Property & Build: Summer 2023/24

A new way of life builds momentum

Summer 2023/24

SUMMER 2023/24

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SUMMER 2023/24

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Sun safety

When working in the summer, it’s important to protect yourself from over exposure of sun and UV-rays, which can cause painful sunburn and potentially lead to skin cancer. An estimated 90,000 non-melanoma skin cancers are diagnosed each year in New Zealand, according to the Cancer Society.

• Slip on sun-protective clothing - cover up with UV rated, breathable clothing that complies with your PPE requirements, such as lightweight long pants and long sleeve shirts.

• Slop sunscreen on exposed skin - wear broad-spectrum, water-resistant, SPF30+ sunscreen. Apply 15 minutes before to sun exposure and remember to reapply at least every two hours.

• Slap on a hat – wear a hardhat that has a front or wide brim and neck flap to protect your head, face, and neck from the sun.

• Wrap on tinted glasses - wear closefitting, wrap-around style safety sunglasses to protect your eyes from the sun and other hazards.

• If you notice any unusual skin changes or see a spot or mole that is different from others, get it checked by your doctor.

Keeping cool and hydrated

Hard work on a hot summer’s day can cause our body to become dehydrated, leading to sweating, headaches, weakness, nausea, confusion, feeling dizzy, and fainting.

Working in Summer With December marking the start of summer in Aotearoa New Zealand, it's important to be aware of the extra health and safety hazards that come with working outside.

Here are some tips to help you work smarter over the coming summer months.

If you’re exposed to too much heat for too long, you could be at risk of heatstroke, where your body is unable to cool itself down.

Heatstroke is an emergency and needs to be treated immediately.

• Keep hydrated by regularly drinking water and avoiding drinks with caffeine or alcohol, which can dehydrate you more.

• Wear lightweight clothing if it’s safe to do so – be sure to comply with your company’s clothing and PPE regulations.

• Try to limit or avoid prolonged exposure to extreme heat, and during the hottest part

•

of the day, plan to do work in the shade.

Take regular breaks from physical work to avoid overheating.

•

Fatigue

Good weather can mean longer working days to get a job done, but ignoring the signs of fatigue and tiredness can lead to real risk.

• Schedule and take regular breaks, and extra ones when the job feels harder than usual due to the weather.

• Monitor and place limits around overtime – if you need to work longer hours, consider staggered start and finish times,

•

and longer breaks and periods off work.

Always use the right tools for the job. Handling vibrating tools can increase fatigue, so consider switching to low-vibration tools or machinery if possible.

Look out for your own safety, and the safety of other workers. Don’t be afraid to speak up if you think someone needs to take a break.

For more health and safety tips for working in summer, visit www.sitesafe.org.nz

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SUMMER 2023/24

Taparahi viaduct on 2 February 2023 Source: Waka Kotahi

Motivation moves mountains

T

he early opening of the impressive Taparahi viaduct over the landslide cutting the main access to Coromandel East Coast communities, is an extremely welcome acknowledgement of the professional engineering and construction expertise successfully bridging the massive, unstable subsidence.

It is also a timely example of what can be achieved with a commitment to short circuiting red tape, repurposing critical bridging components from other sites and deploying skilled workers in 24/7 hour shifts, 4

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completing an estimated 14-month task in just under seven months and almost 15 percent under the $50m budget. This project team truly deserves a Shout-out!

Using an existing, proven design for the 124m bridge and concurrently making components onsite and in Napier, enabled construction crews to also improve other sections of the fragile 75km road, enhancing resilience to future extreme weather events and improving safety for road users, especially the heavy vehicles delivering essential supplies without the hazardous, two-

hour detour.

Naturally, the impressive success of this daunting engineering task has transport operators asking why the same efficient and most welcome contribution to productivity and national supply chain resilience cannot become the norm.

Imagine what impact this unique approach would have if rigorously applied to selected major transport infrastructure projects, notable for protracted delays and inevitable budget blowouts, all too often resulting in substandard construction requiring expensive

Barry Dyer Chief Executive Responsible Care NZ, the chemical industry association. maintenance and costcutting.

Disrupted road and rail networks result in drivers exceeding their hours traversing dangerous detours, prolonging delivery times and frustrating customers still recovering from the constraints imposed by Covid and

SUMMER 2023/24

Taparahi viaduct under construction Source: Waka Kotahi extreme weather events.

For too long, piecemeal funding and ever-changing policies and priorities for roads of national importance with the consequential uncertainty of continuing work, has led to disposal sales of hard to source construction plant and the dispersion of skilled workers, jeopardising completion of the growing list of sub-standard transport networks.

The incoming goverment’s commitment to a resilient, four lane, all-weather highway linking Northport, Hamilton and Tauranga, bypassing the notorious Brynderwyn section, will dramatically improve safety and productivity, reducing accidents and fuel consumption, while shortening travel times.

Another delay to upgrading the fragile Cook

Strait ferry capability will frustrate transport operators welcoming the latest extension to Northland’s once derided but now lauded ‘Holiday Highway’.

There has been periodic reference to the need to replace the outdated dry dock in Devonport which is not capable of supporting all present, let alone future, vessels. Both the Royal NZ Navy and commercial operators require a futureproof drydock capable of avoiding long repair and maintenance voyages to Australia and Singapore, especially for the incoming new Cook Strait ferries.

Perhaps the incoming Ministers of Transport, Infrastructure and Economic Development will surprise us with a comprehensive plan to deliver a long-awaited boost to the national

economy through a fully funded, long-term road and rail construction programme where it is most needed.

This strategic approach would focus on just one or two key routes receiving all necessary resourcing to be completed quickly, without any deterioration in key construction and performance criteria.

Extending reliable, all-weather access to Northport and the Port of Tauranga would give confidence to multimodal transport operators advocating the need for resilient supply routes to key logistics hubs.

In fact, to ensure resilience throughout the national supply chain, look no further than the impressive team effort in restoring the critical SH26A ahead of time and under budget,

thanks to the skills and commitment of project staff unencumbered by the dreaded regulations.

Once this highly successful construction team has recovered from their well-deserved end of year break, perhaps they could start on Auckland’s second harbour crossing?

Are you out and about throughout these Summer holidays? Please respect warning signs, the ubiquitous road cones and especially the construction crews working on our behalf.

Be extra careful out there.

The views expressed here do not necessarily represent the views of Responsible Care NZ

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SUMMER 2023/24

Contents 32

Awards demonstrate steel industry’s ability to innovate

Motivation moves mountains

34

Hard work gets results

7

Industry leader in soft fall protection on construction sites

36

Have we opened the door to cheap imported wool?

8

Certainty breeds confidence

39

10

Funding and financing New Zealand’s infrastructure challenges

Kiwi innovation leading the way in concrete slab insulation

12

Office rents surge in confident commercial market

14

Chemical safety relies on meaningful cooperation

16

Rents increasing twice as much as normal

17

Build-to-rent surge lays to rest the Kiwi house-and-yard dream

20

Amenities abound in Takapuna high-end, build-to-rent launch

22

Navigating trends & challenges in workplace health & safety

24

Physical threats & abuse widespread in construction

2

Working in Summer

4

26

Return of the 90-day trial: what you need to know

28

No better investment than chemical safety training

30

‘Whānau centre’ project recognised at design awards

Original material published online and in this magazine is copyright, but may be reproduced providing permission is obtained from the editor and acknowledgement given to Media Solutions. Opinions expressed are those of the authors and may not necessarily be those of Media Solutions Ltd.

Editor Michael Curreen +64 21 029 20234

Publisher Mike Bishara +64 27 564 7779

michael@infrastructurebuild.com

mike@infrastructurebuild.com

Graphic Designer Rachel Loo

Administration Manager Anita Feria +64 27 444 1573

rachel@infrastructurebuild.com

Published by Media Solutions Ltd PO Box 503, Whangaparaoa Auckland 0943 09 428 7456

anita@infrastructurebuild.com

Sales Manager Margie Lindsay +64 22 317 8170

margie@infrastructurebuild.com

ISSN 2624-0572 (Print) ISSN 2624-0580 (Online) Daily news updates online

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Sponsored Article

Industry leader in soft fall protection on construction sites

SUMMER 2023/24

Massey University rigorously tested all elements of the Safety Nets NZ system

W

ith the enactment of the Health and Safety at Work Act (2015) it became apparent that there was a need to assure customers that they comply the requirements of the Act in safety measures for fall arrest.

“We needed to have our system independently analysed, engineered and ultimately certified. This meant that not only did the individual components of the safety net fall arrest sys-

tem have to be tested, the performance of the safety fall arrest system as a whole also needed to be studied,” says General Manager Craig Daly.

A team at the School of Engineering and Technology at Massey University tested a variety of drop heights and weights, different bracket centres, various net sizes and points where the load strikes the net.

“It even tested nets of different ages and repaired

nets, with the results being collated and analysed to effectively confirm that our safety fall arrest system works,” says Daly.

“This enables PCBU’s to discharge their responsibilities in regard to the requirements of the in the use of a system that is without risk to the health and safety of it’s workforce.”

When the nets have been installed and inspected by a Safety Nets NZ team and a handover certificate

completed by our certified rigger, the client can then commence works above the safe area of the net.

“All of our safety documentation has been produced in such a format as to ensure that it complements the overall site safety policy and manual that the Principal Contractor is required to establish on all projects,” says Daly.

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Safety industry pioneer Safety Nets NZ has developed national standards in association with WorkSafe NZ, ensuring risk from falls is minimised for your construction workforce.

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SUMMER 2023/24

T

he latest data from realestate.co.nz shows that for the first time since November 2022, more than 10,000 new listings came onto the market. An increase of 5.2% year-on-year, this national lift is a combination of seasonal factors and market confidence.

Average asking prices were generally stable, as we have moved away from the market’s COVID-19 era, distinguished by peaks and troughs. Again, I think this comes down to more confidence and certainty in the market, which we didn’t have during the pandemic.

All of this comes in the face of increasing certainty around governmental leadership and the economy. The Reserve Bank also agreed to maintain the OCR at 5.5% for the fourth consecutive time.

Kiwis love certainty, which is why, with its reputation as a safe investment, we love property. Unsurprisingly, more stability in and out of the market gives people the confidence to buy and sell.

Selling by auction also remained the most popular sale method in November 2023, making up almost a third (28.2%) of all listings.

This is a by-product of market certainty. People sell under the hammer when they feel confident in the market. And we’ve heard that many sellers had success in auction rooms during November.

Lift in listings

Year-on-year, more than half of our 19 regions saw new listings increase. The biggest lifts were in Central North Island (up 21.9%), Taranaki (up 13.6%), Nelson and Bays (up 12.1%), and Auckland (up 10.5%).

Month-on-month, new list8

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Certainty breeds confidence November 2023 has seen vendors return to the market, demand for property rise to meet supply, and a stability in average asking prices, following government, economic and OCR certainty, says realestate.co.nz’s Vanessa Williams ings were up in all regions except Coromandel (down 16.3%), Marlborough (down 1.5%), and Central Otago/ Lakes District (flat with a marginal decrease of 0.9%).

Nationally, new listings were up 12.4% compared to October 2023.

We are in the peak selling season, confidence is up, and vendors are beginning to come back to the market.

Flat asking prices

Five of our 19 regions saw average asking prices remain flat compared to No-

vember 2022. Nationally, all other regions, except Coromandel, saw average asking prices increase or decrease by less than 10.0%.

Summer hotspot Coromandel saw the biggest change to its average asking price. Down 14.3%

SUMMER 2023/24 year-on-year, this is only the second time the region’s average asking price has been below $1 million since August 2021. Month-onmonth, the region’s average asking price was down 20.7%. Small markets like Coromandel are susceptible to fluctuations.

Throughout 2023, the national average asking price has remained flat at around $870,000. This is likely to be increasing confidence for buyers and sellers.

When we see big fluctuations to average asking prices, it can make buyers and sellers hesitant to transact. More stability should help both parties feel more certain around what number to expect on that final sales and purchase agreement.

engagement per listing up year-on-year.

It is great to see demand lifting to match supply, adding that stable average asking prices reflect the strong correlation between supply and demand.

Wellington saw the biggest increases in demand year-on-year. Searches per listing were up by 42.3% in Gisborne, 20.6% in Hawke’s Bay, and 72.6% in Wellington. Engagements per listing were also up in these

a decrease of 1.5% nationally. However, across our regions, it was a mixed bag.

Year-on-year, around half of our 19 regions saw stock increase during November, while the other half saw it drop back.

During November, stock and average asking prices remained fairly flat. This tells me that supply and demand were well-matched.

Generally, when demand outstrips supply, prices increase. Whereas when supply is higher than demand, prices tend to decline.

In November 2023, Gisborne, Hawke’s Bay, and

regions compared to last year: 119.1% in Gisborne, 97.8% in Hawke’s Bay, and 112.4% in Wellington.

High demand suggests competition is high in these regions.

Compared to November 2022, the biggest lifts were in Coromandel (up 37.4%) and Central North Island (up 22.1%). Gisborne and Wellington saw the biggest decreases, down 20.5% and 22.0%, respectively.

Despite these outliers, we are nationally on par with November 2022 levels.

Demand lifting to meet supply

A new dataset from realestate.co.nz shows demand for property was up yearon-year during November, with searches per listing up by 18.3% and engagements per listing up by 45.0%.

Searches per listing divides the total number of searches by total stock.

Engagements per listing divides the total number of enquiries and property saves by total stock. Together, both figures indicate the level of demand for property by measuring the level of serious buyer interest compared to the available supply.

The increase in searches per listing tells us that more people are searching for property. The lift in engagements per listing signals a boost in the number of people actively keen to transact.

Across the last 12 months, demand for property has been trending upwards, with both searches and

National stock flat, year-on-year

Year-on-year, stock was flat during November, with

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SUMMER 2023/24

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Funding and financing New Zealand’s infrastructure challenges

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he gravity of New Zealand’s infrastructure deficit is well traversed. The conservative estimate is over $200 billion and the increasing frequency of climate related disasters alongside the pressures of growth will continue to add to this multigenerational challenge.

Our infrastructure deficit is the legacy of historic underinvestment but also represents a significant opportunity for our economy, people and environment.

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In partnership, Infrastructure New Zealand and Brightstar look forward to presenting the upcoming Infrastructure Funding and Financing Conference on 26 March in Wellington. The gathering is essential for infrastructure professionals to come together and explore what the changed 10 propertyandbuild.com

environment will mean for infrastructure funding and financing, and how the sector can come together to pave the way ahead.

Panel discussions The first panel discussion will investigate the challenges inherent in structural reform and what new revenue tools for local government might mean. We will be joined

by Jim Palmer, Chair of the Review Future for Local Government Review Panel and Anne Tolley, Commission Chair in Tauranga as we consider the way forward.

Shaping the future of PPPs – towards Community and Economic Partnerships This session will include newly announced Partner at Russell McVeagh, Bevan Peachey, Infrastructure, Government and Specialised Finance at BNZ, Susan Lucking and Amelia East, Partner and Head of Advisory, Asia Pacific at HKA. The discussion will explore the future of a refined PPP, or community and economic partnership, model. They will provide key insights from Infrastructure New Zealand’s funding and

financing work and explore what change will mean for the sector.

Peter Colacino, Infrastructure Strategy and Transformation Lead – Australia, Mott MacDonald and former Chief of Policy and Research at Infrastructure Australia will host a fireside chat to discuss programmatic procurement to drive positive economic and community outcomes.

Colacino brings close to 20 years of experience in public policy and is an internationally recognized leader in policy and reform, having authored or contributed to more than 50 influential reports and publications on topics such as regional development, infrastructure, urban planning, market capacity, transport, funding and financing.

Masterclasses Risk Management in infrastructure projects

Bevan Peachey will also be facilitating a masterclass which offers a focused and comprehensive opportunity for participants to delve into the critical aspects of risk management in infrastructure projects.

Participants will gain a foundational understanding

of the principles that underpin risk allocation in contracting for infrastructure projects.

Placed-based agreements for local government professionals

Local government professionals are encouraged to attend a second masterclass to gain practical takeaways that will enable them to navigate the complexities of place-based agreements effectively, fostering informed decision-making and strategic planning within the New Zealand landscape. There will be lessons and learnings from overseas, along with discussions of New Zealand’s opportunities and risks.

Facilitators are Patrick McVeigh who is the Practice Lead, People and Places and MartinJenkins alongside Linda Meade, Managing Director at Kalimena.

The Infrastructure Funding and Financing Conference stands as a testament to the collaborative spirit driving New Zealand's infrastructure towards excellence. We look forward to seeing you there. To view the programme visit brightstar.co.nz/IFF

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SUMMER 2023/24

Office rents surge in confident commercial market JLL explores how the office, industrial and retail property markets have been tracking over the last quarter and what we can expect going forward Industrial

The strength of the industrial markets across Auckland, Wellington, and Christchurch continues through the third quarter of 2023.

The Auckland South market still outperforms the rest of Auckland industrial, with net prime rents increasing by $4 per square metre, marking an increase of 15.3% year-on-year and sitting at a blended rate of $214 per square metre.

Auckland North-West saw net prime rents increase by $5 per square metre, a 16.7% year-on-year increase, to $210 per square metre.

The competitiveness of the industrial sector continues due to consistent occupier demand exceeding new available stock 12 propertyandbuild.com

due to higher construction costs and softening yields.

All of these factors point to the ongoing strength in the market for well-located, quality stock.

This trend is driving the development pipeline for

industrial markets, despite continued upward pressure on construction costs. Over 570,000 square metres is expected in the Auckland market over the coming three years, including a 70,000 square metre

Mainfreight warehouse in Penrose, and a 22,630 square metre warehouse for Fisher & Paykel in East Tāmaki.

In Wellington, around 34,000 square metres is

SUMMER 2023/24 in the industrial pipeline, including a custom-built facility for Tesla.

Most of the development in Christchurch is around the north and west of the CBD, in Rangiora, Rolleston, and Belfast.

and this translates into prime and A-Grade offices for lease being sought-after.

There has been heightened leasing activity in the third quarter of 2023 at the upper

land fringe office market remained the same at an average of $263 per square metre.

A similar increase in net prime rents for Wellington

market in the Garden City continued through Q3 of 2023 with a reduction in prime office vacancy from 3.6% to 3.0%. The average net prime rents in Christ-

end of office rents across Auckland, Wellington, and Christchurch. This trend is driving the divergence between prime and secondary

occurred in Q3, increasing by $15 per square metre, while secondary office net rents increased by $7. This divergence is expected to

church followed the national trend by increasing $8 per square metre. Net prime CBD rents are expected to increase by a further 3.3%

net rents in all three cities.

Net prime rents for Auckland’s CBD office market increased by $15 per square metre, marking a total increase through the first three quarters of 2023 of $33 per square metre.

After the first increase since September 2021, net prime rents for the Auck-

continue widening as demand for premium space in the capital remains strong.

There was a notable completion in Wellington this quarter, 44 Bowen Campus, while the BNZ building at 1 Whitmore Street is expected to complete by the end of 2023.

The already tight office

before the end of 2023.

Retail

In the first half of 2023, we saw the trend of smallscale retailers moving away from expanding in physical stores to grow their businesses, with many moving to online platforms as a result of post-pandemic consumer behaviour. This trend has slowed, with strong demand in the third quarter of 2023 for strip retail opportunities in Auckland’s CBD and the Wellington and Christchurch retail markets. Notably, while net rents remained unchanged in the capital, retail vacancy fell 1.5% to sit at 6.7%. In Christchurch, where net rents have continued rising in the retail space through 2023 by 13.0% to date, CBD retail vacancy decreased by 1.2% to sit at just 3.1%.

Bulk retail has performed strongly since 2022. The new Mitre 10 MEGA outlet in Silverdale opened its doors in Q3. Located inside the Highgate Business Park, it is the group’s 85th nationwide store and has a footprint of over 11,000 square metres.

Significant retail developments in Auckland and Wellington are forecast to add over 5,000 square metres of retail space to the market, with several high-end developments in Auckland’s CBD featuring retail space within office buildings.

Office

Occupiers continue to seek properties that are better equipped to attract and retain the best talent,

View the full reports: Office market snapshot | JLL New Zealand Industrial market snapshot | JLL New Zealand Retail market snapshot | JLL New Zealand

propertyandbuild.com 13

SUMMER 2023/24

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SUMMER 2023/24

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Chemical safety relies on meaningful cooperation Expanding government-industry partnerships to help business operators should be a no brainer. Inviting enquirers to read the regulations falls well short of educational expectations Increasing community concerns about vulnerability to unwanted chemical exposure and damage to our fragile environment places additional pressure on both suppliers and users of the chemicals.

Barry Dyer Chief Executive Responsible Care NZ

T

oday, chemical suppliers and their customers continue to adjust to the Covid operational environment.

They struggle with supply chain delays, the loss of experienced staff, frustration with unanswered queries to risk-averse authorities, inflexible and prescriptive regulations, rising compliance costs, diminishing resources and increasing public chemical safety expectations.

While 130,000 businesses are reportedly captured by the Hazardous Substances and Major Hazard Facilities regulations, the official mantra of “600-900 persons seriously harmed each year by unwanted exposure to chemicals in their workplace” presumably applies to all of the country’s 530,000 workplaces.

We all need to sustain and improve our quality of life and these products must be safely managed throughout their life cycle.

Downgrading the flawed but effective HSNO Certified Handler requirement has inadvertently undermined an invaluable capability.

The action deprived businesses, particularly SMEs, of an immediate and recognisable source of workplace chemical safety and compliance advice -- a safe chemical handling capability and emergency response knowledge – critical when a chemical incident occurs.

PCBUs and SMEs must now devise their own solutions to ensure employees are competent to safely handle the chemicals with which they work.

Chemical industry leaders are moving away from relying on lagging indicators of safety performance in favour of identifying safer work practices and work-

places, by responding to workers’ suggestions about improvements.

Conscientious business operators can add value by sourcing accurate, cost-effective workplace chemical safety advice and compliance tools from their suppliers, industry partners and Responsible Care NZ. A proven strategy is government agencies collaborating with proactive industry associations to best achieve workplace safety aspirations. The problem is that SMEs rarely join associations.

However, they all obtain their chemical requirements from suppliers and can benefit from product stewardship advice and cost-effective industry compliance initiatives.

Responsible Care NZ extols less regulation in favour of enabling business operators to be increasingly self-sufficient, using cost-effective products and services such as site compliance assessments and specialist training.

The focus is keeping people safe around the chemicals we encounter every day by adding value to businesses.

Responsible Care is a global voluntary chemical industry initiative developed autonomously by the chemical industry for the chemical industry.

Chemical suppliers continue to help customers achieve workplace chemical safety aspirations through product stewardship initiatives.

To help solve the in-house chemical compliance dilemma in New Zealand, Responsible Care NZ delivers specialist and cost-effective Certified Handler standard training, complete with a certificate.

Responsible Care NZ site compliance assessments are non-threatening, effectively capturing and assessing chemical safety performance in a variety of workplaces. +64 4 499 4311 info@responsiblecarenz.com www.responsiblecarenz.com

propertyandbuild.com 15

SUMMER 2023/24

Rents increasing twice as much as normal New data reveals rental growth is running at historically high levels, hitting 6.1% in the year to October, roughly double the long-term average growth rate, CoreLogic NZ Chief Property Economist Kelvin Davidson says

A

number of factors are contributing to the surge in rents, including wages growth and an imbalance between supply and demand.

The recent quiet patch in purchasing activity by investor groups will have dampened rental supply at a time when soaring net migration is placing upwards pressure on demand.

Our latest Buyer Classification data shows mortgaged investors are respon16 propertyandbuild.com

sible for just one in every five purchases, as higher deposit requirements, low rental yields, and lack of mortgage interest deductibility reduce some appeal.

It’ll be intriguing to see how they perform in the coming months after a change of government and ‘property friendly’ policies.

Nationally, rental yield edged back up to 3.2% from a trough of 2.6% for much of 2022 and the highest level since late 2020.

Despite the increase, yields are still relatively low by past standards, and less than the income returns on some other asset classes such as term deposits.

With rising rents and yields, and some more investor-friendly tax policies on the horizon, we may see investor participation begin to rise, albeit slowly.

Across the main centres, Auckland yields remain the lowest and Wellington is also sub-3%.

The Reserve Bank has also taken a bit more time recently to ponder debt to income ratios and how they might impact the market.

However, even if they’re not imposed for another year or so, this property recovery still looks likely slow and patchy, given the challenges of high mortgage rates.

Read the full report

SUMMER 2023/24

Build-to-rent surge lays to rest the Kiwi houseand-yard dream While the New Zealand housing crisis is not over and higher interest rates are leading to lower house sales and new consents, a positive story is emerging in the burgeoning Build to Rent sector, Better things are possible’s Malcolm McCracken writes

T

he Ministry of Housing and Urban Development defines Build to Rent housing as “a type of medium to high-density residential development, specifically built to provide long-term rental housing.”

While student accommodation meets many of those characteristics, it is a separate category, and a key distinction is the length of stay that is possible.

As covered previously on Better things are possible, this approach has several key benefits.

1. Investors are adding new housing supply, unlike when investors buy existing homes

2.

3.

to rent out. There has been significant growth in new homes built in recent years.

However, we still likely have an overall shortfall which will likely only get worse with provisional net migration being a record 96,200 gain in the July 2023 year.

They are new builds, built to the latest standards and sometimes above. This makes the homes healthier to live in and cheaper to operate for the tenants with lower heating bills for example.

There is one landlord

4.

5.

who has an interest in maintaining the building as a whole. This avoids the situation of body corporates representing owners, effectively shutting out renters, who are sometimes reluctant to fund needed maintenance and improvements.

The model generally supports housing built around shared communal facilities, car-share vehicles and extra investment in sustainability initiatives.

Single ownership over a long period offers

greater security. A BRANZ report found that 36% of Auckland tenants who had moved in the two years to 2018, did so due to the house being sold. Furthermore, Build to Rent typically offers long-term rental contracts with most companies offering up to 10 years.

Burgeoning you say?

Simplicity Living is one of the largest and most high-profile players in the New Zealand Build to Rent sector. It was established when developer NZ Living was gifted to Simplicity, a propertyandbuild.com 17

SUMMER 2023/24

Reiputa, a Build to Rent apartment development from Simplicity Living, is set to start construction later in 2023. Source – Simplicity Living via Facebook Kiwisaver provider. This provides the new company with significant capital to deliver new Build to Rent homes. Since launching in 2021, Simplicity has completed and leased 90 new homes with at least another 766 in design, consenting or under construction across Auckland.

They recently posted a render of their Mt Wellington development, Reiputa, which will include 295 homes within a 10-minute walk of the Panmure Train Station and Town Centre.

They also have plans to build in Queenstown and other cities with their eventual goal is to reach 10,000 homes across Aotearoa.

Another key benefit of Build to Rent is it enables housing in locations where other housing tenures may not be achievable like shopping malls, where the owner typically seeks to maintain complete land ownership.

One example of this is Kiwi Property, which is nearing the completion of its first 18 propertyandbuild.com

Build to Rent development of 295 apartments at Sylvia Park. It plans at least 245

ham Residential and New Ground Living, who have a growing portfolio across

City Centre, are the developers of the so-called “Burj Takapuna” which will deliv-

Kōkōwai, a new 52-unit Build to Rent development by Ngāi Tahu Property in Hobsonville Point. Source – Malcolm McCracken. apartments at Lynnmall in New Lynn and over 1200 apartments at Sylvia Park.

There are a number of other companies including Residential Properties, Ock-

Auckland and Queenstown.

Cedar Pacific and McConnell Property Limited, who both have developed or are developing student accommodation in the Auckland

er 358 new purpose rental properties to the Takapuna town centre, close to shops, public transport and the beach.

SUMMER 2023/24

A render of the New Ground Living development in Bureta Park, Tauranga. Source – New Ground Living

Partnerships with Iwi

Another emerging trend is the role of Iwi in developing Build to Rent housing. Ngāi Tahu Property has nearly completed a 52-apartment development in Hobsonville Point. It includes a range of one-bedroom+study options through to two and three-bedroom apartments, that will be available as long-term rentals.

New Ground Living has recently partnered with Hāpai, a joint property fund by multiple Iwi, to open Moroki, a new 50-unit, buildto-rent development in Glen Innes. It has a range of one to three-bedroom homes that are now available for rent with terms of up to 10 years.

It’s not just in Auckland

Positively, multiple players are looking beyond the Bombays. Simplicity is looking at developing in Queenstown, which has a chronic housing crisis. It is also great to see New Ground Living with consent

underway for an 89-unit, mixed-tenure, townhouse development proposed for Bureta Park, Tauranga. The development is in partnership with Mike Greer Commercial and Purpose Capital and will consist of 45 build-to-rent units, some community housing units & some reserved for first-home buyers. The development is targeting an 8 Homestar rating and is located directly beside a local centre which includes a supermarket.

What policy has changed?

As previously covered in 2021, there was no exemption for existing Build to Rent developments from the interest deductibility rules. I explained at the time, my concern that this would create uncertainty in the Build to Rent market.

In March 2023, this was addressed through legislation to exclude new and existing build-to-rent developments from the interest limitation rules. The intent of the exclusion is to ensure

that interest deductibility rules do not disincentivise investment in Build to Rent developments. This should support new rental supply and housing choice.

The requirements for registered build-to-rent include: • 20 or more dwellings in a single development on a single block or adjacent blocks, held in one or more titles • owned by the same person (a person includes a legal entity like a company) • each dwelling is being prepared for use, available, or occupied under a residential tenancy • every residential tenancy has the option of a 10-year term, which will enable tenants to terminate the tenancy with 56 days’ notice under section 58A of the Residential Tenancies Act 1986 • every tenancy agreement includes a personalisation policy

with examples of possible personalisations and the landlord’s position on the keeping of pets.

It is positive to see some clear guidelines and policies for the sector.

This change is particularly important for the continuation of Build to Rent developments that existed prior to policy change, like Ockham’s Modal in Mount Albert.

Overall, there has been some real growth in the past couple of years with more set to follow. I think there is real potential for the Build to Rent sector to provide greater housing choice and rental security.

This could be particularly important in ensuring there is secure workforce housing in the most unaffordable rental markets like Auckland, Tauranga and Queenstown. While there is no single solution to the housing crisis our country faces, this can certainly play a part in the solution.

Better things are possible propertyandbuild.com 19

SUMMER 2023/24

Amenities abound in Takapuna high-end, build-to-rent launch Consisting of 350 new rental apartments, this is the first of a planned portfolio of Build-to-Rent developments by the McConnell Property and Cedar Pacific Consortium

O

n 18 September this year, resource consent was granted to McConnell Property for the Takapuna project. The next step is to advance design so the first building consents can be lodged in late 2024.

Working in partnership with Eke Panuku, we will deliver a world-class Build-to-Rent project with 20 propertyandbuild.com

Greenstar 5 and Homestar 6 sustainability ratings, says McConnell Property Project Director Tony McKee. “Our design consultants, Eke Panuku, Cedar Pacific and McConnell Property are delighted to share the plans for the new Build-toRent apartment project in Takapuna.

“This exciting new Buildto-Rent apartment project

responds to its beachside location, attracting and fostering a community of active residents.

When completed it will provide a level of amenity presently unrivalled for rental accommodation in Auckland and stimulate additional economic activity in the Takapuna town centre.”

Build-to-rent provides

secure, long-term rental accommodation with shared amenities that focused a community environment. The accommodation is owned by investors and will be professionally managed.

This style of living will appeal to a wide range of people, from first-time renters to those looking for an alternative to retirement

SUMMER 2023/24

village living.

It will be the first of its kind on Auckland’s North Shore.

North Shore Councillor Chris Darby welcomes the project.

“Building 350 new apartments enables a big lift in the number of people who call Takapuna centre their home, complementing the thousands who already call it their workplace or a great place to visit,” he says.

“This quality development is another step in making Takapuna even more vital and attractive.”

It is also supported by fellow North Shore Councillor and Chair of Auckland Council’s Planning, Environment and Parks Committee, Richard Hills.

“The design, retail, and hospitality components will bring positive outcomes for locals and visitors as well,” Hills says.

“It is great to see the

private sector come on board to provide housing and many new retail and hospitality options popping up after a tough few years through the pandemic.”

Eke Panuku Priority Location Director – North, Kate Cumberpatch, says this agreement will deliver on the agency’s regeneration plans to provide more housing supply and choice and stimulate further growth and investment in this lake and seaside neighbourhood.

“As well as creating new public space that reinforces the heart of Takapuna and improves connections with the beach and other key public spaces, Eke Panuku looks to make better use of under-utilised councilowned land to deliver not just development, but a multitude of outcomes that contribute positively to Takapuna’s evolving

landscape.

“We are delighted to have agreed on the sale and development of the vacant site on Auburn Street at the corner of Huron and Northcraft Streets with Cedar Pacific and McConnell Property consortium for the first of their Auckland build-to-rent developments.

“Build-to­-rent is a simple, effective way of helping alleviate our housing shortage. It offers choice and availability and delivers quality rental choices for Aucklanders.

This development will significantly increase the number of living options in Takapuna, allowing more people to live near the Takapuna town centre.”

Given the development site’s location and size, Eke Panuku worked alongside the Bayleys Corporate Projects team to identify the Cedar Pacific

and McConnell Property consortium as the visionary development partner to unlock this site’s true potential.

Devonport-Takapuna Local Board Chair Toni van Tonder is delighted to see continued progress in the urban regeneration of Takapuna.

“Takapuna is rapidly changing, and the local board is working at pace with council’s development arm Eke Panuku to prepare the public realm for what will be a huge influx of future residents.

Not only will this exciting new Homestar 6 buildto-rent proposal create 350 new homes in our metropolitan centre making the most of this underutilised site, but it will also add to the commercial vibrancy of our famous beach-side suburb.”

propertyandbuild.com 21

SUMMER 2023/24

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n the Plenary Day One of the Summit, an impressive lineup of speakers is poised to deliver critical insights and practical strategies to safety leaders navigating the complexities of their roles.

Exploring the Evolving Health & Safety Environment Kicking off the summit, Robyn Bennett, President of the New Zealand Institute of Safety Management, will spearhead discussions on the latest trends in health & safety management.

From changing market conditions to economic shifts and workplace trends, Bennett will shed light on how these factors impact safety leaders.

Emphasizing a redefined business ecosystem with a focus on worker safety and wellbeing, she will draw lessons from recent highprofile workplace health and safety challenges.

Keynote on Adapting to Change and Delivering Outcomes Following Bennett, Steve Haszard, Chief Executive of WorkSafe, will deliver a keynote addressing

organizational change and expected responses within the health & safety sector. He will delve into the impact of WorkSafe’s new strategy on safety leaders and elucidate how performance measurement mechanisms will shape the sector's future.

Driving Cultural Transformation Christian Hunt, Founder of Human Risk Ltd, brings an international perspective to the summit.

His keynote will explore driving transformation in organizational culture to embed safety. By delving into the interface of culture, human factors, and behavioural science, Hunt aims to provide actionable strategies for fostering continuous improvement in safety culture.

Engaging Leadership and Front-Line Teams in Culture Change Derek Toner, Director of Engaging Solutions, will share insights on driving culture change by engaging with leadership and front-line teams.

Toner will emphasize the pivotal role of visibility in culture change and the responsibilities of safety

leaders in co-designing safer working practices.

Māori Health & Safety Framework: A Cultural-Centric Approach Moira Loach, Senior Health & Safety Advisor, and Jodhi Warwick-Ponga, Board Trustee, will introduce the Haumaru Tāngata (Māori Health & Safety) Framework. Addressing the overrepresentation of Māori in workplace statistics, they will outline the framework’s components and application in workplace health & safety initiatives.

Legal Landscape, Compliance, and Case Studies Grant Nicholson, Partner at Anthony Harper, will discuss the evolving legal landscape of health & safety in New Zealand, highlighting recent legislation, regulatory changes, and court cases.

The summit will also feature a panel discussion on the role of health & safety leaders in critical incidents, and insights from Women In Safety Excellence NZ on shaping the future of health & safety.

In essence, the National

Health & Safety Leaders’ Summit promises a comprehensive journey through the nuances of health and safety leadership, providing attendees with actionable insights and strategies to enhance workplace safety and wellbeing.

Attendees can tailor their conference experience with Day Two Streams For safety leaders traversing the dynamic intersection of technology and safety you can attend Stream A which will focus on emerging technologies; including trends that leverage AI to enhance safety through virtual reality.

Wellbeing at work is on the radar for many organisations and Stream B will delve into topics ranging from psychological health and safety obligations to preventing worker burnout and promoting resilience at work.

The event will be held on 19-20 March at the Ellerslie Events Centre in Auckland and you can view the programme at brightstar. co.nz/safety

propertyandbuild.com 23

SUMMER 2023/24

Physical threats & abuse widespread in construction A study of psychosocial hazards in New Zealand construction businesses has revealed that workers are being abused and threatened, while health and safety leaders face huge challenges

T

he study collected over 30,000 data points from construction businesses around the country and was led by Dr Steve Cantwell of safety software company SaferMe. The work was co-funded

by ACC via its Workplace Injury Prevention innovation programme, and supported

by CHASNZ (Construction Health & Safety NZ) and Civil Contractors NZ. Among the set of six key findings published: – Verbal abuse and physical threats are common – One in four workers avoid reporting injuries – Health & Safety leaders suffer low levels of support, more workplace bullying and poor role clarity SaferMe’s report follows on from the publication 24 propertyandbuild.com

of the Business Leaders’ Health and Safety Forum’s State of a Thriving Nation report, which showed New Zealand’s workplace death rate is double Australia’s, with deaths and injuries costing the country $4.4 billion per year.

“Psychosocial hazards increase the likelihood of accidents and injuries; as well as making workers more likely to be absent or to leave a business. It’s certainly contributing to our abysmal statistics as a nation, and more needs to be done to understand and address psychosocial hazards,” SaferMe founder and CEO Clint van Marrewijk says.

“Our team led by Dr Cantwell has taken a very thorough process to

examine these challenges in construction and other sectors, and we’re now helping businesses to measure these problems and fix them, “ van Marrewijk says.

CHASNZ Chief Executive Officer Chris Alderson says the study could help shape a better future for construction work.

“Robust evidence-based studies such as that undertaken by Dr Cantwell and SaferMe provide the construction industry with valuable insight into how to create a better future for our construction workforce. There are instant and implementable takeaways for construction businesses around the value of fostering collaborative and supportive workplaces as well as reducing known

psychosocial risk factors.”

SaferMe is now focused on helping further industries and individual businesses to measure and address psychosocial hazards in their workplace with its Safety Snap tool, developed with co-funding from ACC. Safety Snap is an evidence-based tool that helps a business understand the psychosocial challenges affecting staff on their worksites in less than one minute per week.

More information on Safety Snap is available at www.safer.me/features/ safety-snap/ Key Findings document is able to be downloaded from this link.

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SUMMER 2023/24

9

0-day trial periods have been in place previously for employers to assess new employees for suitability.

They give new employees the opportunity to prove themselves, their skills, experience, and other attributes.

For the 564,000 small to medium sized enterprise (SME) businesses that employ twenty or less employees and represent 97 percent of businesses in NZ, the implementation of the 90-day trial period can be a challenge.

An issue that arises when introducing this into a business or managing any employment process is that many of the SME businesses have little or no documented employment processes in place, nor do they have the time or the internal resources to manage this important aspect of business.

This is one of the single major reasons why so many SME business end up in time wasting and costly employment disputes.

Many businesses engage with costly employment specialists, with franchise HR consultants, or do nothing and take the risk.

This does not have to be the case.

The employment process for probationary management

The following are several

Return of the 90day trial: what you need to know The newly elected Government intends to re-introduce 90-day employment trial periods, but is this a good and commercially safe way for employers to take on new personnel? easy-to-follow steps of an employment process. It is not intended as a complete list, but should be the minimum requirements that any SME business has in place for a systematic progress to minimise

the risk of getting the employment process wrong.

An important part of this process is the maintaining of your employment records in either hard copy or cloud-based media.

The key actions throughout any employment process are to take your time and communicate.

Gordon Anderson,

Hasmate Ltd Managing Director gordon@hasmate.co.nz Gordon has created over 200+ safe/standard operating procedures, 150+ forms, and other documentation over the 26+ years he’s worked in the health and safety industry, providing New Zealand businesses with practical methods and a commonsense approach to the development and implementation of compliance management systems.

Health and Safety Management System New Zealand | Hasmate 26 propertyandbuild.com

SUMMER 2023/24 Steps Action 1.

2.

The ideal person description

The job description

Support notes This is a critical document and should be developed for all positions within the business. If done correctly, it will also act as the checklist for when applicants are interviewed.

Does the business have an organisational chart?

The job description is a document that requires a lot of thought as it is important for you and the applicant to know what they are going to be responsible for, who they are accountable to and how performance will be measured.

This document becomes part of your annual staff review process.

3.

4.

5.

The application for employment

The skills, qualifications and experience check list

The interview and selection process

This is another critical document that sets out a wide range of questions with required answers for the employer to use in their assessment for selecting a short list of likely applicants for the position.

Concerning the Privacy Act, the questions you ask must only be relevant to the position that is being applied for and information that should be known to the applicant. For example, if the position requires that products or services be selected by colour, then the candidate can be asked if they are colour-blind, as it is relevant to the quality of the work/services, for instance an electrician working with different coloured wires.

This checklist is not mandatory but something we have used with our clients with positive success. It is usually attached to the application for employment.

It is a great way to capture the experience and skills that a prospect may have for the new position.

If completed correctly this will also act as the checklist for when applicants are interviewed and could be applied if there is a future performance issue.

This does not have to be complicated but should be undertaken in a formal and appropriate setting.

All the information previously completed by the applicant can then be used for the interview process.

Any outcomes from this meeting should be recorded and filed in the employee’s personal file.

This a mandatory obligation of all businesses with costly consequences if not completed prior to engaging the employee.

If the employee is to have a probationary period as part of their engagement, then this must be stated in this agreement.

6.

The employment agreement

If this is included, I would recommend that you also include a copy of the probationary assessment form that outlines the areas that the employee will be assessed against for the probationary reviews, then there are no surprises for both parties.

As the employment agreement is legally binding, it is open for negotiation between both parties and not a take it or leave it discussion which too often is the case.

Of the many stated inclusions, the statement about health and safety is paramount as this can become the saving grace for any employer, considering the proposed changes to the 2015 H&S Act, regarding responsibility and accountability.

7.

The induction process

If your business has this process in place, it should never be a, “read this and you will understand” exercise. It should be a structured process so that the new employee understands the company’s requirements and has access to the induction information and supporting policies with which they must comply.

This is the area where so many get it wrong.

Do not leave this review meeting till the end of the 90 days or when things go wrong.

8.

The probationary review process

Set the performance assessment dates for an assessment for every month for the 90 days and tell the employee of these date and the procedure for the reviews.

Use the probationary assessment checklist for this process and be prepared to listen, provide feedback, positive and constructive ideas for improvement, listen and to act on any ideas for the business. You might well be surprised what you learn about your business and identify areas for improvement. propertyandbuild.com 27

SUMMER 2023/24

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SUMMER 2023/24

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hanges to our Global Harmonisation System (GHS) chemical regime applying from 30 April 2021 require accurate and timely advice - non-compliance could prove costly.

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Inspectors and certifiers with years of expertise warn of a declining national workplace chemical safety performance.

A crucial factor is the continuing loss of onsite chemical safety advice, primarily due to replacing flawed but effective mandatory Approved Handlers with whatever employers now deem sufficient.

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RCNZ Competent Chemical Handlers (CCH) are increasingly in demand, resulting from our popular ‘Walk and Talk’ site visit to assess actual chemical management performance, identifying the need for specialist training, throughout the product life cycle.

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propertyandbuild.com 29

SUMMER 2023/24

‘Whānau centre’ project recognised at design awards Studio DB’s work for Ngāti Hine Health Trust has received a coveted Bronze Pin at the 2023 Designers Institute of New Zealand Best Design Awards and is a finalist in the 2023 Interior Awards

T

he Best Design Awards is an annual showcase of excellence in graphic, spatial, product, digital and motion design along with three special awards – Value of Design, Public Good and Toitanga.

Ngāti Hine Health Trust’s work with Studio DB as a workplace strategy and design specialist 30 propertyandbuild.com

began after the Torongare offices in Whangārei were identified as facing spatial inefficiencies which were limiting the trust’s ability to provide enough dedicated spaces for kaimahi (staff) to meet with whānau.

Before the collaboration with Studio DB, Ngāti Hine Health Trust kaimahi staff area and whānau support services were

combined in one inefficient space that was no longer fit for purpose. The trust now has an additional 1,000m² in space, with a dedicated floor for whānau and community services, including nurse consultation rooms – a service which previously was only available via the trust’s mobile health service.

The brief to Studio DB was to create a “whānau centre” or hub on the ground floor level of the existing offices to expand the community service offering, including a vast range of whānau meeting rooms, nurse consultation rooms, and a hui space. This whānau centre needed to meet the following key objectives: • Create a warm and

SUMMER 2023/24 inviting environment that makes whānau feel comfortable and welcome, in accordance with the trust’s vision of empowering whānau to find their voice, steady their footing, and enhance their wellbeing.

• Provide spaces for the trust’s various whānau ora services.

• Have a large hui space that is suitable for hosting events, pōwhiri, and welcoming dignitaries.

• Create a space that reflects the origins and stories of the Ngāti Hine rohe.

Studio DB’s design response was framed around the idea of the environment and its association with health and wellbeing: “Te toto o te tangata he kai, te oranga o te tangata, he whenua, he oneone.” (While food provides the blood in our veins, our health is drawn from the land and soil.)

As tangata whenua, people of the land, Māori have a strong connection to the whenua and the natural environment, and this is integral to the wellbeing of Māori. Studio DB sought to create a space for the trust and its service provision which reflected this connection and resonated with and was unique to Ngāti Hine.

This was achieved in the design by taking inspiration from the natural surroundings of the Ngati Hine rohe, including the maunga, the ngahere, and the Taumarere awa. Various elements of the centre, such as the colours, materials, form, and art, were chosen to reflect the connection between the environment and the people of Ngati

Hine. Curved walls, screens, and flooring patterns were used to soften rooms and emulate the natural flows of the Taumarere awa, creating a welcoming and soothing atmosphere.

The whānau centre incorporates various commissioned art pieces which were created by local

carpet design, and the herringbone timber flooring.

Materials were customised wherever possible, such as: • Autex ceiling in the large hui space to align with the kaokao pattern.

• Autex Felt and Vertiface by the artist who created

Toi – Bachelor of Māori Art, led and participated in this team of artists who have a deep understanding of the Ngāti Hine rohe and its people. Both were involved in the design process to ensure that the cultural narrative was not an afterthought but an integral part of the design from the

Māori artists through a collaborative process with kaumatua and the interior designer. Each artwork is derived from the idea of the natural environment and origins of Ngāti Hine.

The team focused on aligning the colours and patterns of the art with the interior design to create a cohesive aesthetic that seamlessly blends culture, art, and interior architecture. Repetition or echoes of patterns can be seen throughout the centre; the kaokao (chevron) pattern used in many of the artworks is also present in the Autex ceiling design of the large hui space, the

the curved screen artwork, showcasing a unique use of the product.

• Bespoke Autex panels in whānau hui rooms.

The art pieces in the space mostly feature modern interpretations or representations of traditional values and ideas, bringing a fresh aspect to the centre while incorporating familiar elements that whānau can relate to. A crucial element in the success of the project was the collaboration with Māori artists.

Te Hemo Ata Henare and Lorraine King, both tutors for NorthTec’s Maunga Kura

outset.

One of the first impressions of the new space from kaimahi was that they felt at ease in the rohe and could feel and see the collaboration and wairua (spirit or heart) that went into creating it.

From the artwork created by former and current NorthTec students to the dedicated space for staff to help ground themselves, the feedback is that the fundamental thought and values that informed the project have created powerful shifts in the new space.

propertyandbuild.com 31

SUMMER 2023/24

Awards demonstrate steel industry’s ability to innovate The winners of 2023’s Steel Construction New Zealand (SCNZ) Excellence in Steel Awards have been announced, showcasing a commitment to innovation, best practice and collaboration

E

ach year, the task of judging becomes increasingly difficult.

This year, 21 finalists were selected from a pool of 32 impressive submissions, 32 propertyandbuild.com

which demonstrate the remarkable design and execution possible when steel is used as the primary construction material.

“The high calibre of

entries is testament to the industry’s ongoing commitment to raising the bar,” says SCNZ Chair David Moore. He notes there has been widespread emphasis

on best practice amongst structural steel contractors and a drive to adopt global initiatives such as Industry 4.0.

“Our local industry has

SUMMER 2023/24 also maintained its programme of investment in new cutting-edge plant, machinery and technology.

These advances in technology have made it possible to construct highly complex steel structures that were previously out of reach,” says Moore.

“The high standard of projects is also a reflection of the professionalism demonstrated by the fabricators, builders, architects and engineers that collaborate to bring these projects to life.”

of straddle cranes. The machines are capable of stacking containers four high, compared to the

lington’s strict engineering requirements and suit the existing footprint of the site, the team used 300x25mm

The 2023 winners are: Supreme & Over $3M Category Winner: MJH Engineering for One Whitmore Street Occupying a full city block, One Whitmore Street is a landmark 12-storey office tower in Wellington.

The 17,500sqm building with its 1,420sqm floorplates and soaring threemetre-high ceilings will be the new home of the BNZ. The structure is designed to withstand Wellington’s unpredictable weather, with a convex profile and rounded corners that help to counter the city’s strong winds. The diagrid structure, with its diamond-patterned exterior, provides structural integrity while eliminating the need for excessive internal columns. Inside, the building boasts a six-metre-high entry lobby and expansive floorplates that capture natural light and provide panoramic views of the harbour. $1.5M-$3M Winner: VIP Structural Steel for LPC Straddle Crane Workshop The new workshop and wash bay will improve the Lyttelton Port Company’s ability to maintain and operate its brand new fleet

three-high limit of the old cranes. This investment increases the port’s capacity for incoming containers.

Structural steel is the only material that could deliver the large openings required for the pre-made 21m-high roller-doors. With the doorjamb columns for fixing the fast-roller-shutter doors, an impressive 2.5mm deviation was achieved over the 23.5m full-height columns. $500K-$1.5M Winner: All Steel Services for Tryp Hotel The 1930’s art deco, heritage-listed hotel boasts 77 striking hotel and studio apartments, and the largest luxury penthouse in New Zealand. The project involved significant strengthening work on the existing heritage site in Wellington’s CBD and an additional three-level extension was added above. To meet Wel-

square hollow sections more than 11m high to support the extension. An additional 150t of steel structure and K-braces were used to support the cross-laminated timber flooring and erect all three levels in a fourweek window.

Under $500K Winner: Cambridge Steel Fabricators for Cambridge Tree House The architecturally stunning Cambridge Tree House blends seamlessly with the beautiful Waikato landscape, offering expansive views of its surroundings.

The treehouse was designed and engineered to be lifted into an existing stand of mature trees, making maximum use of the landscape while minimising its environmental impact.

The entire structure sits on one, small concrete footing.

The central steel supporting

column contains hatches to hide all services to the treehouse. The curve of the staircase is particularly intricate, curving upward and outward from the base to the treehouse level.

Earthquake Strengthening Winner: Jensen McArley & Associates and Jay Cee Welding for HB Central The Hallenstein Brothers building in central Auckland was built in 1912. Earlier this year, work to preserve and restore it was completed.

Thanks to structural steel, this elegant and historically significant building is enjoying a new lease of life. The primary structural deficiency was the building’s lack of bracing in the transverse direction; an entirely new bracing system was required. The solution was concentrically braced frames. The new, fully exposed painted frames are a striking feature of the refurbished heritage building, creating a raw yet tidy and robust finish.

Standalone Residential Winner: Black Steel Mobile for Ōrākei Basin Home The street-facing façade of this impressive Auckland home features an artistic zigzag design, offering spectacular views over the Ōrākei Basin. Built over a swimming pool, structural steel is used to support the house. Yet, the pool is not the highlight of the build.

The focal point is the innovative design of the stairs with its attached screen.

Not only was it designed to be a stunning architectural feature, the screen also forms an integral part of the home’s structure.

propertyandbuild.com 33

SUMMER 2023/24

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T

he team was forged by three friends working in the industry who realised that the key thing stressed building managers, business owners and landlords needed was to make a single call and get a reliable and qualified support team that would cover any aspect of facilities management.

The Rapid trio set down a business philosophy that “we will do what others can’t or won’t do “ and set about assembling a highly trained, efficient and safety-conscious team of professionals who get the job done right, the first time.

Today that service stretches from food manufacturers’ audit cleaning, all aspects of industrial cleaning, painting, building and floor safety management to anti-microbial and moss

34 propertyandbuild.com

Having worked in the industry for many years, three friends, Paul Schoch, Robyn Schoch and Andrew Chan realised that by combining their skills, they could create a company unlike any other and mould treatments to prevent surface damage to roofs, ceilings, walls, floors and specialised equipment.

Team members Darren, Brandon and Akeli

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propertyandbuild.com 35

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Have we opened the door to cheap imported wool The requirement for Government agencies to select woollen fibres over synthetic alternatives in their buildings is significant, but has the potential to benefit sheep farmers overseas at the expense of their New Zealand counterparts, Bremowth Chief Executive Greg Smith says

L

atest data shows the Government is New Zealand’s largest property owner – with over 16,000 buildings valued at over $31bn.

A new Government directive to prefer the use of woollen fibres in its buildings has the potential to transform the rural sector, however, it could also open the door to cheap imports.

Greater clarity is needed to understand whether the intent of the move is to sup36 propertyandbuild.com

port NZ’s rural economy, reduce the use of plastic materials in construction, or both.

The move has the potential to double the price of wool farmed in New Zealand however there is a question over where a government-specified product would fit within free trade agreements with other countries.

While NZ wool is considered ideally suited for carpet production by inter-

national manufacturers, the new policy may see volumes of cheaper imported options become available here.

With climatic conditions that produce less rainfall, New Zealand sheep grow a whiter wool that is easier to colour than the more yellow fibres found in wetter climates such as the UK. As a result, New Zealand produces a higher quality wool that sells on the open market for around 20%

more than British wool.

If Government procurement policies allowed for imported woollen fibre building products to access this market we would see few real benefits for New Zealand, other than a reduction in the use of plastic.

It would be soul-destroying for farmers in the sector to see one imported product replaced with another in the construction of publicly owned buildings.

What we need right now

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is greater clarity around the parameters of this policy and recognition of the inherent tax benefits to the economy when we support local.

The move has the potential to address conflicts in international perceptions of New Zealand’s approach to sustainability.

NZ grown wool is prized overseas however has not received the same recognition locally.

We have an unusual situation where New Zealand wool has been woven into the fabrics used on Air Force One, however, if the US President or any of the numerous other foreign dignitaries who have flown on that aircraft were to enter a Government building in this country, they would most likely be walking on imported synthetic carpet.

When we talk to potential export partners in new markets they are dumbfounded by the fact that our Government does not use our wool in its buildings.

They find the whole concept quite conflicted as New Zealand is known for its sheep production. We might want to be known for spaceships and rockets and

technology and gaming but that’s just not what we are known for and it’s unlikely we will ever shed that image.

Despite record low numbers of sheep being farmed there is sufficient wool supply in the market to scale up production to accommodate a surge in demand.

It is difficult to overstate the potential economic benefits of this move for the sector – this has the potential to be one of the most significant changes in the wool industry since synthetic alternatives were introduced two decades ago.

At that time the market went from 90% wool to 90% synthetic carpet.

The sector hasn’t recovered from this trend and the number of sheep in NZ fell by 2% last year to 23 million, the lowest ratio of sheep to people in New Zealand we have had in the past 150 years.

Ten years ago wool was trading at twice that of what it is today and it is quite possible we could see a return to this pricing.

This would result in a seismic shift in the farming landscape – no longer

loss-making, we would see new entrants come into the market as sheep farming becomes viable again, not just for the sale of meat.

A movement of this magnitude would have flow-on benefits throughout the economy – from the local vet to the shearer’s crew and everyone in between.

Thousands of tenants living in New Zealand’s public housing could also benefit from the use of wool in the construction of their homes.

There are around 69,000 state-owned houses in New Zealand, around 3% of the residential housing supply, with thousands more expected to be built over the coming years.

Potentially every publicly owned house could have a wool carpet flooring and a recycled carpet underlay – at the same time, wool insulation can be used under the floors as well as in the walls and ceilings.

In contrast with synthetic textiles used in construction, wool is a natural product that requires less chemicals and is naturally fire retardant. Woollen carpets are also hypoallergenic and regulate humidity by absorbing moisture when

the air is moist and releasing it when the air is dry.

We will now have the opportunity to build stateowned housing that may help create a healthy living environment for some of our most vulnerable.

The move is a significant credibility boost for wool and will result in greater investment in research and development and could lead to the production of more sustainable construction materials.

The new Government policy will lead to a significant reduction in the amount of plastic waste entering our landfills.

As the use of wool as a building material grows, we can expect to see more investment in the development of new materials and alternatives to synthetics.

Examples of these innovations include the use of waste wool in biodegradable weed and mulch mats which release nutrients as they break down.

In addition to their local use, these new products will also find their way into export markets.

propertyandbuild.com 37

ELECTION 2023

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HIGH PERFORMANCE 200kPa RATED INSULATION FOR CONCRETE SLABS SLABX200 is EXPOL’s new generation high performance Expanded Polystyrene Board specifically designed to deliver high compressive strength and improve insulation under concrete slabs.

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It delivers an uncompromised compressive strength of 200kPa @ 10% deformation and exceptional Insulation Values.

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Specifically engineered for residential and commercial projects, its high performance gives engineers and specifiers peace of mind while increasing the thermal performance of a building.

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SLABX200 delivers the ultimate high performance: Uncompromised compressive strength 200kPa @ 10% deformation Exceptional Insulation Values High water resistance Lightweight and easy to handle Various thicknesses from 50mm to 600mm SLABX200 waste is actively recycled into other EXPOL products SLABX200 - the product of choice for specifiers and the construction industry.

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Learn more about SLABX200 visit www.expol.co.nz Call or email our Technical Manager; T: 0800 86 33 73 or E: tech@expol.co.nz

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38 safetynews.co.nz

www.expol.co.nz

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Learn about our recycling initiatives

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Kiwi innovation leading the way in concrete slab insulation

Why do I need to insulate the concrete slab?

Slab insulation is important not only to save on energy bills for future owners and tenants, but also to improve comfort.

Insulation will reduce heat loss and make the slab easier to heat. It offers a layer of projection against moisture and will provide a thermal mass to regulate temperatures.

If embedded floor heating is incorporated in a concrete slab-on-ground, the slab must be insulated so that heat from the slab is delivered up into the space above and not lost to the exterior and ground below.

A new generation of Expanded Polystyrene Board insulation has arrived

LABX200 is specifically designed to deliver high compressive strength and improve insulation under concrete slabs.

Developed by trusted Kiwi insulation experts EXPOL, this exciting new innovation has quickly become the product of choice for specifiers and others in the construction industry.

Wayne Watson Technical Manager EXPOL doing a visual check of SLABX200 to ensure it meets EXPOL’s high technical specifications.

What makes SLABX200 different?

We chatted to Wayne Watson a Structural EPS and GeoFoam Consultant at EXPOL to see what makes SLABX200 different.

Wayne told us that due to its compressive strength rating of 200Kpa there is no comparable product on the market. He states “SLABX200 is specifically designed for insulating concrete slabs.

It has a rating of 200kpa at 10 percent compression or 20 ton per square meter.

Its high performance specs are designed to give Engineer’s peace of mind so that they can recommend this product with 100 percent confidence”.

The team at EXPOL recognised that there was nothing on the market that offered a cost-effective yet high performance solution to concrete insulation.

So they set about to develop a product with New Zealand residential and commercial projects in mind.

The durable nature of SLABX200 means that it won’t degrade over time, keeping its integrity for the life of the structure.

Due to the lightweight nature of Expanded Polystyrene the product is also easy to handle and install making quick work of slab insulation on site.

How does this product compare to Healthy Homes standards?

The Healthy Homes insulation standards across New Zealand states than underfloor insulation should have an R-Value of 1.3 or

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greater.

With several thicknesses available SLABX200 ranges from an R-Value of R 1.5 at 50mm thickness through to an impressive R6.0 at 200mm thickness.

Therefore, all thicknesses offer R-Values over and above the standards to ensure healthy and efficient homes.

How does this product work in my sustainable building project?

The team at EXPOL are committed to the environment. In a true closed loop process 100 percent of manufacturing waste is recycled in their seven recycling plants nationwide.

Expanded Polystyrene offers great eco credentials and at the end of a products life it can be turned into other EXPOL products.

The high performance of the SLABX product also ensures that your building project is sustainable to heat and cool and therefore leading to less energy consumption over the life of the building.

If you’d like to learn more about the SLABX200 product, the team at EXPOL are happy to have a chat. Visit their website on www.expol.co.nz or give the Technical Manager at call on 0800 86 33 73. propertyandbuild.com 39

ELECTION 2023

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QUESTAPARTMENTS.CO.NZ 42 safetynews.co.nz