An earthquake does something to a retaining wall its static design never accounted for. The retained soil accelerates sideways against the back of the wall, and that push lands on top of the load the wall was already holding. Walls sound under normal conditions have gone over for exactly this reason. How much extra push […]
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Our magazine is the go-to source for professionals looking to stay informed of the latest trends in the building and contracting industries. We explore issues and insights concerning energy and utilities, property management, property development, scaffolding, residential & commercial projects, and concrete applications for housing.
New Zealand’s been facing some of the coldest mornings of the year. Temperatures in parts of the South Island have plunged to -7 degrees. MetService recorded minus seven at Mount Cook and Pukaki, with Twizel dropping even further to minus 7.5, while Taupo in the North Island shivered through a morning low of minus 5.1. […]
The most dangerous thing on a construction site is not the fall or the machine. In Australia, construction workers take their own lives at a rate of 25.7 per 100,000, against 14.3 per 100,000 for other employed men, and suicide is by a clear margin the leading cause of death in the trade. New Zealand’s […]
Work-related disease kills far more building workers than falls, vehicles and machinery, and WorkSafe NZ estimates it claims between 750 and 900 lives across the nation’s workforce every year. Measured against the acute toll that dominates site safety, a worker is 15 times more likely to die from a disease the job caused than from […]
The Live Well, Build Well initiative began in late 2022 to help residential construction workers improve their mental health and wellbeing. Backed by the Mental Health Foundation and ACC, the programme is designed to help builders and tradies build the mental strength and resilience needed to cope with the demands of working in a challenging […]
With accidents occurring on the road every day, vehicle safety is a huge concern for all New Zealanders. For every fleet of vehicles, safety should be made the main priority. Safety is not the sole responsibility of the drivers, however – it’s also the technicians, dispatchers, and upper management who are responsible. One way that […]
New vehicle suppliers are growing increasingly optimistic about a sustained rebound in sales, as August results continue the upward trend that began earlier this year. A total of 11,739 new vehicles were registered in August, slightly up from 11,671 in July and significantly ahead of the 9,986 units sold in August 2024—a year-on-year increase of […]
Kia has officially entered the pickup truck segment — and not quietly. The all-new Kia Tasman, the brand’s first-ever ute, makes a powerful debut with rugged off-road credentials, impressive towing and payload capabilities, and a level of refinement not typically found in this class. This isn’t just another dual-cab with a badge swap — the […]
Continuing its crackdown on road cones, the Government is soon to force local councils to adopt a risk-based approach to minimise spending on orange witch hats. “New Zealanders have become increasingly irritated by the too-frequently over-the-top use of road cones and costly temporary traffic management around roadworks,” Transport Minister Chris Bishop says. “This approach causes […]
Record numbers celebrate the people behind construction industry More than 600 guests gathered in Auckland for the 2026 Building People Awards, with a record number of entries recognising the people making a difference across Aotearoa New Zealand’s building and construction industry. Hosted by Building Institute Aotearoa, the awards celebrate everyone from students, apprentices and emerging […]
Pasadena, CA (27 July 2021) Bluebeam and The B1M announced today the launch of the Construction Story of the Year award, a first of its kind for the architecture, engineering and construction (AEC) sector – to shine a spotlight on the people and projects that have made a uniquely positive impact on the industry and […]
When Culham Engineering apprentice Devin Gibson was named New Zealand Manufacturing Apprentice of the Year, it was recognition of the work that happens long before awards are handed out. Presented by Minister for Small Business and Manufacturing, Hon. Cameron Brewer, at the 2026 New Zealand Manufacturing Awards, the national award recognises apprentices who demonstrate technical […]
The biggest challenge facing construction is not a lack of future work. New Zealand still needs more homes, schools, hospitals and infrastructure. The real question is whether the industry will have the people and capability to respond when that work arrives. Addressing productivity issues created by high workforce turnover and lack of co-ordination across the […]
Leaving school at just 16 to help support her family could easily have marked the end of Lexiga (Lexi) Pritchard’s education. Instead, it became the beginning of a remarkable learning journey that has seen the 25-year-old recognised as one of just six recipients nationwide of the 2026 Bunnings Women in Apprenticeships Award. Now a Production […]
For much of the past decade, the story around skilled trades has been one of decline, ageing workforces, falling apprenticeship numbers and a persistent perception among school leavers that a university degree was the only serious path to a stable career. That story is starting to shift, and the change is coming from an unexpected […]
BCITO has launched a campaign to highlight the achievements of Māori tradespeople. “We’ve seen the percentage of Māori workers in building and construction grow from 12 per cent in 2018 to 17 per cent. However, we also want to see a corresponding rise in Māori students completing their apprenticeships and qualifications,” said BCITO Director, Greg […]
Tradies face demanding schedules, early mornings, and physically exhausting work. Long hours may feel necessary, especially for business owners managing their tools by day and paperwork by night. But this work culture comes with risks to your lifestyle, your health and those around you. The tradie lifestyle is notorious, but how do we prevent burnout? […]
Q&A with NZCB CEO Malcolm Fleming Uncertainty about forward workloads and a lack of government direction regarding the future of vocational education and apprentice training; these are the two biggest challenges chief executive of New Zealand Certified Builders, Malcolm Fleming, believes Kiwi tradespeople face today. But with construction costs growing and regulations changing, his role […]
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