Editorial

When I took over as editor of NZCN six months ago, one of my aims was to visit some of this country’s leading construction and infrastructure projects. Easier said than done … it’s no longer possible simply to walk on to today’s building sites and say g’day to the gaffer. Health and safety requirements and risk management procedures involve a lengthy signing-in, an explanation of the current hazards on site, and then the usual scramble into hard hats, high-vis apparel, steel-toe-capped boots and (occasionally) protective eyewear.

My last major site visit was in my previous role as editor of ISN, and that was to join the Northern Gateway Alliance team burrowing its way through Johnstone’s Hill as part of the Northern Motorway extension. That project was completed over a year ago, so imagine my surprise when an email popped into my inbox with an invitation from the NGA team to visit them on site.

“Ah, but we’re different,” explained Gez Johns, the company’s communications manager. “We’re the NGA Newmarket now.” And so instead of the bush-clad hills west of Orewa, I headed off to the stylish streets of Newmarket and a tour from one end to the other of the Newmarket Viaduct replacement project. You can read the full report on pages 16–17 of this edition which explains why the NGA is still involved.

I knew there was a lot going on at ground level in Newmarket, but you really don’t appreciate just how much as you whiz past overhead on the motorway – the masts of a few cranes and the occasional workers atop one of the new support piers are all that’s visible at the moment. As Gez said, the general public really aren’t aware of the scope of the NGA’s work to date, and they’ve been flying under the radar somewhat, but all that’s about to change – watch out for a major development in the build-up to Christmas.

Finally, I just wish to welcome back John Clarke as sales manager for NZCN. John was involved with the magazine from its outset three years ago, and his voice on the telephone will be familiar to many of you. Give him a ring over the coming months – as business starts to pick up and our industry hauls itself out of the economic downturn, you don’t want to be left behind.

Best wishes …