The Building Research Association of New Zealand is committed to advancing resilience, sustainability, and innovation to address challenges and shape a better future for the construction industry. 2024 was no different. BRANZ reflects on the year’s key focus areas, projects, challenges, and trends. BRANZ reports that the year has been mixed for the building and […]

Being a tradie is hard work, so they drink just as hard, the stereotype goes. It might be a light-hearted cliché to some, but the reality is far more serious. Some research indicates that as many as one in six Kiwis and one in five construction workers in New Zealand engage in hazardous drinking, but […]

The construction industry accounts for almost 40% of global carbon emissions. This impact is significant in New Zealand, driving a need to boost carbon literacy among those in the field. Carbon literacy in construction means understanding how materials, designs, and construction practices affect carbon emissions and knowing how to reduce them, from the materials used […]

Preparing for AI, machine learning, and automation can make even the most informed industry members uneasy. With technology evolving so quickly, predicting our uncertain future is challenging, but in many ways, it’s possible. The Building Research Association of New Zealand (BRANZ) anticipates that technology, AI, and automation will significantly transform the nation’s construction industry over […]

Scion has recently developed an interactive, 3D virtual reality training tool that complements forestry worker training on-site. The prototype has caught the eye of industry players who are looking into how virtual reality can more accurately depict forests. Trainees put on a virtual reality headset and find themselves in the middle of computer-generated trees based […]

The government is proposing a new self-certification scheme that will allow building professionals and accredited businesses to carry out low-risk building work. “It takes on average 569 days for a home be built and consented – amid a housing shortage, that is simply too long to wait,” Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk says. “We […]