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 echo adrotate_group(33, 0, 0, 0); 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 →

Civil Contractors New Zealand welcomes the clarity of the government’s future infrastructure funding plans provided by Budget 2024, but warns projects and work programmes may still be too far in the future, and immediate stimulus is needed to sustain the industry echo adrotate_group(33, 0, 0, 0); Chief Executive Alan Pollard says while the budget provided much-needed clarity about the future work programme, and the government should be congratulated for its focus on delivering infrastructure, urgency was needed to bring work to restore confidence to the market, so infrastructure constructors could be ready to go when projects – both large and small – came online. 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 echo adrotate_group(33, 0, 0, 0); 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 →

A government report shows that construction activity hit its peak following an increase in demand after Covid-19, but is now forecast to drop back to pre-pandemic levels echo adrotate_group(33, 0, 0, 0); The Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) has published the National Construction Pipeline Report 2023 providing a projection of national building and construction activity for the six years from December 2022 to December 2028. Continue →

The ‘Digital Guidance Suite’, or DigiGuide, is available to download for free, to help those working in the built environment to get on the same page when it comes to digital strategies and Building Information Management (BIM) processes echo adrotate_group(33, 0, 0, 0); The documents include a Value Case for digital first strategies and the New Zealand Handbook for BIM processes. Continue →

The Commerce Commission has filed criminal charges against two construction companies and two directors for alleged bid rigging of publicly funded construction contracts echo adrotate_group(33, 0, 0, 0); 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 →

A study of psychosocial hazards in New Zealand construction businesses has revealed that workers are being abused and threatened, while health and safety leaders face huge challenges echo adrotate_group(33, 0, 0, 0); The study collected over 30,000 data points from construction businesses around the country and was led by Dr Steve Cantwell of safety software company SaferMe. Continue →

Grim findings have come out of the annual 2023 Construction Industry Survey as optimism in the sector continues to decrease echo adrotate_group(33, 0, 0, 0); A partnership between Teletrac Navman and Civil Contractors New Zealand, the survey found that New Zealand’s infrastructure is not able to cope with increased severe weather events and the impacts of climate change. 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 echo adrotate_group(33, 0, 0, 0); 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 →

The Civil Contractors New Zealand Hirepool Construction Excellence Awards will be presented on 1 September as part of this year’s CCNZ National Conference echo adrotate_group(33, 0, 0, 0); CCNZ Chief Executive Alan Pollard congratulates the finalists on the work they have done to connect communities and construct the country’s vital infrastructure. Continue →

The Government’s second emissions reduction plan must be well-informed and well-understood, recognise practical opportunities for emissions reductions and be achievable for the civil contracting industry, and New Zealand as a whole echo adrotate_group(33, 0, 0, 0); At the end of the year, the Climate Change Commission (He Pou a Rangi) will present the Government with advice to inform the strategic direction of the second emissions reduction plan, covering New Zealand’s 2026–2030 emissions budget. 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 echo adrotate_group(33, 0, 0, 0); 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 →

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 echo adrotate_group(33, 0, 0, 0); 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 echo adrotate_group(33, 0, 0, 0); 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 →

It is no surprise that the construction had the highest number of formal insolvency proceedings out of any sector in Q1 2023, followed by property and real estate, BWA Insolvency founder Bryan Williams says echo adrotate_group(33, 0, 0, 0); The latest report from Auckland-based BWA Insolvency shows a steady increase in business failures across the country, with the triple whammy of price increases, supply shortages and decreasing demand affecting a range of different sectors. Continue →

Learners will have the opportunity to taste the trades following the launch of a new set of micro-credentials by BCITO | Te Pūkenga, in partnership with Waihanga Ara Rau – Construction and Infrastructure Workforce Development Council echo adrotate_group(33, 0, 0, 0); The five new micro-credentials cover a range of introductory construction, joinery, renovation, demolition, onsite assembly, interior lining, and exterior cladding skills. Continue →

After extensive review, New Zealand’s standard contract for the construction of building and civil engineering projects has been revised and released for consultation echo adrotate_group(33, 0, 0, 0); The NZS 3910 is the contract most commonly used in New Zealand’s construction industry. Continue →

The construction industry is at a crossroad, with the need to deliver increasing infrastructure, transport and housing projects but in the face of global supply chain disruptions, extreme weather and increasing material and labour costs echo adrotate_group(33, 0, 0, 0); These challenges are already driving construction company insolvencies in Australia and technology is needed now more than ever to drive productivity in the industry, Autodesk says. Continue →