New Zealand’s construction firms of all sizes are facing relentless cost escalation, unpredictable weather, and mounting sustainability mandates, and are having to get smarter if they want to adapt and survive, says Wayne Potgieter from Avanza Solutions For too long, the go-to fix has been the humble spreadsheet—a tool that, while useful for spotting trouble, falls short of steering projects through today’s complexities. Continue →

Construction litigator Janine Stewart, who took on Mainzeal Property and Construction Limited prior to its liquidation, has an important message for the industry’s leaders to avoid meeting the same fate Mainzeal had been one of the largest commercial construction companies in New Zealand.  Continue →

The Apprentice Challenge celebrates up and coming leaders in the construction sector and puts their carpentry skills to the test in a six-hour challenge Apprentices build a project over the course of six hours in a battle for first place in their region, achieving bragging rights and a chance to win $10,000 in prizes at the national competition. Continue →

While the cost of building a house is still increasing, it is at a much slower rate than previously, CoreLogic finds The cost to build a ‘standard’ single storey three bedroom, two-bathroom standalone dwelling in NZ increased by 0.6% in the three months to December, half the 1.1% growth seen in the third quarter of 2024 and also below the long-term average quarterly rise of 1.0%. Continue →

Property values in New Zealand fell 0.2% in December, marking the ninth drop in the past 10 months, CoreLogic reports   The national median value now stands at $803,624, which is 3.9% lower than a year ago and equivalent to a drop of around $32,200. Continue →

Allowing certified building professionals to consent their own work may get houses built faster and for less cost, but insurance implications and the sector’s readiness are among concerns being raised Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk plans to develop a new opt-in self-certification scheme for qualified building professionals and accredited businesses. Continue →

While mental health in the construction is improving overall, more support is needed for the sector’s most vulnerable workers MATES in Construction, a not-for-profit organisation which supports positive well-being in the industry, surveyed more than 2000 workers, with 85% of workers reporting good mental health in 2023. Continue →

New research reveals that while overall business confidence has continued trending downwards, 94% of construction and manufacturing SMEs are confident about the next 12 months The latest RFI Global research commissioned by Prospa highlights the ongoing uncertainty in New Zealand’s business climate, with business confidence continuing to trend downwards despite earlier post-covid optimism. Continue →

Nearly a third of Australian companies are already trialing or using AI to help solve major issues facing the industry, including reducing the cost of construction – another third plan to use it in the future. Continue →

There has been a significant increase in the number of women joining the construction industry, however, they are still significantly underrepresented, making up just 15% of the trades and construction industry When Rebecca Gornall, Health and Safety Manager at Mansons TCLM Limited, first started her role in commercial construction six years ago she was one of the only females on site. Continue →

The average cost of building a home in New Zealand’s main centres has increased by 0.3% this quarter and 5.2% since February 2023, a much smaller percentage to recent years. Continue →

After a period of rapidly rising costs in the building sector, pressures on supply chains and capacity are easing and the annual growth in residential construction costs has reduced to the lowest level in around seven years CoreLogic’s latest Cordell Construction Cost Index (CCCI) recorded a 0.8% rise in the fourth quarter of 2023. Continue →

The Commerce Commission has filed criminal charges against two construction companies and two directors for alleged bid rigging of publicly funded construction contracts The charges follow a Commission investigation into allegations that the companies and their directors colluded to rig bids for infrastructure projects in Auckland.  Continue →

Autodesk has released its Correspondence tool in New Zealand, offering support for project teams to make everyday decisions earlier. Continue →

Waihanga Ara Rau, the Workforce Development Council for Construction and Infrastructure, has published its Statement of Strategic Direction (SSD) outlining what it intends to achieve for the sector over the next five years The Waihanga Ara Rau SSD outlines a focused and collaborative approach to shaping the future of Aotearoa, by strengthening the construction and infrastructure industry workforce. Continue →

With changes in Australia’s National Construction Code (NCC), the building sector there needs to adapt, Environment.co’s Continue →

The Construction Sector Accord and Callaghan Innovation have agreed to partner to address systemic challenges and build resilience across the construction sector The partnership seeks to accelerate growth and innovation across construction businesses of every size and stage. Continue →

The Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) says it wants to modernise the building consent system to provide assurance to building owners and users that building work will be done right the first time and that buildings are healthy, safe and durable The review is an end-to-end review of the building consent system – from the building design phase through to the issuing of a code compliance certificate. Continue →

Despite shrink-wrap being the most convenient solution to keep the weather out, Auckland Council’s Senior Waste Planning Specialist Mark Roberts was adamant it would not be used for remedial work on the Waiōrea Community Recycling Centre The 1930s Western Springs building will open in August this year after extensive remedial work on the roof and parapet. Continue →

In the face of a myriad of challenges, including the cost of goods and a shortage of staff, medium sized businesses in the construction sector have not been afraid to invest in innovation, an MYOB survey finds The effects of inflation are weighing heavily on many in the sector and with business leaders anticipating more headwinds over the coming months, attention now turns to investing in innovation to strengthen performance and drive growth. Continue →