By Claire Falck, BRANZ CEO
It’s been a year of challenge and change for building and construction.
We’ve felt the impacts of an economic downturn and navigated a fast-changing environment.
Whether it’s the pressure on housing affordability, tight margins or keeping up with new regulations, we’re being challenged on multiple fronts.
But as 2025 draws to a close, there’s a solid foundation for optimism.
Emerging technologies and the advancement of AI is presenting new opportunities to streamline operations, reduce costs, and increase productivity.
A key opportunity is using AI to improve our complex and data-heavy consenting system.
A BRANZ-funded study from the University of Auckland revealed consent-related inefficiencies are costing us $500m in lost productivity every year.
It will come as no surprise that Requests for Information and manual processes are clogging the system. It’s an area where AI could really shine.
It’s why we’ll be trialling an AI-assisted ‘pre-check’ tool that could speed up approvals and improve accuracy.
It could help you interpret and supply exactly what’s needed, cutting out the guesswork and making it easier for everyone.
This is just one example of how we’re using the Building Research Levy to bring the academic world and industry together to find practical, real-world solutions for the issues that matter.
Right now, we know affordability is front and centre, and 60% of our research investment will be addressing that complex challenge in 2026.
We have some of the most unaffordable homes in the OECD, and we need to forge new partnerships and find fresh ideas to move us forward.
But home builders don’t need to wait – there are tools available right now that can help lower costs and improve quality.
Take BRANZ’s free Artisan app for remote inspections, a real-time record of compliance. It can save time and money with fewer costly delays and less requests for information and rework.
Over the past year, 236 building organisations have used Artisan on more than 2,200 building projects – and home builders like Jennian Homes have saved six weeks per build on average.
Saving time could also be as simple as picking up the phone to BRANZ’s free building helpline (0800 80 80 85).
We have experts standing by to help with everything from practical on-site instructions to technical advice on how to lower costs with smarter timber framing ratios and our tools to calculate H1 compliance.
Addressing affordability isn’t the only hot topic – fire risk is also a growing concern with building trending towards medium density housing, modular building and mass timber construction. It means understanding how building materials and systems perform in real-world, full-scale scenarios is more critical than ever.
BRANZ’s new fire lab – which opened in May this year – is one of the only facilities in the Southern Hemisphere capable of operating at that scale and assessing fire risk in multi-story buildings.
It works alongside our Structures and Materials Lab to help buildings last in our unique environments.
So, look out for BRANZ Appraisals when you’re selecting your building materials. We offer independent product testing and assurance (like CodeMark and BRANZ Appraisals).
It’s optional, but product manufacturers and suppliers use these services to reduce risk, achieve compliance and build confidence in the products you use on site
From testing and assurance to practical tools and guidance, we continue to work with builders and for builders as we head into the new year.
The pain-points persist, but we’re seeing signs of promise and progress that should give us all reason for optimism.
We’re confident that, together, we can deliver the affordable, quality, sustainable and resilient buildings all Kiwis deserve.
Stay updated with the latest news by subscribing to our newsletter. Don’t miss out on valuable insights and exciting updates—sign up now to stay connected!
