At least two Auckland high-rise buildings have been clad with combustible panels similar to those implicated in London’s Grenfell Tower disaster The Auckland council has declined to say which buildings are affected, but does say they are privately-owned and the material is being replaced with fire-proof cladding. Continue →

The latest editions provide guidance to designers, specifiers, plumbers, builders and electrical contractors. Continue →

Kennedy Point Boatharbour Limited has been given the go-ahead to build a new 186-berth floating marina at Kennedy Point in Putiki Bay, Waiheke Island An independent panel of five commissioners delegated by Auckland Council granted the project resource consent after a week-long hearing in early April this year. Continue →

Leading environmental legal firm Berry Simons says two recent legislative initiatives are symptomatic of the continuing decay of the Resource Management framework and institutions, and the quality of decision-making Partner Simon Berry and Senior Associates Jen Vella and Helen Andrews are concerned about the latest initiatives promoted by the Minister for Building and Construction. Continue →

The government clearly believes that Urban Development Authorities (UDAs) can make a positive contribution to the New Zealand landscape, according to Chapman Tripp partners Ross Pennington, Brian Clayton and Luke Hinchey This, they say, is evident in the political risks it has taken in the policy design. Continue →

Calls for an industry-wide collaboration to design guidelines governing how the construction sector makes payments to builders and subcontractors have come to fruition The new retention regime introduced under the Construction Contracts Amendment Act 2015 (CCAA) came into force on 31 March. Continue →

The need for a cohesive strategy to drive reform of the country’s resource management and planning systems is now vital for New Zealand’s prosperity, says a coalition of like-minded organisations For some time the EMA, Property Council New Zealand, Infrastructure New Zealand and the Environmental Defence Society have been working together to build a case for change on how to provide for the nation’s growth and development within acceptable environmental limits. Continue →

The Invercargill City Council has successfully appealed a High Court decision which found that it breached a duty of care owed to a commissioning owner and was negligent in issuing a code compliance certificate, Buddle Findlay advises The council had previously been ordered to pay $15,126,665.35 to the Southland Indoor Leisure Centre Charitable Trust (the Trust) for the cost of rebuilding Stadium Southland. Continue →

Public consultation has opened on proposed legislation to fast track the redevelopment and regeneration of urban areas to better meet housing and commercial needs “New Zealand needs Urban Development Authority (UDA) legislation to enable faster and better quality regeneration in our major cities,” Building and Construction Minister Dr Nick Smith says. Continue →

1.      GDP growth to track higher than expected: Some of this will be due to better than forecast employment figures and export opportunities, but also due to rebuild requirements from the latest series of earthquake damages. Continue →

Draft standard on testing and decontamination of methamphetamine-contaminated properties available for public comment. Continue →

The recent devastating Kaikoura earthquake and aftershocks has once again brought into sharp relief the need for New Zealand to be better prepared for natural disasters. Continue →