New Zealand’s economic growth depends on a functioning building and construction sector. Every road, house, water pipe, power connection, and digital network requires skilled tradespeople and contractors to deliver it. The current regulatory environment, however, makes building slower, more expensive, and less predictable than it should be. ACT’s focus is on reducing unnecessary compliance costs, […]

New Zealand is months out from its next general election, and as we gear up for campaign season, it’s time to reflect on what has been achieved for building and construction and what comes next. In a bid to give New Zealand’s notoriously sluggish building productivity a hefty push, I approached the portfolio with the […]

As the Member of Parliament for Manurewa, I know first-hand the importance of the building and construction sector. In 2023, when Labour was in Government, one in ten Kiwis worked in the sector, including thousands here in South Auckland. But the sector is also the backbone across New Zealand of jobs, infrastructure, and the cost […]

Following a sustained period of severe weather, the Natural Hazards Commission says it is now receiving more claims for landslide damage than for any other natural hazard, with growing pressure on vulnerable properties. The organisation has recorded almost 13,000 landslide-related claims over the past five years — an increase of around 10,000 compared with the […]

WorkSafe New Zealand is reminding property owners and contractors that inspector notices are legally enforceable after a Palmerston North property owner was convicted for repeatedly ignoring asbestos-related stop-work orders. The warning follows the sentencing of Sanal Lonappan, who continued refurbishment work on a building confirmed to contain asbestos despite a prohibition notice requiring work to […]

A national programme aimed at increasing the number of women entering construction, BCITO’s Girls in Construction initiative exposes the next generation to the trades sector. Built around the idea that ‘if you can see it, you can be it’, the programme takes students out of the classroom and into active worksites and supplier yards. So […]