When you think of workplace hazards, factories and construction sites often come to mind. Growing research suggests our homes may harbour a silent threat: silica dust. Silicosis, the lung disease caused by inhaling silica particles, is normally associated with mining or stonecutting. However, the increasing popularity of quartz and engineered stone for kitchen and bathroom […]

A report highlighting major and widespread productivity challenges facing the construction sector has underlined the importance of the Government’s plan to make it easier and more affordable to build. Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk says, “The New Zealand Chinese Building Industry Association has released a report investigating the building and construction sector and outlining […]

Industry will be pleased to hear that the cost of building a home has largely stabilised. The latest QV CostBuilder quarterly update for August has found that the average building cost per square metre for residential buildings has increased by 0.3 percent this quarter. That is the same rate of increase that was reported in […]

According to WoodWorks New Zealand, Paris has turned to flexible, reusable timber in their architectural point of view as the host of the upcoming 2024 Summer Olympic Games. The new Olympics Aquatics Centre on the outskirts of Pairs is massive, with a Pringle-shaped solar roof and a 5000-seat capacity. Yet it was pieced together like […]

Stats NZ data shows that the volume of building work was $8.3 million in the March 2024 quarter, down 4.0 per cent from the December 2023 quarter. Construction and property statistics manager Michael Heslop said, “The total volume of building work in the March 2024 quarter was the lowest quarterly volume in the past two […]

The New Zealand Institute of Landscape Architects (NZILA) says the government’s success in designing a nationwide climate adaptation framework depends on them. NZILA President Debbie Tikao has said that the success of any strategy will depend entirely on the government’s propensity to employ landscape architects. This message comes after Minister for Climate Change Hon Simon […]