NZCB NEWS — Kevin Sceats Chairman of the Board
The good, the bad and the in between Wow! What a fantastic conference! Made great by the huge attendance of members, partners, exhibitors and sponsors, combined with the quality of presenters, who I’m sure left us all with thought-provoking comments and valuable lessons. I know that the NZCB team are now looking forward to getting your feedback on all aspects of the conference, including the joint conference arrangements with the Association of Wall and Ceiling Industries (AWCI). It was good to hear some of the dialogue between builders and the specialist interior contractor members. Conference provides members of the Board and the NZCB team, with an invaluable forum to directly interact with members and partners. These occasions deliver some wonderful gems which we use to validate value in our current range of services or to add to the services we provide to you all.
One thing was very clear to me and that was in this digital age we have a wonderfully diverse range of member ages, experience and types of works undertaken. Our challenge is to ensure we efficiently and effectively deliver our services and support not only in the traditional manner of pieces of paper but increasingly using modern digital tools. Advances in digital technologies have fundamentally changed the way people live. Digital social media have some very positive effects in terms of connecting people as exemplified by the NZCB forums. However, some arguments are emerging about social media being used to encourage unhealthy or destructive behaviours too (internet addiction), so we need to keep its use in balance. As our politicians well know, it’s very easy to find fault in the things we do in our industry. Look at the recent media coverage of the Aluminium Composite Panel (ACP) claddings issues, bankrupt builders (one lost $1.5m in a casino), affordable housing, skills shortages and non-conforming materials. It’s much harder to solve these problems, but let’s make sure we continue to work on those solutions! Because that’s what NZCB and its members have proven themselves to be good at.
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