NZ Plumber October-November 2015

Book your place now at the 2016 New Zealand Plumbing Conference! – See page 7 OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2015

Art and Craft Sheetmetal mastery at the Len Lye Centre

Commercial leasing

OFFICIAL MAGAZINE OF

What you need to know

BACKFLOW KNOW-HOW Installer basics

OUTWARD BOUND Tomorrow’s leaders

ASBESTOS ALERT Worksite risks

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EDITORIAL

Volume 67, Number 5 MAGAZINE TEAM CEO Greg Wallace EDITOR Beverly Sellers 03 543 2008 beverlysellers@xtra.co.nz DESIGN Sally Travis Design www.sallytravisdesign.co.nz PRINT Service Printers 258 Taranaki Street Wellington 6141 SUBSCRIPTIONS NZ Plumber is published six times a year by Master Plumbers, Gasfitters & Drainlayers NZ. MPGD members receive all six editions.

Non-members can subscribe online at www.masterplumbers.org.nz/subscription-form-2 MAILING LIST For enquiries, or to update your details: beverlysellers@xtra.co.nz Non-Master Plumbers’ members with contact detail changes should notify the PGD Board, giving their registration number licensing@pgdb.co.nz TO ADVERTISE Contact Catherine Schuster 027 839 8398 cschuster@masterplumbers.org.nz

NZ Plumber is the official magazine of Master Plumbers, Gasfitters & Drainlayers NZ Inc. Contact details for the MPGD Board, Society staff and Regional Associations are available at www.masterplumbers.org.nz/contact ©NZ Plumber 2013. Registered as a Newspaper, GPO, Wellington, ISSN 0111-4379. NZ Plumber is subject to copyright in its entirety. The contents may not be reproduced in any form, either in whole or in part, without written permission of the publisher. All rights reserved in material accepted for publication, unless initially specified otherwise.

All letters and other material forwarded to the magazine will be assumed intended for publication unless clearly labelled ‘Not for Publication’. Views expressed in articles in NZ Plumber magazine are not necessarily those of Master Plumbers, Gasfitters & Drainlayers NZ Inc, or of the Editor. While every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information included in this publication, the publisher and the Editor take no responsibility for errors or omissions or for any consequences of reliance on this information. Publication of advertising material implies no endorsement of either a product or service.

We’re in business A new series of business articles was inspired by a reader’s comment.

I ENJOYED BEING part of the crowd at the recent Nelson Master Plumbers Association’s President’s Dinner. During the discussions after the dinner, we touched on topics for NZ Plumber magazine. One of the members said that moving from plumber on tools to business owner came with a whole new set of challenges. Could we perhaps run a series of articles giving advice on managing a business?

We approached Auckland-based business growth hub The Icehouse, and they have kindly agreed to help out. They introduce themselves on p43. We hope you will find this future series useful, and we always welcome ideas like this for topics of relevance to you and your business.

Our feature article this issue looks at commercial leases—one of a business’s most important contractual documents, according to Duncan Cotterill Lawyers. Turn to p12 to find out what you need to be aware of when leasing work premises.

Other business-focused articles in this edition include insurance advice from Master Plumbers Insurance founding members Mike Henry Insurance Brokers and Spratt Financial Group. Plus, there’s the first in our new series of HR tips from Lisa Duston, whose employment relations services are available to Master Plumbers’ members at reduced rates.

A number of the articles in this issue highlight the huge amount of business talent out there. I, for one, would love to visit the new Len Lye Centre and see first-hand the stunning sheetmetal façade created by New Plymouth fabrication firm Rivet. We look at what went into its creation on p17.

If your business is hiding its light under a bushel, it’s time to take pride in your achievements. Entries for the 2016 New Zealand Plumbing Awards are now open—make sure your name is among them! see p9 for details.

Beverly Sellers Editor, NZ Plumber, beverlysellers@xtra.co.nz

The best email, letter or tip published on this page wins a $20 Hunting & Fishing voucher! Do you have a picture, story or news to share? Or feedback on any of the articles you’ve read in NZ Plumber?

Email the Ed: beverlysellers@xtra.co.nz. Or give me a call on 03 543 2008.

OVER TO YOU Puzzle solved!

Last issue, we asked you for any ideas on what this thingamajig might be, spotted by EG Glennie Plumbing while at Raffles in Singapore for the Plumbing World trip. One reader, Neil, was the first to respond. “Looks like a handbag hook. Slides over the table top through the handle to keep off the floor.” Derek Staines was next, thinking it might be a tie pin. But after a Google search, he changed his mind. Turns out, the answer was on the Raffles website all along... it’s a bookmark!

“I showed the guys at work,” says Sue Diggle at EG Glennies. “The hard part was trying to work out how it went on the iPad :)” Our prize voucher on its way to you Derek—and one for you too Neil if you can provide us with your address!

October/November 2015

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Inside this issue

OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2015

WHAT’S ON 7 Registrations are open for the NZ Plumbing Conference 2016

MASTER PLUMBERS NEWS 8

CEO Greg Wallace talks marketing and membership; Master Plumbers gets the big tick from ACC; National President on tour; awards entries; new members; and two Gold Partner updates

IN FOCUS 12 Commercial leases

One of your most important business contracts…

REAL LIVES 14 Out West

Why West Coast plumbing takes planning 28 To the rescue

This plumber’s a fire truck driving dynamo!

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October/November 2015

PROJECT SPOTLIGHT 17 Mirror, mirror

Sheetmetal mastery at the new Len Lye Centre

NUTS & BOLTS 21 Preventing Legionnaire’s

Keeping water systems safe

22 Best practice: rainwater

Top tips from Marley 24 Backflow know-how

Questions installers should ask themselves 25 The gas ring

This issue’s updates for gasfitters 27 Tech points

Some online projects afoot for the industry

INDUSTRY TALK 30 Bathed in glory

Bathroom Excellence winner

31 Occupational regulation review

MBIE plans to simplify 31 Innovation for Green Star

Rating tool gets an update 31 Involving the industry

PGD Board establishes a liaison group and proposes a new CPD model 32 Sam’s Spot

A plumber’s tools are sacred, says Sam! 32 People

NZPM Board; vale Nigel Mason 34 Recent convictions

Licence checks are proving effective 35 Raising the roof

Winners at the RANZ Roofing Awards

CONTENTS

ON THE COVER Book your place now at the 2016 New Zealand Plumbing Conference! – See page 7 OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2015

Art and Craft

17

Sheetmetal mastery at the Len Lye Centre

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24

43 37 Mud, glorious mud

Tradies join the Tough Guy & Gal Challenge 37 Fees in focus

New regular column for PGD Board CEO Martin Sawyers

SMART BUSINESS 39 Eyes on insurance

Covering your tools… and keeping your insurance current

43 Growing your business

Business development advice from The Icehouse 44 Biz brief

Employment law changes and more…

46 Understanding GST

The IR has the low-down 47 Recruit to suit

Kicking off our new HR series with recruitment

TIMES PAST 48 Wartime apprentice

SAFETY FIRST 50 H&S reform: one step closer

The Health & Safety Reform Bill has passed

AROUND ASSOCIATIONS 53 Active in Auckland

Q&A session with Auckland Master Plumbers President Regan Frost

WORLD VIEW 54 Water for future

Plumber Trevor Gatland volunteers in Timor Leste

62 On the world stage

Kiwi plumber at the World Skills Internationals

HEALTH MATTERS 58 Asbestos alert

Ignore the risks of asbestos on worksites at your peril!

TECH SAVVY 60 Accounting add-ons

You need them but be selective

Commercial leasing

OFFICIAL MAGAZINE OF

What you need to know

BACKFLOW KNOW-HOW Installer basics

OUTWARD BOUND Tomorrow’s leaders

58

ASBESTOS ALERT Worksite risks

70 Cover photograph by Patrick Reynolds: Len Lye Centre facade

NEXT GENERATION 66 Why hire an apprentice?

MasterLink videos have the answers!

69 Got a Trade

The first-ever Got a Trade Week 70 To the limit

Ten apprentices test their mettle with Outward Bound 72 MasterLink winners

Success down South 72 Following the code

An apprenticeship code of practice 73 Making 2015 a success

Skills looks at credit completion

PRODUCTS & SERVICES 75 What’s new to the marketplace AND FINALLY 76 Offcuts

This issue’s media snippets

78 Dodgy plumbing

Will they ever learn?

A gust of wind leads to hair-raising results for Ernie MacManus October/November 2015

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What’s on

EVENTS

This issue’s happenings include a red-letter event on the industry calendar!

NZ Plumbing Conference 2016 Date: 6-8 April 2016 Venue: Novotel Rotorua Lakeside, Rotorua

Early-bird registrations are open for the New Zealand Plumbing Conference 2016! If you have a role in the industry—business owner, employer, employee, apprentice—you need to be part of this industry event; the only one of its kind in New Zealand!

There’s so much value to be had in attending, whether it’s business learning, self-development or upskilling on new technologies. The exhibition space holds over 35 stands, which represents a huge amount of products and services on display, and there will be plenty of time to mix and mingle with suppliers during tea breaks and lunch.

Daytime activities include sessions for each of the three plumbing, gasfitting and drainlaying trades plus an optional business workshop for Master Plumbers’ members from The Icehouse on building your business. There’s a strong line-up of speakers, too, including Allie Mooney—who will have you laughing and challenged as she delivers practical business tools—and Ngahihi o te ra Bidois on personal development.

Cecilia Robinson of My Food Bag, one of NZ’s fastest growing businesses, will also share her recipe for success.

Optional Mobil Leisure Afternoon activities on the Friday include raceline karting at Off Road NZ or a tour of the local geysers, hot pools and lakes. Partners have a great programme of activities too, with a trip to landscape gardener and designer Celia Laity’s stunning home overlooking Lake Taupo. The day begins with gourmet morning tea on The Terrace followed by a cooking class, including bubbles and canapés, and a sit-down lunch with wine, coffee and sweet treats.

With the Mico Welcome Night Dinner at the Blue Baths on the opening evening, and the Dux and Marley Fun Night Dinner at the Skyline Rotorua on the Thursday evening, you have entertainment ensured. This year’s Fun Night theme is ‘Into the Woods’—think Lord of the Rings, Robin Hood, lumberjacks etc!

The event comes to a close with the grand finale: The 2016 New Zealand Plumbing Awards Dinner, sponsored by Plumbing World.

A black-tie event at the Novotel Rotorua Lakeside, this is an opportunity to recognise this industry’s best.

Register now at www.nzplumbingconference.org.nz. Plus, book and pay by 15 December to go in the draw to win an Air New Zealand Great Mystery Break for Two!

Above left: Discover the sights of Rotorua during the Mobil Leisure Afternoon.

Above right: Learning and laughter at the speaker sessions.

Clockwise from top left: Relax in comfort at the Novotel venue; a Mico welcome at the historic Blue Baths; a gourmet day out for partners; travel the Skyline Gondola to the Dux and Marley Fun Night.

NZ Gas Industry Forum Date: 4-6 November 2015 Venue: Novotel Rotorua Lakeside, Rotorua

The 2015 NZ Gas Industry Forum in Rotorua is a joint industry forum run by the LPG Association, the Gas Association and the NZ Institute of Gas Engineers.

This year’s event includes a workshop in conjunction with WorkSafe New Zealand on the new Major Hazard Facility Regulations and their implications for the industry. The workshop is free and open to anyone to attend, but you must register online.

The main forum includes general interest papers and presentations with a more technical focus. Networking opportunities are also available.

For programme details and to register online, go to www.lpga.co.nz

Principal Conference Sponsor October/November 2015

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MASTER PAGE TAG PLUMBERS NEWS

Goal setting

Marketing, membership growth, and health and safety compliance are all part of our long-term plan.

I’M REALLY PROUD of the Wellington team who worked tirelessly to achieve tertiary level ACC Workplace Safety Management Practices for Master Plumbers and MasterLink. This is the highest status possible and shows the importance of having good health and safety processes in place.

MasterLink employs apprentices at no fewer than 90 host firms, so it is no easy task assessing their individual health and safety requirements. We are very pleased with the result and will work hard to retain this level of ACC endorsement.

Changes coming to workplace health and safety legislation next April mean that all members will need to ensure they are 100% compliant, with sound, active policies in place. A health and safety manual gathering dust on the shelf won’t be enough to protect everyone in your workplace from potential liability under the new Act. Members who purchase the Master Plumbers Health and Safety Manual for their businesses can also access training and implementation support—just one example of the many benefits on offer.

Also available is our new HR advice service at reduced rates. Use the service to ensure you are meeting your legal requirements around employment

matters or for help with areas such as performance reviews and payroll.

When this edition of NZ Plumber goes to print, we will have held the Master Plumbers half-yearly meeting. Several briefing papers were presented to all Associations before the event, outlining subtle proposed changes to ensure membership is relevant and moving with the times. Among other things, we are looking to strengthen the Master Plumbers Guarantee and the Quality Assurance process that backs it up.

This year’s marketing strategy is well underway and we hope you have noticed the consumer campaign being rolled out round the country, with advertising on Stuff and the Resene Habitat magazine.

We have also secured advertising on strategic billboards in the main centres and on local buses.

I realise that achieving the broadest possible consumer reach through marketing requires many individual approaches, and I believe we are across sufficient media platforms to achieve this. Our website hits have increased as a result of our efforts to date and we are aware of the need to take a long-term view of our marketing initiatives.

Membership growth has also increased significantly in the last few months, with more than 30 new member businesses signing up—and we will continue to look at opportunities for membership in all areas.

The recent President’s Dinners have

provided a great chance to interact with existing members in the regions, with some robust and worthwhile discussions.

National President Martin De Gouw and I have thoroughly enjoyed these events with the Nelson, Wellington, Hutt Valley Wairarapa, Wanganui and Taranaki Associations and look forward to others coming up in the near future.

Also highly anticipated is the New Zealand Plumbing Conference 2016 in Rotorua. We are well underway with organisation and excited about the speakers and business value the event will bring to members. Programme details are available on the Conference website— remember to book and pay by 15 December for reduced early-bird fees and the chance to win an Air New Zealand Great Mystery Break for two!

On a final note, it was with great sadness that I learned of Nigel Mason’s death at just 31. Nigel became Branch Manager at Plumbing World this June, having been in the industry his whole career. I worked with him during my time at Mico, and know how passionate he was about this industry. Our sincere condolences to Nigel’s family and Plumbing World colleagues.

Greg Wallace, CEO Master Plumbers, Gasfitters & Drainlayers NZ

NEW MEMBERS A warm welcome to new Master Plumbers members: • • • •

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Aaron Dean Plumbing, Rotorua Bay Professional Services, Whangarei Central Plumbing, Wellington CRM Plumbing, New Plymouth

October/November 2015

• • • • •

DM Plumbing & Gas, Wellington Fixed Price, Auckland Fyfe Plumbing & Roofing, Auckland Good Living Solutions, Christchurch Jamark Plumbing, Hamilton

• • • •

LD & R Rumney Plumbing, Rotorua Maxey Plumbing & Gas, Wellington Roundhouse Plumbing & Gasfitting, Auckland Your Local Plumber 2015 Ltd, Auckland

MASTER PLUMBERSPAGE NEWS TAG

Big tick from ACC

After months of work and preparation, Master Plumbers, MasterLink Ltd and NZ Plumbers’ Journal Ltd have successfully passed an independent workplace audit for ACC Workplace Safety Management Practices, achieving Tertiary standard—the highest available! We take our health and safety commitments very seriously, and we’re here to help member businesses do the same.

ACC’s Workplace Safety Management Practices recognises businesses with more than 10 employees that have implemented effective health and safety systems and practices in their workplaces. Those who qualify also receive a work cover levy reduction.

Above: The Wellington team with the certificate from ACC.

Consumer advertising

President on tour!

It’s a long-held tradition for the National President of Master Plumbers, Gasfitters and Drainlayers NZ to visit the Regional Associations during their term of office.

The 2015-16 President is Martin De Gouw of Christchurch-based Clyne & Bennie Plumbing.

The Nelson, Wanganui, Taranaki, Wellington and Hutt Valley Associations have hosted a President’s Dinner to date, enjoying the camaraderie with Martin and fellow members. CEO Greg Wallace has also been invited to each event, providing a brief presentation on new initiatives for the benefit of members, including the new HR helpline service, the Master Plumbers Recommended product programme and the digital marketing campaign that is being rolled out around the regions.

“The President’s Dinner went down a treat,” says Hutt Valley Wairarapa Association President Terry Bircham.

“We had a large turn out with around 66 people. It was quite an informal social gathering, made even better by the generosity of the sponsors, Plumbing World, Mico and Dux Industries—and great to see many branch managers attending.

It’s always good to hear what Greg has to say, keeping us in the loop with what’s

Look out for billboards in the main centres, and advertising on local bus lines, letting people know why they should always use a Master Plumber. It’s all part of our new consumer marketing campaign, which also includes regional digital advertising via Stuff and advertisements in Resene’s Habitat magazine.

The word’s getting out that a Master Plumber is the way to go!

Above: The Nelson and combined Wellington and Hutt Valley/Wairarapa events.

happening. Martin then enlightened us with a few words from the top. A great night had by all.”

“Being able to share information with other members at Association meetings is one of the greatest benefits of being a Master Plumber,” said Martin at the Nelson Association dinner. “I’ve learned a lot from other members, and there’s always someone you can ask if you have a query. By attending annual conferences, I’ve got to know other members all around the country, and we know we can call each other for specialist knowledge on particular aspects of a job.”

Always use a Master Plumber Whether you’re building, renovating or just want your tap fixed, get a Master Plumber to help. We’ve been supporting our members to deliver excellence for over 100 years, providing quality assurance every step of the way. From the smallest job to major commercial projects, a Master Plumber provides efficient, professional service – backed by the residential Master Plumbers Guarantee.

masterplumbers.org.nz

Above: The advert appearing in Habitat magazine.

It’s award entry time Fancy this trophy in your cabinet? Then make sure you enter for the 2016 Master Plumber of the Year Award! Achieving this award is a sure fire way to give your business growth a lift—just ask previous winners!

Entry forms for all our award categories are now available at masterplumbers.org.nz The closing date is Friday 11 March 2016, so get started now to give yourself

time to polish up your applications and nominations. We will celebrate the winners on Friday 8 April in Rotorua at The New Zealand Plumbing Awards 2016, held by Master Plumbers in partnership with Plumbing World.

The event is the culmination of the 2016 NZ Plumbing Conference, and not to be missed whatever your role in this great industry of ours. >

October/November 2015

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MASTER PAGE TAG PLUMBERS NEWS

Vehicle finance assistance

Introducing new Master Plumbers’ Gold Partner Toyota Financial Services—here to help with your vehicle finance options.

Toyota Financial Services was established in New Zealand in 1989 and has grown to be the largest motor vehicle manufacturer-owned finance company in New Zealand, with over $1 billion in loans and 20,000 insured vehicles.

Just as your local Toyota Dealer has experts to assist you with your vehicle requirements, they also have experts that can help you structure the best finance option for you and your business—from traditional financing options, with low fixed payments, to

loans that give you the flexibility to make extra payments and pay off the loan early with no penalties.

There are also lease options, which include full servicing with tax-deductible monthly rentals, and leases where you can purchase the vehicle at the end of the term.

Toyota Insurance products have unique benefits for Toyota owners, including full replacement if your new Toyota is stolen or written off in the first three years. They also offer specialist fleet services to large fleets to reduce the

administrative costs of managing a fleet.

With 90 Toyota Dealerships, branches and service outlets from Kaitaia to Invercargill, there is a Toyota Dealer near you offering their extensive range of vehicle finance and insurance products.

Gold Partner

Reliable, high flow

Master Plumbers’ Gold Partner Apex Valves explains why the Apex 25mm Limiting Valve is ideal for plumbing a large home.

When plumbing a home with multiple bathrooms, it’s important to make sure the showers, taps and other outlets are supplied with enough water. To ensure all of the outlets can provide an adequate flow rate, you must consider the Apex valves you install.

By using the Apex 25mm Limiting Valve (LV25), you can be sure all outlets will have enough flow rate (250 litres per minute) to keep up with showers,

Above: Apex 25mm Limiting Valve.

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October/November 2015

taps, washing machines and dishwashers all being used at once.

Apex Valves have over 30 years’ experience manufacturing water control valves in New Zealand for the local conditions. The LV25 complies with G12 and NZS 4608, and the pressure control cartridges are Watermarked. The LV25 can be installed in any orientation, making it flexible to install. A unique feature is the twin, replaceable, adjustable cartridges (200-600 kPa).

Simple maintenance is always a consideration at the time of installation.

If maintenance is required during the life of the valve, the pressure control cartridge can be easily unscrewed from the valve body and replaced. All the valve controls are inside the cartridge, so there is no need to remove the valve body from the pipework. This feature ensures that maintenance costs are kept to a minimum.

The Apex 25mm Limiting Valve comes as a part of a pack of valves—called the Apex 25mm Combi Pack (CP25)—that are all required for the HWC plumbing in the home or commercial building. Every valve in the pack is designed specifically to make sure your building has adequate

Above: It’s all in the Apex 25mm Combi Pack.

flow of water to service every outlet.

The homeowner is investing in a large home with multiple bathrooms, so it’s absolutely necessary to use the Apex 25mm Limiting Valve to ensure they are 100% satisfied with the result.

Gold Partner

IN FOCUS

Commercial leases For many businesses, a lease will be one of the most important contractual documents, says David Briscoe of Duncan Cotterill Lawyers.

EVEN THOUGH IT could affect profitability, many businesses enter into commercial leases without understanding the full ramifications of what the obligations are. The relationship between landlords and tenants is often a long term one. Both parties must have a clear understanding of their rights and obligations before signing on the dotted line.

The most common form of commercial lease used in New Zealand is the Auckland District Law Society Deed of Lease (ADLSi Lease). However, every lease is different so it is important to check the terms of your lease.

There are a number of practical and legal issues to be aware of when reviewing a lease, including the following: • Rent reviews—Rent reviews are a mechanism for adjusting 12

October/November 2015

a tenant’s rent to the current market level. The current ADLSi Lease introduces a Consumer Price Index (CPI) rent review clause as an alternative to a market rent review. CPI rent reviews adjust rent in accordance with the movement in the CPI. With a market rent review there is generally little room for negotiation. If there is a dispute over the proposed rent which can’t be resolved, this will need to be determined by valuers.

A CPI rent review can provide greater certainty as to annual rent increases and reduce the cost of the rent review process as a valuation isn’t required. There are pros and cons with each process and tenants need to be

comfortable with the approach chosen.

Rent review clauses often also contain a ‘ratchet’. Such clauses are designed to protect returns on landlords’ investments by preventing reductions in rent following rent reviews. Under the ADLSi Lease, the ratchet is a ‘soft ratchet’ that prevents the new rent from dropping below the rent payable at the commencement of the current term of the lease.

However, many landlords will attempt to include a ‘hard ratchet’

rent review clauses often contain a ‘ratchet’

IN FOCUS

•

•

•

that prevents the new rent from dropping below the rent payable during a defined period immediately preceding the rent review.

Outgoings—In addition to paying rent, a tenant is usually required to pay a percentage of the ‘outgoings’ of the building (eg, rates, insurance). Depending on the definition of outgoings, the tenant may be required to reimburse the landlord for the costs of carrying out landlord maintenance obligations, in addition to complying with tenant maintenance provisions. The ADLSi Lease enables the parties to specify an estimate of the likely outgoings. For tenants, this can provide greater certainty of the

•

likely outgoings to be incurred.

The estimate is not, however, a warranty and the eventual figure could differ. Tenants should seek to push back on responsibility for outgoings where possible.

‘No access’ periods—After the Christchurch earthquake, ‘no access periods’ were inserted into most standard leases. In the ADLSi Lease the default period is nine months. If, at the expiry of this period, the premises still remain inaccessible or if either party can establish with reasonable certainty that the property will be inaccessible at the expiry of that period, either party may terminate the lease by giving 10 working days’ written notice. Consideration should be given to whether a shorter ‘no access’ period should be negotiated.

Reinstatement and make good obligations—Under most leases the tenant is obligated to remove its fitout and reinstate the premises to the condition they were in either prior to the tenant’s fitout or at the commencement of the lease.

Ideally, a tenant should seek to limit its obligations on termination to leaving the premises in a clean and tidy state of repair and repairing any damage done during the tenancy.

Premises condition report—It is becoming more common for premises condition reports to be included in leases. The ADLSi Lease now expressly includes a premises condition report as a schedule. These reports provide a written and/or photographic record of the condition of the premises as at the lease commencement. There can be real value for a tenant in a premises condition report, as it will reduce the potential for expensive legal argument over the tenant’s reinstatement obligations at the termination of the lease.

real value for a tenant in a premises condition report •

Insurance—The ADLSi Lease provides that the landlord will insure the premises and the tenant can be liable to pay insurance excess in respect of a claim, insurance premiums or related charges if included as an outgoing payable by the tenant. We recommend certain amendments to a lease to limit exposure to insurance costs that can balloon following an event like the Christchurch earthquakes. If insurance cover becomes unavailable (other than due to an ‘act or omission’ of the landlord), the landlord will not be in breach of the lease provided the landlord has used all reasonable endeavours to obtain cover. This could put a tenant in a difficult situation—leaving the tenant bound to continue to lease an uninsured building. Consideration should be given to including a right to terminate if insurance is not available and/or the tenant obtaining business interruption insurance.

The issues outlined above are only a brief overview of some points to consider when entering into a lease. Specialist legal advice should be obtained early to check your lease is meeting your needs and interests and that you understand your obligations. ■ Disclaimer: the content of this article is general in nature and not intended as a substitute for specific professional advice on any matter and should not be relied upon for that purpose.

About the author: This article is by David Briscoe, a Partner at Duncan Cotterill Lawyers in Wellington. Contact David on 04 471 9412; david.briscoe@ duncancotterill.com; www.duncancotterill.com

October/November 2015

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REAL LIVES

Out West

With a 600km coverage area, planning is a major part of the business at Jeff Evans Ltd.

FROM TWO BRANCHES in Hokitika and Greymouth, Jeff Evans Ltd services the entire West Coast, for plumbing, gasfitting, drainage, dairy and light engineering. “The Coast has a population of 30,000 all the way from Haast to Karamea,” says Jeff. “We don’t go to Haast for a tap washer—we try and book a week’s work and do jobs all the way down.”

What began in 1988 with just Jeff and his wife Moreen setting up in business has since expanded into 20 vans on the road. This breaks down into separate teams doing maintenance, housing and commercial, gas and drainage, and rural work.

KEEPING TRACK A permanent staff ‘job planner’ allocates jobs, using the Navman Wireless fleet management system to monitor who is where and when. This has helped capture the true cost of fuel, says Jeff, and also enables them to show clients how much time is actually spent on jobs. “The guys were a bit wary at first, thinking I’d be watching them whenever they stopped for a pie, but at 6ft1in and 98kg I’m not built on salad. I’m not going to stop them from doing something I enjoy myself.”

In a small community like Hokitika—with a population of just under 3,000—you have to trade on your name, he says. “That means turning up on time and getting the job done. In the rare event of a call back, our policy is to fix it in a day or at most within the calendar week.” With close to 5,000 jobs a year, the company puts a lot of effort into customer service, and the team’s shared hard work earned them a category win in the region’s Leading Light business awards three years ago.

A TRUE PARTNERSHIP Jeff gives his wife Moreen much of the credit for the firm’s success.

“She has completed all the finances since 1988 and continued working part time while raising our children. She was responsible

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October/November 2015

Above: Jeff and Moreen.

Below: The Jeff Evans Ltd team.

for setting up our Board of Directors and for developing our branding. For the past three years, she has returned to a full-time role as General Manager. It’s pretty amazing to run at the level we do as a husband and wife team, and to remain friends as well as parents and business partners after being together since school, for over 33 years.”

REAL LIVES

In full flood It was also Moreen who suggested to Jeff around 15 years ago that they should start training apprentices in-house to their own high standards. “We try to employ local youngsters by visiting schools or through knowing their parents.”

LEARNING FOR LIFE

Above: Jeff bared (almost) all to

become top exhibitor at Hokitika’s Training doesn’t stop at the end of an apprenticeship. Jeff, ‘mini agfest’ in July, raising $9,000 for Riding for the Disabled. who is a Certifying Plumber, Gasfitter and Drainlayer and a backflow IQP, has a passion for lifelong learning. He is currently halfway through a pH testers course for use on milking machines, and says the company is lucky to have in-house upskilling from a lot of suppliers due to its size. “I enjoy my industry and I’m keen to learn—it’s not for the points.”

A member of Master Plumbers for many years, Jeff has made the most of the upskilling available whenever the Canterbury Association holds its once-yearly meeting on the West Coast.

His main reason for joining, though, was getting to know likeminded business owners, who regularly call each other for advice.

“Sometimes it’s a struggle being on your own, and I’ve got to know a lot of people by belonging.”

According to Jeff, the West Coast has only slightly lower sunshine hours than Canterbury or Nelson, but when it rains… it rains. “Sometimes it’s so heavy we can’t do any work outside and customers don’t want us in their houses.” In the June floods, his own premises suffered $50,000 worth of damage to stock and tools, “but it was nothing compared to what the plumbers in Canterbury have had to deal with,” he says.

Jeff was woken by a call at 10.30pm to come and check his workshop. “The water was the highest I’ve ever seen, so I removed some stock. I was half asleep so I didn’t think that it was still two hours to high tide. When some mates in the fire brigade called me back in at 1am, I was wading in water up to my knees. By the next day, though, there was nothing to show for it apart from the tidemark.”

The deluge generated plenty of work for the company, with the council requiring buildings to be treated as if they were full of effluent. “We had to remove toilets and vanities from motels and hotels in the area while the builders replaced wall linings up to 500mm high. We’re still in the throws of work all round town.”

A big focus for Jeff Evans Ltd right now is getting their business prepared for an ACC workplace safety management practices audit. Health and safety compliance has cost the company close to $80,000, taking into account height safety, confined space, first aid and forklift training and PPE, together with loss of productivity.

“There’s no doubt that New Zealand’s construction death and injury rate is too high, and we take health and safety compliance really seriously,” says Jeff. “We support it 100 percent.” ■

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October/November 2015

Photograph by Patrick Reynolds.

PROJECT SPOTLIGHT

Mirror, mirror

Above: Mission accomplished!

The Len Lye Centre may well be the fairest of them all, thanks to its spectacular facade created by New Plymouth firm Rivet. Matthew Lowe reports.

THE IMPOSING, SHINING facade on the Len Lye Centre was the final challenging piece in an ambitious building project dedicated solely to one Kiwi artist.

Constructing the $11.5 million centre in New Plymouth took two years to complete and, for the team at New Plymouth engineering and fabrication firm Rivet, presented a complex task.

They were responsible for creating the 32-tonne rippled facade, made up of 14-metre high, mirror-like stainless steel panelling, which covers two sides of the building. Rivet managing director Steve Scott says the project was challenging technically and from a fabrication perspective because of the size and detail.

“It took 18 months rather than the week or so for most of our work—it was quite a different job altogether. It’s about seven times bigger than anything we have done before. Normally we are dealing with practical items like sink benches and handrails.

“Maintaining a high level of finish over a big area was a challenging part of it and because it is repeated down the building you have to make sure you are consistent. With the technical side and the fabrication side, it was about breaking it down into small jobs and addressing issues as they came up.”

The facade echoes the use of the metal in many of Lye’s

kinetic sculptures. It involved a team of about 12 people, with a fabrication crew in the workshop and another team on site for the installation.

“Good planning was needed to make this happen. We had a system and process on how to create this and kept refining

>

Above: The adjacent Govett-Brewster Gallery has worked with the Len Lye Foundation since 1980.

October/November 2015

17

PROJECT SPOTLIGHT

about seven times bigger than anything we have done before

Photograph by Glenn Jeffrey.

Above: Around halfway into the two-year project.

on the job and adapting all the time,” Steve says. “We created a template and fabricated everything from that. We have good machinery that allowed us to make multiples of things and we used that technology in conjunction with the guys’ skills.”

The company created special moulds to make the curved concrete walls that stand behind the gleaming exterior. “It was important they were exactly the same shape so the steel would fit nicely,” Steve says.

“The steel needs to be washed and maintained every four months so you treat it like you would a top sports car. It really is the Ferrari of building finishes and needs regular maintenance.

“There’s a real sense of achievement with the job. It’s going to be around for a long time and staff will look back and think, ‘I was part of that’. I’m proud of what we have achieved and the way we have done it. Everyone said it couldn’t be done and we like that kind of challenge. It’s good to be involved with something so different.”

Designed by New Zealand architect Andrew Patterson, the state-of-the-art centre houses Lye’s archive, display galleries, an education centre and a 62-seat cinema. It came about after the pioneering filmmaker and kinetic sculptor gifted his collection of work and archive to the Govett-Brewster Art Gallery in New Plymouth back in 1980.

Photograph by Glenn Jeffrey.

Above: Removing the last of the PVC this July, shortly before the grand opening

Above: Rivet created special moulds to make the curved concrete walls behind the façade.

18

October/November 2015

Above: Steve Scott of Rivet.

The centre, which is the first museum in New Zealand devoted to a single artist, was designed so more of Lye’s works would be on permanent display. New Plymouth Mayor Andrew Judd describes it as “a place of ingenuity and inspiration”.

“It’s a magnificent asset, available to the people of New Plymouth and New Zealand and to visitors from around the world.” ■

‘Plumbing on a bigger scale’

Plumber Dennis Reid says his role in the Len Lye project was “pretty simple”.

“It was a pretty straightforward job, apart from getting round some of the timber work. All our stuff is in one area of the bottom floor—you just worry about keeping everyone happy and I am satisfied with what we’ve done.”

Reid Plumbing became involved with the project when coming up with a quote in April 2013, but Dennis’ efforts there were not completed until shortly before the centre opened in July this year.

He and a colleague installed five toilets, five basins, tiles, a drinking fountain, sink and a couple of hot water cylinders.

Dennis was one of 33 contractors tasked to the project, of which 28 were local.

He says the work did not differ much from the usual domestic and commercial jobs he does on a daily basis across the New Plymouth region. “It’s just plumbing on a bigger scale, using some bigger pipes. You have to think more about where things are running because you are working with a whole load of other trades.

“We’d do our bits underfloor and then go back once the floors were down and do tiling once the walls were up. So we kept going back over a period of about two years.”

Before he took on the job, Dennis knew little about the work of the late Len Lye, with the exception of the 45m-high Wind Wand on New Plymouth’s Coastal Walkway.

“I did not learn much about him until after the job was finished.

It’s satisfying to do a job like that at a place lots of people will come to know.”

Other major projects completed by Dennis, who has been a plumber for over 30 years, include the police station in New Plymouth and Port Taranaki’s eco-friendly office block, The Greenhouse.

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Preventing Legionnaire’s AN OUTBREAK OF LEGIONNAIRE’S disease in the South Bronx area of New York between mid-July and early August caused 12 deaths and made 127 unwell. A hotel cooling tower turned out to be responsible, and all towers in the affected area were subsequently disinfected. The City’s Mayor also signed legislation to regulate cooling towers.

The previous month, a New Zealand woman in her forties became seriously ill and had to have her feet amputated after contracting Legionnaire’s disease. Legionella bacteria were found in the hot water cylinder at her Hawke’s Bay home, which was set at around 52°C rather than the minimum 60° required by the Building Code.

An elderly Hawke’s Bay man was also admitted to hospital in April with Legionnaire’s disease and investigations continue as to the cause. Traces of the bacteria were found in the water system of his rest home unit. The thermostat on the hot water cylinder was set correctly, but may have been faulty.

Meanwhile, in June, an Australian woman contracted Legionnaire’s disease after a breakdown in her hot water system.

According to The Australian newspaper, the temperature in her tank was only 40.4°C. The circulating pump for her solar hot water system had failed and she was unaware of how to manually boost the system.

Sources and symptoms

Legionellosis is a respiratory infection caused by Legionella bacteria. It can range from a mild respiratory illness, known as Pontiac fever, to full-blown pneumonia (Legionnaire’s disease).

Most people have sufficient natural immunity to prevent them becoming ill on coming into contact with Legionella, but rates increase with age. It mostly affects heavy smokers, people with chronic lung disease or those with underlying medical conditions.

Legionella can be found in any type of water system and in soil. According to an Auckland Regional Public Health Service factsheet, the bacteria are prevalent in warm, stagnant water such as can occur in plumbing systems, hot water tanks, cooling towers, and evaporative condensers of large air conditioning systems and spa pools. People can get legionellosis from inhaling mists or spray from a water source containing Legionella (eg, when showering), or after inhaling dust from soil.

Early symptoms of legionellosis include muscle aches, headache, tiredness, loss of appetite and coughing, followed by high fever, chills and occasionally diarrhoea. The period between exposure and onset of illness for Legionnaire’s disease is commonly five to six days, but can be anywhere between two and 14 days. Antibiotics can provide effective treatment.

Keeping water systems safe

In private residences, it is the homeowner’s responsibility to carry out regular maintenance of water systems.

NUTS & BOLTS

Legionella bacteria can thrive in plumbing systems if not properly maintained, as some recent cases indicate.

Legionella bacteria can grow in water temperatures of 2045°C, and thrive at temperatures of 32-44°C, but can’t live at temperatures of 60°C or higher, says BRANZ in its July Guideline, adding that “G12/AS1 requires that the storage water heater control thermostat shall be set at a temperature of not less than 60°C. This is to prevent the growth of Legionella bacteria. It is important the thermostat setting is not reduced to save energy.

“Acceptable Solution G12/AS1 requires that the delivered hot water temperature (achieved by installing a thermostatic mixing valve on the supply line) at any sanitary fixture used for personal hygiene shall not exceed: • 45°C for early childhood centres, schools, old people’s homes, institutions for people with psychiatric or physical disabilities, and hospitals • 55°C for all other buildings.” ■

Did you know?

According to Wikipedia, Legionnaire’s disease got its name in 1976 following an outbreak of pneumonia among attendees at an American Legion convention in Philadelphia, USA. More than 25 died as a result. The cause was identified as a previously unknown strain of bacteria, subsequently called Legionella.

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October/November 2015

21

NUTS & BOLTS

Best practice: rainwater Five top tips from Marley on getting the best from their rainwater systems.

1

PROMOTE GOOD FLOW

It may seem simple but ensuring the water flows towards the outlet is essential to the performance of your spouting and downpipe system!

When installing the brackets, use a string line to ensure a fall of at least 5mm per 10m of spouting towards the outlet.

Ponding water due to a lack of fall places additional pressure on the brackets and joins in the system. This creates the potential for leaks.

3

ACCOMMODATE THERMAL MOVEMENT

Spouting systems will expand and contract as they are constantly exposed to daily and seasonal temperature cycles.

‘Uncontrolled’ thermal movement can cause spouting creep or place stress on joints, both of which can result in unwanted leaks over time.

• Use Marley Expansion Outlets/ Joiners to provide relief points • Control the direction of movement by screwing the spouting to the fascia at the opposite end to the outlet.

NB: See Marley Stratus Design Series Installation guide for details.

2

SUPPORT THE SPOUTING

Marley uPVC spouting and downpipe systems are extremely durable and will reliably perform to a high standard when installed correctly.

Ensure maximum 500mm spacing (internal or external brackets) so spouting is supported during peak loads.

For high wind zones or areas prone to snowfall reduce the spacing further to 300mm.

22

October/November 2015

4

REGULAR MAINTENANCE

Marley uPVC spouting and downpipe systems will never rust and therefore require less maintenance than other materials, especially in coastal locations. However regular maintenance is still required to ensure long term performance and looks.

Performance: regularly clear spouting and downpipes of leaves and debris.

Aesthetics: once a year, wash exterior of spouting and downpipes with warm soapy water and a soft bristled brush or cloth, and rinse with cold water.

5

DIVERT THE DEBRIS

Leaves and debris can cause blockages in the spouting, downpipe or even stormwater system. This can result in an overflowing gutter or drains with messy consequences!

Marley offers a range of debris diversion products to filter water and help avoid these types of blockages. Two of the most popular options are: • Marley Outlet Strainer: prevents large debris from entering and blocking the downpipe • Marley Leafslide®: diverts leaves/ debris but allows water to flow into downpipe. Also available in Copper and Titanium to match the Marley Stratus Design Series®. ■

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NUTS & BOLTS

Backflow know-how Backflow prevention is the topic of the first in a new series of TradeNotes, available on the TradePoint website.

BACKFLOW CROSS CONNECTION control is part of any plumbing system—but it’s rarely given the importance it deserves, says backflow specialist Jon Lewis.

“Failure to ensure potable water services are protected from contamination by cross connection can be hazardous to health and can even cause death. Plumbers need to stand up and be counted when protecting the potable water services they have control of.

“If you are required to install a backflow device, make sure you’ve done your research. Ask yourself: 1. Is the device the right one? Don’t base it purely on what you have been instructed by the engineer of the local authority inspector… also plans can be wrong.

2. Ensure you know what you are installing and why. If you don’t, ask someone who does! Many devices are installed when an alternative method could have saved a lot of money.

3. Remember you are only working to G12 for: 1) degree of hazard 2) device selection. AS/NZS 3500 is not relevant for these two specific areas, so be careful when selecting the correct device.

4. Install as per the manufacturer’s installation instructions.

Many backflow devices installed in New Zealand do not comply with the installation instructions (I can’t think of any that say “hide it in the ceiling cavity” or “jam it under the sink”).

5. Remember any pipework downstream of a backflow device is non potable. If you are asked to put one on the boundary, have you given consideration to ALL potable services within the property? And do you know what containment, zone or individual protection means?

24

October/November 2015

6. Do you understand all your legal obligations when working on potable services in regards to installing a backflow device?

“If you have trouble answering any of the above, you may need additional training. IQP courses specific to backflow prevention cover installation, maintenance and testing of backflow devices. ■ About the author: Jon Lewis runs Backflow Prevention Ltd in Rotorua. Contact Jon on 0274 974 271; info@backflowprevention.co.nz.

Find the new series of TradeNotes at www.tradepoint.org.nz

CPD points

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See www.pgdb.co.nz/trade/cpd for details.

NUTS & BOLTS

Gas Ring This issue’s updates for the gasfitting community.

Report on gas certification regime

This July, Energy Safety provided a report on the gasfitting and electrical certification regime’s first full year of operation up to 30 June 2014. The report indicates that, in general, the new certification regime is operating well. However, it notes it would be more effective if Energy Safety and the two worker registration boards (Electrical Workers Registration Board, PGD Board) continued their focused audit programmes. These will identify practitioners who may be failing to certify or to lodge data in the high-risk database, and work with practitioners to help them meet their obligations. Energy Safety says it will now begin refining the risk assessment model and exploring improvements to the database.

Gas Standards update

Standards New Zealand and Standards Australia sought feedback by 30 September on DR 5263.1.6 Gas appliances Part 1.6: Gas ducted air heaters and DR 5263.1.8 Gas appliances Part 1.8: Decorative effect gas appliances. When they are published as joint standards they will form part of the AS/NZS 5263 series.

Draft DR 5263 gas appliance standards relating to domestic gas cooking appliances, gas fired water heaters for hot water supply and/or central heating, gas space heating and domestic outdoor gas barbecues were also released for a second round of public comment by mid August, following inclusion of NZ-specific material.

Amendments are also being made to various clauses in AS/ NZS 5601 Parts 1 & 2, with public comment having just closed on 19 October.

Hazardous substances regulations

With the passing of health and safety reform legislation, there will be important changes to the law that will reshape the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA)’s work, and its role in managing hazardous substances in NZ. One change is that the EPA can now issue the first “EPA Notices”—a new legal tool for setting rules for hazardous substances.

In the coming months EPA will issue its first EPA Notice, which covers the minimum qualification requirements for hazardous substance enforcement officers appointed under the HSNO Act. They have also consulted on proposals for five other EPA Notices.

New Hazardous Substances regulations are also being developed to simplify the existing HSNO regime. The aim is to provide industry with a single set of workplace controls for hazardous substances, instead of the current 15 sets of regulations. These controls would sit within the wider health and

safety framework administered by WorkSafe. Draft regulations are expected later in the year for feedback. WorkSafe is also expected to convene a guidance group in early 2016 to hear industry views. The proposed new regulations include changes to the test certification regime and training, including approved handler certification.

Sites with more than 100kg of LPG

WorkSafe reminds test certifiers of the requirements for issuing location test certificates for sites with more than 100kg of LPG. If there is more than one building on a property and each building is supplied by an installation with less than 100kg of LPG, a location test certificate is not required. But each building must be detached, at least five metres apart and the area between the buildings must be free of flammable or combustible materials.

LPGA unitary plan submission

In its August Gasline, the LPG Association says it has reached agreement with the Auckland City Council on a number of Unitary Plan regulatory issues. “We appear to have achieved agreement on allowing cylinder swap storage on service stations with bulk LPG storage, without needing extra resource consent, as the plan previously required,” said LPGA Executive Director Peter Gilbert.

As part of its submission, the LPGA also opposed a control requiring owners of sites holding hazardous substances to get a letter from a registered engineer saying the site was designed and operated in such a way that it would prevent substance release.

“Really, no one would write such a letter—one could never unequivocally say that nothing will go wrong,” said Peter Gilbert.

“The council have accepted that, and they will either amend the wording, or remove the requirement.”

The LPGA is not satisfied with the council’s 100kg resource consent trigger limit for residential areas, which it says could prove very expensive for the consumer with no real safety gain.

The hearing process is due to be finished next April, with the council’s response and conclusion expected at the end of 2016. ■

CPD points

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See www.pgdb.co.nz/trade/cpd for details.

October/November 2015

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A PLU S N M H D O EA BIN P RN G WI T RE WO H W R A LD RD S

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NUTS & BOLTS

Tech points BUILDING CODE WEBSITE PLANS A single website for all Building Code information is set to make it easier to access and comply with building regulations. Building and Housing Minister, Nick Smith, announced the new website in August. The Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) has requested proposals from IT companies to develop the portal, which it hopes to have up and running by late 2016.

UPDATING TP58 FOR ON-SITE WASTEWATER The current on-site wastewater design guide, TP58, is now 11 years old. Lead author AECOM is working with Auckland Council and independent peer reviewer Ian Gunn to create a practical, user-friendly document that is up to date with the current technologies and practices. Comments and suggestions were sought by August from designers, manufacturers, installers, internal Auckland Council staff and others with an interest in on-site wastewater systems.

AECOM is preparing a comprehensive draft scope, and there will be targeted consultation on this with relevant industry groups, facilitated through Water New Zealand. There will be further consultation once the draft design guideline is completed.Â

This issue’s Tech Points includes a number of online projects to make life easier for the industry.

IMPROVING THE WATERMARK DATABASE The Australian Building Codes Board (ABCB) is undertaking a project to establish a new WaterMark Product Database as part of an improved WaterMark Certification Scheme. The aim is to improve the functionality of the database and enhance the efficiency of the scheme. Feedback was sought on the existing database via an online survey in August.

DRINKING WATER DATABASE PROJECT Also to be updated is the current Water Information for New Zealand database. The Ministry of Health is aiming to deliver an improved database for managing water supply information in line with the drinking water provisions of the Health Act. In August, it announced it was seeking a new ICT provider to develop, maintain and support a new database solution.

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REAL LIVES

To the rescue AS A VOLUNTEER firefighter, selfemployed plumber Braden Hammond can be called out any time of the day or night when the siren sounds. He has enjoyed being part of the Bulls Volunteer Fire Brigade for the past 12 years, and was recently promoted to Senior Station Officer.

In August, 35-year-old Braden took part in the annual UFBA National Drivers Challenge, held this year at Manfeild Park in Feilding, cheered on by his wife Bridgie and their son Angus.

This United Fire Brigades’ Association event brings together around 80 urban and rural firefighters from all around the country, be they of the volunteer, career, military or air force kind.

The day comprises 10 exercises, grouped into specialist driving and track event categories—all in a fully kitted out fire truck weighing around 12 tons.

The exercises, which are designed to align with the New Zealand Fire Service skills manual, include bay and parallel parking, straight-line driving, lane changes, braking, estimating clearance and negotiating serpentine and shrinking chicanes.

A theory component completes the competition, testing the drivers’ knowledge of safe driving, heavy vehicle specifications, pump operation, medical assistance, firefighting capabilities and the NZ road code.

28

October/November 2015

So, it was no small feat when Braden took out the 2015 UFBA National Drivers Champion title, becoming a brand-new medal winner for the event. He also collected the Past Presidents Memorial Trophy for first place overall and the Jeff Hutton Memorial Trophy for the least combined penalties in Exercises 1-5. “I was lucky enough to receive the Wellington Provincial Fire Brigade’s Association medal too,” says Braden, who went home laden with medals and trophies. “It was an excellent day!”

“The NZ Fire Service attends around 70,000 annual call outs each year, and every one involves driving at some speed in a heavy truck, so driver capability and safety is paramount. This event is a great way of promoting skill levels.”

At the Bulls Volunteer Fire Brigade,

Providing plumbing and volunteer firefighting services has proved a winning combination for Braden Hammond. one to two call outs a week are common.

In a small community like this, people are very accommodating when Braden has to down tools and make his way to the fire station. “They understand that we’d be there for them in their time of need too,” he says. The Brigade celebrates its 70th anniversary this year, and Braden is busy organising a fireman’s ball, along with several other community fundraisers.

When asked to what he attributes his win at the Drivers’ Challenge, Braden says being a plumber plays its part. “I’m on the road a lot in my job, and I also drive a truck doing agricultural ground spraying for my father. I enjoy being behind the wheel, and I pride myself on being a smooth, safe driver. I will definitely be looking at competing again next year to try and defend the title!” ■

Top: Negotiating obstacles in the track event.

Above: Braden and trophies in front of the Bulls Volunteer Fire Brigade truck and his plumbing van!

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INDUSTRY TALK

Bathed in glory

This South Canterbury home has scooped a Plumbing World Bathroom Excellence Award.

The female owner of this three-bedroom home at Patiti Point, Timaru, wanted somewhere that would be close to work yet feel like a holiday retreat. Built to maximise outdoor living, with floors stepping down to follow the sloping site and sea views, it achieves just that.

The house was built to a high standard

by Lone Pine Building, earning them the Mid and South Canterbury Supreme New Build award for new homes in the $400,000-$500,000 bracket in the 2015 Master Builders House of the Year Awards.

Lone Pine also won a Plumbing World Bathroom Excellence Award for this

home, which has a family bathroom with separate WC and an ensuite off the master bedroom. Glossy floor-to-ceiling tiles provide a sense of scale in each, while contemporary bathroomware adds to the sleek, elegant finish.

Brad Jones of Master Plumbers’ member company South Canterbury Plumbing installed the pipework and fittings, pointing the homeowner in the direction of suitable products sourced from Plumbing World. These include Methven’s Kiri bath spout and basin mixer, Waipori Satinjet slide shower and Tahi Satinjet wall-mounted drencher for a luxurious showering experience in the glass shower boxes, which were custombuilt yet good value for money. Caroma Cube wall-faced toilet suites were chosen for style and water efficiency.

A solar water heating system provides

Above: Glass shower boxes help maximise the sense of space.

hot water and underfloor heating for the home, which the judges described as “a moderate sized house… crafted with care and attention to detail throughout.”

At one with nature

Above: Shower and tapware is sleek and contemporary.

Brad Jones at South Canterbury Plumbing also did the plumbing work for a striking Geraldine home built by Mark Dale at DB Building, which picked up a Silver Award in the $1-$2 million bracket. Surrounded by wild flowers, the timber-clad home sits comfortably within its rural environment. Horizontal timber boards and tiled floors create a suitably rustic feel in the three box-shaped bathrooms, which have borderless showers also in keeping with the home’s free-spirited nature.

“All the plumbing equipment was imported from Italy,” says Brad. “We were supplied the full spec by the owner’s son, who is an architect in the UK.”

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INDUSTRY TALK

Occupational regulation review Plans are afoot to simplify occupational regulation in building and construction.

The current system for regulating the various occupations in the building and construction sector is fragmented and confusing, says the Ministry for Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE). There are six different pieces of legislation and many sets of regulations, orders and rules.

MBIE is to lead a review of occupational regulation in the sector. It will focus on the way functions such as registration, complaints and discipline are organised across the different occupations. “The review is aimed at ensuring the way

occupations are regulated is simple, clear, flexible, easy to understand, and equitable across the different occupations,” it said in the August edition of Codewords.

Regulation for plumbers, gasfitters and drainlayers is already being reviewed, as well as for engineers and electrical workers.

The findings from each will be fed into the high-level review.

MBIE says it will keep the industry informed of the next steps, and will be seeking industry input over the coming months. A discussion document for feedback is expected later this year.

Innovation for Green Star The Green Star rating tool for commercial buildings has been updated.

Social and financial achievements are recognised alongside environmental initiatives in Green Star v3, which launched in July. Green Star, an independent rating system, assesses a commercial building’s sustainability attributes at both Design and Built stage, and is certified by the New Zealand Green Building Council (NZGBC).

This is the first major review of Green Star since it launched in 2009. NZGBC worked alongside industry to review four key categories: Innovation, Energy, Water and Materials.

put special effort into doing innovative research and sharing it with the market, and celebrate buildings that truly benefit the community,” says CEO Alex Cutler.

Project teams can now propose Innovation Challenges relating to sustainability issues they would like to address. The number of points available in the Innovation category has doubled, and project teams can also gain recognition using a credit from another World Green Building Council member rating tool, subject to NZGBC approval.

ENCOURAGING INNOVATION

POTABLE WATER CREDITS

In particular, it has made the Innovation category more flexible.

As well as acknowledging environmental initiatives, this category will now reward aspects such as designing for resilience, preserving culture and heritage, and financial transparency around measurable costs and benefits.

Eight new ‘Innovation Challenges’ recognise initiatives that don’t currently fit into Green Star, but that NZGBC believes are important to encourage. “We aim to reward project teams that

The review of the Water category sees a new credit for Potable Water that consolidates previous credits, making it easier to use.

A new Water credit recognises a wider range of water efficiency strategies, and there’s clearer guidance on water metering.

NZGBC has also streamlined documentation for the reviewed credits, clarified expectations for submission, and produced resources to help project teams achieve Innovation points.

Involving the industry

Fast-tracking CPD changes

Getting the input of the wider industry is the aim of the new Stakeholder Liaison Group (SLG), being set up by the Plumbers, Gasfitters and Drainlayers Board.

The PGD Board proposes to include two representatives each from Master Plumbers and the PGD Federation among the membership, along with six people selected from nominations from the industry, called for in August.

The SLG’s purpose is to provide the PGD Board with feedback on proposed and implemented initiatives; issues or areas of concern to both parties; other issues facing the industry, and any other relevant matters.

At least three meetings will be held each year.

Industry views were invited by 16 October on a proposed new form of CPD. The PGD Board, in consultation with a CPD stakeholder reference group is proposing an alternative that, if adopted, would take effect from 1 April 2016. The proposal would see 4-6 hours of mandatory training each year for all licensed practitioners. Topics would be developed in conjunction with a reference group and might include disciplinary concerns, regulatory changes, health and safety and technical developments.

CPD would initially be delivered by The Skills Organisation and in-person and online options would be available, with training days organised throughout the country. The PGD Board says the cost would be kept as low as possible by seeking sponsorship.

The PGD Board is to establish a Stakeholder Liaison Group.

A brand-new CPD model may be in place by next April.

October/November 2015

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INDUSTRY TALK

Sam’s spot

A plumber’s tools are sacred, says Sam Tyson!

One thing I’ve learnt since running a plumbing business is that a plumber’s tools are sacred.

When one of our guys makes a new tool purchase, it’s like show and tell in the workplace. He presents it to his workmates and the other plumbers in our team drool over the new purchase with envy and pride that the owner of the new tool has invested in such a marvellous thing. A million questions get asked on its use, it gets fondled and stroked, and the stories flow on how they could have used it on a particular job. No one dares to ask to use it just yet, though, as it’s too new—let the owner enjoy it for a while first!

Until very recently, our new apprentice Alex had not quite learnt the “a plumber’s tools are sacred” code. The feedback I had been getting when asking how he was doing, was not about his work (which is going really well by the way), it was things like, “I went to use my Estwing hammer and Alex had it, and he was on the roof, so I had to go all the way back to the van to get my other hammer”, or “He’s not putting my tools back in the right place”, or “I found my battery drill in Rhys’s van the other day; guess how that got there”. I would respond by saying it’s up to you to teach him, but apparently the ‘code’ can’t be taught.

The day came when Alex received his own apprentice tools and very soon we were all witness to a change in him. Our

Sam Tyson.

fabricator Jim offered to help him make his own toolbox and a few days later there was a gathering in the workshop for the unveiling. The guys went through the ritual of examining every inch of the toolbox and every tool in it. Alex was beaming from ear to ear; you could see the start of the code creeping into his veins from the pride of owning his first set of plumbing tools.

The feedback now is more about his work, although I am still getting grumbles from the plumbers like, “When is Alex going to get his own wheel cutter, so he can stop using mine?”!

New NZPM Board members At the NZPM Annual General Meeting held in Christchurch this August, Mark Whitehead and Craig McCord were elected to the NZPM Board. With around 1,000 shareholders, NZPM is the only 100% New Zealand owned national plumbing cooperative.

The group was formed in 1964 by Ido De Bernardo to improve profitability and the quality of service and products to its plumber shareholders. Mark, who runs Whitehead Plumbing & Gas in Christchurch, is also on the Board of Master Plumbers, Gasfitters and Drainlayers NZ. Craig McCord is Managing Director of Tauranga Hardware & Plumbing. Also a former Master Plumbers Board Director, he is currently President of the Bay of Plenty/Coromandel Master Plumbers Association.

Mark Whitehead.

Craig McCord.

Vale Nigel Mason Our deepest sympathy to the family, friends and colleagues of Nigel Mason, who passed away suddenly from a heart attack in August. He had recently become Branch Manager at Plumbing World in Dunedin and had also held roles at RMC, Hynds and Mico. “Nigel was very well respected amongst Master Plumbers and our members,” says CEO Greg Wallace.

“He was a great supporter of our Otago Master Plumbers Association.”

Nigel, who was 31 years old, leaves behind his fiancé Fiona

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October/November 2015

and his parents, based in Dunedin. Plumbing World General Manager Rob Kidd says: “Nigel began at Plumbing World in early June 2015, and it is well documented that his first week consisted of dealing with the worst ever flooding Dunedin had seen in 100 years. Our stunning new Dunedin Branch was underwater, and that was his introduction to Plumbing World.”

Plumbing World raised funds for Nigel’s fiancé during September.

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INDUSTRY TALK

Better luck next time

Plumber Corey Bertelsen had his Bonneville dreams dashed this year.

NZ Plumber was hoping to report on racing success for Corey Bertelsen, who headed out to Speedweek in Bonneville in July.

Sadly, though, all four events were cancelled. “I was gutted, especially when it could have been avoided,” says Corey. “The mining company at Bonneville has been taking too much salt, and there just wasn’t enough salt to race on. Normally the salt flats are blinding white but we saw mostly brown mud.

“The future of the salt is a major concern, which has now been recognised by the racing fraternity, the local community and Bureau of Land Management, along with the mining companies who are now in talks to try and find the best solution.

“The aim is to get back to a 13-mile track (the original length). The last time we raced on the salt, the longest track

measured only seven miles due to the available, raceable salt.

It would be amazing to restore the tracks to their former race length!!”

Recent convictions The Plumbers, Gasfitters & Drainlayers Board (PGD Board) says its nationwide licence checks are proving effective in reducing illegal operators. In August, it said it would be increasing random checks of building sites in the Auckland region, with council concerns of substandard work practices.

• Auckland man Jody Carden, Director of No Limit Plumbing Ltd, has been convicted and fined $4,500 for illegally advertising his services as a plumber. He advertised his services as a plumber on Facebook and on his company website when he was not authorised by the PGD Board to

•

•

carry out sanitary plumbing work.

Auckland man, Glenn Rodgers, has been fined $3,250 for carrying out drainlaying work at a home without authorisation. The prosecution resulted from an investigation by the PGD Board following a complaint by the homeowners.

Also in Auckland, Geoffrey McKenzie of Eden Plumbing Ltd has been convicted and fined $1,200 for providing information on Facebook and two online directory listings that created the misleading impression that he was registered or licensed to carry out sanitary plumbing work.

INDUSTRY TALK

Raising the roof

Technically challenging and complex roofs are all in a day’s work for these two winners at the recent RANZ Roofing Awards.

VISUAL MASTERY Discovering only recently that he had dyslexia, it was a relief to 39-year-old David Strudwick to learn why his thinking processes seemed to be different from others. He has capitalised on his ability to visualise and conceptualise projects in 3D, which is particularly useful when working with architects and designers on working drawings.

His innovative approach helped win him the 2015 Roofing Excllence Award at the Roofing Association of New Zealand’s annual conference in Wellington in June.

“My aim is always to stand back at the end of a job and make people wonder how it was done,” says David, commenting on some of the difficult and challenging roofing installations his company has performed.

He co-owns About Roofing Ltd in Wanaka, formed in 2007, and is proud of the company’s reputation for the quality roofing they perform—predominantly in the high-end residential market. He has worked hard to pass his knowledge onto his employees, including seven specialist tradesmen and four apprentices.

His 21-year journey in roofing began in Napier aged 19, from where

METAL MAGIC Multiple angles and dormers, sloping soffits, valley flash points, Dutch gable returns, valley exits and hip gable junctions – all feature in a 680m2 metal tile roof, which won top honours at the RANZ conference.

The roof, which covers two dwellings, was installed to a very high standard by Dave Washer of Roofing Systems Ltd in Tauranga, winning him the 2015 Professionalism in Metal Tile Roof Installation Award, sponsored by Metrotile NZ. The judges said the roof was a pleasure to look at, with its straight lines and great look over the expansive roof. Dave says the time management on this project with Homebuilders (Bay of Plenty) was critical and involved constant juggling, the roof having a high degree of technicality and requiring close supervision at all times.

Originally from Taranaki, Dave has been in Tauranga for 30 years, 26 of those in partnership with the late Mike Berentson, which began with a big

he progressed to Australia for a few years before settling in Wanaka, joining Calder Stewart Roofing to work on more complex contracts, and learning from visiting European craftsmen.

Barry Condon, of Sarah Scott Architects Ltd, worked with David on the new $1.9m Holy Family Church in Wanaka, a complex design with significant challenges for any roofing contractor. He says David provided excellent advice on the complex roofs, and About Roofing’s workmanship, quality and finish played a large part in this project receiving a Regional Award for Public Architecture from the NZ Institute of Architects. “I really enjoy learning and am always trying to improve my skills”, says David, who received a prize package valued at $3,500.

Above: David Strudwick (left) receiving his award.

Two of the entries for this year’s Excellence Award were neck and neck, so it was decided to award a runner-up prize to Mike Burgess, Project Manager for Architectural Metalformers Ltd in Auckland.

Above: The new Holy Family Church in Wanaka, one of David’s complex projects.

contract with Golden Homes. There are seven roofing installers in the company, almost all with the National Certificate in Roofing, and Dave’s approach to training apprentices is to be positive while insisting on high standards. He feels the greatest challenge for the roofing contracting industry is finding people with the right attitude for providing the important roofing element on all building and construction projects.

Dave and wife Dominique—both keen on paragliding and kite surfing—will enjoy the $1,500 prize with a trip to the Gold Coast.

Above: Metrotile NZ’s Siva Muldaly presents Dave Washer (left) with his award.

Above: The award-winning metal tile roof.

October/November 2015

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600

400 340 205

305 80 35

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INDUSTRY TALK

Mud, glorious mud

It was a race to the finish at the recent Tough Guy & Gal Challenge in Rotorua.

The Bay of Plenty and Waikato Plumbing World branches recently joined forces with a group of 30 Young Plumbers from the two regions to compete in the annual Tough Guy & Gal challenge in Rotorua.

The gruelling 6km or 12km off-road track consists of swamp crossings, a spider’s web net climb, crawl under barbwire, native bush trails, tunnels, hurdles and a climbing frame—not to mention, mud, mud and more mud!

“We finished the day off with a BBQ lunch, a few beers and some giveaways,” says Plumbing World Central Sales

Above: Before and after—the starting line-up and some of the finishers.

Above: Jason Ornberg leading out a88pack.

65 max

Fees in focus

Manager Neil Parkinson. “It was awesome to hear that everyone who participated was keen to have another go next year. We look forward to hitting our target of 60+ participants then!

“Huge thanks must go to Paul, Malcolm and the team at Hydroflow/Apex Valves for their support and making this event possible.” 478 438

The Young Plumbers Club (YPC) was established by Plumbing World to actively show the next generation the long-term value in getting a trade and starting a business in the plumbing industry. Local Plumbing World branches organise events for all tradespeople—apprentices, qualified and Certifying. Find out more at facebook.com/YPCNZ

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150

1165-1355 35 135

230

O55 O102

As I write this column, the Plumbers, Gasfitters 245 10-200 & Drainlayers Board is in the middle of 180 consultation in relation to the fees that will 230 take effect from 1 April 2016. Low levels in attendance at stakeholder meetings currently underway appear to indicate that the industry is comfortable with the fees that the Board is proposing.

One of the questions I am frequently asked is whether I consider there is any possibility of reducing the fees further. As a new Chief Executive I have had the opportunity to cast a critical eye over the costs. In my view, they are realistic given the functions that the Act requires the Board to deliver.

For that reason, large cuts to the fees simply aren’t possible.

However, one area where I have identified some scope for savings is in the area of complaints and discipline—and the Board has agreed to some changes. Currently, too many

complaints go through an entire investigation process when there are in fact better ways of dealing with them. From now on, if a complaint is at a lower level, a practitioner may be sent a letter reminding them of their obligations, or our staff may engage with both parties to see if the matter can be resolved. Another change will be to use only internal lawyers wherever possible, which will also result in some modest cost savings.

These changes will mean lower level complaints no longer have to go through investigation and a long costly process, which is often stressful. However, this initiative will only be successful if practitioners get behind it. Therefore, if you are unfortunate enough to face a lower level complaint, I urge you to work with our staff to resolve it without the need for an investigation.

October/November 2015

37

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Insuring your

tools of trade AFTER YOUR VAN, for many plumbers your tools are your biggest business asset, yet many choose not to insure them—or, as we refer to it in the insurance industry, ‘self-insure’.

This raises a few questions you should be asking yourself if you don’t have cover for your tools.

Why is it that you insure your van but not your tools? Are your tools any less valuable? Is your van more important? Is it that you can work without your tools but not your van?

If your most important tools were lost or stolen, could you keep earning without a pause? By the next day, could you afford to replace tools that have taken you many years to accumulate? And does your business have a spare $5,000 to buy new tools so you can continue to work?

On the off-chance that your business does have the money available, wouldn’t you rather spend it on something else— some marketing, a well-deserved holiday, or even just upgrading your vehicle?

Many of you say it’s too expensive to insure your tools, but in reality can you afford not to? To insure $10,000 worth of tools through Master Plumbers Insurance costs just over $500+GST. That’s not much considering what you potentially have to lose.

As your business is mobile and many of your tools are kept in your vehicles, it is important to cover your tools for Anywhere in New Zealand—often noted as AINZ. If the cover is not AINZ, the

coverage is only for one specific location which is not suitable, given the nature of your business.

The excess structure on Tool insurance policies is dependent on how the loss occurs. For example, a higher excess would be applied if tools were taken from an unlocked van, but if the loss were from a locked van, the excess imposed would be lower. This is done in an attempt to put some responsibility back onto you, the insured, to make sure you keep your tools as secure as possible.

To ensure you and your business are sufficiently covered, we recommend the following: • General (Public) Liability • Professional Indemnity

SMART BUSINESS

If your tools were lost or stolen, could you keep earning the next day, asks Vaughan Bridges of Master Plumbers Insurance.

• •

Statutory Liability Employers Liability (if you employ others) • Commercial Motor Vehicle • Mobile Business Assets (your tools) In our experience, of the above covers, many only have General Liability and Commercial Motor Vehicle insurance, which is leaving you exposed to potentially large losses. ■ To discuss your insurance requirements, contact us at Master Plumbers Insurance on 0800 866 766.

Thieves about This July, just two weeks after Laser Plumbing Blenheim moved into new premises, burglars broke in and took equipment and tools worth nearly $30,000. The 24 stolen items included five welders, a generator, an air compressor, five drills and gas bottles.

The thieves shut the doors as they left, so it wasn’t until staff opened the workshop the next morning that they realised something was amiss. Company director

Steve Brooke-Taylor told the Marlborough Express he would have to buy new equipment for the business, which employs 15 staff and focuses on industrial plumbing.

Meahwhile in August, Lower Hutt plumber Hillary Stowers decided to take matters into his own hands after someone stole his payment cards from his unlocked van while he was parked down a long driveway off the street

working at someone’s house. Hillary managed to get hold of CCTV footage of a man trying to use his Eftpos card in the area, and posted it on his Facebook page, asking if anyone could identify the man in question. Thanks to his Facebook post being shared by more than 200 people, he managed to track him down in person and order the return of his cards.

Turns out the guy hadn’t stolen the cards himself… but was quite happy to use them.

October/November 2015

39

SMART BUSINESS

Updating your insurance There are hidden benefits in your life insurance policy, says Allan Mearns of Spratt Financial Group.

MANY OF US ALREADY have insurance policies, but not many of us know just how much we can get out of those policies. There are clauses that allow you to react to changes in your life to become better protected than you are.

It can be a chore having to fill out application forms and go for blood tests, as I know from having re-done some of my own cover recently. But if the extra cover would be useful—to cover an increase in borrowing for the business, say—and you didn’t have to go through all the unnecessary forms, paperwork and medical screenings, it could be a lot more tolerable.

The good news is that in your current life policy there are built-in guarantees that allow you to increase your cover by certain amounts without having to supply current medical information, in the event of specified events such as: • Having a child (by birth or legal adoption) • Becoming married or entering into a civil union • Becoming divorced or the dissolution of a civil union • Financially supporting a dependent child through a first course of full-time tertiary education • Taking out or increasing a home loan

•

Becoming responsible for the full-time care or payment for longterm care of a close relative • The death of a spouse or partner • Significant salary increase of 10% or more—at least $20,000.

If you have gone through any of these changes recently, then updating your insurance coverage might be an easy task, as well as a necessary one. It’s worth getting your existing policies looked at to

make sure your life and your family are truly protected. ■ About the author: Allan Mearns is Head of Practice at insurance and lending specialists Spratt Financial Group, a founding member of Master Plumbers Insurance. Contact Allan on 09 307 8200; email allan. mearns@sprattfinancial.co.nz. www.sprattfinancial.co.nz

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Building your business NGAIRE MANSFIELD OF STRAIGHT Flush Plumbing is the self-professed mother hen of her plumbing business, managing human resources, operations, administration and finance. But, due to its rapid growth, Ngaire has had to step back and look at how to lift this Wellington business to the next level.

She took an opportunity with business growth hub The Icehouse, through its new Owner Manager Programme Scholarship. With 10 staff under her wing, the company was at a stage where it would benefit from the mentoring on offer, but she couldn’t have attended the programme without the scholarship— with the growth of the business soaking up all available money.

“I now have time set aside to work on our growth strategy and improve my work-life balance,” she says. “I’m also looking forward to getting to know business owners who are in the same boat as me.”

New Zealand is a country of small and medium-sized businesses, and Ngaire’s situation is a familiar one. The Icehouse was founded in 2001 in recognition of the importance of this sector to the NZ economy.

How the programme can help you

The Owner Manager Programme that Ngaire is attending combines academic teaching with practical learning. “It’s a unique experience which has a big

SMART BUSINESS

A new Owner Manager Programme Scholarship from The Icehouse can help plumbing firms with business growth.

Above: Time out of your business to focus on your business.

impact,” says The Icehouse Director of Growth Liz Wotherspoon. “The programme promises to deliver: real skills, a challenge, new opportunities, better results, refreshed perspective and significant changes. It is for successful business owners who feel they need to transition the business in some way or want the clarity and confidence to put progressive plans in place for the business.”

The teaching format of the Owner

Manager programme includes small and large group sessions, as well as one-onone discussions. Case studies and real world examples are used to complement academic theory. The programme is taught based on The Three Circles Philosophy: You, You In The Business and The Business.

You: The owner-manager should have a life that includes good health and a happy and fulfilling relationship with their life > partner, children and friends.

October/November 2015

43

SMART BUSINESS You In The Business: How ownermanagers direct, manage and lead the business.

The Business: The purpose, values, competitive advantage, core competency, strategy, business model, assets and liabilities of the business.

For plumbers, this means: • Being clear about what you want for the business: get a vision worthy of your ability and then set goals that inspire you, and plan to achieve them.

• Knowing who your target customers are and why they buy from you instead of your competitors—what’s your Unique Buying Proposition (UBP)? You must identify the central need that your business, your brand, is trying to satisfy.

• Communicating to produce alignment—whether you have two

•

•

people or 200, it is critical that the people in your business know where the business is headed and what it stands for and how what they do every day contributes to this.

Not spreading yourself too thin— get clarity and focus and hold yourself accountable for doing the things you should be doing.

Building your team and putting energy into being sure they are working as a team—don’t look for extraordinary people; build a business where ordinary people can do extraordinary things. ■

Want to learn more about The Icehouse and the Owner Manager Programme?

Go to theicehouse.co.nz. The Icehouse are among the speakers at the New Zealand Plumbing Conference 2016. They are also holding an optional ‘Build Your Business’

Biz Brief

workshop exclusively for Master Plumbers’ members. Look out for a new series of business growth topics from The Icehouse coming up in NZ Plumber.

About The Icehouse The Icehouse works with a wide range of businesses at various stages of growth—from entrepreneurs launching new ventures to successful ownermanagers wanting to take their business to the next level. Through topic specific workshops, group programmes and customised business coaching, they give their customers the skills, clarity and support to grow their business or fast track their start-up.

Since 2001, they have worked with over 5,000 owner-managers and entrepreneurs. On average, their established businesses grow revenue by 12 percent every year, meaning they grow 2.5x faster than the average NZ business.

News snippets for your business.

Employment law changes

Salaries snapshot

Short-term employment forecast

Changes to employment law are being proposed in the Employment Standards Legislation Bill, introduced to Parliament in August. Changes include: • Extending paid parental leave to more workers and increasing the flexibility of the scheme • Strengthening enforcement of employment standards • Addressing unfair employment practices, such as ‘zero-hour’ contracts.

There will be opportunities for public comment and MBIE will provide businesses with information and education.

According to the 2015 Hays Salary Guide, across all industries this year, 65% intend to increase salaries by less than three percent. The top three benefits on offer to employees are salary sacrifice (56%)—ie, including fringe benefits in an employee’s remuneration package in exchange for giving up part of their monetary salary— above mandatory superannuation (38%) and parking (34%). The good news is that 68% of employers see business activity increasing in the next 12 months. Get a free copy of the guide for your sector at www.hays.net.nz/salary-guide

The latest Short-term employment forecasts for 2015-2018 were released by MBIE in August. The report indicates that employment will continue to grow, but at a slightly slower pace as economic growth eases over the short term. From March 2015 to March 2018, employment is forecast to grow by 1.8 percent—or 124,200 jobs. The construction industry is among those that can expect strong employment growth. Read the report at http://www.mbie.govt.nz/info-services/ employment-skills/labour-marketreports/forecasting

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October/November 2015

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SMART BUSINESS

From the IR: understanding GST Struggle to understand GST? Inland Revenue has the low-down.

File for GST online here.

Goods and services tax (GST) is a tax on most goods and services in New Zealand, most imported goods, and certain imported services. GST is added to the price of taxable goods and services at a rate of 15%. ‘Goods’ include all types of personal and real property, except money.

‘Services’ cover everything other than goods or money, eg TV repairs, doctor’s services and gardening services.

If you are required to file for GST, doing it online with myIR can make life a whole lot easier.

Filing online through myIR Your GST return is ready and waiting for you online. Just go to the Inland Revenue website, register for myIR secure online services, and start doing GST the smarter, easier and tidier way.

• all of your GST returns are in one easy-to-access place • immediate confirmation of receipt once your GST is filed.

• it’s secure and simple.

• you can still print a copy for your own records.

Can someone else file for me?

As a company director/partner/ trustee/ business owner, you can login to myIR, use the ‘Manage account access’ function (under ‘Tools’ on the right hand side), and follow the instructions to create a new user and delegate access to a person of your choice. But first you need to get a myIR account. Visit ird.govt.nz and register today.

If you’re a plumber, you first need to know if you are an employee or a contractor. It’s important to get it right, because the tax rules are different for each type of worker.

So what’s my employment status and how does that affect me?

In most cases, you won’t have any trouble working out your employment status.

If you have a ‘boss’ who decides when,

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October/November 2015

where, and how you do your work, you’re probably an employee. But if you control the work you do (when, where, how), you’re probably a contractor.

Employees Your employer will give you a tax code declaration (IR 330) form to fill out as soon as you start work. The most important part is entering your tax code.

Work through the flowchart on page 2 of the IR 330 to choose the correct one. Give the completed IR 330 to your employer.

Contractors Unlike employees, contractors run their own business. There are two types in the building industry: labour-only contractors and independent contractors.

Contractors may have to register for GST: you’ll have to register for GST if you expect your turnover (income before expenses are deducted) to be more than $60,000 over the next 12 months. GST registration is voluntary if you expect turnover to be $60,000 or less.

Labour-only contractors If your employer provides the materials for the job, you’re a labour-only contractor. Your employer will give you a tax code declaration (IR 330) form. You need to complete it and give it back to your employer straightaway. Enter a tax code of ‘WT’ (withholding tax) and tax will be deducted from your scheduler payments at a flat rate.

Independent contractors If you provide the materials for the job, control the work you do and how you do it, you’re an independent contractor.

You’re responsible for meeting your own tax obligations, ie you don’t need to complete a tax code declaration (IR 330).

No tax will be deducted from the income you earn, but, at the end of the tax year, you need to file an income tax return.

If you are required to register for GST, go to ird.govt.nz/gst-online, so you’re all set up before the next filing due date. ■

Recruit to suit

SMART BUSINESS

Starting this issue, we bring you regular tips from HR Consultant Lisa Duston.

WHY DOES YOUR business need a HR resource? An HR professional working with your business can help you build a good team by: • • • •

finding the right fit for your business assisting with performance reviews, goal setting, coaching and feedback ensuring you’re compliant in company policies and employment agreements being on hand when an employment relationship goes bad.

Let’s start at the beginning with recruitment. It’s no surprise that if you recruit the wrong person there’s a cost to the business, plus a loss of productivity and customer focus, not to mention the time involved going through the recruitment process in the first place.

Individuals are good at over-selling themselves and their abilities on CV, and even at interview stage you can be fooled. You need to take time to review, screen and test candidates, and to complete reference checks before making a decision. Putting in this effort will save you having to do it all over again if you pick the wrong person.

An HR professional’s role starts with reviewing the CV, checking that the candidate ticks the boxes your business requires, phone screening the candidate, asking the questions and digging a bit deeper than what appears on the CV. Pre- and post-interview stage, having more than one person involved is a good idea—as they say, two heads are better than one. The final reference checking stage is going to help you decide if the candidate is the right fit for your business.

It may seems like a lot of time going into the process but, as mentioned earlier, it can save the greater expense to your business of getting it wrong. ■

About the author: HR Consultant Lisa Duston is here to support your business, ensuring you and your team have the tools to get it right. Lisa can assist with your recruitment needs, from placing ads through to supplying you with a shortlist of potential well-screened applicants ready for interviewing.

Master Plumbers’ members can access HR support from Lisa Duston at specially reduced rates. Call Lisa on 03 388 4066 or 021 245 1704 during normal business hours. Or email pbsolutions@pbsolutions.co.nz

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October/November 2015

47

TIMES PAST

Wartime apprentice A gust of wind leads to hair-raising results for Ernie MacManus in part four of the series.

AFTER A FEW more months I was taken off hospital work and sent to the new linseed oil silos on the foreshore. They were of circular 60ft height (18m) concrete construction and our job was to roof the four of them. Matt was the tradesman, a tall, thin man who preferred to work by himself.

I soon found out he had an intense dislike for all apprentices, with the result no one lasted long in his company, but for all that he was a superb and skilful craftsman. When Matt met me he just gave a grunt and never spoke again apart from a grunt at knock off time, and I found it a real let down after working with the hard but affable Wattie.

To reach the top of the silos meant climbing vertical steel rungs set into the exterior concrete wall, and the first job we did was fit the gutters around the outside edge of the roof. There seemed to be a continuous wind blowing off the harbour, which meant you almost always worked on your knees as there was no safety protection of any kind—not even a safety rope.

SOLDERING WORK The gutters were all riveted together, dropped into place and soldered with a 2kg soldering bolt preheated in a tin firebox on the ground. The bolt was filed and tinned on two points to be sent up to Matt in a kerosene tin attached to an endless rope around a pulley mounted on a tripod that extended out over the edge of the roof.

When cold, the bolt was thrown down to be reheated. If a bolt was sent up too cold or poorly tinned, it would be thrown right back at you, along with some profanities, and a few times a hot soldering bolt whistled past my ear before I was able to tin the bolt correctly and judge the heat to perfection. But Matt still only grunted and seemed to have a chip a mile wide on his shoulders.

It did not help when at smoko with the builders he was talking about an experience he had overseas in the war, and I said, “That would be the Great War; my father was there in the NZ Tunneling Corp”, and he snapped, “How bloody old do you think I am?” That was the end of that story

grabbing his claw hammer, he threw it at me 48

October/November 2015

and he sulked for the rest of the day.

We prefabricated the roof in large segments in the firm’s sheetmetal shop out of 2.4 x 1.2m galvanised iron sheets.

They finished up as large triangular sections, each 6m x 2m x 1.5m with 50mm turn up and all lapped and close riveted together, then soldered to make them watertight.

Matt did all the soldering and refused to let me have a go until he left for an appointment, leaving me without any instructions as usual except trying to look busy. So, I heated the bolts and started soldering the joints, taking care to sweat the solder well in especially round the tinmens’ rivets as I had seen Matt do.

I was near the end of the eight metres of joints when I became conscious of the boss observing my effort. Just then Matt turned up and never noticed the boss. He saw what I was doing and yelled, “You young bastards think you know everything—now I will have to solder the lot all over again.”

The boss interjected and said, “Now hold on a minute, Matt, this is as good a job of soldering as I have ever seen. You really have taught him well, so give him the credit he deserves,” and he added, “The solder is sweated right through and is as smooth as can be.”

Matt was still indifferent but did allow me to assist with soldering from then on.

SHEETS TO THE WIND Back at the silos, the large triangular sheets were attached to the rope with a simple timber hitch. Then we both laboriously climbed to the roof and hauled them up one at a time. The rope was secured while we manhandled a sheet over the edge and fitted it in the final position. All went well until we had completed the first roof and were halfway through the second.

It was a mild day with a light wind when this sheet was being pulled over the edge before the rope was to be removed. I was on the rope letting out the slack so the sheet could be pulled over the edge when suddenly a gust of wind lifted the sheet and suspended it 60 feet above the ground with Matt still holding onto it and the rope.

TIMES PAST

no safety protection of any kind—not even a rope I anchored the rope and rushed over, and with one hand holding the vertical rope I got a hold of the belt on Matt’s overalls with the other hand and, with my feet against the gutter edge for leverage, managed to pull him over the edge where he just lay exhausted with his feet still in space. In the meantime, the timber hitch slipped, and the large triangular sheet sailed off to land in the harbour some distance away.

It was a few minutes before Matt recovered sufficiently to sit up, and then he went berserk and hurled abuse at me as though it was my fault the wind came up. His rage was out of control and, grabbing his claw hammer, he threw it at me. I ducked and it flew over the edge. I scampered down the vertical ladder and went around the other side of the silo, picked up his hammer and, making sure he was looking, threw it as far as possible into the wasteland on the foreshore, then went home.

REPLACING THE HAMMER The next morning I called at the office and told the boss that I would sooner leave than work with a madman on top of a silo.

The boss questioned me about what happened and said to come with him in the car, and off back to the silos we went. I waited in the car for a considerable time while a discussion went on in the shed. This resulted in an apology from Matt and he even thanked me for my actions after the wind gust hit.

It was the most words he had ever spoken to me and I couldn’t help feeling sorry for him. The boss assured me when on our own that things would settle down, and explained that Matt was invalided home seriously ill from the war and was still not a well man, so I agreed to carry on. I noticed that Matt had a new hammer, so during lunchtime I searched and found the old one and quietly put it in the bottom of his tool bag without him knowing. Next day the old hammer was in use but not a word was said about it. Things improved from then on and he even said good morning and good night in the evening—it was a start.

A LADIES’ MAN When the silos were finished, it was off to the new milk treatment station to install a sheet lead roof on the full-length loading bay. This was probably the last sheet lead roof installed in New Zealand using vertical dressed joints with overlapping rolls. All corners were lead dressed in the same manner as were done on the medieval castles of Europe. The lead was carried up the ladder in rolls, then laid out on the roof and shaped up

to fit by hand. Even though Matt was his usual taciturn self, we seemed to have an understanding and worked well together, anticipating exactly what was required without speaking.

I continued to work with Matt over the next couple of months on various types of flat roofs in a variety of materials including copper, zinc, lead and even stainless steel, as galvanised iron was in short supply and the experience was invaluable.

My next assignment was to a block of private houses under construction at Andersons Bay. The plumber, who really fancied himself, was the over-educated son of the boss. He was a failed university student who took on the trade when in his twenties.

He acted as though he was superior to all and sundry, and was highly opinionated in his theory but not too good in the execution of the practical aspect.

Time and time again, he decided on a course of action, only to change things around when the job was half completed.

Things were not helped by him going missing at odd times to pursue his love life among the young, married ladies that lived nearby. He was a disaster, so I just carried on in his absence and got the job done to the best of my ability, but the more I got done the longer time he took off and, frankly, I was sick of covering up for him when his father made the occasional visit, and it was with great relief when the boss sent me to the very large government housing development at Kew and Corstorphine. ■ October/November 2015

49

SAFETY FIRST

H&S reform: one step closer

The Health and Safety Reform Bill has passed following some improvements that make things clearer for small businesses.

CHANGES TO HEALTH and safety laws have moved a step closer with the passing of the Health and Safety Reform Bill. The Health and Safety at Work Act will come into effect on 4 April 2016. Between now and then, WorkSafe will help businesses get ready by providing information and education.

Key changes Key changes made to the Bill before it was passed can be found on the WorkSafe website (see box below) and include: •

Health and safety reps - Small business with fewer than 20 workers in low-risk sectors won’t be required to have a health and safety rep or health and safety committee when requested by workers - Existing worker participation systems and health and safety reps can transition to the new regime (but they will need to do extra training to be able to carry out their powers under the new law)

•

Duty holders - The duty to consult, cooperate and coordinate activities will sit with the PCBU, not with all duty holders - A duty holder’s obligations to manage risk will be limited to doing what is in their ability to control and manage, along with what’s reasonably practicable for them to do to manage the risk

•

Duty of officers - Other than named people holding specific roles in an organisation (eg, directors or partners), the officer duty will apply only to others with a senior governance role (eg, chief executive). This won’t include someone who merely advises or makes recommendations to an officer of the organisation. ■

Resources • •

•

50

Key changes: www.business.govt.nz/worksafe/about/ reform/reform-bill-key-changes#worker-participation ACC health and safety for small businesses: www.acc.co.nz/preventing-injuries/at-work/health-andsafety-in-the-workplace ACC construction industry safety: www.acc.co.nz/ preventing-injuries/at-work/industry-specific-safety

October/November 2015

H&S support

Master Plumbers has developed a health and safety manual that’s tailored to plumbing, gasfitting and drainlaying businesses.

Training and implementation support is also available.

Options

Cost (+GST)

MPGD Health and Safety Manual

$150 MPGD members; $750 non members

Manual plus two hours’ training (with 6 CPD points)*

$750 members; $1,100 non members

Manual plus two hours’ training (6 CPD points) plus 1.5 hours’ implementation support

$1,100 members; $2,500 non members

*Two Master Plumbers member companies together share the cost of training and pay $550 each, saving $200.

Three companies together pay $400 each, saving $350.

Contact Joe Grayland on 0800 502 102; jgrayland@masterplumbers.org.nz

H&S reform: Mythbusting!

Myth 1: The new H&S law won’t apply to small businesses False It applies to all businesses in NZ, regardless of size. But it doesn’t necessarily mean your business will need to do anything differently if you already take a considered approach to H&S.

Myth 2: Paper cuts are now a big deal False The new law emphasises proportionality. What you need to do will depend on the level of risk and what you can reasonably control. What you need to identify, and take practical steps to manage, are critical risks to the people in your workplace—including visitors and customers. These can range from noise levels to slippery floors, heavy machinery to hazardous substances.

Myth 3: It’ll be expensive to comply False The most important thing to do costs nothing. Talk with your employees about how to work safely. Expert advisors may be useful if the risks you need to manage are detailed and technical. You can contact WorkSafe for advice.

Myth 4: I need to do something now, or face big fines False High penalties only come into play for employers who recklessly or persistently flout safety management steps. If you already have sound H&S policies and practices in place, you’re in a good position to stay compliant when the law changes. If not, there’s plenty of time to fix this—and keep those in your workplace safe and healthy.

Myth 5: If someone gets hurt, I’ll go to prison False Again, penalties such as hefty fines and imprisonment are only imposed in extreme circumstances. For example, if an employer removes safety measures put in place after a WorkSafe inspection, and a worker is seriously injured as a result. In general, WorkSafe aims to support those who show a genuine willingness to comply.

Myth 6: This means LOADS of paperwork False Paperwork does not equal managing risk, and managing risk does not equal paperwork. You only need documents if this is the best way to manage and minimise critical risks. Putting things in writing is a useful tool for good communication, but what’s most important is for you and your employees to discuss safety management.

Reproduced courtesy of business.govt.nz

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OBJECTIVE

CONTRACTOR MANAGEMENT

OBJECTIVE

EMERGENCY PLANNING AND READINESS

employees of (Insert Company Name) while undertaking the work required by the contract.

contractors, subcontractors and their employees do not cause harm to the

This is achieved by:

by the contract.

• Ensuring all contractors are inducted to (Insert Company Name)’s health

employees of (Insert Company Name) while undertaking the work required (Insert Company Name) has an effective general emergency / evacuation

plan to manage emergencies likely to occur within any part of the business operations and to comply with legislative requirements.

and safety systems

This is achieved by:

• Health and safety responsibilities are written into the contracts

• Ensuring all contractors are inducted to (Insert Company Name)’s health

This is achieved by:

and safety systems

CONTRACTOR MANAGEMENT PROCESS

• Health and safety responsibilities are written into the contracts

• Having a documented emergency / evacuation plan • Communicating emergency / evacuation plans to all employees

• Having designated wardens and providing adequate training for them.

CONTRACTOR MANAGEMENT PROCESS

• Maintaining a register of employee emergency contact details

• Ensuring emergency / evacuation drills occur at once a year

employee) to do any work for gain or payment.

• As a principal, we are required to take all practicable steps for a contractor’s

means a person who or that engages any person (otherwise than an

safety and the safety of any of their employees.

employee) to do any work for gain or payment.

• To achieve this the business will:

• As a principal, we are required to take all practicable steps for a contractor’s

• Advise the contractor of all specific hazards they may be exposed to and the

safety and the safety of any of their employees.

EVACUATION PLAN

hazard controls that are in place.

• To achieve this the business will:

• Advise the contractor of the emergency and evacuation procedures

• Advise the contractor of all specific hazards they may be exposed to and the

In the event of any emergency or natural disaster, the following will happen:

• Ensure the contractor has adopted their own health and safety management

hazard controls that are in place.

• Prevention of any harm to all persons on site

system.

• Advise the contractor of the emergency and evacuation procedures

• Raise the alarm (where appropriate)

• From time to time the business may be the “principal contractor”. A principal means a person who or that engages any person (otherwise than an

• From time to time the business may be the “principal contractor”. A principal

• Reviewing emergency / evacuations and updating plans if applicable.

(Insert Company Name) has a systematic approach to ensure that

contractors, subcontractors and their employees do not cause harm to the

(Insert Company Name) has a systematic approach to ensure that

OBJECTIVE

• Ensure the contractor has adopted their own health and safety management

• Contact emergency services on 111

system.

• ensure the safety of each other and do not put yourself or anyone else at any unnecessary risk

• Evacuate the building in a safe manner, ensuring all employees are catered for.

• Assemble at the appropriate evacuation area • Check all persons are accounted for and report any missing people to the fire warden

The business will ensure fire drills and evacuation procedures are

practised at least annually. The systems will be reviewed at the end of all evacuations.

15

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CHOOSE THE OPTION TO SUIT YOUR BUSINESS: Option One MPGD Health & Safety Manual Option Two MPGD Health & Safety Manual + 2 hours’ training

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Call 04 801 2012 or email jgrayland@masterplumbers.org.nz today!

AROUND ASSOCIATIONS

Active in Auckland

A Q&A with Auckland Master Plumbers Association President Regan Frost.

Q: What is the vision for the revitalised Auckland Association?

A: We want everyone in the industry to come along to our meetings—employers, employees, apprentices, suppliers and merchant representatives. We are all empowered by knowledge. By learning more about the plumbing industry, we can better serve our roles within it, whatever they may be.

Q: What are your meeting plans for the months ahead?

A: We are alternating between manufacturer and supplier venues around Auckland. We want to make sure our meetings are spread around so we give everyone the opportunity of having one close to their home.

We started with the very successful Rheem factory tour in West Auckland in July, which attracted 80-plus attendees.

This was followed by a meeting at Mico’s Manukau branch in September, with MBIE’s Bruce Klein providing a presentation on building work not requiring a consent.

The next event will be a tour of Allproof Industries on the North Shore in November, where plumbers can get close to the action and find out the five dos and don’ts of floor wastes. This will be followed by a meeting with guest speaker at Plumbing World in Mt Wellington next January. These will be bi-monthly events, with invitations sent out to the wider industry.

Q: What do you consider the Executive’s role to be?

A: We’re just there to keep the wheels turning.

We’re a group of plumbers, the same as everyone else. We all have a plumbing business to go to every day, and we give back what we can to help build a stronger industry.

Q: Why is being a member of Master Plumbers important to you?

A: It’s about the brand. People recognise the Masters name—Master Plumbers, Master Builders, Master Painters and so on. It’s a pretty powerful point of difference. My company experienced a real lift when we became Master Plumber of the Year in 2007.

But you can’t just belong. You have to actively promote yourself as a Master Plumber. You get out what you put in. It’s a bit like buying a sports car—it’s only good if you drive it. When you’re actively involved, there’s no denying the amount you learn from sharing with other plumbers. ■

Grind more, hear less!

Q: What do you hope to achieve as President?

A: My real interest is in trying to attract younger people to take part. Tradespeople are retiring and not enough are coming in. At 36, I have been a Master Plumbers’ member for over 10 years— and I’m still nearly the youngest business owner at our meetings.

More has to be done to inspire young people to put their hand up and give back to the industry.

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October/November 2015

53

WORLD VIEW

Water for future Trevor and Alison Gatland headed to Timor-Leste with Volunteer Service Abroad to help improve people’s lives through easier access to water. Ross Miller reports.

A SINGLE TAP providing clean water is such a simple thing, yet to many of the world’s less developed areas, it is a symbol of change and a release from disease.

We’ve all seen photos of mothers or children queueing around a village’s only tap. It is a symbol of Third World underdevelopment and, in many cases, abject poverty. Plumber Trevor Gatland sees the reality every day and is bringing that small luxury to isolated Timor-Leste villages. He and his wife Alison are based in Baucau, the second largest city, about 130km east of Dili. Trevor is working for Volunteer Service Abroad in partnership with World Vision as a water and sanitation advisor on the Water For Future project.

The aim of the project is to reduce child mortality through improved access to water, education and better hygiene, he says. “I work with a small team of Timorese and we effectively bring water infrastructure to villages that have been identified as in need. This normally consists of a spring-fed gravity system that supplies a reservoir, which in turn supplies what we call ‘public tap stands’.

“The idea is to make tap stands accessible to all. This can make a dramatic difference to people’s lives as some currently have to walk a five-hour round trip to get water. Having a tap stand can free their lives so they can concentrate on other things such as education and growing food.”

Above: This photo from an earlier project shows the same tap stand model.

54

October/November 2015

The project designs the infrastructure, procures materials and provides training to the community, which provides the labour. There are 44 staff in Trevor’s office and he is the only malae (respectful word for foreigner). He is so unusual around the place that the street children will point and wave and chant “malae, malae” as he passes on foot or motorcycle.

PASSING ON SKILLS Trevor is also tasked to provide ‘capacity-building’—improving quality by passing on skills and providing some technical advice to his colleagues so the benefits can continue after he has left. “I have to remind myself that some skills and knowledge didn’t get passed on here due to a large part of the population (about 200,000) being killed during the Indonesian occupation. There simply are not many middle-aged or older people here—67 percent of the population is under 25.

“The good news is, they have a thirst for knowledge and receive advice willingly. In fact, they invite knowledge to be given and willingly accept criticism. The mature attitude the people of this young nation have is amazing. I think they have endured too much to be concerned with such things as egos.”

He describes his colleagues as good and capable people who have made him and his wife welcome. “I work most closely with a young man whose name is Angelo. He is a mechanical

WORLD VIEW

the idea is to make tap stands accessible to all engineer who trained in Dili and has experience in the type of water systems we install. He mostly does the surveying and preliminary design as well as facilitating procurement, meetings, visits to site etc. We have two technical facilitators who work closely with the community and act a bit like foremen. We also have a designer who is based in Dili and works on other projects too.”

POVERTY EVERYWHERE Timor-Leste is not on television much these days, as the ‘newsworthy’ events have passed it by with the end of the war.

While it is slowly recovering, it still has a long way to go.

On the flight in, says Trevor, the scenery is nothing short of spectacular, with steep mountains covered in jungle, valleys and rivers in flood (in the wet season). “My wife and I spent the first three weeks in Dili where we had two weeks of language class (tetun) and a week of orientation.

“Dili is hot and humid. The traffic is busy and there seem to be no rules—strangely this kind of works as everyone has the same goal, which is not to be hit by the vehicle next to you. Poverty is everywhere. Emaciated dogs roam, as do pigs and chooks, in the city. Grey wastewater pools in channels at the side of the streets, which then flow when the afternoon tropical rain comes. For me there are moments when Dili just feels like a mental overload.” >

Top: Trevor discussing the design of a new water line by the spring that will feed it.

Above: A completed tap station.

Alison’s experience

Alison Gatland is glad to be a part of such an important water project for the villages. “World Vision runs a tight ship which is a feat in itself considering the many people involved (villagers, foreign advisers, semi-trained workers), procurement from other countries, and the language barrier.

“The work is satisfying and the social contact with other expats lively, which makes it easier to live with the below-level living standards by New Zealand standards. People here are content with little as long as their family is nearby, working in some way, roof over their head and food in the belly.”

Alison enjoys the abundance of springs in Baucau by making good use of a pool. “The landscape is quite dramatic and lush with a wide variety of flora, yet it goes baking brown during the dry season, also known as the hunger season.”

Timor-Leste has the one main city of Dili—a seething mass of humanity yet thriving with many shops, schools, building industries and eating places—but the remaining population is made up of subsistence farmers. “There is a huge variety of food available and there are many styles of cooking… Timorese,

Above: Alison at the Baucau market.

Indonesian, Chinese, Japanese, Italian, even a Burger King.

Most of the people are welcoming and love it when you try to speak their language. Timorese are extremely family-orientated.

For instance, they know who their father’s brother-in-law’s auntie’s grandfather was, which results in business dealings being done mainly through family.”

October/November 2015

55

WORLD VIEW

The drive to Baucau took three hours due to the poor condition of the road. “Baucau has a population of 16,000 and there was obviously a strong Portuguese influence here. Our house is modest and is in a small compound owned by one family.

“We buy some of our food from a ioja (small shop) and our fresh produce from the markets in the streets. Buying meat from the market is an interesting experience. It’s generally a local breed of cow or water buffalo and the large cuts of meat are laid out on a table in order, with the head displayed at one end and hooves etc below, so you can tell which part of the animal the meat comes from.

“On the weekends we go to the beach and meet up with a fisherman we have come to know and buy fish. He speaks Uaimua (mother tongue for this area), which I don’t understand—there are over 34 dialects in Timor-Leste. We fumble through negotiations using fingers instead of spoken numbers and some tetun. I prefer to buy fish from him as I am reluctant to buy fish at the market, as there is no form of refrigeration.”

KNOWLEDGE SHARING Why does he volunteer? Trevor is not sure he can answer that adequately, but says: “I do believe it’s important to pass on knowledge gained through experience and training, and many of us do this through training apprentices in the plumbing industry. The need for the sharing of knowledge in Timor-Leste is great and the potential benefits are enormous. It literally

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October/November 2015

I do believe it’s important to pass on knowledge gained through experience and training changes lives. What’s in it for me? Adventure, satisfaction, personal growth and new friends.”

An older villager Trevor met showed him a photo of himself as a young man in the jungle with rifle in hand. He was a freedom fighter during the Indonesian occupation and hid in the hills for 25 years. He said they have two ambitions in life: first to free Timor-Leste, and second to free the people.

“He went on to say they have achieved the first ambition when they gained independence. The second ambition they will achieve through the kind of work we are doing, he told me. I will never forget those words. I left there that day feeling grateful to be meeting these wonderful people and more motivated than ever.” ■ Founded by Sir Edmund Hillary, VSA is New Zealand’s largest international volunteer agency and has been in East Timor since 2002. Find out more at www.vsa.org.nz

Pipe challenges

This photo of the pipe in the bush is an example of adapting to local conditions. It’s from another World Vision project in the same district as Trevor is working. “Lack of support has been a problem on past projects. My plan is to address this by teaching the community workers how to use a pipe bender, so there will not be any stress on the joins. I have gained permission to purchase a bender for each project. The tools used to construct each project are given to the community so it has the resources to carry out maintenance in the future.”

Trevor has also introduced AS/NZS 3500 standards as a guide with regards to spacings of pipe supports. “It has been a bit tricky as we are required to use the local government standards, but I found that pipe support spacings were not mentioned, so have been free to give the spacings table from AS/NZS 3500. Pipe on our projects will range from 3/4” to 3”.

These are just some of the challenges.”

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HEALTH MATTERS

Asbestos alert

A recent $25,000 fine for ignoring a prohibition notice reflects the very real health risks of asbestos on worksites.

THE DIRECTOR OF a construction company was recently fined $25,000 for ignoring a prohibition notice and returning to an area with asbestos risk. Ranjit Singh, sole Director of Nihal Homes (NZ) Ltd, was convicted and fined at the Auckland District Court in June.

A WorkSafe inspector attached a prohibition notice to a fence around the Auckland construction site in March 2014, after having been notified by the Auckland Environmental Health team that the site had tested positive for asbestos. WorkSafe inspectors use prohibition notices if they believe there is a likelihood of serious harm to any person.

Despite being at the site when the notice was issued, and having it explained to him on this and two more occasions that no more work could continue, Singh ignored the notice.

Eight days later, he went back to the site with a contractor, who removed a wooden ramp. A neighbour alerted WorkSafe, and an inspector spoke to Singh, who said he was just removing stuff from the site so it wouldn’t get wet. However, the judge was satisfied that the removal of the ramp constituted work, and contravened the prohibition notice.

Asbestos in building materials

Asbestos is commonly found in building materials used to construct and refurbish New Zealand homes between 1940 and 1990. For many years, tradespeople have worked with asbestos without being aware of the hazards when these materials are disturbed, says the Plumbers, Gasfitters and Drainlayers Board (PGD Board) in its June InfoBrief.

“Asbestos related diseases generally occur in workers who have had heavy exposure over extended periods of time. Short-term high exposure can sometimes happen during home renovation or maintenance involving materials which contain asbestos. It is always best to avoid exposure as much as reasonably possible. By using a certified contractor to remove and correctly dispose of the asbestos, you can avoid the unnecessary danger of exposing anyone to risk.”

Asbestos resources •

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•

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eight days later, he went back to the site with a contractor Building surveys

The only way you can confirm the presence of asbestos in a building material is to have it tested by an IANZ-accredited laboratory. If asbestos or asbestos-containing material (ACM) has been found in one part of a building, assume that it will be present in all similar materials in the buildings, advises WorkSafe.

If a building was built, renovated or altered before 1990 and/ or there’s other evidence that asbestos/ACM may be present, you need to carry out a more detailed survey before beginning repair or demolition work (see Asbestos resources below).

WorkSafe has asbestos information and guidance, including a list of certified removers and an asbestos register, at www.business.govt.nz/worksafe WorkSafe’s Asbestos Tooklkit comprises eight factsheets. These include surveying a building, managing asbestos, PPE, and disposal of asbestos waste. Website as above.

Environmental Hazard Services offer PGDBaccredited CPD training on asbestos awareness for plumbers, gasfitters and drainlayers. Contact EHSNZ on 03 313 9960, email Above: Where asbestos may be found in a house. Taken from WorkSafe NZ information office.ehsnz@gmail.com or visit www.ehsnz.co.nz sheet Locations where asbestos may be found.

October/November 2015

Asbestos-related diseases

Asbestos is a health risk when it is disturbed and breathed in as fine fibres, which can become embedded in the lungs.

Workers without adequate protection can develop various diseases including: • Asbestosis – scarring of lung tissues • Mesothelioma – malignant cancer affecting lining around lungs, heart or abdominal cavity • Lung cancer • Pleural plaques – thickening of membranes around lungs.

Warning signs include trouble breathing, a persistent cough, blood in sputum, and stomach, kidney, colon or intestine problems.

Plumbers worst hit

The plumbing industry has the highest incidence of harm caused by asbestos contamination (37 percent), according to statistics provided by Environmental Hazard Services NZ. Sadly, this figure is largely represented by tradespeople nearing retirement, who were unaware of the dangers when they worked with asbestos during the 1960s and 1970s.

A typical case was reported in the UK media this July, when a 73-year-old man died from mesothelioma having come into contact with asbestos during his six years as an apprentice plumber, removing pipes covered with lagging. Although he continued to work as a plumber till his late forties, there was no evidence that he had been exposed to asbestos at work after the age of 21, according to the assistant deputy coroner.

The US Mesothelioma Victims Center says the average age for a diagnosed victim of mesothelioma is 72. This rare form of cancer, which is particularly associated with exposure to asbestos, can take 20 to 50 years, to show obvious symptoms. ■

Silver lining?

A New Zealand professor has developed a new treatment, which may help those diagnosed with mesothelioma, according to an article in the New Zealand Herald this June. University of Sydney Medical School Associate Professor Glen Reid, who is also Senior Research Scientist at the Asbestos Diseases Research Institute (ADRI), has spent the past few years researching a new treatment.

Still in its very early stages, the treatment has been trialled on a group of mesothelioma patients, including a 51-year-old Sydney man who was exposed to asbestos as a plumbing apprentice, when he regularly cut fibro sheets containing asbestos. He was diagnosed in 2013, and had stopped responding to chemotherapy treatment. Within two months of the trial treatment, his mesothelioma had almost entirely disappeared.

Designed to investigate safety and optimal dose, the trial is ongoing, with more planned for the future.

Australia has the world’s highest incidence of malignant mesothelioma per capita, with more than 700 new cases diagnosed each year, according to ADRI. This number is expected to increase over the next 10 to 20 years.

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TECH SAVVY

Accounting add-ons You do need accounting add-ons in your toolbox, but be selective and resist the urge to DIY, says Lisa Martin of GoFi8ure.

TECHNOLOGY IS HELPING businesses across the board work smarter. Business owners and managers are now wise to the fact that working in the cloud can save both time and money. They’re embracing the real-time revolution—where being able to access information remotely and at any time of the day or night is becoming the norm—because they realise that it will change their businesses for the better.

The next challenge is trying to keep up with even newer tech innovations.

Let’s take accounting add-ons. These sit neatly alongside cloud accounting systems like Xero and MYOB. And, linked to our core data feeds, they can streamline any task; they can create sophisticated systems for invoicing, appointments, tracking orders and chasing debtors to keep that allimportant cash flow fluid. Best of all, they can be used to automate a whole host of processes to occur out-of-hours and even during the night—indeed, saving time and money.

But this add-on market, like the app sector, is growing at a fast pace. Just take a quick look at Xero and MYOB’s marketplaces and you can see how many new tools there are on the shelves.

this add-on market, like the app sector, is growing at a fast pace INDUSTRY TAILORED ADD-ONS The advantage of this is that add-ons are increasingly being tailored to specific industries and professions. For the trades, this means there’s a new dawn rising for business owners who want to excel in customer service.

For example, add-on packages like service management software have been specifically designed to give the professional trades a new edge. By linking your customer’s desire for you 60

October/November 2015

to be responsive, reliable and punctual with your own need to be paid promptly, this kind of add-on helps you systemise the ‘who, where, what and when’ of your customers.

It’s quick to set up a new customer file and bring up existing files. From there, you can add jobs, start dates, notes, estimates and send invoices. All in the cloud and accessible from anywhere.

This is great news. But we do have to be mindful that as competition in this domain accelerates, accounting add-ons are becoming more mainstream. This brings with it a risk that busy business owners will think that these are DIY products; that all they have to do is click download then cobble them together with their Xero or MYOB files.

ACCURATE SET-UP ESSENTIAL Trade companies eager for new techy systems to improve their businesses will need to be strong and resist their natural DIY inclinations. These are not kit-sets that you can get up and running by following what it says on the box. For these tools to be useful for any business, they need to be set up accurately and then maintained and

monitored. Any mistakes in the outset will escalate the inaccuracies and skew all the data—making much of your business information a nonsense.

For the best results, you need to call a trained and qualified ‘add-on tradie’, who is certified in the software. This could be your in-house or part-time bookkeeper.

Or, if you really want to be DIY tech savvy, then it could be you—but only as long as you undergo the training and are committed to keeping an eye on all your data input.

Accounting add-ons will, without doubt, help you and your business work more efficiently—it’s just a matter of making sure you choose the right tools for the job and are confident that they will be used correctly. This will avoid any ‘garbage in, garbage out’ scenario and give you peace of mind that the financial data you are using is 100% accurate. ■

About the author: Lisa Martin is Executive Director of bookkeeping and accounting specialist firm GoFi8ure. Contact Lisa on 0800 463 488; lisa@gofi8ure.co.nz

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WORLD VIEW

On the world stage Southland came to Sao Paulo in August, when plumbing apprentice Adam de Pass competed in the World Skills Internationals.

IT’S HARD TO comprehend the scale of the international World Skills competition. Picture 250,000 spectators constantly packing the wide walkways beside the competitions. “Suddenly you’re a rock star and everybody’s watching everything you do in five different competition modules that include lots of projects on a wall in just 21 hours of intense competition,” says Adam de Pass.

Adam, a plumbing and gasfitting apprentice at Jackson Plumbing in Invercargill, recently came home from representing New Zealand in the equivalent of the Olympics for under-24 year old tradespeople. He was among 28 global competitors in the Plumbing and Heating category, which was one of more than 45 trade skills contested by 1,300 competitors from 72 countries over five days.

Adam won the most points in the 15-strong NZ Tool Blacks team. Out of a total of 600 points, he got 521—just 12 marks short of the joint gold winners’ scores. That total won him a Medallion of Excellence and the Best in Nation Award.

He and the rest of the NZ team have done incredibly well over two years of competitions to get to Brazil. Their success at the regional and national competitions, and later at the Oceania competition, involving seven other countries earlier this year, showed they had what it took to reach international level.

EVERY MINUTE COUNTS “On the first day, I made a couple of mistakes when using the particular copper benders I’d never used before,” recalls Adam. “They were bench benders that were used in a vice, and incredibly hard to bend as the copper was a lot thicker and harder than New Zealand’s copper. Even with each bench screwed down, they would still struggle and lift up.

you can’t buy an experience like that

Above: Adam proudly waving the New Zealand flag as a Best in Nation winner.

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October/November 2015

WORLD VIEW

“There was a 2mm tolerance, and I knew I was out, but in the Internationals every minute counts and you can’t afford to let things get to you, even though it can cost you a medal. You’ve just got to try and make up for it somewhere else. Every other night I went home satisfied and happy with what I’d done.

“I really wanted a medal. You go to represent your country, but not winning a gold, silver or bronze didn’t take away from the whole experience which was life changing, a once-in-alifetime opportunity to get that far and be part of the team travelling the world to represent NZ and to stand on the parade ground holding the NZ flag. You can’t buy an experience like that. I’d definitely do it again if I had the chance. It pushes you right to the limits.”

TRAINING SUPPORT Adam got into plumbing at 16 after doing a Gateway programme at school. He achieved NCEA Level 2 and decided to leave school, starting his plumbing and gasfitting apprenticeship in 2010 with Jackson Plumbing. “There’s huge satisfaction in completing something that people really need and making big commercial buildings operate, and tidy workmanship. People appreciate you fixing their problems.”

He sat and passed his Licensed Plumber exam two years into his apprenticeship and his Licensed Gasfitter exam the following year, as well as his Certifying Plumber exam. “This time next year, I will hopefully be a Certifying Plumber and Gasfitter and also a Licensed Drainlayer, as I’m in the last stage of my > drainlaying apprenticeship.”

Right: Working under time pressure.

Below: The NZ Tool Blacks perform the haka at the opening ceremony.

Thanks for the support—and see you next year!

“World Skills New Zealand would like to thank everyone who helped the Plumbing and Heating competitions during the regional and national competitions, and the Oceania competition, “ says Skill Manager Bryan Smith. “It was only through your generous sponsorship and support that Adam was able to attend this competition. Plus, a very big thank you to all those people who contributed to getting us all to Brazil—without your help we would not be able to compete Internationally. You should all feel very proud of our young women and men.

“The next competition is in Abu Dhabi in 2017. We need your help in finding the best candidate to send over. If you have an apprentice or a young tradesperson who will be under 23 at August 2017, can you please encourage them to enter their Regional competition. These will be held on a Saturday sometime between November and the end of April 2016.

The winner of each region will then go to the Nationals at Wintec later in 2016, with two days of competition and a day either side for travel. World Skills NZ looks after travel and accommodation for the Nationals.

Feel free to contact World Skills Regional competition organisers: - Ron Heywood, MIT: Auckland & Northland - Bryan Smith, Wintec: Waikato & Bay of Plenty - Paul Dempster, Open Polytechnic: Wellington, Manawatu & Poverty Bay - Ritchie Gorrie, CPIT: Canterbury & upper South Island - Brendon Wyatt, SIT: Southland & lower South Island

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WORLD VIEW

Adam says WorldSkills has opened a lot of doors for him. “I have plumbing contacts from over the world, and got on really well with the English-speaking ones as well as some not so good at English. It’s been an amazing experience and I’d encourage anybody who’s eligible to try it and see how far you get.

“I wouldn’t have this opportunity without the support of my old boss Peter Jackson, who took me on as an apprentice, and my current boss Matt, who has taught me everything, giving me leave and the training I required. You need good people behind you because there’s a lot of training involved and lots of hours outside of work—but with that, the sky’s the limit.”

SPECTACULAR EXPERIENCE Brazil itself was “mind-blowing”, says Adam. “Our hotel was right beside Copacabana beach. We went in the middle of their winter and it was 33°C one day. Our initial stop was Rio de Janeiro and one of the many things I’d never seen before was being charged by how much the plate weighed at the hotel buffet!

I’d encourage anybody who’s eligible to try it “The opening ceremony was insane, apart from the three hours spent waiting outside to go into the venue where 9,000 spectators and supporters were gathered into the big, cathedrallike arena. Each country was welcomed in as they walked through the middle of the stage, which had their country’s flag waving underneath them. It was quite spectacular... but not as spectacular as it was when New Zealand’s team got called in.

“Officially, no one is allowed to stop on the main stage, but it’s an unspoken tradition that New Zealand is the only team that does. We stopped in the middle, fanned out, and performed the haka as loudly and as powerfully as we could. The response from the crowd was this huge noise, cheering and applause. They loved it.” ■

Get set, go

Adam describes the plumbing and gasfitting modules.

DAY 1-2

DAY 3

All 28 plumbing competitors arrived, ready to go. As soon as the buzzer sounded we were off.

The first task was to look at the plans and write up an exact materials list of everything we were going to need, which was critical as it set us up for the week.

Marks were deducted for every material you were short of or had too many of, and for every 100mm of pipe under or over.

Once we done this we had to design our own towel rail, which included working out how many watts the towel rail had to emit and using the exact amount of copper.

First up, we had to make it and fit it on the wall. This was part of the first module that needed to be handed in the following day with all the copper soft-soldered heating pipes, radiator, towel rail and an underfloor heating mat, which was the Brazil flag. These all had to be tested yourself and then by two judges before you were awarded marks.

Some people were pushed for time and couldn’t finish this module. During the day, you also incorporated a live toilet installation, which took a minimum of one hour and maximum of two hours, replacing a toilet on a stand with a table full of judges watching you, as we adjusted all the water and flushing levels and explained procedures.

This was a big day. The Aussie skill expert, who’s a previous World Skills competitor, said to me: “This is the breaking point.

This will determine who’s going to be in the running for a medal.”

Two out of the five modules were due, which was all of the hot and cold water pipes and the galvanised gas main, which no one had even started the following day. My goal was to finish and it was a big relief when I got all three pressure tests done before the day was over. I had enough time to start doing my stack and waste pipes, which helped me out the following and last day.

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October/November 2015

DAY 4 This was the last half day, which consisted of only two hours and 50 minutes by the time we had our lunch, breaks and the usual hour of walking around to visit other team members’ stands and projects. The last two modules were due, which was the sanitary waste pipes and fitting off the fixtures and an alteration to the gas line for a gas hob connection in the kitchen.

The sweat was certainly pouring off trying to get it all finished before the buzzer at 1pm. Once we got the sanitary done, toilet, handbasin/pedestal and shower fitted off, we could request a final check so we

could move onto the last module, which required cutting the galvanised pipe and only removing one section of pipe and getting more material to tee in for the hob.

I was the second person to finish and that allowed me 30 minutes to remove every little mark, smudge and construction line off the walls because this was worth marks also. Once I was satisfied there were no marks and everything was straight and how I wanted it, the buzzer sounded. Perfect timing.

I had a wee support crew who were cheering and clapping from the barriers.

What a big relief—all the pressure and stress from the last four days was lifted! I did my very best and accomplished what I wanted and that was to finish all the modules in time.

Everyone shook each other’s hands and congratulated each other.

We were awarded a medal made out of copper from the World Plumbing Council, whose deputy and colleagues had flown over to award it to each of our skill experts and ourselves. It was a truly remarkable thing to receive as it was given to acknowledge each and every one of us for raising the plumbing industry’s standard throughout the world.

It was incredible!

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NEXT GENERATION

Why hire an apprentice?

The benefits of a plumbing career are being promoted in a new series of YouTube videos.

“You want to be that guy that can do a beautiful job, and make real tidy work that solves a customer’s problems and fixes what they need fixed.” That’s how plumber Ben Shoesmith describes what he enjoys in his daily work and motivates him to become a Certifying tradesperson.

Ben is one of several (in his case former) apprentices and employers in a new series of You Tube video clips, developed by MasterLink in partnership with The Skills Organisation and TradePoint. There are six in the series, all of which can be viewed on the MasterLink Facebook page.

DAY IN THE LIFE Ben Shoesmith loves the fact that his work takes him out on the road. “I’ve got the best office in the world because I’ve got a constantly changing view,” he says of being behind the wheel of his van. “We go everywhere and anywhere and we see it all.”

The best thing about the job for Ben is the team aspect. “We go out to the job and we learn on the job. You’re doing all of your day-to-day work with another plumber, learning off them and being instructed by them. I go to work to see my mates basically—it’s that good. We do work independently as well but when we do bump into each other it’s a lot of fun.”

Ben hopes to train others some day.

He says attending the Master Plumbers annual conference opened his eyes to the amount of people involved in the industry and their enthusiasm for what they do.

“I’d love to be involved further with those people to grow the industry,” he says.

WHY DO AN APPRENTICESHIP? Bruce Trenwith, Ben’s boss at BT Plumbing & Gas in Auckland, has travelled and worked all round the world in the course of his career. “The best thing I like is the variety and meeting different people during the day,” he says. His advice to teenagers is to get their qualifications while they’re young.

“You’re always sought after, you 66

October/November 2015

Above: Ben Shoesmith (top) and Thomas Curran feature in the new videos.

always have work and you always have employment. There are not many careers you can say that for. It’s a qualification that allows you to do anything you want in life, whether you want to be a business owner or whether you want to work for someone—you can achieve a great career through this industry.”

•

TIPS FOR NEW APPRENTICES •

•

Be keen—Employers love a keen apprentice, says Ben Shoesmith.

“Even if you don’t know you can be taught, so don’t panic if you don’t have the skills straightaway.”

Get committed—Four years seems like a long time at the start but it goes really fast, says Ben. “You’re learning a lot of new things and you

•

just need to stay focussed and carry it through.”

What you put in you get back—“If you put in hard work and you do your papers that you get given from tech and you finish everything on time, you’re going to pass,” says apprentice Elliot Wolting of Tauranga Hardware and Plumbing. Thomas Curran at Heron Plumbing in Auckland agrees: “Work hard, stick at it because it pays off in the end.”

How much you learn is up to you— Don’t be afraid to ask your boss for their knowledge. “That gave me a lot of help in how to look after myself through the apprenticeship—how to budget for exams and licensing and that sort of thing,” says Ben.

WHY TRAIN AN APPRENTICE? The only way the industry is going to survive is by getting new blood coming through, says Dave Strong of Morrinsville Plumbing & Gas Services, “And if we don’t train them, who does?”

With more than 50 percent of plumbers over the age of 55, they’re retiring faster than the new people are starting, notes Plumbing World General Manager Rob Kidd. “So the future of the industry is dependent on having more apprentices coming in.”

Apprentices also bring an acceptance of innovation and new ways of doing business, says John Bebbington of Rheem NZ—and they’re technology savvy. “I think they’re well placed to help the industry move ahead,” adds Tim Baker of Foreno.

“Every business should have a succession plan of some sort and it’s actually a succession plan for the industry as well.”

Marley’s Scott Townsend agrees.

“Whether it’s developing leaders of the future, or whether it’s just developing good strong staff, that’s how a business is going to have longevity.”

According to Bruce Trenwith, apprentices are the lifeblood of his company and most who train there, stay there. “They know our way of doing things, they know the standards that we set. It means I know that there’ll be no cut corners. The jobs are done right.”

“Without apprentices, there simply isn’t going to be an industry,” says Stephen Bocock, PGD Industry Manager at The Skills Organisation. “We’ve got to bring some more people through the system to maintain current industry levels and grow those levels.

“If you’re a one man band, you’re limited to the amount of work you can do. If you have a couple of apprentices, you can share the workload and that apprentice could be a future partner, director, owner of that business.”

TRAINING THROUGH MASTERLINK MasterLink is a training company set up Master Plumbers to recruit the right apprentices, who are interviewed, pretested and trained. MasterLink is the main contact for the apprentice, liaising with The Skills Organisation, which

Above and top: “We go out on the job and we learn on the job,” says Ben Shoesmith.

provides the training. “They’ll have your local area coordinator come out and see you on site, visit you to see how you’re going and you can ring them any day of the week,” says Ben. “They also pay for your tech all the way through so you can get unit standards and build up the points,” adds Thomas Curran.

MasterLink South Island Manager Roger Herd says most apprentices entering the MasterLink scheme hit the ground running. “They’re coming with

maturity and they’re really good.” The mentoring offered by MasterLink is a key part of the programme. “We follow the apprentice right through their training.

The host, or plumbing company, get on with running their business and they leave the training to us. We carry out four appraisals a year and we follow them from their apprenticeship right through.”

The vast majority of apprentices are recruited by the employer once they sign off with MasterLink—helping their businesses grow. ■

KICKSTART AN APPRENTICESHIP! For a limited time, MasterLink is offering a $2,000 KickStart Employer Grant. Take on a MasterLink apprentice in your business to receive the grant (conditions apply). To find out more, email admin@ masterlink.co.nz or call MasterLink on 0800 502 102.

October/November 2015

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Kickstart a career and get a $2,000 Employer Grant Find me an apprentice!

Hire a Masterlink apprentice today!

Masterlink removes the risks of taking on an apprentice. Here’s how: Masterlink recruits the best –

Masterlink helps your cashflow –

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Masterlink manages the apprenticeship – we look after all block course arrangements, regular appraisals,

Apprentice training fees and block course travel are also covered. You only pay the hours they work for you.

Masterlink provides the tools – we give your apprentice a tool allowance and PPE gear (boots, overalls etc) for the duration of their apprenticeship.

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our Regional Managers are here to help you and your apprentice, every step of the way.

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DID YOU KNOW you are eligible for a $2,000 Masterlink Kickstart grant when you take on a new plumbing and gasfitting or plumbing and drainlaying apprentice?

Contact Masterlink to find out more about this excellent opportunity for financial support to grow your business.

Masterlink has high-quality candidates ready and waiting to sign up to an apprenticeship. Call us today!

Freephone: 0800 502 102 Visit www.masterlink.co.nz Email admin@masterlink.co.nz Terms and conditions: Employer grant valid from 01 August 2015 – 18 December 2015. Kickstart Employer Grant limited to ten Masterlink Apprentice Hosts per region. Kickstart Employer grant subject to confirmation by the Master Plumbers, Gasfitters and Drainlayers NZ Inc. Kickstart Employer Grant is not to be used in conjunction with any other offer or deal through the Master Plumbers, Gasfitters and Drainlayers NZ Inc.

NEXT GENERATION

Got a Trade The inaugural Got a Trade Week campaign took place around the country in August.

GOT A TRADE Week closed off on 28 August in Christchurch.

The week included more than 50 events nationwide in 34 industries and was the first of its kind for New Zealand.

A collaborative initiative between Skills and six other likeminded ITOs (BCITO, Competenz, Connexis, HITO, MITO and Service IQ), Got a Trade was aimed at the influencers of young people at the crucial career-decision ages of 16-24 years old.

“We wanted to get the message out far and wide about the many opportunities a career in trades can offer,” says Got a Trade Week Deputy Chair Katherine Hall. “I think we got off to a great start. We received more than 25,000 visitors to the Got a Trade website in one week as well as a huge response on social media.”

Activities shared on the Got a Trade Facebook page included a Big Construction Tour for over 800 secondary school students and a Future Business Leaders Forum for budding apprentices.

An apprentice builder, plumber and electrician also appeared on TV’s Breakfast with Sam Wallace, whipping up a luxury dog house that later went up on Trade Me, with proceeds going to the SPCA. Seven Sharp co-host Mike Hosking also recorded a special message for the closing event. “At long last you’ve taken an industry, and all those jobs, and all those opportunities and made us think about the trades. It’s about time we got that message out there and I think this week has been a wonderfully, wonderfully successful week.”

Skills say they are proud to have played a key role in the week and would like to acknowledge the support of the PGD industry in making it a success, contributing employer and apprentice time, all around New Zealand. They would like to give particular thanks to: • Houghton’s Plumbing, Heating and Gas • Vince Basile Plumbing Co • BT Plumbing and Gas • Heron Plumbing • Laser Plumbing Dunedin Central • McDermond Plumbing, Gasfitting, Roofing and Drainlaying • Mico Plumbing • Morrinsville Plumbing & Gas Services • Plumbing World • Hutt Gas and Plumbing ■

we wanted to get the message out about the many opportunities a career in trades can offer

From left: Nick (electrical apprentice), Kyle, Liam, Callum and Corry (plumbing apprentice) at an open day at Laser Plumbing in Dunedin, thanks to Paul Hamilton.

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NEXT GENERATION

To the limit

Above: Tim Coxhead (in red) and Arron Harrison (in black) in climbing mode.

Outward Bound courses are about pushing boundaries and realising potential, as a group of young apprentices recently discovered.

“I HAD A little idea of what the course was about, but it definitely exceeded my expectations,” says Tim Coxhead of Plumbing Works in Tauranga. Tim was among 10 apprentices sponsored by The Skills Organisation to take part in a custom designed 21-day Outward Bound course at Anakiwa in the Marlborough Sounds.

Mike Preston of Laser Plumbing, Christchurch, and Arron Harrison of Steenson Plumbing, Te Awamutu, also represented the plumbing industry and found the experience invaluable.

The course is based around testing physical and mental limits, and realising the true leadership potential of the 10 apprentices—all set in a positive, supportive environment.

Challenging tasks and activities included white water kayaking, navigating the team through unmarked terrain and skippering a 30ft sailing cutter into the outer reaches of the Marlborough Sounds.

“While it was a bit physically challenging, what surprised me was how mentally challenging the three weeks were,” says Arron.

“We learnt to work as a team, collectively helping each other to push past our boundaries.”

Tim agrees, saying, “It’s amazing to see what you, yourself, can accomplish—and what you can do as a team. We didn’t stop; we did some outrageous stuff. One night we did the Queen Charlotte Track. That’s a 54km hike in nine and a half hours. It 70

October/November 2015

Above: Plumbing apprentice Mike Preston.

was crazy, but amazing!”

A specific requirement of Outward Bound is not divulging what participants might encounter. They are given a list of what items they might require but not what they might need them for.

Mike says nothing really prepared him for what the week would bring. “I’m a person who likes to plan. They didn’t tell us

Above: Adventures in paradise!

it’s amazing to see what you can accomplish where we were going or what we were doing. We just had to do it, and they kept repeating Ma te wa to us, which means all in good time. It kept us focused on the present, appreciating the activity we were doing at the time.”

All agreed it was a once in a lifetime experience and a great opportunity to become more productive both personally and professionally.

“It was great being on a course with other tradies. I made some good mates in other trades and I know it’s going to be of great benefit to my career to know these guys,” says Arron.

Ten Outward Bound scholarships are offered annually to apprentices who want to excel in their chosen trade and their personal lives, and develop their future potential. They are selected from written and video applications and the apprentices need to be between 18-26 years old, and registered in a current training agreement in a specialist trade with The Skills Organisation. ■ Applications will open again in 2016. Visit www.skills.org.nz to keep an eye out for them.

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NEXT GENERATION

MasterLink winners!

MasterLink has established a new award for top apprentices in the regions.

APPRENTICES DANIEL WARREN and Kyle McKenzie are the first winners of the new MasterLink Top Apprentice award, which is to be presented annually to outstanding apprentices around the regions.

First year apprentice Daniel, who works at HiFlo Plumbing in Oamaru, has won the 2015 award in Otago. “Right from the interview, Daniel really stood out,” says MasterLink South Island Manager Roger Herd. “His block course reports have been excellent and his on job performance, according to hosts Peter Ryder and Bob Telfer, are well above average for where he is at in his apprenticeship. He is a pleasure to carry out our appraisals with.”

Kyle, from Jason Rutledge Plumbing, is this year’s Southland winner. “Kyle has impressed us from day one,” says Roger.

“Although he had a difficult start with his original host, we transferred him to Jason and he went ahead in leaps and bounds.

As Kyle was in the old training system, he was able to sit his Licensed Plumbing registration exam before completing all his block courses and receiving his National Certificate. He passed with high marks after week 8. He is now on track to sit his Licensed Gasfitter and Certifying Plumber registration exams.

I always enjoy my appraisals and catch-ups with Kyle. His block course reports and reports from his host are always very good.”

Awards criteria include factors like work ethic, punctuality, attendance, customer service, practical skills and block course results. Each award is judged by the MasterLink Regional Coordinator, the MasterLink management team and the local training provider.

MAC MCKENZIE AWARD Staying down South, the Mac McKenzie Award has been presented for many years to the overall winner from the top Southland and Otago apprentices completing their National Certificates. The SIT tutor judges the award on overall performance over the four years of block courses, taking into account the apprentice’s performance in the classroom and workshop.

This year, the top Otago apprentice was Benjamin Boon of Foley Plumbers in Dunedin. And coming top in Southland was Adam de Pass of Jackson Plumbing in Invercargill, who also participated in the World Skills International competition in Brazil this August, having achieved Gold in plumbing at the regionals (see p62 for more).

The overall Mac McKenzie Award went to Benjamin Boon, who was presented his certificate by Master Plumbers and MasterLink CEO Greg Wallace at the Otago Master Plumbers Association AGM in June. Congratulations, Benjamin!

Following the code

Apprentices and their employers have a new code of good practice.

Good practice for an apprentice is to be informed, be a good employee, communicate clearly and be an active and committed learner. This is according to the new Code of Good Practice for New Zealand Apprenticeships, published by the Tertiary Education Commission (TEC).

Employers have a similar responsibility to be informed and communicate well. Good employer practice also includes ensuring active and effective training and mentoring; supporting access to off-the-job training; and supporting the ITO’s access to the apprentice.

Apprentices and their employers will now have clearer expectations, said Associate Minister for Tertiary Education, Skills and Employment Louise Upston on announcing its release in July. “The Code sets out the responsibilities and expectations of everyone involved in a New Zealand Apprenticeship: the apprentice, the employer and the industry training organisation.

The document has been drawn up with useful input from

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apprentices, employers and industry training organisations and I’m confident it will be a highly useful resource.”

Code of Good Practice for New Zeala New Zealand Apprenticeships were nd Apprenticeships introduced at the start of 2014 and are open to anyone in New Zealand aged 16 years plus. They replaced the Modern Apprenticeship scheme and allow all apprentices, regardless of age, to receive the same level of Government support.

Apprenticeships support the government’s Better Public Services target of increasing the number of 25-34-yearolds with Level Four qualifications.

Find the Code of Good Practice for New Zealand Apprenticeships at www.tec.govt.nz/Documents/Publications/Code-of-GoodPractice-for-NZ-Apprenticeships.pdf Introduction to New

Zealand

New Zealand Apprenticeships Apprenticeships are vocations and replaced the Modernformal work-based training programmes anyone aged Apprenticeships leading to careers 16 years and over. scheme in 2014. in a range of New Zealand There are many Apprenticeships benefits to becomin are open to the opportun g or employin ity to train while working and offer g an apprentice. New Zealand knowledge develop Apprenticeships employers the over time. opportunity to offer people employ people whose skills and The

three parties

to

a New Zealand There are three Apprenticeship parties to a New organisation.

Zealand Apprent Each iceship - the apprenti The responsibilitieshas unique responsibilities. ce, employer The responsibilities and industry training organisa of the employer are to train training of the apprenti and tion ce are to work and learn. the apprenticeship. are to facilitate the training, support the apprentice. The responsibilities and support both of the the apprentice and the employe industry r throughout

The framework

for New Zeala

The Industry nd Apprentices Training and Apprent hips obligations of iceship Act 1992 those involved sets out the framewo . rk for apprenti The key compone ceship training nts of a New Zealand and the Apprenticeship • being employe are: d in an industry , • completing a relevant level 4 qualification • meeting any of at least 120 credits, regulatory requirem and ents of the occupati Every New Zealand on.

Apprent iceship must between the employe r and the apprenti have a training agreement.

A training agreeme ce and forms part of the apprenti nt is a formal arrangement ce’s employm ent agreement.

Code of Good

Practice for New

Zealand Apprentices hips

Page 1 of 4

NEXT GENERATION

Making 2015 a success This issue, Skills Organisation Industry Manager Stephen Bocock looks at credit completion and course completion targets.

THE WORLD SKILLS Internationals recently took place in Brazil and I would like to say a huge congratulations to Adam de Pass of Jackson Plumbing in Invercargill, who was awarded a medallion for excellence and the prestigious Best in Nation award.

Adam also won Gold in Plumbing and Heating in the Oceania Competition in April and I have to say—what an amazing achievement! I’m always so impressed with the phenomenal pool of talent we have here in New Zealand.

Also happening recently was the inaugural Got a Trade Week. It was a huge success with great coverage throughout the week, across the nation.

You can read more about this on page 69.

It is great to be able to report on such successes and as we reach the last quarter of the calendar year, my thoughts turn to how we can make this a successful year for the PGD industry.

We look at performance in a number of ways, the most important being credit completions. In 2014, TEC changed the performance measure from 80 percent of all trainees getting one credit, to 80 percent getting ten credits (per calendar year).

So far this year PGD has achieved 64 percent (1,247) of trainees achieving 10 credits or more. There are 705 trainees yet to meet the 10 credit target but this includes new trainees who might not have had the opportunity to get onto courses yet.

The other way we measure is by registrations and completions. For the year to date we have had 312 trainee registrations (compared to 343 in 2014) with 209 completions (compared to 506 in 2014).

This directly affects us all because TEC looks at credit completions and course completions to help them decide on how

much money to invest back into industry training.

Basically, if we don’t make target, they cut funding and this means industry will lose out.

We are really close and it would be great to meet our targets for 2015 so we encourage you to continue supporting your trainees through their programme.

An easy way to check your apprentices’ performance is by heading to the My Skills portal (https://portal.skills.org.nz/).

If you have any questions call 0508 SKILLS (754 557) or support@skills.org.nz.

Stephen Bocock Industry Manager, The Skills Organisation skills.org.nz

Equipping Kiwis for workplace success

The Skills Organisation To find out more call 0508 SKILLS (0508 754 557) or visit skills.org.nz/trades

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October/November 2015

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Fergus has had some exciting updates of late. The job management software now has the facility for tiered pricing, where Fergus users can apply specific pricing structures to different clients. And it now integrates with MYOB AccountRight as well as Xero. Users now have the option to take part in the testing phase for new features, by signing up to Fergus Labs and providing feedback to make the system even better while getting access to the functionality sooner. A full video demonstration of how the system works is now available through your Fergus account, so you can watch it outside of your busy business hours and get up and running quicker.

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Flexible fix Making it easy to change a cylinder anode when clearance is tight.

When it was time to replace the sacrificial anodes in seven hot water cylinders at a Nelson rest home recently, Tuffnell Plumbing were faced with a challenge. Either they would have to drain and remove the heavy 300L cylinders or they would have to put a hole through the concrete ceiling above for access.

This got Certifying Plumber Chris Downey searching for an alternative solution.

He came across an Australian firm supplying these black coded flexible anodes, which are not available in NZ. The flexi anode only needs a clearance of 250mm above the cylinder, can be cut down if needed, and would suit a 45-325L tank. It is also suitable for residential installs where access is limited.

Tuffnell Plumbing now has a supply of these anodes.

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Underfloor flushing cart An essential piece of equipment for underfloor heating installers.

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The new underfloor flushing cart from Central Heating New Zealand enables convenient purging and filtering of the underfloor pipe loops, removing air and debris to ensure correct operation of the heating system. Heating professionals need to be able to do this without creating a mess and wasting water in the quality homes these systems are installed in.

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This product is a must for anyone working in the underfloor heating industry.

Visit www.centralheating.co.nz/trade-orders or call 0800 357 1233 to purchase.

October/November 2015

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AND FINALLY

Offcuts

Heroic, harrowing and heart-warming media snippets this issue.

End of an era

After a century of making bricks and pipes, New Lynn’s Monier Bricks & Roofing closed its doors at the end of July—the last remaining brick making company in the area to do so. The Western Leader reported that the site, along with an adjacent piece of land, was earmarked for housing in the New Lynn Urban Plan. The brick and pipe manufacturing industry moved into New Lynn in the 1920s and Crown Lynn made its famous pottery here until the factory closed in 1989.

Sinkhole scare

An elderly Kapiti man was nearly swallowed up by a sinkhole in June. According to the Kapiti Observer, when he noticed a small dip in the grass in his backyard, he fetched a spade, which suddenly went right in and almost took him with it. The dip opened into a narrow hole leading into a deep empty space below—taking up about a quarter of the backyard. A contractor called in to fill in the hole confirmed his suspicion that the cause might be an old, buried septic tank that had collapsed.

Apparently they were the norm in Waikanae properties until the late Seventies. It was rare for tanks to collapse and it must have been badly built, the contractor said.

Top toilet!

Believe it or not, there’s a Best Loo category in the Keep New Zealand Beautiful awards. This year’s best loos in the land are in Hastings, at the Clifton Road Reserve, near Haumoana. These public toilets are painted red to tie in with the pohutukawa and other red buildings along the Cape Kidnappers coastline. Since their completion in October 2014, they have had no fewer than 60,000 visitors, enjoying a clean and tidy loo with a view.

Hastings also beat two other entrants to win the most beautiful city award in the competition.

Wedding ring returns

A gold wedding ring lost at a US hospital more than 25 years ago is now back with its owner, reported ABC News in August. Larry Matti lost the ring in his hospital room when it slipped off his finger. His wife Linda searched everywhere with no luck. A couple of years later, a plumber found the ring in the sludge when he unplugged the sewer main. After it had sat unclaimed in the lost and found for six months, the plumber gave it to his wife Kathie, who has worn it for the past 25 years. At a party this July, she bumped into a man whose parents had the same names as those inscribed in the ring, and the date matched up too—and finally the ring is back with Larry!

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Beach romance

A 29-year-old UK plumber shocked his girlfriend recently with a 30ft proposal in the sand, reported the Daily Mail Online. He waited till the tide was out, then spent nearly two hours with a rake designing a 30ft artwork with ‘will you marry me’ written in a circle. His girlfriend saw Mike and then the message having arranged to go for a morning walk along the beach with her parents, who were in on the secret. She replied ‘yes’ in the sand after he had got down on one knee and asked her to marry him. Apparently he had been checking the tides for a couple of months, but each time they were right, she was at work or the weather was bad. The couple, who moved to Cornwall to be near the sea, were now planning to have a beach wedding.

Hooked on plumbing

A New York boy with autism is so keen to be a plumber when he grows up that he reads how-to books for entertainment on long car trips. His favourite DVD was one he got for Christmas with a Black and Decker plumbing book. According to wgrz.com, the 12-year-old is particularly fascinated by the idea of repairing toilets or faucets. When a recently retired business agent for the UA Local 22 Plumbers and Steamfitters Union saw the story, he decided with a colleague to make the boy an honorary plumber, giving him a new tool box full of tools, various clothes, a mug and a tour of the facility.

Talking rubbish

According to the Shanghai List, seven plumbers recently took on the task of working on the sewage pipes at a public restroom in Wuchang, Wuhan, and found no fewer than 30 cellphones and a mini laptop in the sludge. They also collected 300 yuan ($72) worth of coins while using a metal detector.

Wrench to runway

Australian apprentice plumber Marcus Stewart was spotted in a restaurant by a photographer, who asked him if he’d considered modelling. Hailing from a small, country town, Marcus never saw himself as runway-ready, reports style. com, but his friends finally persuaded him to do the photo shoot. According to the article, the resulting pictures impressed agents at Elite London and VNY in New York so much that he was soon travelling, doing test shoots, and learning the ins and outs of the business. Just six months later, he found himself making his runway debut at Calvin Klein’s Milan show. Apparently this is a rite of passage for up-and-coming male models, and landing one of the house’s coveted exclusives can be the starting point of a serious trajectory.

Above: Looking up and looking down.

Tall story

Plumbing, drainlaying and roofing business Hadlee & Brunton put its new truck-mounted crane to the test at the Timaru grain silos in July. The Timaru Herald reported that the 36-metre Hiab crane went up, up, up and beyond the 36.5m high buildings.

Andrew Brunton told the newspaper the company had upgraded from a 25-tonne crane to the new 54-tonne 8-wheel Hiab, which will be used for loading rods for directional drills, working on guttering, roofing iron and septic tanks. It may also be used by the fire service in an emergency, he said.

Even taller story...

We had a chuckle at this tale, published in Tyrone Tribulations, about an Irish plumber who spent 15 years tunnelling a hole under his bed to the local pub. According to the story, Patsy Kerr was summoned to Court when it emerged he’d been the cause of a collapsed sewage pipe from a neighbour’s house. He told the judge his wife had a terrible snore and, after watching Shawshank Redemption one night, he got the idea to dig his way to the pub, using spoons and other tools to hand. He finally hit jackpot, emerging in the women’s toilets.

AND FINALLY

DODGY Plumbing Keep them coming! Send your Dodgy Plumbing examples to the Ed: beverlysellers@xtra.co.nz

The bad, the worse and the ugly for your perusal...

Where to begin…

Fast and loose

“Another one for ya!” says Scott Witty. Found in the bathroom at a Wellington fast food outlet.

Blowing hot and cold

“A variation on dodgy plumbing” says WelTec Plumbing, Gasfitting and Drainlaying Tutor Derek Staines of this innovative take on automotive climate control.

“Another little photo of a job we went to—hard to believe it’s been done at all,” says Dale Lovell of Heron Plumbing.

Among the issues found were: • bottle and regulator too small for the gas usage of the instantaneous water heater • no safety chain to the gas bottle • no switch for the electrical lead, run to inside • flexible hose to the water heater and no disconnection union on the valve • gas bottle too close to the appliance • bottle too close to the gully trap.

“If you are wondering what the brown pipe is, it’s the drain off the dishwasher running to the garden.”

Where’s the pride?

Another one from Dale Lovell. Not dodgy plumbing, he says, but state of the workmanship in a 5-star hotel in Kuala Lumpur. “At least New Zealand plumbers take pride in their work.”

Please send the biggest size photos you have.

The bigger the file, the bigger we can show it on the page!

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Eyes down

Photo of a dodgy spouting install, sent in by plumber Haydon Mace. “Always thought it was a bit difficult to get brackets accurate when upside down but maybe they know something I don’t. Good to see the Hi-Vis, though not sure how it will help when they fall off the roof onto their heads!”

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