How much longer can the industry hang on for the so-called and much-touted ‘shovel-ready’ infrastructure projects to get off the ground?

The residential building sector is vital to New Zealand’s economic recovery. Master Builders (the Registered Master Builders Association of NZ) has recently conducted a survey of more than 100 of its members to better understand the pipeline of work and what has changed following the nationwide lockdown. In this article, chief executive David Kelly outlines the results.

The impact of the Covid-19 lockdown and the Government’s response continues to be, to use a now well-used term, unprecedented. In this column, BCITO chief executive Warwick Quinn provides an update on the Government’s response to boosting apprenticeship numbers and what this means for the construction sector.

The Covid-19 Recovery (Fast-track Consenting) Bill was introduced to Parliament on 16 June and is currently at the select committee stage. If passed, the new legislation will enable fast-track consenting and designation processes for infrastructure and development projects, allowing them to proceed without the need for resource consent.

With the change of leadership in the National Party, the Opposition has a new spokesperson for building and construction – and he’s keen to hear from the industry. NZCN asked Tim van de Molen what his priorities will be as we build up to the general election in September.

Covid-19 has caused – and continues to cause – some significant financial hardships for employers and employees across New Zealand. As a result, a plethora of employment and restructuring questions have arisen following lockdown.

Construction has been one of the first industries to come roaring out of the blocks post-lockdown, with worksites opening again as soon as they were permitted to, albeit with rigorous guidelines for managing the health and safety of workers at a time when keeping others at arm’s length is necessary rather than desirable.

With construction and infrastructure sites cranking back up to full capacity following the return to Level 2, it would be easy to assume that the worst is behind them for most workers in the sector.

Over the last couple of months, the impact of the Covid-19 lockdown and the Government’s response has been, to use a now well-used term, unprecedented. It truly has been. In this column I provide a few thoughts on the impact Covid-19 could potentially have on construction apprenticeships, with a particular focus on the 15 trade sectors under BCITO coverage.