The nation’s crane activity has fallen to its lowest level in a decade. New Zealand’s construction slowdown is now clearly visible from above. Crane counts are one of the most reliable indicators of real-time building activity. The Crane Index by quantity surveyors Rider Levett Bucknall (RLB) studies crane numbers in the nation’s main centres. […]
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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.
When MATES in Construction NZ heard from more than 2300 workers through the 2025 Industry Well-being Survey, supported by ASB, the message was clear: connection matters. Not in a vague or abstract way, but in the everyday moments that shape life on site. In fact, 27% of workers said mateship and social connection positively contributed […]
Fast-moving floodwater dramatically increases the risk to urban pedestrians, new modelling has shown. A Wellington case study showed that walking and driving routes to hospitals, public transport and essential services can be cut off during peak flooding. Researchers overlaid flood risk maps onto Wellington’s transport network to assess whether people could reach essential services during […]
WorkSafe is calling on all industries to follow through on controlling risks once they are identified after a gas explosion burned a forklift driver. In March 2024, the forklift caught fire, igniting LPG that was being released from condemned cylinders. Several nine-kilogram gas bottles exploded, fuelling the fire. The driver was hospitalised with burns and […]
Six children’s coloured sand products prompted widespread school closures across Australia and New Zealand in November 2025 after laboratory testing detected traces of tremolite and chrysotile asbestos. By mid‑November, dozens of schools in New Zealand and over 70 in Australia’s ACT had temporarily shut, while hundreds more sought guidance from regulators. The products, rainbow sand from Educational […]
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 […]
Championing change in New Zealand’s trades, the 2026 Bunnings Trade Women in Apprenticeships Awards are now open for nominations, offering a powerful platform for women at the start of their trade careers to step forward and be recognised. Six female apprentices will each receive a support pack valued at over $11,000, designed to help them […]
The outstanding project 48 Tuarangi Road in Auckland has won the Resene Supreme Award in the recent NZ Wood- Resene Timber Design Awards, brought to you by the Wood Processors and Manufacturers’ Association (WPMA). It is a project judges called an “impressive integration of timber material and manufacturing precision”. TOA Architects designed the 156sqm home. […]
As building and infrastructure projects begin to move from planning to delivery across New Zealand, one issue continues to concern the industry: where will the skilled workforce come from? For many smaller building and engineering businesses, finding experienced staff is often the biggest barrier to taking on more work. Rather than competing in a tight […]
NZA champions future builders, roofers, joiners and bricklayers in their career journey. With decades of experience in connecting apprentices to the industry, they have become a trusted link between learners and employers across the country. Nicole Niederer, NZA’s South Island business and administration manager, says that a key part of their work is matching the […]
The national construction workforce excels in technical skills but could improve in business management, planning, organising and leadership, a new survey has found. ConstrucTrend 2025 studies skill priorities and gaps, and the emerging technologies New Zealand’s carpenters, plumbers and electricians need to embrace. The clear message is to focus on continuous learning to help meet […]
A new school-based trade training initiative will see Central Otago and Queenstown Lakes students build transportable homes. The TradeBase program sees Breen Construction partner with Dunstan and Wakatipu High Schools, BCITO and the local industry to offer structured, competency-led learning on real Breen construction sites, right on school grounds. Managing director Lindsey Breen says the […]
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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