Industry News

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Job cuts ripple through construction sector

Job cuts are beginning to sharpen across the construction industry, with a growing number of major contractors scaling back staffing as workloads tighten, project pipelines slow, and economic conditions remain uncertain.   Downer has confirmed staff reductions as part of an operational reset in response to softer demand. It’s confirmed more than 70 roles of […]

4 min read
Concrete NZ Welcomes Cross-industry Momentum On Decarbonisation

Concrete New Zealand (NZ) has welcomed the Sustainable Steel Council’s newly released roadmap which outlines the steel industry’s pathway to net-zero emissions by 2050, as another positive step for the construction and infrastructure ecosystem.   Concrete NZ Chief Executive Rob Gaimster said the steel industry roadmap reflects growing alignment across the built environment on the […]

3 min read
Infrastructure investment set for overhaul

The Government is introducing a major shake-up of how infrastructure projects are assessed and approved, with a stronger focus on independent oversight, clearer advice to Ministers, and improved value for money in public investment.   Infrastructure Minister Chris Bishop and Finance Minister Nicola Willis say changes to the Investment Management System are designed to ensure […]

3 min read
Anzac Day Mondayised this year

In 2026, ANZAC Day falls on a Saturday, which changes how the public holiday is observed for many New Zealanders.   While the date itself remains April 25, workplace entitlements shift under the country’s Mondayisation rules, which are designed to make the system fairer for employees whose schedules don’t include weekends.   Mondayisation was introduced […]

3 min read
Overseas products yet to gain traction

Overseas-sourced building products are yet to make a significant impact on the construction market, despite sustained pressure from rising build costs and ongoing concerns about affordability across the sector.   While parallel importing and direct offshore procurement are legal and increasingly accessible, industry commentary suggests uptake remains limited, with most projects still relying heavily on […]

3 min read
Two-thirds of Kiwi graduates would choose a trade if starting again

A growing number of New Zealand graduates are reconsidering the value of a university degree, with new research showing many would opt for a skilled trade if given a second chance. A global study by MoneySuperMarket has found that 67% of New Zealand degree holders would choose a vocational pathway over university if they were […]

3 min read
Designing with escape routes in mind

Increased housing intensification mustn’t compromise safe evacuation routes. Recent updates to C/AS1 guidance, along with ongoing BRANZ research, place renewed focus on how external escape routes are designed.   In the past, most standalone homes were assumed to provide a straightforward escape path from any exit door directly to an open area such as a […]

3 min read
Think before you dig

Checking for underground services before you start upheaving the ground really matters. We all know that what’s beneath the ground can often be more dangerous (and expensive) than what’s above it.   Thousands of kilometres of underground infrastructure criss-cross construction zones. These include telecommunication cables, gas mains and service lines, water and wastewater pipes, and […]

3 min read
Storminator™: a practical way to cut toxic roof runoff

Stormwater runoff is the biggest source of pollution in urban waterways, and metal roofs are a major contributor. Each time it rains, dissolved heavy metals such as zinc and copper can wash off roofs and into drains, streams and rivers, where they threaten aquatic life.   Research highlighted by the New Zealand Herald and Stuff […]

2 min read