Conference one of the best yet

Jonathon Telfer (second left) of Telfers Roofing, KeriKeri winner of the 2016 RANZ Professionalism in Metal Tile Installation Award, pictured with Rob Lawson, Harry Boxall and Vaughan Holdt of sponsors Metrotile.

Chris Kay of New Zealand Steel speaking at the RANZ conference where he said roofers substitute product without homeowners’ permission at their peril.

Another successful RANZ annual conference was held at SKYCITY Auckland Convention Centre in July, with one of the highlights being special guest speaker Hamish Matheson, RoofStar Technical Advisor for the Roofing Contractors Association of British Columbia, based in Vancouver.

“Hamish’s presentation really opened our eyes to the opportunities out there, particularly around training. Our Canadian equivalent association has its own in-house roofing school, where intensive training is undertaken during the winter months when the industry effectively shuts down due to the climate. Luckily we don’t have those sorts of winters here. However it would be great for us to introduce training to a similar level, to raise levels to the high bar of performance roofers in Canada achieve,” says CEO Graham Moor.

The conference also included a trade show with 32 exhibitors from manufacturers and suppliers to the roofing industry.

Independent economist Shamubeel Equab was the opening keynote speaker with ultra-marathon runner Lisa Tamati the evening’s inspirational closing speaker.

“The quality of speakers and general programme was one of the highest we have achieved, covering everything from the economy, finance, managing risk, technical issues and the licensing environment, to defects, training (including literacy and numeracy and unlocking the skills potential of employees), and the skills shortage.”

Kirk Hardy from The Drug Detection Agency provided a fascinating insight into the obligations of employers with regard to the new Health & Safety at Work Act, and modifying behaviour when it comes to employees’ use of drugs and alcohol.

Two Life Memberships were created this year for long serving members of the RANZ Executive, John Seamer (Wellington) and Keith Ivey (Invercargill).

Other awards presented at the event included Professionalism in Metal Tile Installation for 2016, won by Telfers Roofing, Kerikeri; Top Roofing Trainee 2016, won by Sam Tolra of Graham Hill Roofing Ltd, Christchurch; and the Top Roofing Training Company for 2016, won by Roof Improvements 2014 Ltd, Takanini.

Dawson Chung, a director of Roof Improvements (Auckland) receives the award for the 2016 Top Roofing Training Company from Lance Riesterer, Skills GM for Specialist Trades & Business.