focus toward the hazards most likely to cause serious harm or death.

Falls from height sit firmly in that category, with the reforms expected to pass before Parliament rises later this year. For contractors, the message hasn’t changed: getting height safety right means addressing the risk statistically most likely to kill someone on site, not ticking a compliance box.

Industry figures repeatedly remind us that falls are rarely the result of a single failure, but of small gaps in a site’s overall protection strategy compounding under pressure. This is where a properly engineered fall arrest system earns its place in the conversation.

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Insight - Inform

A well-designed net creates a continuous safety envelope around a site, catching a fall before it becomes a serious injury.

Personal fall arrest equipment such as harnesses and lanyards has long been the default response to working at height, but it carries an inherent weakness: it depends entirely on the worker correctly securing themselves, every time, to the right anchor point. Get that step wrong just once, and the system offers no protection at all. It’s this reliance on individual action, repeated across a build, that has pushed more contractors toward passive, collective protection instead.

Safety netting systems remove that dependence on individual action almost entirely. Rather than relying on a worker’s own vigilance, a well-designed net creates a continuous safety envelope around a site, catching a fall before it becomes a serious injury and doing so regardless of how many people are working above or below at any given time.

Quality netting is generally sourced to meet the European EN 1263-1 standard,

made from a high-tensile, knotless polypropylene mesh engineered to sit flatter under load, shortening fall distance and reducing force on both the worker and the structure.

Because the system doesn’t depend on individual securing or supervision, crews can work above and below the net line simultaneously, sidestepping the stop-start disruption other fall protection methods often create. With

regulators sharpening focus on exactly this risk, that combination is harder for contractors to ignore.

Sites still weighing up how to lift their height safety standards ahead of the reforms landing will find the case for building passive protection into the plan from day one keeps getting stronger. Don’t wait to fix it after something has gone wrong.

Instead, get height safety right at the start.

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Insight - Inform

How building sites feel the deep freeze New Zealand has been facing some of the coldest mornings of the year. MetService recorded −7°C at Mount Cook and Pukaki, −7.5°C at Twizel, and a low of −5.1°C in Taupo.

That changes what can safely happen on building sites day by day.

Concrete is usually the first casualty. Curing relies on a chemical reaction that slows sharply as temperatures drop, and if fresh concrete freezes before gaining enough strength the water inside it expands and causes permanent damage. Most specifications call for concrete to stay above five degrees for the first 48 hours after placement, meaning insulating blankets, heated enclosures or a delayed pour on mornings like this. The damage is not cosmetic. Frost-affected concrete can lose a meaningful share of its design strength, and the problem often stays invisible until the structure is under load.

Ground conditions are the next concern.

Frozen or partially frozen ground behaves unpredictably once it thaws, and excavation or footing work carried out on frostaffected soil can lead to uneven settling later. Crews working across colder inland regions this week will want to check ground

burns off overnight frost, and falls on icy surfaces are one of the more preventable causes of winter site injuries. A short delay to the start of work is almost always cheaper than the alternative.

Cold exposure matters too, since workers handling wet or metal tools in sub-zero conditions face real risk of frostnip and reduced dexterity, raising the chance of a mishandled tool or a missed step.

A short delay to the start of work while surfaces clear is almost always cheaper than the alternative.

temperature before committing to footings or slab prep, and build in extra time for soil to stabilise once the sun reaches it.

Materials need care too. Moisture frozen overnight can sit trapped inside stacked timber or building wrap, and installing that material before it has fully dried risks locking

dampness into a finished wall or roof. A few extra minutes checking materials before they go up can prevent a much larger problem later.

Safety is the other side of the ledger. Black ice on access roads, scaffolding and steel decking is a genuine hazard before the sun

Some fixes are simple and low cost.

Staggering start times to let the worst frost clear, keeping insulating blankets or ground cover on hand, and building a short site walk into the morning routine to check for ice all help stop a cold snap turning into a costly delay or an injury. Whether that plan gets used today depends on where you’re building, but with the thermometer this low, plenty of crews around the country will need it.

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Insight - Inform

Safe options for disposal of household and small power-tool batteries in Waimakariri District.

Household batteries of any kind deteriorate if not in use and need to be disposed of safely once they are flat or show signs of deterioration. However, rechargeable batteries, especially those of this type, are hazardous.

If batteries or items containing batteries end up in wheelie bins, collection trucks, or a rubbish pit, they have the potential to harm people and the environment, and cause fires in collection trucks or at facilities. https:// www.waimakariri.govt.nz/council/news-andinformation/2025/01/truck-fire-caused-bylithium-battery

Loose batteries that can be dropped off for free in the specialised Battery Recycling Units:

Damaged, leaking or rusty batteries can be dropped off for free at the hazardous waste drop-off area in Council’s Southbrook Resource Recovery Park and Oxford Transfer Station. If your old phone doesn’t have a removable battery, drop it off at a Vodafone, Spark, or 2Degrees retailer, and it will be recycled through the Re:mobile scheme.

• AA, AAA, C and D cell batteries • Alkaline cell • Lithium • Cr123 camera batteries • Dry cell and zinc • Li-ion batteries • 9-volt • NiCd • NiMH

The Council will also accept mobile phones at Southbrook Resource Recovery Park, Kaiapoi Library, Oxford Library and Rangiora Library. Lead-acid and Gel car batteries can be dropped off at the Southbrook Resource Recovery Park and Oxford Transfer Station recycling area in the signposted area.

Phoenix Metalman collects the undamaged batteries from our sites. While there are no viable options for recycling batteries in New Zealand, Phoenix sort the batteries and prepares them for shipping overseas, where the separated components of the batteries are given a new life in a variety of industries.

Save your old batteries…

Drop your used, undamaged household batteries into a battery recycling station at your local transfer station or the Kaiapoi Library.

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Products & Services Dairy Shelters There has been an increasing interest from the dairy sector for a cost effective and reliable method of covering existing stand-off pads and feed-pads. We supply and install Standoff Shelters for farms which can be used with dairy cows to keep the herd warm, dry, fed and healthy.

Clear roofing membrane called ‘Durashelter’ helps with the drying of floor effluent, maintaining cow cleanliness and helping to reduce the incidence of disease while keeping the heard warm.

Agricultural Shelters An alternative to planted shelters, artificial shelters can be built quickly to protect horticultural crops and orchards from wind and easily moved to different locations Offering a controlled growing environment, Greenhouses produce ventilation and warmth for research facilities, home use, crop cultivation, flowers, and seedlings, allowing for a longer growing season.

Industrial & Sporting Shelters Our shelters are also used as storage sheds, garden center covers, car yards, firewood protection, boatsheds, garaging etc. The shelters provide a drier environment for sports facilities, such as practice cricket wickets, allowing for year round use.

Greenhouses We also offer a full range of Greenhouse products including: Fasteners and brackets • Steel • Aluminum extrusions • Greenhouse tapes • Twinskin equipment • Greenhouse fans • Greenhouse screens/shade/thermals • Misting Units • Home and Garden Greenhouses •

Greenhouse films • Shade cloths • Weed matt • Cloche films • Film clipping systems • Environment control • Sidewall and roof winches • Electric side and roof vent motor/gearboxes • Vent drive hardware •

Maintenance We provide maintenance on all artificial shelters – this can include repairs/replacing cloth, replacing poles if required, and dismantling and relocating shelters.

We also provide maintenance on Greenhouses, this can include repair to plastic film, reskinning of roofs and sides, installing side wall ventilation, etc.

www.bayshelters.nz

WWW.BUILDERSANDCONTRACTORS.CO.NZ | 31

Cement and Concrete

Why Concrete NZ Conference 2026 should be in your calendar From low-carbon concrete and seismic resilience to structural innovation and the economic outlook for construction, the Concrete NZ Conference 2026 promises three days of ideas, insights and industry connections that will resonate well beyond the cement and concrete sector.

Held from 21–23 October at Wellington’s Tākina Convention and Exhibition Centre, this year’s conference evokes the spirit of Capital Connections - a fitting reflection of both its location and its purpose. More than 400 engineers, architects, contractors, designers, researchers, suppliers, asset owners and industry leaders are expected to gather for New Zealand’s premier concrete event.

Whether you’re involved in commercial construction, infrastructure, residential development or engineering design, the conference offers a unique opportunity to hear from international experts, explore emerging technologies and connect with the people shaping the future of New Zealand’s built environment.

International expertise Leading this year’s keynote programme is Michelle L. Wilson, Senior Director of Concrete Technology and Industry Outreach at the American Cement Association.

With more than 25 years’ experience in cement and concrete technology, Wilson is recognised internationally for her expertise in concrete materials, durability, specifications and performance. As lead author of The Design and Control of Concrete Mixtures - the industry’s most widely used technical reference - she has played a pivotal role in advancing best practice across North America. Her presentation will examine global trends influencing concrete construction and the transition toward lower-carbon materials, drawing on the American cement industry’s Roadmap to Carbon Neutrality and practical lessons from around the world.

Joining Michelle is Professor Andrzej Ćwirzeń from Sweden’s Luleå University of Technology, one of Europe’s leading researchers in sustainable cementitious materials. Ranked among the world’s top researchers in his discipline, Professor Ćwirzeń has published more than 150

32 | WWW.BUILDERSANDCONTRACTORS.CO.NZ

Brad Olsen

Professor Andrzej Ćwirzeń

scientific papers covering alternative binders, durability, nanotechnology and low-carbon concrete. His keynote will explore how cutting-edge materials research is improving the performance, durability and sustainability of tomorrow’s concrete structures.

Providing the New Zealand economic perspective is Brad Olsen, Chief Executive and Principal Economist at Infometrics.

One of the country’s most respected and engaging economic commentators, Olsen is renowned for translating complex economic data into practical insights. His keynote will examine the outlook for New Zealand’s economy, the factors influencing construction activity and infrastructure investment, and what they mean for businesses operating across the built environment.

Michelle L. Wilson

A programme built around today’s challenges Beyond the keynote speakers, delegates can expect a comprehensive two-day technical programme featuring presentations from leading practitioners and researchers across New Zealand and overseas.

Sessions will cover many of the issues currently shaping the construction industry, including structural engineering, seismic design, durability, materials technology, precast concrete, low-carbon concrete, infrastructure delivery and emerging research. The programme has been designed to combine academic rigour with practical, real-world case studies, ensuring attendees leave with ideas they can apply immediately to projects and business decisions.

The programme combines academic rigour with practical, real-world case studies, ensuring attendees leave with ideas they can apply immediately.

Beyond the traditional technical presentations, delegates will enjoy three engaging programme features: Lightning Talks, a thought-provoking panel discussion, and concise five-minute presentations from students and early-career professionals.

Together, these sessions showcase emerging talent, encourage lively discussion and bring additional energy and diversity to the conference programme.

More than technical presentations While the technical programme is the centrepiece, the value of the conference extends well beyond the lecture theatre.

The extensive trade exhibition brings together suppliers, manufacturers, consultants and service providers from across the construction and concrete sectors, offering delegates the chance

Cement and Concrete to discover new products, technologies and services while speaking directly with the people behind them. From materials and equipment through to digital tools and specialist engineering solutions, the exhibition has become an important forum for knowledge sharing and business development.

Networking also remains one of the conference’s greatest strengths. The President’s Reception, Conference Awards Dinner and numerous informal breaks provide opportunities to reconnect with colleagues, establish new professional relationships and discuss the challenges and opportunities facing the industry in an increasingly complex operating environment.

Looking ahead The construction industry is evolving rapidly. Expectations around sustainability

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Cement and Concrete For anyone involved in designing, specifying, building or supplying New Zealand’s built environment, the conference offers an outstanding opportunity to hear from internationally recognised experts. continue to grow, new technologies are changing the way projects are delivered, and economic conditions remain dynamic. In an industry that never stands still, continuing professional development is about more than acquiring knowledge - it is also about exchanging ideas, challenging thinking and learning from the experiences of others.

Concrete NZ Conference 2026 provides exactly that opportunity.

For anyone involved in designing, specifying, building or supplying New Zealand’s built environment, the conference offers an outstanding opportunity to hear from internationally recognised experts, gain practical technical knowledge, explore the latest products and technologies, and build the professional relationships that help drive better project outcomes.

While the technical programme provides the knowledge, the conversations it sparks between sessions help provide the context, collaboration and connections that bring those ideas to life. This October, those conversations begin at Tākina.

For the full conference programme, speaker line-up and registration details, visit www.concretenz.org.nz

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Cement and Concrete

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Cement and Concrete

Building better from the ground up: Why vibration technology matters more than ever W W W. O L I V I B R A . C O M

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EWO

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Electric high frequency internal vibrators

In today’s construction environment, success is often measured by what people don’t see. Hidden behind every strong foundation, every durable precast element, and every high-performing concrete structure lies a combination of engineering, innovation, and attention to detail.

One of the most overlooked contributors to construction quality is vibration technology.

At OLI, we have spent decades developing and refining vibration solutions that improve efficiency, productivity, and build quality across construction sites worldwide.

From concrete consolidation and precast manufacturing to material handling and bulk storage, our technology helps construction professionals achieve consistent, reliable results every day.

As a global manufacturer operating in more than 150 countries, OLI combines worldclass engineering with local support. We like to describe ourselves as “glocal” bringing international innovation and manufacturing expertise while maintaining the local knowledge, stock availability, and technical support that customers need on the ground.

This approach has become increasingly important as construction projects face growing pressure to deliver faster schedules, tighter budgets, and higher quality standards.

Our electric vibrators are designed to be compact, lightweight, and energy efficient, while delivering the powerful centrifugal forces required for demanding applications.

With extensive stock holdings and technical support throughout Australia and New Zealand, OLI can respond quickly to project requirements without the delays often associated with imported specialist equipment.

Did You Know?

Research has shown that even small amounts of entrapped air can significantly reduce concrete strength and durability.

Effective concrete consolidation removes

trapped air pockets, allowing aggregates and cement paste to bond correctly and ensuring reinforcement is fully encapsulated.

Poor consolidation can lead to honeycombing, reduced structural performance, increased permeability, and premature deterioration. In contrast, properly consolidated concrete delivers improved strength, surface finish, and longterm durability.

This is why vibration remains one of the most critical processes in modern concrete construction.

As concrete mixes continue to evolve, incorporating supplementary cementitious materials, recycled aggregates, and lowercarbon formulations, achieving consistent consolidation is becoming even more important. Advanced vibration technology helps contractors and precast manufacturers maintain quality while adapting to these changing material requirements.

At OLI, our role extends well beyond supplying equipment. Our team works closely with engineers, contractors, precast manufacturers, and equipment designers to identify the most effective vibration solution for each application. Decades of industry experience enable us to provide practical advice that improves performance, reliability, and operational efficiency.

Construction will continue to evolve, but the fundamentals remain unchanged: quality materials, sound engineering, and proven technology create better outcomes.

By combining global innovation with local expertise, OLI remains committed to helping builders and contractors construct stronger, safer, and more durable projects for the future.

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Frequency and voltage converters OLI Vibrators Pty Ltd 141 Discovery Road, 3175, Dandenong South VIC, Melbourne - Australia Phone: +61 3 9764 9988 Contact us for you closest NZ Stockist 36 | WWW.BUILDERSANDCONTRACTORS.CO.NZ

Modern vibration systems help precast manufacturers achieve consistent density, surface finish, and product quality.”

Cement and Concrete

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Cement and Concrete

Low carbon steel for greener building How to find, use and prove reinforcing and construction steels with lower embodied carbon - for a better, cleaner built environment The push for green Both New Zealand and Australia are committing to reducing emissions down from 2005 levels by 2030. Much of those emissions are attributed to embodied carbon from building materials – an issue set to snowball. In 2019, embodied carbon accounted for around 16% of all CO2 emissions in Australasian Buildings, but by 2050 it will comprise 85% due to efficiencies and reductions in operations.

Major contractors and building and infrastructure projects now report on sustainability, driven by 1.

Asset Owners – with ESG reporting mandates, internal carbon reduction targets, and social procurement targets

2.

Mandatory climate-related financial disclosure requirements

3.

Third-party certification (e.g. Green Star, ISC, and NABERS Embodied Carbon tool)

Tackling the embodied carbon in materials used (and their supply chain) will significantly reduce the carbon emissions generated by construction. Low embodied carbon steel addresses the global warming and sustainability impacts of the steel supply chain, which is one of the biggest contributors.

Identifying sustainable steel Unfortunately, with the rise in demand for sustainable steel has come an increase in ‘greenwashing’ – claims of ESG standards without proof or accuracy. Transparency and disclosure are key, and savvy steel buyers and users demand third-party certification of ESG claims. But not all third-party certification schemes measure the same breadth of ESG factors and data, or are equally rigorous and well regarded. It is important to consider: 1.

Independence / 3rd-party assurance: Scheme independence from industry stakeholders, requirements for Schemeadministered assessment & audits

2.

EPDs & carbon footprint reporting: Mandatory, independently verified EPDs, clear reporting of GWP

3.

Traceability & chain-of-custody: Full traceability from mill to site, including downstream players. Secure digital verification

4.

Recycling requirements: Clear recording, tracking & verification of recycled content according to international standards

5.

Scope of certification: Specificity of certification, as applies to individual products & supply chains

6.

Assessment for modern slavery compliance

7.

Longevity in market & global best practice: Track record, alignment with UN goals, international usage & recognition

“John Holland tracks and reports on the embodied carbon of projects to meet regulatory and client requirements.

Typically, the traceability of construction materials’ embodied carbon concludes at the point of a published Environmental Product Declaration. For steel products that undergo further modifications by processors or fabricators, the embodied carbon from these additional stages cannot be reported with complete certainty.

The ACRS Sustainable Construction Steel Scheme facilitates traceability and transparency of embodied carbon and other environmental indicators during these stages, establishing a “carbon chain of custody” from raw material through to the processor/ fabricator gate.

This enables John Holland projects to, in turn, provide more certainty in steel embodied carbon data to our clients and for Scope 3 emissions reporting in future.”

- Patrick Campbell, Operations Sustainability Manager, Building/Infrastructure/Major Projects, John Holland

Market-leading solutions In 2021, the Australasian Certification Authority for Reinforcing and Structural Steels – ACRS – introduced its Sustainable Constructional Steel (SCS) Certification Scheme, to enable consumers, industry & government to confidently source high quality constructional steels with lower embodied carbon, produced under high ESG standards.

The Scheme ensures that construction steel entering Australia and New Zealand meets the UN guidelines on global environmental, social and ethical standards, using independent certification of ESG criteria and performance indicators.

The SCS scheme provides the industry with a uniform and benchmarked approach to demonstrating a commitment to sustainable principles. Having an internationally 38 | WWW.BUILDERSANDCONTRACTORS.CO.NZ

The ACRS Sustainable Construction Steel Scheme facilitates traceability and transparency of embodied carbon and other environmental indicators during these stages, establishing a “carbon chain of custody” from raw material through to the processor/ fabricator gate.

- John Holland

recognised and independently certified scheme for the assessment of steel means sustainability data can be seamlessly passed forward in the value chain – providing significant efficiencies in gathering verifiable SGS data for projects. Without it, gathering information on a project at the end of the supply chain or meeting benchmarks becomes a monumental task.

Governments, designers, builders, and the industry support the Scheme for its usability, traceability and transparency in delivering projects and use it to demonstrate compliance with sustainability frameworks, reduce project risk, and meet growing regulatory and investor expectations.

The SCS Scheme provides everyone from procurer to the public with confidence that the steel installed in their homes, high-rise commercial and residential buildings, and infrastructure projects, meets the highest global sustainability standards.

“If a customer asks what the Global Warming Potential (GWP) of the steel in their project sourced from PPR is, we can already provide exact figures – thanks to the endto-end traceability. With SCS Certification we are able to provide that data in an independently-certified manner.

Once it is adopted broadly, it will be far easier for everyone in the value chain to assess, compare and improve their steel impact. One day soon, sustainability accreditation will be a given. In the meantime, it protects from greenwashing.”

- Julian Borgert, Director of Operations, Precision Precast Reinforcement

Green Star The SCS Scheme has been recognised by the Green Building Council of Australia (GBCA) under its Responsible Products program, which in turn can contribute to a Green Star rating through Responsible Credits.

Products certified under the ACRS SCS Scheme can contribute to a project’s

Cement and Concrete

Responsible Product Value (RPV). Green Star project teams can receive recognition for the use of these products to unlock up to 9 of the available 13 Responsible Products credits towards the relevant materials-related Green Star rating.

The SCS Scheme delivers more Green Star RPV credits than any other steel certification scheme currently available (at all levels). All SCS Scheme-certified products (at any level)

exceed “Best Practice” credits across five Responsible Product Guidelines categories, unlike other Schemes that may be limited to certain categories, or offer partial credits.

“ACRS’s SCS certification is a muchneeded tool that independently verifies sustainability claims against a set of global criteria - including ethical sourcing - and provides confidence to clients and investors regarding sustainability claims.

Recognition by GBCA reinforces the Scheme’s value to the industry, but what sets it apart is the depth and rigour of assessment, requiring the certificate holder to verify claims at all stages along the supply chain.”

– Andrew Wheeler, Executive Director ACRS

•

Governance & stakeholder input: input from a wide range of stakeholders – including steel producers, construction contractors, green building councils and regulators – in the development and operation of the scheme.

•

Certification Framework and Methodology: assessment against a wide-ranging set of environmental, social, ethical, and economic criteria, including audits covering 140 criteria, and a multi-level rating system.

Internationally recognised ACRS’ SCS Scheme continues to gain international recognition for its leading approach, independence, and globallyaligned relevance.

It is recognised by international green building rating systems including BREEAM, LEED, and Singapore’s SGBP. It represents the forefront of industry best practice. The latest report from specialist global steel and metals intelligence provider, Kallanish, provides information on navigating the green steel landscape and on certifications developed to support the industry’s journey to decarbonisation.

The report notes that the steel industry is one of the largest contributors to global greenhouse gas (GHG), accounting for around 8% of industrial CO2 emissions, and as such its carbon footprint has become a critical priority.

The global standardised framework for measuring and managing GHG emissions, the GHG Protocol, underlies much of the industry’s sustainability practices.

The report goes on to explain that, complementing this framework, is the Sustainable Constructional Steel (SCS) Scheme,* “an accredited, third-party certification programme developed to assess and improve the sustainability performance of steel products and the organisations that manufacture and process them.”

The report notes key elements of the scheme, including •

LCAs & EPDs: lifecycle assessment calculations and third-party verified environmental product declarations, ensuring transparency and c onsistency in environmental reporting

Using SCS-certified steel Using SCS-certified steel in a project is straightforward and user-friendly. For example, ACRS launched ACRS Cloud app in 2023 with digital traceability for steel products, allowing for better transparency through the supply chain journey to confirm compliance – this traceability is also essential for sustainability measurements. Steel users can check steel’s sustainability certification in the secure environment of the ACRS Cloud app for free, just by scanning product QR codes.

To use SCS-certified steel in projects, builders and contractors can: 1.

Specify SCS steel at the outset of a project, e.g. acceptable manufacturers and processors of steel materials should hold a valid Sustainable Constructional Steel certificate of approval issued

by ACRS

2.

Procure SCS steel by find processors and traders with SCS certification on the online ACRS database (https:// steelcertification.com/certificateholders-sustainability)

3.

Check on delivery – scan steel tags and open a product’s SCS certification in the free ACRS Cloud app, available for iPhone and Android

4.

Report on sustainability – use ACRSverified data for easy project reporting

WWW.BUILDERSANDCONTRACTORS.CO.NZ | 39

Cement and Concrete

The construction skills pipeline is the investment we can’t afford to pause New Zealand’s construction industry is caught between two pressures. One is the economic cycle, which has pushed activity to its lowest point since 2019. The other is a workforce challenge that will outlast any downturn: we are losing skilled people faster than we are replacing them.

The NZCBIA Building Construction Sector Report released this week in parliament puts hard numbers to what many in the industry already know. Nearly 75,000 workers left the construction industry in the past year. Directly related, apprenticeship completions have dropped from 58% to 43%, and about 95% of hiring simply fills the gaps left by departures, rather than building new capacity.

That exodus is not limited to qualified tradespeople. Many of those who left were apprentices, caught up in redundancies when their employers’ workbooks thinned.

So they went looking for jobs elsewhere.

That is not good for the individuals who had invested in a trade, not good for the businesses that had invested in training them, and not good for the sector’s longterm productivity.

Retention is the lever we control Conditions have been challenging but there are early signs things are improving. New Zealand’s long-term demand for housing, infrastructure and skilled tradespeople isn’t going away.

40 | WWW.BUILDERSANDCONTRACTORS.CO.NZ

problem. It is a collective challenge, and a collective opportunity. A key lever that Government can utilise is the timing and scale of public construction projects, that can either smooth the cycle or amplify the boomand-bust pattern that drives workers out.

Demand is returning but confidence lags

Jason Hungerford, Chief Executive Officer of BCITO

In tough times, there’s a temptation to treat apprentice training as a cost that can wait. Some employers are understandably cautious, uncertain whether the pipeline ahead justifies employing an apprentice who needs supervision and development.

But this logic, repeated across enough businesses, creates exactly the skills shortage we see now.

The long-term outlook is positive. Underlying demand for housing and infrastructure hasn’t disappeared. Residential consents have lifted over recent months which is a reliable leading indicator that things are looking up.

Infrastructure investment is also forecast to rise from $55.7 billion this year to $65.4 billion by 2030.

However, consents don’t build houses, business confidence does and right now, that confidence is tested by global uncertainty.

This includes effects from the conflict in the Middle East and by domestic caution ahead of an election year. Economists expect conditions to improve and as they do, more latent demand will convert to work on the ground. When it does, the constraint won’t be projects. It’ll be people.

The report’s modelling shows that training only pays off if employers retain the people they train. A business that puts an apprentice through four years of training and then loses them within two years has made a significant investment but hasn’t reaped the reward. A business that keeps its trained workers and moves them into chargeable work earlier transforms that same investment into a sixfigure return.

600 people are ready to be trained right now

Retaining skilled people in the trades is not solely an employer problem. Training providers like BCITO, Government and industry must work together to solve this

Today, BCITO has around 600 people on its books ready to start an apprenticeship and work in construction. They just need an employer willing to take them on. Every

At a time when many industries face disruption from AI, construction remains resolutely human and reliable. You cannot automate a roof installation or 3D-print a qualified tiler. People are choosing the trades because they offer durable careers that technology cannot easily displace.

Ultimately, when demand surges, employers who held back will find themselves competing for the same workers they could have trained. The next boom will be shaped not by the projects we consented, but by the people we trained.

month without a match is a month of lost capability and talent for the sector.

Ultimately, when demand surges, employers who held back will find themselves competing for the same workers they could have trained. The next boom will be shaped not by the projects we consented, but by the people we trained.

The choice is ours Training apprentices is not an act of faith – it is preparation. A qualified workforce is the foundation on which every project depends – for every home, school, hospital or road built.

The current downturn will pass. The question is whether we use this time to rebuild the skills pipeline or let it erode further. That choice is within our control, and the cost of getting it wrong will be measured in years, not months.

Cement and Concrete

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WWW.BUILDERSANDCONTRACTORS.CO.NZ | 41

Cement and Concrete

NEW from MAX® – the RB823T XL Jaw TwinTier™ Rebar Tying Tool – with 5.0Ah battery and wire load assist New generation MAX® RB823T Rebar-Tier has been added to the TwinTier™ range.

The NEW MAX® TwinTier™ RB823T is the first battery powered tool with the ability to tie D40 x D40 rebar, up to 82mm of rebars. It can also tie D25 x D25 x D25 x D25.

This NEW rebar tier has been designed for grout tube at precast concrete plants, steel rebar fixing, civil engineering, road and bridge work, and wind turbine power plant foundations.

“We thought 50mm Grout Tubes had to be tied by hand – until the RB823T.” During recent market research in Australia, the MAX® RB823T XL Jaw TwinTier™ was tested at a precast concrete factory and proved it could easily tie 50mm grout tubes to 12mm rebar – a task previously done by

hand. Impressed by the efficiency gain, the factory became the first in Australia to adopt the tool, showcasing its potential for similar facilities.

The MAX® RB823T XL Jaw TwinTier™ features a NEW wire load assist that helps during tie wire replacement. Loading can be done without pressing the release button, eliminating the risk of forgetting to reset it. The tool’s 6-step torque adjustment dial allows its user to adjust the strength of the tie based on the application.

RB823T XL Jaw TwinTier™ Rebar Tying Tool

black, electro-galvanised and stainless steel options. The tool’s NEW 5.0Ah lithium-ion battery will complete approximately 4,100 ties from the RB823T before needing to be recharged.

The MAX® RB823T XL Jaw TwinTier™ features an enclosed design offering greater protection against debris and moisture entering the tool. Like other MAX® rebar tying tools, the simple operation of the MAX® TwinTier™ helps reduce muscular skeletal injuries when compared to manual

The MAX® TwinTier™ simultaneously shoots 2 x 1.0mm wires around rebar intersections, wrapping once to form a tie equivalent to the strength of a hand snap tie. The TwinTier™ uses TW1061T series tie wire, available in

alternatives — a position supported by NIOSH in USA. Overall, no matter the application, the MAX® TwinTier™ works at double the speed and produces double the number of ties from a single roll of wire, and reduces the time it takes to complete a job. This saves businesses money by cutting man hours needed for each project and increases the productivity of its workers.

For more information visit the SIFCO website - www.sifco.co.nz

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Battery operated re-bar tying tool for: • Wind turbine power plant foundations • Precast concrete products • Civil engineering • Floors and walls • Building foundations • Road and bridge construction • Swimming pool walls 42 | WWW.BUILDERSANDCONTRACTORS.CO.NZ

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Cement and Concrete

ENSURE QUALITY AND COMPLIANCE: SPECIFY READY MIXED CONCRETE FROM AN AUDITED PLANT Structural engineers play a pivotal role in ensuring the durability, safety, and performance of concrete structures. One of the most effective ways to achieve this is by specifying that ready mixed concrete for their projects comes from a plant holding a current certificate of audit issued through the Concrete NZ Plant Audit Scheme.

This certification provides assurance that the concrete meets industry standards and project requirements, offering a range of benefits to engineers, clients, and the wider construction sector.

INDEPENDENT ASSURANCE OF QUALITY The Plant Audit Scheme provides an independent and rigorous audit of the quality systems in place at ready mixed concrete plants. Without this scheme, engineers and project specifiers would need to conduct their own costly and time-consuming audits for each construction project. By choosing audited plants, engineers gain confidence in the consistency and compliance of the concrete supplied, reducing the risk of quality-related issues during construction.

COMPLIANCE WITH INDUSTRY STANDARDS The scheme ensures compliance with NZS 3104:2021 Specification for Concrete Production, a critical standard governing the manufacture of concrete in New Zealand. It also aligns with other key standards, including: • NZS 3109:1997 Concrete Construction – governing structural concrete performance.

• NZS 3122:2009 Specification for Portland and Blended Cements – ensuring cement quality.

• NZS 3112.1-4:1986 Methods of Test for Concrete – setting criteria for material and product testing.

Structural engineers specifying concrete from an audited plant can be assured that the materials and production processes meet these rigorous requirements, supporting compliance with the New Zealand Building Code.

RIGOROUS AND ONGOING AUDIT PROCESS The Plant Audit Scheme is managed by a committee of registered professionals, including representatives from Concrete NZ and Engineering New Zealand (ENZ). The committee operates under a quality assurance programme certified to ISO 9001, with audits conducted by Bureau Veritas (New Zealand) Limited. This independent oversight ensures that the scheme maintains high and consistent standards across all participating plants.

Audited plants must: • Employ appropriately qualified staff for concrete testing.

• Maintain detailed and verifiable production and testing records.

• Undergo annual data reviews and biennial on-site audits.

• Meet performance criteria such as mean concrete strengths, aggregate quality, mixer efficiency, laboratory equipment calibration, and technician training.

Additionally, unannounced audits can be conducted to verify ongoing compliance. Failure to meet these standards can result in certificate withdrawal, reinforcing the scheme’s credibility.

SPECIFY WITH CONFIDENCE By specifying concrete from a certified plant, engineers mitigate risks associated with material non-compliance, which can lead to costly project delays, remedial work, or structural failures.

Without the scheme, engineers and clients bear the responsibility of implementing independent testing regimes, which can be both expensive and logistically challenging.

In a sector where structural integrity is paramount, choosing certified concrete is a decision that delivers confidence and long-term value.

The Plant Audit Scheme audits Concrete NZ Readymix Sector Group member’s concrete plants as defined in NZS 3104:2021 Specification for Concrete Production.

The Scheme provides a rigorous audit of the quality systems in place at a ready mixed concrete plant.

FOR A FULL LIST OF SCHEME MEMBERS AND THEIR AUDITED READY MIXED CONCRETE PLANTS VISIT THE SCHEME WEBSITE www.rmcplantaudit.org.nz

WWW.BUILDERSANDCONTRACTORS.CO.NZ | 43

Cement and Concrete

Beyond asphalt: Building New Zealand’s roads for the next generation For generations, New Zealand’s roads have been built predominantly with asphalt and bitumen. While these materials have served us well, increasing freight demands, constrained maintenance budgets and the need for longer-lasting infrastructure are prompting a fresh look at how we design and construct our transport networks.

One technology that is rapidly gaining momentum is Roller Compacted Concrete (RCC).

Already proven around the world, RCC combines the strength and durability of conventional concrete with the speed and efficiency of asphalt paving. Constructed using specialist RCC equipment, it delivers a robust pavement capable of carrying heavy traffic while significantly reducing long-term maintenance requirements.

For asset owners, the benefits extend well beyond the initial construction. Longer service life, fewer maintenance interventions and lower whole-of-life costs make RCC an increasingly attractive option for roads, freight routes, industrial hardstands, ports and logistics facilities.

Perhaps the biggest shift, however, is not the technology itself, it is the mindset.

Historically, RCC has been viewed as a niche solution for industrial applications. Today, councils, consultants and contractors across

New Zealand are recognising its potential for public infrastructure, particularly where durability, sustainability and long-term value are critical. Increasingly, the conversation is shifting away from the lowest upfront cost towards delivering the greatest value over the life of the asset.

Rolco is Australasia’s leading Roller Compacted Concrete contractor and one of the few companies in the region dedicated exclusively to advancing RCC technology. Since pioneering modern RCC construction in New Zealand, Rolco has delivered award-winning projects across ports, industrial facilities, public roads and freight infrastructure, and is now expanding its expertise into Australia and the Pacific.

Through investment in specialised paving equipment, innovative construction methodologies and technical leadership, Rolco has helped demonstrate that RCC is no longer an alternative pavement solution, it is a proven solution for modern infrastructure.

This evolution also presents an opportunity for the wider construction industry. At Rolco, our goal has never been to replace traditional civil contractors, it is to strengthen them. We’re a one trick pony with a fleet of RCC specialist equipment and would be happy to support you on your next project. We regularly partner with principal contractors, consultants and project teams to provide specialist expertise, equipment and construction methodologies required to successfully deliver RCC pavements.

Whether supporting a tender, assisting during the design phase or delivering the RCC component of a project, these partnerships enable contractors to broaden their capability, offer clients an innovative pavement solution and gain a genuine competitive edge.

Another important consideration is resilience. Recent global events have highlighted how vulnerable supply chains can become. Much of the bitumen used in New Zealand is imported, leaving infrastructure programmes exposed to international market volatility and shipping disruptions. In contrast, RCC pavements can be constructed using 100% New Zealand-sourced materialscement, aggregates, water and locally manufactured admixtures. This not only provides greater certainty of supply but also supports local industry, strengthens domestic manufacturing and keeps investment within New Zealand’s economy.

As infrastructure investment accelerates, supply chain resilience should be considered alongside engineering performance, sustainability and whole-of-life cost when selecting pavement solutions.

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By embracing innovation, fostering partnerships and making decisions based on whole-of-life performance rather than short-term cost alone, we can ensure the next generation of infrastructure is stronger, more resilient and proudly built with New Zealand expertise.

Innovation is rarely about replacing one material with another. It is about choosing the right solution for the right application.

There will always be a place for both asphalt and concrete within New Zealand’s transport network. However, as traffic loads increase and infrastructure funding comes under greater pressure, it is essential that we continue to challenge traditional thinking and embrace solutions that deliver better longterm outcomes.

The roads we build today will serve New Zealand for decades to come. By embracing innovation, fostering partnerships and making decisions based on whole-of-life performance rather than short-term cost alone, we can ensure the next generation of infrastructure is stronger, more resilient and proudly built with New Zealand expertise.

Cement and Concrete

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Cement and Concrete

Building confidence from the ground up For any construction project, consistent access to the right materials, delivered on time, is fundamental to keeping work on schedule. Cement is central to that process, and behind every pour is a supply chain that must perform reliably.

New Zealand Independent Cement (NZIC) was established to meet that need. The company supplies high-quality cement, supported by dependable service, technical expertise, and a modern distribution network designed for the demands of the construction sector. Its objective is straightforward: to provide consistent cement products and reliable supply that keep projects moving.

NZIC is part of the HWR Group, a familyowned business with long-established roots in Southland, and that heritage is reflected in the way the team operates.

From planning and procurement through to on-site delivery, NZIC works closely with contractors to ensure supply arrives when it is needed. Family ownership also supports a long-term perspective, with decisions made in the interests of customers over time rather than short-term gain.

Because no two projects are the same, NZIC takes a collaborative approach. Whether the requirement is a residential subdivision, a commercial build, civil infrastructure or a specialised concrete application, the team assesses each project’s specific needs before recommending a solution.

Experienced technical staff and responsive

Quality is maintained at every stage. From sourcing and importing through to storage, distribution, and delivery, high standards are upheld across the entire supply chain. customer service help make the supply process as efficient as possible.

Logistics is central to delivering on that commitment. Distribution facilities in Nelson, Christchurch and Invercargill, supported by an established transport network, ensure product is readily available to contractors, concrete producers and infrastructure projects throughout the country. Reliability remains a key factor in keeping projects on schedule, and locally based depots enable shorter lead times and direct, responsive communication with the NZIC team.

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Quality is maintained at every stage. From sourcing and importing through to storage, distribution, and delivery, high standards are upheld across the entire supply chain. For builders, this consistency provides confidence that each delivery will perform to the same standard as the last.

The timing is significant. As New Zealand continues to invest in infrastructure, housing and regional growth, demand for dependable supply partners continues to increase.

NZIC is investing in its people, systems and distribution capabilities to meet that demand, both now and into the future.

For long-standing customers and new partners alike, the objective remains consistent: to provide quality cement, dependable service and the confidence that comes from working with a supplier genuinely committed to each project’s success. When a project matters, the right supply partner makes a significant difference.

Cement and Concrete

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Cement and Concrete

Investing in New Zealand’s concrete industry One machine at a time The past few years have certainly tested New Zealand’s construction sector. Rising costs, changing workloads and economic uncertainty have encouraged many businesses to think carefully about where they invest.

Yet one thing hasn’t changed, contractors who invest in reliable equipment continue to position themselves for long-term success.

Since establishing Concrete Pumping Equipment NZ Ltd (CPENZ) in 2003, our mission has remained the same, to provide New Zealand’s concrete industry with world-class equipment, a comprehensive range of spare parts and expert technical support that help customers maximise performance, minimise downtime and keep projects moving.

More than two decades later, we’re proud to have supplied well over 300 concrete pumping, spraying and mortar machines throughout New Zealand. Just as importantly, we’ve built long-term relationships with customers who trust us to support them throughout the life of their equipment.

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Continuing to Invest Recent deliveries across New Zealand highlight the continued investment contractors are making in modern concrete pumping technology, even in the face of challenging market conditions. These purchases reflect confidence in the future of the industry and a strong focus on improving productivity, safety and reliability on site.

Global brands. Local support.

Construction continues to evolve, with greater emphasis on productivity, safety and sustainability. Manufacturers such as Putzmeister and SANY continue to invest heavily in research and development, delivering smarter control systems, improved fuel efficiency and lower-emission technologies that help contractors meet the changing demands of modern construction.

As these innovations continue to develop, CPENZ remains committed to bringing the latest technology to New Zealand while providing the local expertise and after-sales support our customers rely on.

More than equipment While supplying machinery and parts is what we do, supporting our customers and the concrete pumping industry is what defines us. Many of our customers have been with us for years – some even decades and we value those partnerships enormously.

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Qualifications, contributed to the latest ‘Code of Practice for Concrete Pumping Operations in New Zealand’ prepared by ConcreteNZ, we are an active member of the NZ Concrete Contractors Association. We are proud to have created & sponsor the annual Concrete Pump Operator of the Year awards, recognising excellence and professionalism within the industry.

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Cement and Concrete

Aquamax introduces robotic technology Aquamax has expanded its infrastructure service offering with the addition of an Aquacutter hydro-demolition robot. Aquajet Systems, a Swedish firm, are the world leader in this technology.

Hydrodemolition robots dramatically increase the productivity and safety margins of the hydrodemolition process by taking the operator off the gun.

Hydrodemolition is a process utilising ultrahigh pressure (1450 bar or 20,000 pounds per square inch) water blasting to cut away concrete without impact to surrounding structure or damage to steel reinforcing.

Engineers specify hydrodemolition particularly when remediating or modifying existing concrete structure. Concrete is stripped away prior to welding in repairs or additions to the existing rebar. The process ensures there is no damage or microcracking of the existing concrete that might weaken the structure or reduce the pull-out performance of the rebar.

Hydrodemolition robots dramatically increase the productivity and safety margins of the hydrodemolition process by taking the operator off the gun. The machine is mounted on a tracked crawler chassis and is electrically powered. The operator controls the machine remotely via a wireless controller.

The machine can handle significantly higher reaction loads arising from the jet lance and therefore much higher fluid flow rates. There is a direct relationship between

has a role, tidying up or reaching those hard-to-get places.

the flow rate and productivity. Doubling the flow rate will result in twice as much concrete removal.

The Aquacutter receives high-pressure water from a large, containerised pump delivering 95 lpm at 20,000 psi. The pump is contained in a purpose-built sound-proof container which can be located up to 150 metres from the robot if required.

Manual gunning can be very tiring and requires operators to take plenty of breaks during the work day. The robot never tires and is just as productive at the end of the day as the beginning of the shift.

Manual blasting can deliver productivity in the range of 0.2 – 0.3 cubic metres of concrete per day. A robot can easily cut one cube per day representing a four to five-fold improvement. Manual blasting still

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The robot is programmed to cut complex shapes with varying parameters depending on the situation. The waterjet lance is also ‘wobbled’ to simulate hand-gunning and reduce the likelihood of ‘shadowing’ – leaving uncut concrete behind rebar. The cutting head is mounted on an articulated arm that allows for blasting on horizontal, vertical and overhead surfaces.

In addition to hydrodemolition, the robot can also be fitted with a scabbling head with similar productivity benefits. The machine has been used to scabble large areas of sewer prior to re-surfacing.

Weighing around a tonne, the robot is easily craned into tanks or onto upper floors of buildings.

Cement and Concrete

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News

Golden Bay Cement stays open under $60m Crown deal

By Ben O’Connell

A $60 million Crown grant keeps New Zealand’s only cement kiln firing to 2040, and for anyone who pours concrete it is really about supply security and price power, not one Northland plant New Zealand will keep making its own cement. On 20 July the Government committed up to $60 million to Golden Bay Cement, securing the Portland works near Whangārei and pulling the country back from a future in which every bag and bulk load of cement arrived by ship.

The distinction that matters is what the plant actually does. Portland, about 10 kilometres south of Whangārei, is the only fully integrated cement facility left in the country.

It does not just grind imported clinker. It fires local limestone in its own kiln to make the clinker itself, and it supplies close to 60% of national demand, with about 95% of what it produces sold here.

That kiln was the thing at risk. Owner Fletcher Building had warned that rising costs, including carbon costs that overseas suppliers do not carry to the same degree, would have forced the plant to an importonly model from 2030. For the people who actually pour and place the material, that is not an abstract policy question. Cement is the one bulk input most builds cannot easily substitute or wait on, and a country that made none of its own would be a captive import market, exposed to shipping disruption, currency swings and the price power that comes with being the only buyer at the dock.

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In return for the funding, Golden Bay Cement has committed to keep producing cement and clinker at Portland until at least the end of 2040, and to invest at least $150 million of its own capital over that period in operations, resilience and decarbonisation. The support is a grant with clawback rights, not a loan. If the company does not hold up its side, the Government can recover the money, and the deal carries extra reporting and auditing.

The $60 million reads less like a windfall than the price of keeping a hardto-replace asset running.

Ministers did not give Fletcher everything it asked for. The company had wanted a tariff on imported cement. None was granted.

Cabinet also looked at easing the plant’s Emissions Trading Scheme costs and rejected that, deciding a carve-out for one participant would weaken the scheme for everyone.

The $60 million was the tool ministers were willing to use, and no more.

Economic Growth Minister Nicola Willis framed it as a one-off that met a very high bar for taxpayer support, and the reasoning came down to supply security. A country that builds with concrete, and that carries its own seismic and weather risks, is exposed

if its only source of locally made cement can be switched off and replaced by a single line running over the water. The plant also underpins work, employing more than 150 people at Portland and supporting around 450 more across the Whangārei district.

The decision has its critics, some reaching for the phrase corporate welfare. Supporters point to the clawback, the 2040 commitment and the $150 million of private money the deal unlocks, and argue the taxpayer exposure is capped and conditional rather than open-ended. Set against Fletcher’s own estimate that shutting the works would have cost about $345 million, the $60 million

reads less like a windfall than the price of keeping a hard-to-replace asset running.

Either way, the deal buys the two things the sector had been asking for, time and certainty. The open questions now are about delivery. Whether the promised decarbonisation spend arrives on schedule, and whether locally made cement stays costcompetitive with imports once the support is in place, will decide whether this is a genuine save or a stay of execution. For now, the country keeps making its own cement for at least the next 15 years, and the trade keeps a domestic supply it would have felt the loss of first.

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Solar Training NZ helping lift industry skills Solar Training New Zealand has spent the past 12 months delivering specialist training workshops for electricians, with a focus on improving knowledge, skill base, and improved installation practices to support the country’s growing solar sector.

The course is designed to provide electricians entering the solar sector with a strong foundation in understanding solar technology, system design, installation best practices, safety requirements, and compliance with industry standards.

Founded by solar specialist and qualified electrician Simon Jack, the business was established in response to a gap in industry training and a growing need for practical, New Zealand-focused training for installers.

More than 11 years ago Simon transitioned from general electrical work into residential and lifestyle solar installations, he quickly recognised the depth of specialist knowledge required to design, install, and successfully commission a solar energy system, especially one with a battery component.

Seeking formal training opportunities, he approached SEANZ in 2015 but found there were no solar training programmes available in New Zealand at the time. To further his expertise, he spent the next 6 years completing the GSES Design and Install training pathway in Australia, covering GridConnected PV Systems through to StandAlone Power Systems.

This same training structure is now available in New Zealand through WITT & E-Tec, supported by GSES material and offering Solar Micro Credentials.

Class sizes are intentionally limited to maximise participation in the practical hands-on components.

Today, he is one of only a small number of New Zealand electricians to hold this level of Solar Technician Accreditation. He also holds Mains Parallel Endorsement as an Electrician and Electrical Inspector, allowing him to specialise in the inspection and compliance of solar energy systems.

During his work with solar energy systems it has become apparent that many of the issues encountered in problematic systems stem from a lack of understanding fundamental design and installation requirements. Leading to failing systems and unhappy system owners.

Recognising an opportunity to support industry development, Simon and wife Heather established Solar Training NZ. The couple spent nearly a year developing course content, practical exercises, and a comprehensive training manual before launching its flagship Two-Day Comprehensive Solar Training Course.

The course is designed to provide electricians entering the solar sector with a strong foundation in understanding solar technology, system design, installation best practices, safety requirements, and compliance with industry standards.

Since launching in June 2025, the programme has continued to evolve, with expanded course content and training resources. Solar Training NZ has recently introduced a OneDay Lithium Battery Installation Workshop and is developing additional programmes in the future.

Heather and Simon now deliver training workshops nationwide, from Auckland to Christchurch, helping equip electricians with the knowledge and practical skills needed to meet the increasing demand for quality solar installations throughout New Zealand.

For more information about upcoming courses, visit www.solartrainingnz.co.nz or contact the team at training@solartrainingnz.co.nz

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Steel Construction

From ideation to prototype: New Zealand's innovators' missing middle Ask anyone who has tried to take a new concept to market where it failed, and the answer is rarely at the idea stage. It is usually the part in the middle — after the concept works on paper, before anyone will buy it — when you need somewhere to build the thing and find out whether it actually works.

New Zealand has a good support system for start-ups. Incubators, accelerators, mentor networks, angel groups and grant schemes all exist, and founders can find advice without much trouble. Concepts are typically initially designed using software, where a prototype costs a laptop and a few late nights but the next phase is a major step change. A new fabrication process, a modular

HERA's academic teams will utilise space for its latest research in Construction and Fabrication, AI, robotic welding, digital fabrication, structural health monitoring and digital twinning. Externally, HERA's CEO, Alan Sutcliffe believes that the multi-purpose facility will help to meet the needs of start-ups looking to move from concept to building pilot plants or test rigs. building system, a materials-handling rig, a low-carbon binder — each usually needs a physical proving ground before investors will risk money on it. Innovators need space.

What "space" actually means The requirement is often more specific than just square metres. You may need

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floor area with height. Three-phase power.

Crane or gantry access. Extraction and fume management. A floor slab rated for the loads.

Safe tools and materials storage. Neighbours who will tolerate noise, sparks and odd hours. Industrial zoning that permits what you are doing. And a landlord willing to sign off on an activity nobody has attempted on their property before.

The property maths Suitable industrial vacancy in New Zealand's major cities is therefore at a premium and landlords will price accordingly as structure and setup dictates rent. Commercial leases typically run three to six years, and preference is given to tenants with a trading history and a balance sheet. This is the crux of the problem for start-ups, where they may only need a corner of a building for a few months, might want to modify the building, and cannot promise it will still exist a year later.

Those two positions are close to irreconcilable. Founders end up in a shed on a relative's farm, or paying for unneeded space that consumes the seed round before the first test.

University laboratories help, but they are built around academic programmes.

Equipment is booked out by postgraduate

Steel Construction

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Steel Construction

work, access is governed by institutional rules, and there is usually an intellectual property conversation before anything gets switched on.

The consequences are predictable. Some founders shrink the ambition to fit the garage. Some burn their capital on rent and equipment instead of engineering.

And some take the technology to Australia, Singapore or the United States, where pilot-scale facilities are easier to reach — and the company, the jobs and the IP go with them. We buy the product back a decade later.

This is a structural gap rather than a market failure anyone can fix alone. The returns from shared pilot facilities are spread across a whole sector, which is precisely why industryowned institutions exist.

HERA, the Heavy Engineering Research Association has recently completed a purpose-built innovation centre alongside HERA House in Manukau. The 360-square-metre, 6-metre-high structural steel building with a dedicated office facility is intended to give both its members and external incubators alike a dedicated space to trial emerging technologies and prototype new approaches.

A step in the right direction Which brings us to Manukau. To address this problem, HERA, the Heavy Engineering Research Association has recently completed a purpose-built innovation centre alongside HERA House in Manukau. The 360-squaremetre, 6-metre-high structural steel building

with a dedicated office facility is intended to give both its members and external incubators alike a dedicated space to trial emerging technologies and prototype new approaches.

and Fabrication, AI, robotic welding, digital fabrication, structural health monitoring and digital twinning. Externally, HERA's CEO, Alan Sutcliffe believes that the multipurpose facility will help to meet the needs of start-ups looking to move from concept to building pilot plants or test rigs. "Arrive with a problem, leave with a solution."

The building is also a demonstration piece in its own right, having been awarded a Green Star 6 rating, signifying HERA's commitment to sustainable design and operational performance.

One centre will not close the gap on its own.

But it identifies the right problem. Ideas become products in a building, with power, space, and people who know how to test things properly.

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News

Help inside the hard hat

CW: This article discusses suicide.

The most dangerous thing on a construction site is not the fall or the machine. In Australia, construction workers take their own lives at a rate of 25.7 per 100,000, against 14.3 per 100,000 for other employed men, and suicide is by a clear margin the leading cause of death in the trade. New Zealand’s picture is no better.

Construction carries the highest proportion of suicides of any industry in the country. The encouraging part is that this is a problem other building sectors have measurably shifted, and the way they did it is well documented.

Australia Australia’s response began in 2008 with MATES in Construction, set up in Queensland after a run of deaths on the tools. Its idea was deliberately simple. The people best placed to notice a worker in trouble are the ones standing next to him, so train them.

MATES built a peer-support model owned by the industry rather than run at it from outside. General awareness training goes into site inductions, volunteer connectors learn to spot the signs and start a conversation, and a smaller group takes full suicide-intervention training. The programme has now trained more than 300,000 workers, with close to 22,000 connectors and around 3,000 intervention-trained on top of that. The evidence has followed. A study drawing on 21 years of coronial data found the construction suicide rate falling while the rate for other working men held broadly flat, narrowing a gap that had been widening for decades.

The lesson from Australia is patience and ownership. Embed the response in the daily

rhythm of the site, let the workforce run it, and the numbers move.

The United Kingdom The United Kingdom took a coalition route to the same place. UK construction records more than 500 suicides a year, around three times the national average for men, and workers there are far more likely to die by their own hand than in a site accident.

Two organisations carry the load. Mates in Mind runs a tiered training package aimed separately at managers, supervisors and operatives, so each layer gets what it can actually use. The Lighthouse Construction Industry Charity runs a confidential 24/7

helpline and blunt visibility campaigns, including its Help Inside the Hard Hat work, designed to make talking about it normal.

The British lesson is about access and stigma. A helpline a worker can ring at 2am, and a culture that no longer treats asking as weakness, catch the people induction training alone would miss.

New Zealand New Zealand does not have to invent any of this. MATES in Construction crossed the Tasman in 2019 and now delivers the same on-site training, peer support, case management and 24/7 line here, adapted to the local industry. The vehicle is already on

The most dangerous thing on a construction site is not the fall or the machine. the ground. What the overseas experience says is that the vehicle only works when the industry gets behind it, and that is where the real gap sits. The Australian rate did not fall because a programme existed. It fell because head contractors built the training into every induction, funded the connectors’ time, and treated wellbeing as part of the safety system rather than a poster in the smoko room.

For a New Zealand builder, the practical steps are the same ones that worked overseas.

Put general awareness training into your induction so every worker on site has heard the message and knows the help exists. Back a few of your people to train as connectors and give them the time to use it. Make the 24/7 number visible on site, not filed in an office drawer. None of it needs a big budget. A small firm can send a supervisor to connector training and put the helpline number where the crew actually sees it for the cost of an afternoon, and the return, a worker who speaks up before a crisis rather than after one, dwarfs the outlay. And treat a worker’s mental health the way you treat any other site hazard, as something you plan for and manage rather than something you react to after the worst has happened.

The countries ahead of us did not find a clever new answer. They made the response their own, kept at it, and watched the most stubborn number in construction safety finally start to fall.

60 | WWW.BUILDERSANDCONTRACTORS.CO.NZ

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Wired differently, wired local New Zealand is running short of electricians. Industry figures show the country has lost around 2,000 registered electricians over the past five years, while about 1,500 leave or retire annually. At the same time, Level 4 trainee numbers have dropped sharply.

It means that finding an electrical company with the depth, experience and capacity to deliver is all that more valuable.

Aotea Electric Timaru has spent more than a decade building exactly that capability.

Established in 2014 and operating from Washdyke on Timaru’s Hilton Highway, the branch is part of the Aotea Group: New Zealand’s largest network of electrical trade experts. With more than 50 years of history, around 30 locally owned companies, over 29 locations and more than 1,600 tradespeople nationwide, the group combines national resources with local ownership and knowledge.

Backed by the buying power, technical knowledge and shared expertise of a nationwide group, while remaining firmly embedded in the local community, Aotea Electric Timaru offers clients both confidence and continuity.

Leading the Timaru branch is manager Gary Taylor, who oversees dedicated Servicing and Contracting divisions. The structure allows the business to respond quickly to everyday faults while delivering staged commercial, industrial and infrastructure projects. A tripped switchboard in the morning and a major fit-out in the afternoon are equally within the team’s capability.

documentation and regulatory standards are as critical as the installation itself.

The branch delivers a comprehensive range of services, including residential, commercial and industrial electrical work, structured cabling, fire alarms, security systems, audiovisual and MATV installations, heat pumps and air conditioning, switchboard upgrades, testing and inspections. It also offers thermal imaging of live electrical installations, helping identify overheating components before they fail and reducing costly downtime.

A key point of difference is the branch’s in-house expertise. Registered electricians and electrical inspectors work side by side, allowing testing, inspection, certification and compliance to be completed without relying on subcontractors. That capability matters in medical and industrial environments, where

Demand for those services continues to grow. As spring approaches and cooling installations increase, heat pump work traditionally accelerates. At the same time, electrification is reshaping the industry.

Solar systems, battery storage, EV charging infrastructure and smarter buildings are expanding the electrical scope of projects that previously required little beyond standard wiring.

Backed by the buying power, technical knowledge and shared expertise of a nationwide group, while remaining firmly embedded in the local community, Aotea

Electric Timaru offers clients both confidence and continuity. Businesses value having one electrical partner who can design, install, inspect, maintain and repair systems throughout a building’s lifecycle.

The result is fewer delays, faster response times and the reassurance that experienced local professionals remain available long after a project has been completed. In a trade where electrical systems are only noticed when they stop working, the company’s focus is simple: keeping South Canterbury powered safely, efficiently and reliably every day.

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WWW.BUILDERSANDCONTRACTORS.CO.NZ | 63

Reclaimed Timber

Landfill levy sharpens case for reclaimed timber Dumping construction waste just got more expensive. From July 1, the levy on construction and demolition waste sent to landfill rose from $35 to $40 a tonne, a 14% jump in a single step.

Construction and demolition waste makes up 40 to 50% of everything New Zealand sends to landfill, and timber is the single biggest material in that pile, accounting for around 20% of construction waste by weight according to an Auckland study.

for structural framing, exposed beams and flooring across both residential and commercial fit-outs, taking advantage of timber salvaged from old-growth buildings that is often denser and more stable than equivalent new-growth material.

Each new home built generates an average of four tonnes of waste, and with the levy now applied per tonne, every load of timber that leaves a site instead of being reclaimed comes with a bigger bill attached.

On the residential side, homeowners renovating character villas are increasingly matching reclaimed timber to original building fabric rather than introducing a visibly new material into a period home.

Commercially, it’s turning up in retail and office flooring and exterior cladding, valued as much for durability in high-traffic spaces as for its look.

For years, reclaimed timber was sold mainly on look and sustainability credentials, often costing more than new timber once milling, treatment and preparation were factored in.

Diverting old structural timber for reuse now avoids a real, rising disposal cost too, adding a dollar figure to an argument that used to rest on story alone.

What was once mostly feature walls and statement furniture is now specified

There are practical steps worth taking now rather than waiting for the levy to climb further. Start with a simple waste sort at the skip, separating timber, plasterboard, metal and packaging rather than sending it all to landfill as mixed waste.

Diverting old structural timber for reuse now avoids a real, rising disposal cost too, adding a dollar figure to an argument that used to rest on story alone.

Industry research shows sorting alone can divert at least half of a project’s waste from landfill, and given timber makes up roughly a fifth of site waste by weight, even a basic separation system pays for itself quickly at $40 a tonne.

On the specification side, it’s worth pricing reclaimed timber against new for structural framing, flooring and feature work at the

quoting stage rather than treating it as an afterthought once a client asks.

For anyone managing a demolition or major renovation, it’s also worth checking early whether structural timber coming off the old build can be assessed and diverted for reclamation, a decision far easier to make at the planning stage than once demolition is already underway.

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News

The cheapest admin hire you’ll ever make Nobody gets into the trades because they love paperwork.

But every builder, sparky, tiler and fencer I’ve worked with spends their evenings doing it. Quoting, invoicing, chasing payments, juggling the calendar.

The tools go down at five and the laptop comes out at seven.

A good chunk of my clients this past year have been trades businesses. I build these systems for them and run the same setup myself, so this is not a prediction. It is already on a few dozen Kiwi business owners’ phones.

The tool is Claude, an AI assistant on your phone or laptop. Most people know it as something you ask questions. What owners haven’t caught up with is that you can connect it straight to the software you already run the business on. It stops being a chatbot and starts being a staff member.

Start with the money Xero is the first thing we connect for most clients, because invoicing is what eats their nights. You tell it “invoice the Smith job, eight hours plus materials”. It looks up the rates, handles GST, knows the payment terms, and leaves the invoice in drafts to check and send.

Ask at the end of the month how the business is going and it pulls a profit and loss on the spot, in plain English, and tells you who is overdue.

66 | WWW.BUILDERSANDCONTRACTORS.CO.NZ

Xero is the first thing we connect for most clients, because invoicing is what eats their nights. You tell it “invoice the Smith job, eight hours plus materials”. It looks up the rates, handles GST, knows the payment terms, and leaves the invoice in drafts to check and send.

Ask at the end of the month how the business is going and it pulls a profit and loss on the spot, in plain English, and tells you who is overdue.

Email that sounds like you wrote it This one surprises people, and it is what they use most. You feed it a stack of your past emails and it learns how you actually write.

It picks up things you would never think to explain: how blunt you are with a supplier compared to a customer, whether you sign off or just stop.

So “reply to this guy and tell him we can’t start until the 14th but we’ll knock the prep out beforehand” comes back sounding like you. Read it, tweak a word, hit send. Thirty seconds instead of ten minutes at the screen.

Talk to your job system, don’t tap through it The bigger unlock is job management. We connect the systems you already pay for: ServiceM8, Fergus, Tradify, SimPRO and the like. Create a job from a phone call while the details are fresh. Check who’s free Thursday

and book them in. Move a booking when the weather packs it in.

Your calendar works the same way. “Push Thursday’s job out to next week and flick the customer a heads up” is one sentence, said once, and both are done. And when a job gets priced, the description the crew sees on site fills in with the scope and materials, so nobody rings the office to ask what they are walking into.

It can go looking for work too Tell it what your ideal customer looks like: the type of job, the size, the area. It goes searching and comes back with the businesses, their websites, who to contact and a first draft of the approach. That is the work that never gets done, because it is nobody’s job.

You stay the boss Two caveats. First, everything above drafts.

You approve. You wouldn’t let a first-week apprentice fire off quotes unsupervised, and the same applies here.

Second, start with one job, not ten. The ones who get real value pick their most annoying admin task, get it working, then build out.

The ones who try to automate everything in week one have given up by week three.

What it actually costs The AI subscription is about $40 a month.

The job management and accounting software you are already paying for. There is some setup to connect it all, but no six-figure system and no IT department. This is the first generation of business technology genuinely within reach of a two-man band.

The trades are short-staffed everywhere, and every hour on admin is an hour someone else is out hunting work. The best hire you make this year might not be a person at all. It never calls in sick, it works at 10pm while you are pricing jobs, and costs less than your fuel bill.

Get the admin off your evenings and start using AI. Blake Harkness is an AI engineer and the founder of Harkness AI, a Christchurch consultancy helping New Zealand businesses put AI to work. www.harknessai.nz

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Health & Safety

The long-term cost of site exposure

By Ben O’Connell

Work-related disease kills far more building workers than falls, vehicles and machinery, and WorkSafe NZ estimates it claims between 750 and 900 lives across the nation’s workforce every year. Measured against the acute toll that dominates site safety, a worker is 15 times more likely to die from a disease the job caused than from an accident on it.

Every pre-2000 renovation and commercial strip-out still disturbs it, which means the exposures happening now will surface as illness in the 2040s.

WorkSafe estimates a further 5,000 to 6,000 people are hospitalised each year with work-related illness, with a social cost of at least $2 billion. Construction carries a heavy share of it. The sector lodges one of the largest volumes of new work-related claims accepted by ACC, and the exposures behind the long-term harm are routine on any build.

Silica dust off a concrete saw, asbestos in a strip-out, solvent fumes, welding fume and diesel exhaust. None of it injures a worker on the day.

Silica is the faster-moving threat. Cutting, grinding and polishing engineered stone, concrete and brick releases respirable crystalline silica, fine enough to scar lung tissue. WorkSafe has recorded cases of accelerated silicosis in engineered stone workers, a form of the disease that once took decades and now appears within a few years of heavy exposure. In November 2023 the regulator halved the workplace exposure standard for the dust to 0.025 milligrams per cubic metre, and it is supporting MBIE to develop options for tighter regulation of the engineered stone trade. WorkSafe inspectors have been visiting businesses that work with engineered stone since 2019, and the regulator says most now manage the dust risk more effectively than when those visits began.

Instead, it accumulates over years. The workers most exposed are often on the smallest jobs. A sole trader dry-cutting pavers, a two-person team pulling out an old kitchen, a subcontractor grinding a slab in a closed garage. The controls that manage the dust cost time and money, and the pressure to skip them runs highest where the margins are thinnest.

Asbestos remains the single biggest killer.

WorkSafe attributes around 220 deaths a year to asbestos-related disease, almost all of it from exposures decades in the past.

68 | WWW.BUILDERSANDCONTRACTORS.CO.NZ

A worker is 15 times more likely to die from a disease the job caused than from an accident on it.

New Zealand research bears the pattern out. A 2022 study of construction workers published in PLOS ONE found they reported markedly higher rates of chronic bronchitis symptoms than reference groups, with the odds of those symptoms around five times

greater among workers with 11 to 20 years in the trade. Those using wet-cutting or on-tool extraction reported fewer symptoms, though the authors cautioned the protective effect needs confirming in a larger study. The dust is doing measurable damage well before anyone is formally diagnosed.

Because early silicosis often carries no symptoms, WorkSafe says workers exposed to silica dust need regular health monitoring so the disease can be caught early. That monitoring is a legal duty under the Health and Safety at Work Act for workers exposed to silica, asbestos, lead and isocyanates, not a discretionary extra. WorkSafe also directs firms to control dust at the source, through water suppression and on-tool extraction, rather than relying on a mask as the first line of defence.

The harm reaches beyond the lungs.

WorkSafe’s burden-of-harm estimates put musculoskeletal damage at 27% of the healthy years of life lost to work, ahead of mental health harm at 17%, cancers at 16% and respiratory disease at 15%. Acute injuries, including every fatal fall and vehicle strike, account for 11%.

None of that harm shows in a firm’s incident record, because the diagnosis lands years after the worker has moved on. The regulatory pressure is now shifting toward the slow exposures, and the engineered stone review is the clearest signal of where it goes next. The test is whether the discipline already applied to harnesses and exclusion zones extends to dust control, asbestos surveys and health monitoring. Those are the controls that decide a toll the site will not see for another twenty years.

Health & Safety

The escalating threat of stimulants on NZ worksites Workplace drug trends show a concerning shift. TDDA’s latest Imperans Q2 report reveals that while overall positive testing rates dropped slightly to 2.8%, stimulants, specifically cocaine and amphetamine-type stimulants (ATS), including methamphetamine, rebounded sharply.

Cocaine, in particular, is surging. It accounted for 2.8% of positive tests in Q2, jumping 68.5% year-on-year (YoY). Many once viewed cocaine as an issue confined to corporate offices, but expanding supply networks show it is now entering regional and trade environments. And that’s something contractors need to understand right now.

Detections spiked notably in Canterbury (up 375.8% YoY) and Otago (up 146.2% YoY).

Meanwhile, ATS accounted for 32.7% of positive tests (up 5.2% YoY). The South Island is experiencing the most significant surge, with Southland (up 200.8% YoY) and Otago (up 153.7% YoY) driving this trend.

New Zealand’s building and contracting sector continues to navigate a tough economic environment. While unyielding deadlines and pressure to deliver persist, workers across safety-sensitive sites face that ongoing stress. That stress allows substances

to creep into workforces and smart contractors know that when individuals struggle, events can cascade and create heightened safety risks for everyone around them. And when a work force is stressed, potentially fatal mistakes happen.

Stimulants like cocaine and ATS present unique hazards on construction sites. They alter how the brain perceives danger, creating misplaced confidence and delaying decisionmaking at critical moments. Operating heavy machinery, erecting scaffolding, pouring concrete, or driving heavy vehicles requires split-second precision.

To manage this the starting point is a drug and alcohol policy that covers illicit, synthetic and prescription drugs alongside alcohol.

Education and training also gives managers and supervisors who sense something is off, yet don’t really know how to act, a clear path to follow and should be considered.

When economic conditions are tough, cutting corners with unaccredited options or DIY kits may seem tempting, but it compromises safety. Misidentifying a substance issue or failing to detect a genuine risk leaves businesses non-compliant with the Health and Safety at Work Act 2015 (HSWA). Employers need a fit-for-purpose substance policy alongside a robust testing programme. Combining pre-employment testing with random testing offers one of the most effective ways to detect fast-clearing stimulants and maintain safe worksites.

At TDDA, our mission goes beyond compliance or policy design. Our fundamental commitment drives this

Drug and alcohol issues affect building sites everywhere.

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Professional testing and staff education help manage substance use disorders, protect your people, and safeguard your brand.

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WWW.BUILDERSANDCONTRACTORS.CO.NZ | 69

Stop chasing paperwork What eats up evenings is rarely physical work, but the admin.

Think chasing quotes, reentering the same job details into three different systems, following up on invoices, and trying to remember which client asked for which variation three weeks ago.

What eats up evenings is rarely physical work, but the admin... that’s time that never shows up on an invoice, but comes straight out of an owner’s margin and a Saturday morning.

That’s the gap AI Workflows Agency, founded by Auckland-based Anthony Dahya, has built its practice around.

Rather than selling trades businesses on flashy AI gadgets, the agency’s approach is deliberately unglamorous: map out where time actually leaks in a business, then automate the repetitive parts so the humans can focus on the job in front of them.

spreadsheet. It removes the parts of running a business that were never why anyone became a builder in the first place. It doesn’t replace the trade.

Dahya, who also hosts the Champion Mindset Collective podcast, has made a point on the show of pushing back against the industry hype cycle. His argument, echoed by guests from enterprise AI backgrounds, is that most automation projects fail not because the AI tools are bad, but because the underlying systems are a mess. That might mean fragmented spreadsheets, disconnected jobmanagement software, and manual doubleentry between the office and the site.

an invoice raised in a completely separate system, with someone in the office manually reconciling all three. It’s slow, it’s error-prone, and it’s exactly the kind of swivel chair process AI automation is suited to eliminate.

For a mid-sized contracting outfit, that reconciliation alone can chew through several hours a week. That’s time that never shows up on an invoice, but comes

That translates into very concrete pain points: a quote drafted in one tool, a variation logged in an email thread, and

straight out of an owner’s margin and a Saturday morning.

In practice, sensible AI workflows for a building or contracting business tend to start small: automatically turning a site photo and a few notes into a formatted variation request, drafting client follow-up emails from a job’s status in the scheduling software, or flagging overdue invoices without anyone needing to check a

The agency’s broader pitch is aimed at owners who know they should be doing something with AI but don’t have the time or background to work out what. Clarity on where the business’ time actually goes, and which of those leaks are worth fixing first, is where it begins.

Tools and platforms will keep shifting; the businesses that get ahead won’t be the ones with the flashiest software, but the ones that fixed their processes first. It’s the difference between working late and going home on time.

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News

From finding his feet to Manufacturing Apprentice of the Year When Culham Engineering apprentice Devin Gibson was named New Zealand Manufacturing Apprentice of the Year, it was recognition of the work that happens long before awards are handed out.

Presented by Minister for Small Business and Manufacturing, Hon. Cameron Brewer, at the 2026 New Zealand Manufacturing Awards, the national award recognises apprentices who demonstrate technical excellence, leadership potential, professionalism and commitment to their trade.

For the Waipū-based apprentice, who is completing his NZ Certificate in Engineering Fabrication (Trade) (Level 4) with Northland heavy engineering company Culham Engineering, the achievement marks the culmination of a journey that highlights the impact of great mentoring, workplace support and a commitment to continuous improvement.

The award carries significance beyond individual achievement. Manufacturing remains one of New Zealand’s largest export sectors and relies on a steady pipeline of skilled tradespeople to support major infrastructure, energy and industrial projects across the country.

Culham Engineering has built a remarkable reputation for developing talent from within.

Since opening its doors in 1958, the company has trained more than 800 apprentices, many of whom have gone on to become industry leaders, supervisors and senior tradespeople.

Like many young people transitioning from school into the workforce, Devin’s first year involved more than simply learning a trade. “I left school in Year 12 and started here when I was 17,” he says.

“You’re figuring out work, figuring out life and I had gone flatting as well. I wasn’t fully focused at the start. I’d be surprised if many people come straight out of school and immediately have everything sorted.”

Devin Gibson, (left) New ofof the Year Devin Gibson, NewZealand ZealandManufacturing ManufacturingApprentice Apprentice the Year 2026

Anything that’s complicated or challenging is what I enjoy most. I like the jobs where you’ve got to think your way through it and get it right first time.

— Devin Gibson

Culham Engineering Work-Based Assessor Gary Stables says that experience is common.

“A lot of apprentices aren’t fully work-ready in that first year or year-and-a-half. They’re transitioning into the adult world, learning responsibility and how workplaces operate.

That’s why support is so important.”

The turning point came during a major vessel installation project in Tauranga. “We went down and saw it being installed and suddenly you could see the impact of what we’d been building,” says Devin. “It made you realise this work actually matters and made me want to take on more responsibility.”

Gary noticed the change immediately.

“The light bulb went on. He went from being a typical young apprentice finding his way to someone who really wanted to learn and improve.”

Today, Devin enjoys tackling some of the workshop’s most technically demanding jobs, including fabricating complex square-toround transitions from 25mm steel plate with a 2mm tolerance - an advanced fabrication skill requiring millimetre-perfect accuracy.

“Anything that’s complicated or challenging is what I enjoy most. I like the jobs where you’ve got to think your way through it and get it right first time,” says the apprentice.

That appetite for challenge is matched by a disciplined approach to learning.

Devin Gibson 72 | WWW.BUILDERSANDCONTRACTORS.CO.NZ

Rather than taking study home after a long day on the tools, Devin spends an hour each day after work completing his apprenticeship coursework. “If I leave it until later, life gets in the way,” he says. “I’d rather get it done while I’m still in work mode.”

Gary says that consistency is what makes Devin stand out. “Being an apprentice takes commitment. You’ve got to turn up on time, do the bookwork and keep showing up every day. Devin’s become a role model for the younger apprentices because he understands that.”

For Culham Engineering, investing in apprentices is about much more than filling vacancies. The company currently supports 27 apprentices and sees training as essential to maintaining the skilled workforce needed to deliver complex infrastructure projects across New Zealand.

“We need people with the right skills who can mobilise quickly,” says Gary. “When the global fuel crisis hit this year, we were asked to help with the Marsden Point fuel infrastructure project. Being in a position to respond almost overnight because we’d invested in building that capability was reassuring.”

Gary says apprenticeship training is also central to Culham Engineering’s commitment to the Northland community. “A lot of former apprentices have gone on to leadership positions here and throughout the industry.

That’s something we’re incredibly proud of.”

For Devin, the award is an important milestone – but not the destination. “I’d like to move into project management eventually,” he says. “I’d love to be involved in a major fabrication project, something like a skyscraper, and be the person coordinating how it all comes together.” Few would bet against him.

WWW.BUILDERSANDCONTRACTORS.CO.NZ | 73

Focus on Wellington

Earthquake law reset lands hardest on Wellington A reform of the earthquake-prone building rules, due before the 2026 election, hands owners up to 15 more years and reshapes the strengthening and demolition pipeline in the capital

Wellington faces the biggest shake-up to its earthquake rules in a decade, and it lands squarely on the capital’s builders, engineers and building owners. The Building (Earthquake-prone Building System Reform) Amendment Bill is expected to pass before the 2026 election, rewriting how New Zealand handles earthquake-prone buildings.

The headline change is time. Councils will be able to grant remediation deadline extensions of up to 15 years, easing a wall of deadlines that many owners had no realistic way to meet. The Government says the refocused system will save New Zealanders more than $8.2 billion in remediation and demolition costs.

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The reform also removes a long-standing handbrake. Owners will no longer be forced to upgrade fire safety and disability access at the same time as seismic strengthening, a bundled requirement that added heavily to costs and stopped many jobs before they started. Strengthening can now proceed on its own.

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Not every building stays in the net. The system moves to a risk-based model, stripping out low-risk buildings and whole low-seismic regions, including Auckland, Northland and the Chatham Islands. The focus narrows to the highest-risk stock, the unreinforced masonry and older concrete buildings of three storeys or more.

That is where Wellington comes in.

The capital carries one of the heaviest concentrations of affected buildings in the country, with around 468 requiring seismic

work and strengthening deadlines that peak in 2027. Much of it is the pre-war masonry and mid-century concrete that gives the city both its character and its risk profile.

For the trades, the reset changes the shape of the work rather than the amount. A backlog that had stalled under cost and deadline pressure becomes a schedulable programme of strengthening, and, where a building cannot be saved, of demolition worked into a tight urban grid. The extra time is a reprieve on the clock, not a cancellation of the work.

It also rewards firms that move early. Owners who now have a workable runway will be planning, pricing and staging jobs rather than deferring them, and the engineers and contractors who understand the new risk tiers and methodologies are the ones who will be asked to scope them.

The changes are not law yet, and the detail will not take effect until after the bill passes, expected late in 2026. But for anyone building, strengthening or demolishing in Wellington, the direction is already clear enough to plan around. The deadlines have moved. The work has not gone away.

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Caduceus Systems helps New Zealand building and construction businesses get more from their technology by bringing together two areas that are often treated separately: IT management and CAD and BIM expertise. That combination matters. Many IT providers understand networks, devices and cloud systems, but not the way building information, design software and construction workflows operate. Many BIM specialists understand modelling and documentation, but not the wider IT environment that supports the business. Caduceus works across both.

Our team supports builders, contractors, designers and consultants with practical technology advice, Autodesk software support, BIM process improvement, cloud systems, cyber security, managed IT services and day to day technical

support. We help businesses move away from workarounds, disconnected systems and reliance on one key person, toward clearer processes, better information management and more reliable project delivery.

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The benefit is not technology for technology’s sake. It is fewer delays caused by poor systems. It is better access to project information. It is more confidence when working with consultants, subcontractors and clients. It is knowing what you are paying for, why it matters and how it supports your business. Most importantly, it is giving your team the tools and support they need to deliver their best work.

Caduceus has been supporting professional service and building design businesses across Wellington and wider New Zealand for more than 30 years. We take the time to understand your business, your projects and your people, then build technology solutions that fit how you work.

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News

New builds, old debts

By Ben O’Connell

New Zealand’s earthquake rules are pulling in two directions at once. New buildings are being designed against tougher seismic assumptions than at any point in the past two decades.

The increase in hazard estimates in the 2022 revision is not unexpected. We know a lot more about earthquake behaviour now due to better global understanding, more sophisticated science, and more than a decade of advancements in technical computing.

At the same time, thousands of older buildings are being released from the strengthening requirements that once applied to them. For anyone commissioning, buying or insuring a building, working out

which regime it falls under is becoming as important as its seismic rating itself.

The magnitude 5.9 earthquake that struck near Te Anau in July 2026, and the tsunami

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advisory that briefly followed for the coast between Milford Sound and Puysegur Point, showed how that tension plays out on the ground. The advisory was cancelled within about two hours. The quake’s depth meant no serious damage was reported. But it came at a point when the nation’s approach to seismic risk has moved away from compliance after the fact and towards how buildings and infrastructure are designed from the start.

That change dates to the 2022 revision of the National Seismic Hazard Model, led by GNS Science and released that October, after the Canterbury and Kaikōura earthquakes.

The update lifted the countrywide estimate of seismic hazard by an average of 50% or more. The impact was not even. In some places it barely moved. In others it more than doubled. Much of the increase came from new ground-motion models for subduction zones, which weigh most heavily on the North Island.

“It is critical to have an up-to-date understanding of the seismic hazards facing New Zealand to help us manage the risks from earthquakes to people, property and the environment,” said Dr Matt Gerstenberger, the GNS Science project lead on the model.

“The increase in hazard estimates in the 2022 revision is not unexpected.

We know a lot more about earthquake behaviour now due to better global understanding, more sophisticated science, and more than a decade of advancements in technical computing.”

New buildings in higher-risk areas are now designed against tougher assumptions, with stronger expectations around performance, detailing and repairability after a major shake. But older buildings are moving the opposite way. Under the current system, a building assessed at below 34% of the New Building Standard is classified as earthquakeprone and must be strengthened or removed within a set timeframe. That threshold has turned seismic resilience into a baseline

cost of doing business rather than an optional upgrade, for owners, councils and insurers alike.

But what counts as earthquake-prone is itself changing. In 2025, the Government announced the biggest overhaul of that system since it began, moving to a more risk-based and proportionate model. Then Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk said the previous system “places an overwhelming financial burden on building owners.” The changes are expected to remove around 2,900 buildings, roughly 55% of those on the earthquake-prone register, from remediation requirements altogether.

A further group will face lower-cost fixes.

Some will require no work at all. The aim is to concentrate money and effort where the risk to life is greatest.

That leaves builders and owners working across two regimes moving in opposite directions at once. New construction faces a higher bar. Most buildings on the existing earthquake-prone register are about to face a lower one. That gap is likely to shape procurement, valuation and insurance conversations well before the reforms are fully in force.

The same approach is reaching into infrastructure planning. The lesson from Christchurch, carried into the Government’s National Infrastructure Plan, is that resilience has to be built in from the start rather than added after a system fails under pressure.

Councils and infrastructure agencies are applying that thinking to water, transport and stormwater networks, where redundancy and recovery time can matter as much as upfront cost.

Monitoring plays a bigger part in that than it used to. GNS Science operates GeoNet, which gives agencies something they lacked before Canterbury: a live picture of how the ground actually behaves, rather than an estimate built from historical records alone.

Resilience planning can be revised as the evidence changes, instead of after the next event has already made the case.

Te Anau tested that system for about two hours. The shake was strong enough to trigger a tsunami advisory and short enough to leave no real damage behind. The next one may not be so forgiving. Whether New Zealand is ready for it will come down to decisions being made now, about which buildings get held to the new standard, and which ones just get waved through.

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Women in Construction

The finalists of the 2026 NAWIC Excellence Awards

NAWIC Excellence Awards celebrate sector’s leading women New Zealand's most inspiring women in construction were celebrated on Friday evening 24 July as the National Association of Women in Construction (NAWIC) honoured excellence, leadership and innovation at the 2026 NAWIC Excellence Awards.

The evening recognised excellence across ten award categories, celebrating achievements in leadership, operational management, health and safety, education, trades, organisational excellence and advocacy.

The awards recognised outstanding women who are helping shape a stronger, more inclusive future for New Zealand's construction sector. Finalists represented every stage of the profession - from apprentices and students to experienced leaders, operational managers and industry changemakers.

The prestigious Helen Tippett Changemaker Award, named after one of New Zealand's pioneering engineers, was presented to Rebecca Mehrtens, recognising her exceptional leadership in advancing opportunities for women across the energy and construction sectors through advocacy, mentoring and national leadership initiatives.

Alex Hazledine, winner of the Excellence in Construction Organisation – Office Award, was recognised for strengthening legal practice across the construction sector through trusted leadership, collaboration and a commitment to developing the capability of others. Together, these recipients demonstrate that leadership takes many forms, from developing people and improving professional practice to driving innovation and creating lasting change.

This year's Awards formed the centrepiece of NAWIC New Zealand's 30 Years of Impact celebrations, bringing together members, industry leaders, sponsors and partners to celebrate three decades of championing women across every part of the construction sector. Together with the Building Influence Conference and 30 Year Cocktail Celebration, events leading in, the Awards reflected both how far the sector has come and the opportunities still ahead.

Emerging talent also featured strongly throughout the evening. Apprentice Excellence Award recipient Laura TorresRowe was recognised for her exceptional technical ability, leadership and commitment to continuous learning, while Student Excellence Award winner Emily Hall was honoured for combining academic excellence with a passion for sustainability, research and mentoring the next generation of construction professionals.

Women leading from construction sites and operational environments were also recognised, including Ella Wilson, recipient of the Wahine Toa Tradeswoman Award, Charlotte Valentine-Ah Tune, winner of Excellence in Site Operational Management, and Natalie Griffiths, recognised for Excellence in Health, Safety & Wellbeing.

Together, their achievements demonstrate the breadth of leadership now being seen across New Zealand's construction projects.

NAWIC President Kirsty Hopewell said the calibre of this year's finalists reflected this.

"Every finalist has demonstrated exceptional commitment to their profession, their colleagues and the future of construction.

They are not only delivering outstanding work - they are opening doors for others, challenging traditional thinking and helping create a sector where more women can thrive."

The Awards also recognised women who are already making a significant impact through leadership, innovation and professional excellence. Rising Star recipients Stella Ellia and Daenah Costales were honoured for their leadership potential, innovation and commitment to lifting others, while Kristy Jones, recipient of the Outstanding Leader – Office Award, was recognised for her industry-leading work in driving sustainability

Hopewell said the stories shared throughout the Awards reinforced why recognising excellence matters. "Behind every award is a story of determination, resilience and leadership. These women are delivering projects, leading teams, improving safety, mentoring others and driving meaningful change across our sector. Their success inspires the next generation and demonstrates the incredible contribution

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The evening recognised excellence across ten award categories, celebrating achievements in leadership, operational management, health and safety, education, trades, organisational excellence and advocacy. and creating lasting change across New Zealand's construction sector.

women are making to construction every day."

Over the coming weeks, NAWIC will profile each award recipient, sharing the stories behind their achievements and celebrating the individuals helping build a stronger future for New Zealand construction.

2026 NAWIC Excellence Award Winners • Helen Tippett Changemaker Award – Rebecca Mehrtens • Wahine Toa Tradeswoman – Ella Wilson • Outstanding Leader – Office – Kristy Jones • Excellence in Construction Organisation – Office – Alex Hazledine • Excellence in Site Operational Management – Charlotte Valentine-Ah Tune • Excellence in Health, Safety & Wellbeing – Natalie Griffiths • Rising Star – Office – Stella Ellia • Rising Star – Site – Daenah Costales • Student Excellence – Emily Hall • Apprentice Excellence – Laura Torres-Rowe

About NAWIC The National Association of Women in Construction (NAWIC) is a nationwide community championing diversity, equity and inclusion across Aotearoa New Zealand's construction sector. For 30 years, NAWIC has connected, educated and advocated for women working across every part of the construction profession - from apprentices to executives.

Women in Construction

The face of infrastructure tradies is changing

By Kaarin Gaukrodger, Executive Director, Connexis

Since 2008 Connexis has been partnering with industry to increase gender diversity within the infrastructure trades under the Ultimit: Women in Infrastructure initiative.

Eleven years ago, representatives of New Zealand’s Electricity Supply Industry (ESI) approached Connexis looking for support in attracting women to apply for trade and technical roles in their industry.

The infrastructure sector has known for some time the advantages of having women working on our major civil construction projects, energy supply sites, and water treatment plants, and have made purposeful steps in how they set up their work to support females’ success. The biggest issue is growing awareness of infrastructure apprenticeship pathways and the longer term opportunities a career in infrastructure provides. An infrastructure apprenticeship truly does offer a career for life.

Those conversations gave rise to a key Connexis initiative Girls with Hi-Vis® (GWHV), a monthlong national programme of events that provide an opportunity for female secondary students to connect with local infrastructure employers via an onsite visit at their depots or project sites to experience first-hand what careers in these industries are like.

Our challenge remains making sure women, of all ages, are aware of the possibilities of infrastructure careers, when they’re making decisions about their professional future. That may be as they leave school and look for affordable, appealing pathways into gaining a tertiary qualification while working, or when they are considering a career change later in life.

The first GWHV event in 2015 saw 3 ESI employers host 50 students. At the end of June, GWHV wrapped up for 2026 with 30 events hosted around the country by leading infrastructure employers across civil construction, energy and water treatment, with more than 80 schools and 800 students registered. We now have women who attended GWHV events as high school students participating in them as qualified tradies on behalf of their employers to encourage the next generation.

So many of the students attending a Connexis GWHV event come out of it with their eyes open to

new opportunities that have never been presented to them before. On top of that they are making key connections with employers in their local area.

Trades training is no longer an after-thought for the two-thirds of school students who are not looking at a career pathway through university. It’s recognised as a smart option for stepping into the workforce and gaining a tertiary qualification with valuable skills and understanding of infrastructure sites that can only be learnt on the job. An infrastructure apprenticeship is the first step in what can be a varied and rewarding career and gaining high-demand skills that are unlikely to be overtaken by AI. Introducing more women to that pathway is an important, ongoing conversation that can have a positive impact on the working life and future opportunities for the whole infrastructure workforce.

It’s a powerful way for students to be able to see themselves doing these types of jobs. We’re able to show them, rather than simply tell them about the opportunities that come from training for long-term careers in infrastructure trades they may otherwise never have heard of, let alone considered for themselves.

Connexis, a leading training provider to these infrastructure industries now has its highest-ever number of enrolled female learners; with the proportion of female learners doubling from 8% in 2015 when GWHV was first launched to 16% in 2025.

The continued success and growth of GWHV shows it has tapped into a universal realisation across our partner infrastructure industries that women still represent an under-represented resource for high-demand sectors of the economy that are often facing skills shortages.

But simply filling a need for skilled workers is not the sole reason employers want to add more women to their infrastructure teams.

Those early days of Connexis’ Ultimit: Women in Infrastructure were fuelled by an ESI research project called Women in Power, undertaken with the objective of understanding the benefits and challenges for women in taking up physical roles such as being a line mechanic, that are traditionally male dominated.

That Women in Power research highlighted the fact that increased diversity added a positive dynamic to crews with females bringing different approaches to the work. It found they often bring with them skills such as attention to detail, good communication, the ability to work well in a team and follow procedures, as well as be less likely to take risks impacting health and safety.

While the physical nature of the role was perceived as one of the biggest barriers to bringing more women into some infrastructure trades, the research found females could find new ways of using the gear around them to complete the physical activities. This opened new ways of undertaking physical tasks for everyone, reducing load and fatigue to support good health and safety practices.

GET IN TOUCH 0800 486 626 askus@connexis.org.nz connexis.org.nz

WWW.BUILDERSANDCONTRACTORS.CO.NZ | 81

News

The drone is the easy part A drone can survey a roof in minutes, but flying it legally over a live site is a job for a certificated operator, not whoever owns the gear

On 22 December 2025 the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) updated its rules for drones and advanced aviation, and it has signalled the rules will keep moving. For a building firm, a drone now does real work. It surveys a roof, tracks progress across a pour, inspects a facade or checks a site after hours, often in minutes and without putting anyone at height. What decides whether that work is lawful is a single line the rules draw between routine flying and the rest.

That line is the difference between Part 101 and Part 102. Most low-risk flying sits under Part 101, the rule-based path that needs no certification, and it comes with firm limits. The aircraft must weigh under 25kg, stay within the operator’s line of sight, and stay below 120 metres (400 feet). It must not fly within 4km of an aerodrome without meeting set conditions, must fly only in daylight, and must have the consent of anyone it flies over and the owner of any property beneath it. Controlled airspace needs air traffic control clearance.

engage an operator who can produce the certificate rather than assume the person holding the drone has one.

When you need a certificated operator

Three sets of rules, one flight

The moment a job cannot be done inside those limits, it needs a Part 102 certificated operator. Flying over people or property without consent, flying beyond line of sight, or operating in controlled airspace all cross into Part 102 territory, and a live construction site tends to cross at least one of those lines.

CAA is blunt about the order. You follow Part 101, and if you cannot, you must hold Part 102 certification. That certificate is exactly the kind of proof the rest of a well-run site already asks for. It is the drone equivalent of a certificated scaffolder or a licensed removalist, and the compliant answer is to

A site drone answers to more than the CAA. The footage it gathers is personal information, and the Office of the Privacy Commissioner treats a camera drone much as it treats CCTV. The operator has to think about what is being filmed, whether that collection is necessary, and how the people on and around the site are told it is happening. The drone is also equipment working over a live site, so a firm’s duties under the Health and Safety at Work Act apply as they would to any plant. WorkSafe expects workers to be told when and where a drone is operating, and clear boundaries kept

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The rules are also a moving target. The December 2025 package added a new Part 107 framework that lets approved organisations test emerging aviation technology in defined areas, and CAA has a trial advisory circular due early in 2026 to help operators adjust. Reading the current rules as the floor, and best practice as the standard, is how a firm stays clear as the framework keeps changing.

A provider who understands all three regimes is doing the job properly. One who only knows how to fly leaves the privacy and safety exposure sitting with the firm that hired them.

between the aircraft and the people below.

A provider who understands all three regimes is doing the job properly. One who only knows how to fly leaves the privacy and safety exposure sitting with the firm that hired them.

Before the next drone job goes ahead, the questions are plain. Does the work stay inside Part 101, and if not, can the operator show current Part 102 certification. Is there proof of insurance. How will the footage be handled and stored. The authoritative rules sit with the CAA at www.aviation.govt.nz and the privacy guidance with the Office of the Privacy Commissioner at privacy.org.nz. Ask for the paperwork, and keep it.

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News

A new era of construction and demolition waste reporting The construction and demolition sort line at WM New Zealand's North Shore Refuse and Recycling Transfer Station (Rosedale, Auckland).

If your construction project uses mixed waste bins, you may notice something different in your waste reporting next year – your reported recovery rate could be lower.

That doesn’t necessarily mean less material is being recovered. It’s the result of a new, more accurate way of measuring what happens to mixed construction and demolition (C&D) waste once it reaches a sort facility.

The New Zealand Green Building Council (NZGBC) released updated C&D Waste Reporting Criteria on 30 June 2026. The change applies to facilities accepting mixed loads from Green Star projects, but its influence is likely to be felt widely across the construction industry.

What’s changing?

Until now, C&D sort facilities have been able to report an overall recovery rate for the entire facility. That figure can include singlestream materials (loads that arrive already separated) as well as mixed C&D waste that needs to be sorted.

Under the new methodology, facilities will report the average percentage recovered specifically from sorting mixed C&D loads.

This is a positive step for the industry, as it gives project teams a clearer picture of what’s actually being recovered from mixed C&D waste, rather than combining it with 84 | WWW.BUILDERSANDCONTRACTORS.CO.NZ

Good waste management doesn’t start when a bin leaves site. It starts with how a project is planned and how materials are managed day to day.

approach. The new standard for reporting recovery from mixed C&D loads will be in full effect from 1 April 2027.

Builders, subcontractors, suppliers and waste providers all have a part to play. With good planning and a focus on separating materials at source, your projects can recover more materials and send less waste to landfill.

Good waste management doesn’t start when a bin leaves site. It starts with how a project is planned and how materials are managed day to day.

Better recovery takes a team

materials that arrived at the facility already separated.

demonstrate good environmental performance.

Builders, subcontractors, suppliers and waste providers all have a part to play. With good planning and a focus on separating materials at source, your projects can recover more materials and send less waste to landfill.

It also means reported recovery rates for mixed C&D loads are likely to be lower than they have been in the past.

It’s also a good reason to think about waste earlier in a project. Working out what materials can be separated, where bins will go and how subcontractors will use them can make a real difference to the amount of material that can be recovered.

The reporting rules may be changing, but the goal remains the same: reducing waste and making better use of resources. The new methodology gives the industry a clearer picture of how we’re doing and where there is room to do better.

Where does Green Star fit in?

For more information on the new Waste Reporting Criteria, see the media release from the NZGBC online.If you need guidance on how to reduce waste and improve recovery for your construction projects, or support with Green Star C&D waste or operational waste credits, get in touch with WM’s Sustainability Services team via sustainability@wm.nz.

Importantly, that doesn’t mean less material is being recovered. It means the reporting is becoming more specific about what is being recovered from mixed loads.

What does this mean on site?

For builders and contractors, the change puts more focus on how waste is managed before it leaves site.

Projects that rely heavily on mixed waste bins may find it harder to achieve the recovery results they have reported in the past.

On the other hand, sites and contractors that have been doing a good job of separating materials at source – such as timber, metal, cardboard and plasterboard – will be better placed to maximise recovery and

Green Star is New Zealand’s leading sustainability rating system for buildings, administered by the NZGBC. It sets benchmarks for environmentally responsible building practices and is increasingly being specified by developers, government agencies and large organisations.

Not every project is aiming for Green Star certification, but the standards it sets often influence wider industry practice.

When will the new reporting take effect?

The methodology was released on 30 June 2026, but facilities are expected to need some time to transition to the new reporting

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Education/Upskilling

Vocational education forum marks 20 years New Zealand’s leading vocational education research event is marking two decades of bringing researchers, educators, employers and policymakers together, with abstract submissions and registrations now open for the 20th New Zealand Vocational Education and Training Research Forum.

Co-hosted by Skills Group and BCITO, this year’s forum carries the theme Building Bridges, reflecting the idea that the sector’s future depends on stronger links between research, policy, education and industry.

The theme lands at a time when vocational education is under growing pressure to keep pace with rapid shifts in technology, changing industry demands and a workforce that increasingly needs to retrain and upskill throughout a working life rather than complete a single qualification and stop.

Josh Williams, Chair of the NZVETRF Steering Committee and Head of Consulting at Skills Group, says vocational education has an increasingly important role to play in New Zealand’s economic and social future.

“Across New Zealand, we are asking how we respond to changing technologies, develop the skills industries need and create better opportunities for learners throughout their lives.

“No single organisation or policy will provide all the answers. Progress comes from bringing together good ideas, robust evidence and practical experience and that is what NZVETRF has done for the past 20 years.”

Williams says the Forum’s enduring strength is its focus on research with practical value.

“Some of the most valuable research in vocational education does more than explain a problem. It helps improve 86 | WWW.BUILDERSANDCONTRACTORS.CO.NZ

teaching, strengthen learner success, inform policy and support employers to build capability.”

Over its twenty-year history, the forum has built a reputation as a place where academic research, government policy and on the ground industry experience are tested against each other, rather than developed in isolation.

Organisers say that cross pollination has become increasingly important as the pace of change across trades and vocational sectors accelerates, with employers, educators and researchers often working from different assumptions about what the sector needs.

BCITO Chief Executive Officer Jason Hungerford says the Building Bridges theme reflects the partnerships needed to ensure vocational education continues to evolve alongside industry.

“Vocational education is strongest when researchers, educators, employers and industry work together. By sharing ideas, evidence and practical experience, we can build stronger pathways for learners and deliver the skills New Zealand’s industries need.

“We’re proud to partner with Skills Group on this milestone forum and encourage people from across the sector to contribute their research, insights and experiences.

The conversations that begin here have the potential to shape vocational education for years to come.”

No single organisation or policy will provide all the answers. Progress comes from bringing together good ideas, robust evidence and practical experience.

— Josh Williams, Skills Group

The forum has grown over two decades into one of the country’s key national gatherings for vocational education research, drawing people from education, industry and government with a shared focus on improving learner outcomes, strengthening partnerships and informing decision making.

Organisers are calling for abstract submissions from researchers, educators, industry practitioners, government agencies, iwi, community organisations and postgraduate students working across vocational education, workforce capability and lifelong learning.

Submissions demonstrating evidence-based practice, emerging research, innovative partnerships and practical initiatives are encouraged, along with proposals that honour Te Tiriti o Waitangi and bring Māori perspectives into vocational education.

The 20th New Zealand Vocational Education and Training Research Forum will be held on 12 and 13 October at Te Papa in Wellington.

Further information, abstract submission and registration details are available at events.humanitix.com/nzvetrf2026.

Education/Upskilling

Apprentice helps power business growth For Waikato business owner Dan Birks, taking on an apprentice has proven to be a valuable way to strengthen his team and build capability for the future.

After working as a qualified electrician for 20 years in South Waikato, Dan started his own business, Birks Electrical, three years ago.

Finding skilled, qualified tradespeople can be difficult for a rural-based electrical business, so when the opportunity arose to bring a motivated young person into the trade, Dan saw the potential.

“We hadn’t planned to take on an apprentice; it all came about by chance”, said Dan. “Matt’s dad mentioned he was doing pre-trade and was looking for some work experience, so he started coming in to help every Friday. The fact he was prepared to come in, learn and work hard on his own time was a really good sign, so we ended up taking him on as an apprentice.”

Matt is now in the second year of his New Zealand Certificate in Electrical, training with EarnLearn while working full time alongside Dan and Shane, Birks Electrical’s other qualified electrician.

While taking on an apprentice was a first for Dan, support from EarnLearn Account

Manager Jason McKinnon has helped him understand the training requirements and confidently guide Matt through his apprenticeship.

“As Matt’s skills and experience grow, he can take on more responsibility and complete some tasks independently, helping the team manage a broader workload.”

“Try doing some work experience to see if you like the work; and give it more than a couple of days so you get a good picture of what it’s like,” he says.

“Jason has been great at explaining everything. He’s a good communicator and was helpful in explaining how things like the workplace verification part works.

The experience has been so positive that Dan is already considering taking on another apprentice.

“There’s a bit more to it than you might think but there are lots of upsides, like the huge variety of work. We work on a lot of farms and factories, so it’s really varied and different every day.”

“Matt has found him really helpful as well, and he’s kept him on track with his on-jobs and all the things he needs to have done.”

With Matt now well into his qualification, Dan says having an apprentice is starting to pay dividends.

For employers, Dan’s experience shows how taking someone on for work experience can provide a valuable opportunity to identify someone with the right attitude before committing to an apprenticeship.

His advice for those considering the electrical trade is to gain practical experience and get a feel for the work.

For Dan, taking on an apprentice through EarnLearn has not only added another set of hands to the business. It has created a pathway to build the skilled workforce Birks Electrical will need in the years ahead.

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Train them with EarnLearn. EarnLearn delivers practical, real-world training across Plumbing, Gasfitting & Drainlaying, Electrical, and IMC. Our flexible training and nationwide support make taking on an apprentice straightforward, helping you grow your team, build skills on the job and add value to your business.

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News

The money you’re owed Construction failures are running at an 11-year high, so know what the retentions trust regime protects and use the payment tools the law already hands you.

New Zealand liquidated 768 building and construction firms in the year to March 2026, close to a third of every company failure recorded across the economy, according to credit bureau Centrix. Company failures overall are running at their highest level since 2010, and construction is the single biggest source of them. For a subcontractor or supplier, the risk in those numbers is not abstract. When a firm above you in the chain goes down, the money you are owed is what you stand to lose, and the retention held against your work is often the largest single slice of it.

What the trust regime protects That slice carries more protection than it did two years ago. The Construction Contracts (Retention Money) Amendment Act 2023 came into force on 5 October 2023, and it changed how retentions have to be handled on commercial contracts signed or renewed after that date. Retention money is now held on trust automatically, the moment it is withheld. The party holding it does not have to actively set up a trust, and it cannot quietly use the money as working 88 | WWW.BUILDERSANDCONTRACTORS.CO.NZ

capital. It has to sit in a separate, identifiable bank account or an equivalent complying instrument, and it has to stay there until it is released to you or properly applied.

The point of the trust is what happens when the holder fails. Money held correctly on trust is not part of the failed company’s general pool, so it should not be swept up and shared among all creditors the way retentions were lost in the Mainzeal and Ebert collapses. The Act also puts obligations on the people running the company. You are entitled to a statement about your retention money at least every three months, the records have to be kept properly, and directors can be held personally responsible, with offences and penalties attached for getting it wrong.

There is a simple test in that for any subcontractor. If the retention statements are not arriving, something is wrong. A head contractor that cannot tell you where your retention money is being held, or that goes quiet when you ask, is either in breach of the Act or in financial trouble, and often both at once. The quarterly statement you are owed is an early-warning system as much as a compliance document, so read it and chase it the moment it is late.

Use the tools you already have Retentions are only part of the money in play. The Construction Contracts Act 2002 gives every payment claim real teeth, and

too many firms leave that power on the table. Serve a valid payment claim and the payer has a set window to reply with a payment schedule. If it does not respond in time, the full amount you claimed becomes a debt due, and you can recover it as one.

Push further and you can suspend work for non-payment on proper notice, and you can take a disputed claim to adjudication, a fast and binding process that does not need a courtroom or a lawyer on a retainer. None of it helps if you sit on an unpaid claim for months hoping the relationship carries you through. The firms that come out of a head contractor’s failure in one piece are usually the ones that invoiced on time, followed the process to the letter, and acted on the first missed payment rather than the fifth.

Read the firm above you The best protection is not needing any of that. Before you commit to a large subcontract, look hard at who you are relying on to pay you. Slow payments, partpayments, requests to hold off invoicing until next month, and a stack of quietly disputed claims are the signals that a head contractor is running out of road. A credit check costs almost nothing against the exposure of an unpaid variation on a major job, and asking early how and where your retentions will be held tells you plenty about how the firm runs its books.

The pipeline is consolidating into fewer, larger, government and infrastructure-led

Before you commit to a large subcontract, look hard at who you are relying on to pay you.

Slow payments, partpayments, requests to hold off invoicing until next month, and a stack of quietly disputed claims are the signals that a head contractor is running out of road.

jobs, which means more subcontractors leaning on a smaller number of big head contractors and consortiums. That concentration raises the stakes on getting the paperwork right. The law now protects your retention money and backs your right to be paid, but only if you hold the statements, serve the claims, and move the moment the numbers stop adding up. The work is coming back. Make sure you are paid for it.

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Dunedin and the Great South

Property boom tests Dunedin’s heritage buildings

Image supplied by DunedinNZ

A faster-than-expected property recovery is colliding with new earthquake-strengthening costs, putting Dunedin’s Victorian building stock, and the trades who restore it, under fresh pressure.

Dunedin’s property market outperforms expectations with numbers catching people off-guard. Fresh data puts the city’s home values up 3.3% over the last year, driven in part by a recovering student population.

Christchurch, long seen as the affordable alternative to Auckland and Wellington, has now been overtaken, with its median sale price edging above Dunedin’s for the first time in years. Bayleys Dunedin managing director Chris Maclean says buyers in the city are still finding solid entry-level properties in the high $400,000s, even as interest in the market builds. It’s a shift few saw coming for a city that spent much of the past decade flying under the radar.

Dunedin built its reputation on knowing how to hold onto things worth keeping.

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That renewed demand is landing on a housing stock unlike almost anywhere else in the country. Dunedin holds onto one of the most intact collections of Victorian and Edwardian architecture in the southern hemisphere, a legacy of the gold rush wealth that made it New Zealand’s richest city through the 1860s and 1870s. While other main centres tore down much of their own heritage through the twentieth century, Dunedin kept hold of its Gothic Revival and Italianate facades almost by accident, its economic centre of gravity having shifted north before the bulldozers arrived. Nearly 800 buildings in the city now carry heritage

listing, many of them clustered in the old warehouse precinct south of the Octagon.

Holding onto that heritage has never been simple, and it is about to get harder.

Dunedin’s earthquake risk classification has recently shifted from low to moderate under updated building law, adding a fresh layer of strengthening requirements and cost for owners of older buildings. Mayor Sophie Barker, who grew up in Larnach Castle and has made heritage preservation a personal priority since taking office, says the risk is that owners simply decide restoration is too expensive and let buildings slide into disrepair instead. Southern Heritage Trust founder Ann Barsby has already coined a term for what results, calling the empty sections left behind heritage carparks, and is pushing for tighter rules to prevent what she describes as demolition by neglect.

Property investor Lawrie Forbes has spent years working against that trend, buying up and reworking heritage buildings across the city into apartments, offices and cafes since his first purchase, a former boilermaker’s workshop he bought with his mother’s house as surety. His experience points to what it actually takes to keep a heritage building standing and useful, stripping back, strengthening and refitting structures that were never built to modern seismic or insulation standards, without losing the character that makes them worth saving in the first place.

Put those two forces together, a property market heating up faster than anyone expected and a heritage building stock facing new compliance costs, and the pressure on the region’s building and construction sector becomes clear.

Dunedin and the Great South

Southern Heritage Trust founder Ann Barsby has already coined a term for what results, calling the empty sections left behind heritage carparks.

More buyers mean more renovation and upgrade work moving through the pipeline, much of it on properties that demand a level of skill general renovation work elsewhere in the country rarely calls for. Getting that work wrong on a listed building carries real financial and heritage consequences. Getting it right requires builders, engineers and trades who understand both the technical demands of seismic strengthening and the judgment needed to protect what makes these buildings worth restoring at all.

Barker’s own worry is that regulation designed to protect heritage could end up working against it, discouraging councils from listing buildings in the first place rather than helping owners meet the cost of caring for them. Whatever direction the rules eventually take, the buildings themselves aren’t getting any younger, and the city’s growing appeal isn’t slowing down to wait. Dunedin built its reputation on knowing how to hold onto things worth keeping. Whether that holds through this next wave of growth will come down to the people doing the actual work, brick by brick, facade by facade, across a city that has always measured progress a little differently to the rest of the country.

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Visit our Gas Business Hub for resources to share with customers, and the latest info on the role of gas today and into the future.

Nation’s largest solar farm switches on, again

By Ben O’Connell

New Zealand has a new largest solar farm, and it took just over a year to knock the last one off the top spot.

The Tauhei Solar Farm near Te Aroha in the Waikato was energised in late June and is now exporting into the national grid, with commercial operations expected around September or October. At 202MWp it will generate roughly 280 gigawatt hours a year, enough for around 35,000 households, comfortably ahead of the 63MWp Lauriston farm near Ashburton that held the title for barely a year after opening in 2025.

Developer Harmony Energy New Zealand says construction took just 15 months from start to energisation, arriving ahead of schedule.

That churn says more about the state of the sector than either project’s numbers do.

Solar has gone from a marginal presence in New Zealand’s generation mix to a source of back-to-back national records inside about 14 months.

New Zealand has a new largest solar farm, and it took just over a year to knock the last one off the top spot. last financial year and has flagged another 900MW for this year, a scale of work that points to a steady pipeline of civil and electrical contracting tied to renewables rather than a one-off project. Meridian Energy has locked in all of Tauhei’s output for its first ten years under a power purchase agreement, the kind of long-term offtake deal that has become the standard way these projects get financed.

One detail is worth watching. Harmony’s original joint venture partner on Tauhei was First Renewables, part of the Clarus group, but reporting around the energisation now puts Igneo Infrastructure Partners in that

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Wouldn’t be without it.

Part of the shift is defensive. Dry-year hydro risk sharpened after 2024’s wholesale price spikes, when gas shortages and low rainfall exposed how much the country still leans on hydro storage. Solar developers point to that period as the moment large-scale projects went from marginal to bankable. Harmony managing director Garth Elmes has also flagged that wholesale and forward power prices are now falling as more renewable generation comes online, a trend he reads as evidence the diversification is working, though it also raises the harder question of how easily new projects will keep clearing the return hurdles that got Tauhei built.

The connection queue behind projects like Tauhei is significant. Transpower connected 650MW of new generation to the grid in the

92 | WWW.BUILDERSANDCONTRACTORS.CO.NZ

role. The two are linked, since Igneo owns Clarus, so the move reads more as a stake shifting up the same ownership tree than an outside party stepping in. Even so, ownership changes inside a flagship renewable asset are worth tracking for anyone contracting into the project’s next phase.

Harmony is not slowing down. A second project near Carterton in the Wairarapa is expected to reach a final investment decision later this year, and the company has flagged nine further projects in the pipeline, part of a broader wave of solar moving through New Zealand’s fast-track consenting process.

If Tauhei’s record lasts anywhere near as long as Lauriston’s did, the next headline may already be written.

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