A decline in dwelling consents has alleviated pressure on New Zealand’s residential construction sector, leading to a slowdown in building activities and price growth, CoreLogic Chief Property Economist Kelvin Davidson says The latest Cordell Construction Cost Index (CCCI) shows construction costs rose 0.6% in the June quarter, in line with the March figures but well below the average quarterly increases of 2% recorded in 2021 and 2022. Continue →

In today’s volatile economic climate, Benchmark Estimating Software Australia Chief Executive Frank Prestipino asks why so many construction companies still rely on spreadsheets to estimate costs On 23 March the Sydney Morning Herald reported that Lloyd Group, a large construction firm specialising in building schools and other government infrastructure had gone into administration. Continue →

Civil Contractors New Zealand is seeking input from construction professionals on industry issues, workforce and technology in its annual Construction Industry Survey Now in its seventh year, this joint research project with Teletrac Navman aims to provide actionable insights to assist construction companies in overcoming challenges and capitalising on opportunities. Continue →

Homeowners may not be fully aware of how much it might now cost to rebuild their most valuable asset, CoreLogic says In just the first two months of 2023 New Zealand has experienced two significant weather events, with the Auckland Anniversary Weekend flooding alone expected to cost more than $1 billion, far exceeding the $350 million in insured losses recorded in 2022, previously the biggest year to date. Continue →

Whether you are building a single-story home or a skyscraper, Medshop explores some of the most common dangers so you can remain educated and secure in your work environment Though the construction industry has advanced significantly in protecting its workers, there are still potential health and safety hazards you must manage onsite. Continue →

By digitizing and automating the payment process and implementing real-time payment exchange, construction companies can decrease risk and take steps to improve profitability Construction companies can automate payment and compliance workflows. Continue →

The building industry is prepared for the coming increase in demand for ‘Low E’ glazing as new thermal performance requirements are phased in across the country, Window & Glass Association of New Zealand Chief Executive Brett Francis says Clause H1 of the New Zealand Building Code, which regulates the energy efficiency of buildings, was updated in November last year and the first phase of implementation began on Thursday 3 November. Continue →

Above average preconstruction shows significantly higher client satisfaction, greater profits and fewer delays, yet fewer than one-in-five survey respondents are conducting above-average preconstruction This year, Procore partnered with FMI to survey 979 construction industry stakeholders worldwide. Continue →

A grant of close to $10.3 million will support a four-year research project focused on transforming the construction sector in New Zealand using Construction 4.0 approaches HERA, the heavy engineering research association, has been successful in the 2022 round of the prestigious Endeavour Fund, which supports important scientific research projects seeking to address some of our biggest challenges. Continue →

The construction industry is turning to new technology and updating business practices to address mental health challenges that are plaguing the industry, new research finds The Optus Business Construction Industry Pulse 2022 report, conducted by ACA Research, found 45% of construction business owners say their employees had issues with mental health and wellbeing during the first two years of the pandemic. Continue →

The Commerce Commission is recommending the establishment of a centralised digital national key products registry to increase trust and confidence in residential building supplies A national products register would act as the primary reference source for information about building products, including the information that will be required to be disclosed as a result of the building law reforms, the Commerce Commission says. Continue →

While digitalisation in the construction sector helps with the challenges of an increasingly competitive market, a by-product of this is attracting tech-savvy talent, Rob Bryant from InEight says Historically, the construction industry has been slow to keep up with the pace of an advancing digital world. Continue →

While New Zealand construction companies are more likely to embrace technology and sustainability than their Australian counterparts, they are spending more time on rework or fixing defects, a Procore report reveals Procore’s How We Build Now report found that one in every six hours (16% of project time) is spent on rework – a clear sign of lost productivity in an industry facing challenging market conditions. Continue →

Construction and demolition waste poses a special challenge for recyclers – it comprises a lot of different tough materials and it is difficult to separate pollutants, Waste Management World reports. Continue →

Giving construction workers access to technology such as augmented reality (AR) will not only combat soaring resource costs, but help attract young people to construction roles, says GlobalData. Continue →

A builder walks into a room full of big-name property developers and asks them to stump up millions of dollars so his company can finish their projects. Continue →

Supply chain disruption and rising material costs are putting additional pressure on construction firms already stretched thin, with many now turning to digital solutions, says Payapps Chief Operating Officer Tony Simonsen According to the latest New Zealand Core Logic data, construction costs in New Zealand have increased by 6.2 percent last year, largely due to rising commodity and raw material prices. Continue →

The collapse of Australian construction firm Probuild is unfortunately just one of the many detrimental outcomes we can expect to see unless more is done to effectively manage risks, Felix Chief Executive Mike Davis says Probuild will likely remain stalled for now, leading to more delays and cost overruns, compounding the adverse outcomes for owners, subcontractors, staff and significant ripple effects throughout the industry and wider community. Continue →

Organisations in construction are operating blindly against an evolving backdrop of supply chain risks and changing business landscape, due to a staggering lack of transparency, procurement platform Felix reveals in its Building in the Dark report The report, developed in collaboration with industry consultancy Entwine, uncovers critical industry need for more supply chain transparency and effective risk management. Continue →

The cost of both residential and non-residential construction rose more than 10% last year and similar forecasts are expected for 2022 according to the NZ Infrastructure Commission’s Quarterly report “Infrastructure providers, property developers, and households are trying to build more than ever, but labour shortages, material supply chain bottlenecks, and Covid-induced slowdowns have gotten in the way,” says Commission Director of Economics, Peter Nunns. Continue →