After a period of rapidly rising costs in the building sector, pressures on supply chains and capacity are easing and the annual growth in residential construction costs has reduced to the lowest level in around seven years CoreLogic’s latest Cordell Construction Cost Index (CCCI) recorded a 0.8% rise in the fourth quarter of 2023. Continue →

The Commerce Commission has filed criminal charges against two construction companies and two directors for alleged bid rigging of publicly funded construction contracts The charges follow a Commission investigation into allegations that the companies and their directors colluded to rig bids for infrastructure projects in Auckland.  Continue →

Autodesk has released its Correspondence tool in New Zealand, offering support for project teams to make everyday decisions earlier. Continue →

Waihanga Ara Rau, the Workforce Development Council for Construction and Infrastructure, has published its Statement of Strategic Direction (SSD) outlining what it intends to achieve for the sector over the next five years The Waihanga Ara Rau SSD outlines a focused and collaborative approach to shaping the future of Aotearoa, by strengthening the construction and infrastructure industry workforce. Continue →

With changes in Australia’s National Construction Code (NCC), the building sector there needs to adapt, Environment.co’s Continue →

The Construction Sector Accord and Callaghan Innovation have agreed to partner to address systemic challenges and build resilience across the construction sector The partnership seeks to accelerate growth and innovation across construction businesses of every size and stage. Continue →

The Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) says it wants to modernise the building consent system to provide assurance to building owners and users that building work will be done right the first time and that buildings are healthy, safe and durable The review is an end-to-end review of the building consent system – from the building design phase through to the issuing of a code compliance certificate. Continue →

Despite shrink-wrap being the most convenient solution to keep the weather out, Auckland Council’s Senior Waste Planning Specialist Mark Roberts was adamant it would not be used for remedial work on the Waiōrea Community Recycling Centre The 1930s Western Springs building will open in August this year after extensive remedial work on the roof and parapet. Continue →

In the face of a myriad of challenges, including the cost of goods and a shortage of staff, medium sized businesses in the construction sector have not been afraid to invest in innovation, an MYOB survey finds The effects of inflation are weighing heavily on many in the sector and with business leaders anticipating more headwinds over the coming months, attention now turns to investing in innovation to strengthen performance and drive growth. Continue →

A decline in dwelling consents has alleviated pressure on New Zealand’s residential construction sector, leading to a slowdown in building activities and price growth, CoreLogic Chief Property Economist Kelvin Davidson says The latest Cordell Construction Cost Index (CCCI) shows construction costs rose 0.6% in the June quarter, in line with the March figures but well below the average quarterly increases of 2% recorded in 2021 and 2022. Continue →

In today’s volatile economic climate, Benchmark Estimating Software Australia Chief Executive Frank Prestipino asks why so many construction companies still rely on spreadsheets to estimate costs On 23 March the Sydney Morning Herald reported that Lloyd Group, a large construction firm specialising in building schools and other government infrastructure had gone into administration. Continue →

Civil Contractors New Zealand is seeking input from construction professionals on industry issues, workforce and technology in its annual Construction Industry Survey Now in its seventh year, this joint research project with Teletrac Navman aims to provide actionable insights to assist construction companies in overcoming challenges and capitalising on opportunities. Continue →

Homeowners may not be fully aware of how much it might now cost to rebuild their most valuable asset, CoreLogic says In just the first two months of 2023 New Zealand has experienced two significant weather events, with the Auckland Anniversary Weekend flooding alone expected to cost more than $1 billion, far exceeding the $350 million in insured losses recorded in 2022, previously the biggest year to date. Continue →

Whether you are building a single-story home or a skyscraper, Medshop explores some of the most common dangers so you can remain educated and secure in your work environment Though the construction industry has advanced significantly in protecting its workers, there are still potential health and safety hazards you must manage onsite. Continue →

By digitizing and automating the payment process and implementing real-time payment exchange, construction companies can decrease risk and take steps to improve profitability Construction companies can automate payment and compliance workflows. Continue →

The building industry is prepared for the coming increase in demand for ‘Low E’ glazing as new thermal performance requirements are phased in across the country, Window & Glass Association of New Zealand Chief Executive Brett Francis says Clause H1 of the New Zealand Building Code, which regulates the energy efficiency of buildings, was updated in November last year and the first phase of implementation began on Thursday 3 November. Continue →

Above average preconstruction shows significantly higher client satisfaction, greater profits and fewer delays, yet fewer than one-in-five survey respondents are conducting above-average preconstruction This year, Procore partnered with FMI to survey 979 construction industry stakeholders worldwide. Continue →

A grant of close to $10.3 million will support a four-year research project focused on transforming the construction sector in New Zealand using Construction 4.0 approaches HERA, the heavy engineering research association, has been successful in the 2022 round of the prestigious Endeavour Fund, which supports important scientific research projects seeking to address some of our biggest challenges. Continue →

The construction industry is turning to new technology and updating business practices to address mental health challenges that are plaguing the industry, new research finds The Optus Business Construction Industry Pulse 2022 report, conducted by ACA Research, found 45% of construction business owners say their employees had issues with mental health and wellbeing during the first two years of the pandemic. Continue →

The Commerce Commission is recommending the establishment of a centralised digital national key products registry to increase trust and confidence in residential building supplies A national products register would act as the primary reference source for information about building products, including the information that will be required to be disclosed as a result of the building law reforms, the Commerce Commission says. Continue →