The newly elected Government intends to re-introduce 90-day employment trial periods, but is this a good and commercially safe way for employers to take on new personnel? Continue →

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

Civil Contractors NZ Technical Manager Michelle Farrell takes a deep dive into what ‘sustainability’ means, why it matters, and what it might mean for the civil construction industry in New Zealand echo adrotate_group(33, 0, 0, 0); It seems right now, the more the word ‘sustainability’ is used, the less it means. Continue →

The Wellington Regional Skills Leadership Group (RSLG) and over 50 representatives from across the infrastructure and construction sector met at WelTec (the Wellington Institute of Technology) to discuss workforce development needs for the region and creating a regional partnership to progress priorities echo adrotate_group(33, 0, 0, 0); Participants at the meeting included major employers, industry organisations, training providers, iwi, Waihanga Ara Rau (the Construction and Infrastructure Workforce Development Council), local government, WellingtonNZ (the economic development agency for the region), Government representatives including from the Ministry for Social Development, Kainga Ora, MBIE, the Construction Sector Accord, and community groups such as Le Fale from Porirua.  Continue →

The Infrastructure Commission notes that New Zealand would have to spend around 9.6% of GDP over 30 years to bridge the infrastructure backlog and build a fit-for-purpose network, which Dr Matthew Birchall says is simply not feasible, nor is it desirable echo adrotate_group(33, 0, 0, 0); New Zealand faces several infrastructure challenges in the years ahead. Continue →

With 2023 approaching the halfway mark, Waihanga Ara Rau Chief Executive Philip Aldridge reflects on what the Workforce and Development Council for Construction and Infrastructure achieved since its establishment in October 2021 echo adrotate_group(33, 0, 0, 0); Much of our first year was about getting our systems set up, our people on board, our culture embedded and establishing relationships with you, our industry. Continue →

Infrastructure New Zealand has released the second tranche of its policy positions in the lead-up to the 2023 election to act as a starting point for discussions on how to improve the current state of play in the infrastructure sector echo adrotate_group(33, 0, 0, 0); At present, Aotearoa New Zealand faces a number of challenges to meet current and future infrastructure needs. Continue →

A contractor’s work environment must be safe for everyone involved, which means having the proper first aid supplies and personnel in an emergency echo adrotate_group(33, 0, 0, 0); This article will discuss some essential tips and strategies for contractors to help them meet their first-aid obligations. Continue →

Civil engineering students at Whitireia and WelTec | Te Pūkenga have taken on some of New Zealand’s toughest infrastructure issues around housing and three waters with their recent practical project assignments echo adrotate_group(33, 0, 0, 0); The ākonga (learners) have been designing housing subdivisions on real-life sections which have completely self-sustainable water capture and reticulation systems, making them more resilient and self-reliant in weather or other natural events. Continue →

As 2022 finally fades in the rear-view mirror, ending the plethora of analysis and commentary, we brace ourselves to negotiate a sadly familiar conglomeration of new and long-running challenges echo adrotate_group(33, 0, 0, 0); The major events of 2021-22, especially the dramatic impact of severe weather and our controversial prolonged Covid 19 national response affecting the social and political landscape, are largely responsible for our faltering economy. Continue →

It is once again time to get entries in for the annual Civil Contractors New Zealand Hirepool Construction Excellence Awards, which have recognised outstanding projects and maintenance initiatives from New Zealand’s civil construction industry since 1978 echo adrotate_group(33, 0, 0, 0); The awards are recognised as the civil construction and infrastructure industry’s top honours. Continue →

While there are some projects New Zealand can deliver just as well as other high-income countries, it does struggle when it comes to bigger projects, a report from Te Waihanga / The New Zealand Infrastructure Commission finds Michelle McCormick, Policy Director, Infrastructure New Zealand echo adrotate_group(33, 0, 0, 0); The lay of the land: Benchmarking New Zealand’s infrastructure delivery costs provides a comparison of New Zealand’s infrastructure delivery costs compared to other high-income countries. Continue →

As recession bites, cash-strapped nations will need private finance to fund new projects, however the public private partnership model only works if specific risks are borne by the party best able to manage them By David Ashmore, Philip Bates, and Martina Dampf echo adrotate_group(33, 0, 0, 0); In recent years, many countries have turned to private finance as a means of funding infrastructure because often, the private sector is best placed to mobilise substantial funding within short time frames.  Continue →

Three Waters, resource management reforms and energy were hot topics in 2022 and will continue to be key themes in the coming year, Buddle Findlay National Chair Jennifer Caldwell says echo adrotate_group(33, 0, 0, 0); 2022 was a busy year for the infrastructure sector.   Continue →

The addition of green list pathways for skilled civil construction trade workers alongside skilled civil engineers shows the world New Zealand is open for business once more, says Civil Contractors New Zealand Chief Executive Alan Pollard echo adrotate_group(33, 0, 0, 0); The changes will see Green List pathways for residence for skilled civil construction machine operators, drainlayers, site supervisors and truck drivers – people who often had vital skills and practical knowledge that often went unrecognised. Continue →

Over the past three years we’ve learned you can work from anywhere for many roles.  Continue →

The critical skills shortage in the manufacturing and engineering sectors is set to grow to 40,000 workers by 2028 unless immediate action is taken, a Government report finds echo adrotate_group(33, 0, 0, 0); The research commissioned by Hanga-Aro-Rau, the Manufacturing, Engineering and Logistics Workforce Development Council, found widespread disruption caused by COVID-19, immigration policy settings as well as constraints on supply chains and the international labour market will see the industry skills gap continue to widen – if left unchecked. Continue →

There is a lot of work ahead for the country’s infrastructure sector, going by the Government’s response to the New Zealand Infrastructure Commission’s 30-year plan, says Civil Contractors New Zealand Chief Executive Alan Pollard echo adrotate_group(33, 0, 0, 0); Published in June, Rautaki Hanganga o Aotearoa – New Zealand Infrastructure Strategy 2022–2052 set out the infrastructure challenges and opportunities facing New Zealand over the next 30 years. Continue →

As travel restrictions lift, trades businesses face both risk and opportunity, Findex Accounting and Business Advisory Partner Larry Mitchell says echo adrotate_group(33, 0, 0, 0); Immigration is expected to rise again, and with it, the need to be aware of the requirements of employing employees with specific immigration and employment rules. Continue →

Almost every large building has systems to control and monitor power and lighting, temperature and ventilation, elevators and more, known collectively as Building Management Systems, Claroty ANZ Regional Director Lani Refiti says echo adrotate_group(33, 0, 0, 0); Historically, Building Management Systems (BMS) were siloed with their own control facilities, connected over separate dedicated networks. Continue →