Years spent gaming may be giving some young New Zealanders an unexpected head start in the modern trades, as automation, robotics and digital technology transform traditional workplaces. Industry training organisation Competenz has coined the term Joystick Trades after hearing the same story from apprentices across the more than 30 sectors it supports – young people […]
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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.
Amendments to the Health and Safety at Work Act 2015 received Royal Assent on 9 July 2026, and the changes take effect on 1 April 2027. They rebuild New Zealand’s main workplace safety law around one idea, critical risk. The amendments define critical risks as those associated with scheduled hazards such as asbestos and hazardous […]
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 […]
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 […]
The announcement of nine new industry-led subjects for senior secondary students is exactly the kind of bold, forward-looking move New Zealand’s education system needs. Construction and Built Environment, Applied Intelligent Systems and the rest of the list will give young people genuine, curriculum-integrated pathways into industries that are crying out for skilled workers. Skills Group […]
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 […]
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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