Fast-moving floodwater dramatically increases the risk to urban pedestrians, new modelling has shown.  A Wellington case study showed that walking and driving routes to hospitals, public transport and essential services can be cut off during peak flooding. Researchers overlaid flood risk maps onto Wellington’s transport network to assess whether people could reach essential services during […]

WorkSafe is calling on all industries to follow through on controlling risks once they are identified after a gas explosion burned a forklift driver.  In March 2024, the forklift caught fire, igniting LPG that was being released from condemned cylinders. Several nine-kilogram gas bottles exploded, fuelling the fire. The driver was hospitalised with burns and […]

A new school-based trade training initiative will see Central Otago and Queenstown Lakes students build transportable homes.  The TradeBase program sees Breen Construction partner with Dunstan and Wakatipu High Schools, BCITO and the local industry to offer structured, competency-led learning on real Breen construction sites, right on school grounds.  Managing director Lindsey Breen says the […]

New Zealand’s building sector focused on reducing delays, cutting costs and improving productivity in 2025, Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk tells Builders and Contractors. Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk says 2025 was a year focused on making it faster, smarter and safer to build in New Zealand, with reforms aimed at cutting delays, […]

Electrical inspectors say a rule change has increased the risk of people being electrocuted in homes and businesses.  The change lifted a ban on inserting a switch, circuit or fuse into mains power earthing systems. The rule change in November 2025 was introduced to support future technologies like electric vehicle charging and improve disaster resilience […]

Kiwis might tend to go for timber when building their homes, but bricks are experiencing a resurgence, and they aren’t going anywhere. From the Neolithic Age to New Zealand’s avenues, bricks are versatile, natural, energy-efficient, low-maintenance and more. If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. And with bricks, you won’t have to. Anna Carlton is […]