Construction litigator Janine Stewart, who took on Mainzeal Property and Construction Limited prior to its liquidation, has an important message for the industry’s leaders to avoid meeting the same fate Mainzeal had been one of the largest commercial construction companies in New Zealand.  Continue →

Another cut to the Official Cash Rate (OCR) had been expected, now bringing it to 3.5%, but it is not clear just how much further it and mortgage rates will fall, with current tariff uncertainty keeping a downward bias in place, CoreLogic Chief Property Economist Kelvin Davidson says The OCR decision reflects the fact that inflation remains well within the target band and that the economy is still subdued. Continue →

Studio DB’s work for Ngāti Hine Health Trust has received a coveted Bronze Pin at the 2023 Designers Institute of New Zealand Best Design Awards and is a finalist in the 2023 Interior Awards The Best Design Awards is an annual showcase of excellence in graphic, spatial, product, digital and motion design along with three special awards – Value of Design, Public Good and Toitanga. Continue →

ICD Property, the Australian developer working on Auckland’s tallest tower, has decided to exit the project, listing it for sale just months after winning approval ICD managing director Matt Khoo said the developer had decided to sell its first international site to allow it to pursue other projects in Australia. Continue →

New Zealand-based manufacturers, importers, retailers and distributers will be hit with new obligations to provide building product users with information about how building products contribute to compliance with the Building Code The regulations will commence on 11 December 2023 by which time manufactures and importers must meet their obligations. Continue →

Most seismically vulnerable buildings are not imminently dangerous and can remain occupied while seismic remediation work is planned, funded and undertaken, the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) advises The new seismic risk guidance has been developed by MBIE to help building owners and users understand seismic assessments and provide them with the tools to make informed and risk-based decisions about continuing to occupy buildings with low seismic ratings. Continue →

A Waikato construction company has won one of four major national prizes in Xero’s inaugural Beautiful Business Fund and will be using its $20,000 prize money to train staff for an earthquake strengthening project next year Xero, the global small business platform has awarded four New Zealand small businesses and non-profits a share of the $750,000 global prize pool as part of the inaugural Xero Beautiful Business Fund. Continue →

New Zealand’s construction firms of all sizes are facing relentless cost escalation, unpredictable weather, and mounting sustainability mandates, and are having to get smarter if they want to adapt and survive, says Wayne Potgieter from Avanza Solutions For too long, the go-to fix has been the humble spreadsheet—a tool that, while useful for spotting trouble, falls short of steering projects through today’s complexities. Continue →