The official magazine of New Zealand Certified Builders Association
Shifting from Customer Service to Customer Care Pg 2
Why you should be using Payment Claims Pg 18
Three ways to stop playing the ‘what if’ game Pg 38
August/September 2020
Turning ‘locally grown’ into sustainable building materials See pages 26–27
RAB BOARD
Contents FROM NZCB Message from the NZCB Board NZCB Board changes Message from the Chief Executive Message from the Group Technical Manager Halo Guarantee update Completing contract works information Appliances at commercial prices Introducing Styx Mill Oilskin Wax jackets & vests NZCB post COVID-19 survey REVERE – submissions now open! Advertising spend – 2019 NZCB National Partners
HEALTH AND SAFETY 2 3 4 6 8 9 10 10 12 14 52 53
IN THE KNOW Four reasons why tech is vital post lockdown Why you should be using Payment Claims Updates from the Building Performance Team Beyond green claims Meeting your KiwiSaver obligations Jump in puddles Changes to tertiary education will impact the construction industry To Corporatise, or not to Corporatise? That is the question...
16 18 20 22 24 25 28 30
OUR PEOPLE Turning ‘locally grown’ into sustainable building materials
Thanks to our NZCB Strategic Partners
26
Stay safe, speak up Bad vibrations
32 34
HEALTH AND WELLBEING Why do I feel so angry? Three ways to stop playing the ‘what-if’ game
36 38
AROUND THE REGIONS Message from our Auckland BDM NZCB Nelson first to hold Zoom evening for Members Industry Events Calendar
40 41 41
NEXT GENERATION ITAB welcomes WITT partnership ITAB Apprentice Completions AST Trust update
42 43 44
TECH TIPS Membrane refurbishment work – what’s consentable? MiTek screw innovation Easy protection of cut timber ends, with Abodo’s new Protector End Seal
NEWS BITES Find NZCB on
Contact: 10 Marsh Street, Tauranga 3110 PO Box 13405, Tauranga Central, Tauranga 3141 Phone: 07 927 7720 Freephone: 0800 CERTIFIED Fax: 07 927 7721 www.nzcb.nz ISSN 2703_2418
45 46 47
48
InHouse is the official bi-monthly magazine of New Zealand Certified Builders Association. We’re always on the lookout for interesting stories or build projects that NZCB members have been a part of! To share your story with us please contact Linda. Alternatively, if you are interested in advertising in the InHouse magazine, we have a range of opportunities available to suit every budget. Linda Moody INHOUSE EDITOR linda@nzcb.nz | 07 557 9214
FROM NZCB —
Tricia Indo NZCB Board Member
Shifting from Customer Service to Customer Care Within a highly competitive market environment where price has become a hygiene factor, a company’s reputation for providing a superior level of Customer Care can be an effective differentiating point and often the deciding factor for potential customers looking to build or remodel their home. An above the line attitude is a like an OAR, propelling and steering the business ahead, taking Ownership, Accountability and Responsibility to drive actions and decisions. Taking the extra step for customers, acknowledging the issues, and remedying the situation. On the other hand, a below the line attitude towards customers is like digging further into a hole or making a BED of it – meaning Blaming others, making Excuses and Denying mistakes. Not fronting up to issues at hand, failing to follow-up and focusing only on being right at all costs are examples of poor attitude. Customers do not feel valued when confronted by these actions.
Everyone agrees on the importance of ensuring that customers receive good value for the services that are provided. However, customers also want to feel valued. Shifting from the notion of providing Customer Service to a more connected concept of delivering Customer Care is how successful businesses stay ahead of the competition, regardless of market conditions. A business’s alignment with the values it holds at heart as well as the attitudes and behaviours of those within the business shape its reputation. At the heart of New Zealand Certified Builders’ core values is to “strive for quality workmanship: meeting or exceeding the customer’s expectations.” How is such a bold statement displayed in practical terms? What behaviours demonstrate what this looks like through the Customer Care lens? How businesses and the people within them think about Customer Care comes down to attitude. A simple way to analyse the attitude in a business is by the above and below line concept. Being above the line shows a customer-centric attitude and being below the line is less aligned with value added outcomes.
This concept also applies when it comes to dealing with suppliers and sub-contractors. Where does their attitude sit in terms of the line? How do they align with the notion of Customer Care? Customer Care is not just talking about it, it is about doing it. In other words, the behaviours that make it happen. Delivering on what is said and not overlooking the little things. Clearly understanding customers’ expectations and being honest about what can actually be delivered. Actively listening and concentrating on what they are saying, or trying to say, to understand their needs rather than dismissing their input. This also helps to ensure the customer has confidence that you will provide the correct solution. Follow up and follow through by getting back to customers quickly. Do what was agreed upon and keep them in the loop. Don’t wait a week to respond to a simple email. Take advantage of technology by using a virtual assistant tool or set follow-up phone reminders. Good Customer Care helps minimise conflict when, or if, it arises. Also, closing the loop at the end of a job to make sure everything is okay, turns a customer into a raving fan of your business. Adjusting to the customer’s expectations is about the level of care they believe to be deserving of. The reality is, some customers require more of it than others and it is vital to focus on getting this right the first time, every time!
2
FROM NZCB —
Kevin Sceats Past Chairperson NZCB Board
NZCB Board changes This year marked the end of another term on the New Zealand Certified Builders (NZCB) Board for member Mark Dobbs of md Construction. After 12 years on the NZCB Board, Mark has opted to stand down from his position. Mark (pictured, left) is a pretty well-known personality in the NZCB ranks and is certainly known as ‘not afraid to speak his mind’, even on the most controversial of subjects. Having been in the building trade since 1988, Mark has contributed enormously to the decisions made by the NZCB Board since being elected in 2008. He joined NZCB in 2001 and was the Whangarei Regional President from 2004 to 2008. When you talk with Mark, it’s very easy to pick up on his passion for the building industry. He likes to describe his current choices around their family builder business model as ‘suiting his lifestyle’ – whatever that means?
past seven years. The last four years he has held the position of Waikato Regional President. Mike is a qualified carpenter with more than 25 years commercial and residential building experience in Australia, UK and America and held Project Management roles in London for three years. Mike is passionate about policy and health of the construction industry, the role of regions within NZCB and improving supplier/member partnerships. Mike is from a farming background in the Hauraki Plains and enjoys travel and motorsport. Married to Janine for 13 years, they have three children.
New Board Chair and Vice Chair As Chairperson of the NZCB Board for the past two years, I have stepped down from this position due to family reasons. I will remain on the Board as an Independent Director.
Departing NZCB Board member Mark Dobbs (left) is farewelled by Past Chairperson NZCB Board, Kevin Sceats
In my time as Chairperson on the NZCB Board, I have found Mark to be well researched and very in touch with grass roots member issues and he brought a wonderfully dry sense of humour to what could be, at times, some quite controversial subjects. Mark has been a valuable contributor at the board table and has very capably represented the extremely important views of business members when we wanted to test the value proposition of any ideas/decisions. After such a prolonged and valuable service to our association, I know you will all join me in extending a sincere ‘thanks’, not just to Mark but also to Tracey and their family for their patience and support over the past years.
Welcome Mike!
The position of Chairperson on the NZCB Board will now be held by Mike Craig (pictured, right). Mike has worked as a builder since gaining his carpentry qualification in 1984 and now owns his own building firm based on the Kapiti Coast. He was a foundation member of NZCB on its formation in 1998 and has been on the Board for the past seven years, the last two of which he held the role of Vice Chair. Mike has also been a member of the BRANZ Building Research Advisory Council. The position of Vice Chairperson on the NZCB Board will now be held by Ian Chamberlain (pictured, right). Ian has been on NZCB Board for the last year, having previously been the Association’s Taupo Regional President 2010–2014 and VicePresident 2017–2019. He is also involved with the Building Officials Institute of NZ (BOINZ) and is passionate about youth development through his roles on the Boards of Lake Taupo Rotary and Taupo Pathways.
At this year’s NZCB Annual General Meeting, held via Zoom on 22nd June, it was announced Mike Hayward (pictured, left) was elected onto the NZCB Board during the 2020 Board elections. Mike steps into the role previously held by Mark Dobbs. For those of you who have not met or know Mike, the following may provide a small insight. Welcome Mike! Mike Hayward of Hayward Builders Limited joined NZCB in 2010 and has been part of the Waikato Committee for the
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NZCB Board 2020 from left: Mike Craig (Chairperson), Dave Whitehead, Ian Chamberlain (Vice Chairperson), Tricia Indo, Kevin Sceats (Past Chairperson) and Mike Hayward.
FROM NZCB —
Grant Florence Chief Executive
Don’t forget the little guys
The following is an opinion piece I have written for the next BRANZ Build magazine.
The government’s big buck infrastructure spend is good news, but it doesn’t necessarily benefit the small to medium size residential building companies doing over 65% of building work. Grant Florence, New Zealand Certified Builders Chief Executive, says this group needs to be heard at the policy table. Like other sectors of the economy, building and construction has been hit hard by COVID-19. While central government has clearly recognised and sought to address this through the prioritisation of major shovel-ready infrastructure developments, that intervention does not automatically benefit small to medium-sized (SME) building firms, which make up 90% of the building and construction sector.
Sustaining smaller businesses In this context, it is vital that the voice of SMEs is heard in public policy development and that there is a concerted focus on what else may be required to sustain smaller building firms alongside the larger construction companies. The big numbers attached to major infrastructure projects naturally lead to a perception that there is a downstream benefit for smaller building firms engaged as subcontractors. While these projects do create some opportunity for those smaller firms, the reality is that a significant proportion of project costs is for machinery rather than labour. There’s also a culture of significant downward pressure on labour costs driven by procurement practices.
Incentivise big constructors to subcontract locally In the past, there’s been a ‘race to the bottom’ in terms of how large construction companies win major infrastructure tenders, fuelled by immigration policy settings enabling companies to keep labour costs down. This has obviously now changed, with the end of easy movement of people across borders, for the time being at least. In this context, the reality is that procurement costs will need to go up so that projects can be resourced locally. Incentives need to be created to drive the right kind of behaviour by major construction companies in subcontracting work to smaller building firms.
and subcontracting firms. The massive hit to consumer confidence from the economic impacts of COVID-19 therefore creates significant risk for SME building firms. In this context, clear policy direction from the government on the path to recovery and policy initiatives that help drive consumer confidence are critical.
It is vital that the voice of SMEs is heard in public policy development and that there is a concerted focus on what else may be required to sustain smaller building firms. Some bounce-back but still uncertainty NZCB’s survey of our members at the end of the lockdown revealed that 40% estimated they have lost work as a direct result of the impact of COVID-19 on consumer confidence. While we are starting to see some bounce-back from this position already, partly as a result of government’s welcome decision to allow builders back to work sites in Level 3, there is still significant uncertainty. It’s important for government to keep this in focus alongside the major flagship infrastructure projects. For our part, our member builders are encouraged by the opportunity to play their part in building the pipeline of carpentry apprentices, supported by government’s $284 million investment in apprentice subsidies, and to explore new business opportunities emerging. For example, according to leading economist Tony Alexander who shared insights with NZCB members during the COVID-19 lockdown, there may be growth in demand for residential alterations with more people wanting to create dedicated home office space.
It’s also important to remember that in recent years – as housing demand has grown – residential building work has accounted for in excess of 65% of all activity in the sector overall. This is the bread-and-butter for SME building
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FROM NZCB —
Jason McClintock Group Technical Manager
What can I get away with? One New Zealand Certified Builder (NZCB) membership terminated and a twelve-month nightmare for the homeowner. This story does not have a happy ending... In 2019, a NZCB member undertook a new build project which was doomed as soon as he stepped on site. Not because it was a difficult build, as it was quite the opposite. The site was a builders’ dream – a regular shaped dwelling on a sandy beach-front site, slightly off the beaten track. The project was doomed from the start because the builder took the approach of “what can I get away with?” Unbelievably, it took quite some time before the question was asked of the builder “what the hell are you doing?”. Local council, a registered architect and an engineer had all given their approval, even though substitute materials had been used, workmanship was obviously of a poor standard and construction was not as per the consented plans. The roof was on and the cedar cladding was being installed when the homeowner called NZCB with concerns that things did not look right.
What lessons were learnt? When I rang the builder to ask if the cladding was the only problem, he was blind to the noxious environment he had created for himself and assured me everything else was “mint” and there were no other defects. I soon discovered that the builder’s attitude of “what can I get away with” was at times premeditated with the substitution of structural materials of a lower grade. The builder was given the opportunity to rectify these issues, however, the repairs were also doomed and described by another NZCB Builder as “as bad as it gets”. It got to the point where the mis-truths had to stop, and the council issued a ‘Notice to Fix’ to the builder, effectively shutting down the site.
Don’t get me wrong, the builder was quite capable of producing a good result and had been a longstanding member of the Association with a clean record. Unfortunately, however, a good result was never going to happen on this job, because he had lost sight of several basic principles: i.e. understanding what the building contract required of the builder, the rules of being a Licensed Building Practitioner and, most of all, respecting the homeowner and the trust they placed in him to deliver a beautiful project they can be proud of. To resolve this matter, it meant everybody had to take a loss. An outcome was negotiated, but to get there the homeowner spent every last dollar on building reports, lawyer’s advice and alternative accommodation. The builder also lost out as he dismantled the entire house back to a bare site. The homeowner, the builder and I all walked away wondering “how did it all go so wrong?”
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FROM NZCB —
Mike Craig Chairperson NZCB Board
Halo Guarantee update At the recent Annual General Meeting we announced a decision by the New Zealand Certified Builders (NZCB) Board to progress with the development and launch of a Halo 10 Year Residential Guarantee, through a subsidiary of NZCB, Halo Guarantees Limited. This decision was based on the NZCB Board receiving a formal report from an Independent Actuary on the risk profiling. This report has now been received and is in line with what the NZCB Board was seeking. Grant Florence and the team at NZCB National Support Office have been working hard on the establishment of the Halo Guarantee and as this is being developed through a separate operation of NZCB, there are multiple projects being managed at once:
1. Legal (Geoff Hardy of Martelli McKegg Lawyers) We are nearly there with the guarantee document and application forms. This is a complex piece of work.
2. Governance The NZCB Board is investigating various governance options for Halo Guarantees Limited.
3. Accounting A specialist guarantee accounting adviser is working on our financial accounts and tax setups.
4. Web Development/IT The revised online building contracts are ready and the new online Halo application forms are being built.
5. Administration processes Phone/post and domain names are done. HR resources are still to be filled for Halo Guarantee Limited.
6. Marketing and advertising New advertising brochures and adverts are in the final stages of completion.
This work is progressing well, but there is still a little more to do before I can give a date when we can start accepting Halo applications. As mentioned in the past, Halo Guarantees Limited will be accepting applications for jobs that may have already started in anticipation of Halo being restarted and applications for these jobs can be received retrospectively once we have a start date. I don’t expect this to be too much longer. Watch out for further updates on Halo, due out shortly. In the meantime, I thank you for your patience and support. If you have any queries please do not hesitate to contact the team at the National Support Office.
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FROM NZCB —
Completing contract works information Recently we have received requests for assistance from New Zealand Certified Builder (NZCB) members when completing the contract works insurance section within a building contract. Specifically, in relation to the total sum insured and allowances for items such as Removal of Debris & Professional Fees. The allowances specified below are in addition to the contract value in respect of the insurance cover, therefore, the total sum insured is the contract value plus the figures in the far-right hand column.
When completing these sections, it is important to refer to the specific contract works policy that has been arranged or quoted by your broker or insurer. With the odd exception, BrokerWeb Risk Services does include provision in the contract works insurance quotation as a minimum, to match the required percentages in the standard New Zealand Certified Builders building contract. This is stated in our quotation document. These sections and the sum insured are explained as follows; When entering the contract works insurance sum into a building contract it is calculated using the contract value excluding GST, but inclusive of the allowances. e.g. in the example below, the home owner is not supplying any materials, so we have entered the standard REDi Contract Works insurance allowance of 10%, the contract value is $350,000 excluding GST and the standard REDi Contract Works insurance allowance for Materials in Storage.
It is always important to check these allowances with your insurer or broker as the allowances differ between insurers. If you are a BrokerWeb Risk Services client or would like a contract works insurance quotation, please don’t hesitate to call us for assistance with this section of the contract. When uploading your building contract online there is an option to request a REDi Contract Works Insurance quotation, there aren’t any forms to complete and quotes are generally back to you within 48 hours. If however, you require an urgent quotation as the project is starting you can email redi@bwrs.co.nz or call us on 0800 644 444.
Alterations/renovations
Type of Insurance Party Responsible Total Sum Insured*
New builds
Contract Works
Public Liability
Owner
Builder
Builder $ (Minimum $1,000,000)
$757,500
*The total sum insured under the Contract Works Policy must be based on a reasonable estimate of the Final Contract Price, plus a reasonable allowance for the following:
= $35,000
10%
Owner Supplied Materials
5%
OR %
= $17,500
Removal of Debris
10%
OR %
= $35,000
Professional Fees
5%
OR 10%
= $35,000
Increased Cost During Construction
5%
OR %
= $17,500
Increased Cost During Re-Construction
5%
OR %
= $17,500
Expediting Expenses
= $250,000
Materials In Storage (Off Project Site)
Your REDi Builders’ Insurance is administered by BrokerWeb Risk Services Limited. For a free review of your existing portfolio, you can email BrokerWeb Risk Services on redi@bwrs.co.nz or call 0800 644 444.
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FROM NZCB —
Georgia Courtney Membership Benefits Coordinator
Appliances at commercial prices Do you need a new appliance for yourself or for a client’s house that you are building or renovating? New Zealand Certified Builders (NZCB) have negotiated amazing deals for NZCB members, giving you access to Fisher & Paykel and Haier appliances at great prices. Every month we receive a new price list containing extremely competitive pricing exclusive to NZCB members. Please note, this pricing is confidential to NZCB members only and should not be discussed with any other retail outlet. To check out the full range of products and or place an order, it is simple. For Fisher and Paykel products visit www.fisherpaykel.com/nz.html or for Haier products visit www.haier.co.nz Note down the item code(s) and then email Georgia at the NZCB National Support Office (NSO) with the item code(s), quantity and delivery details including contact person, phone number and address. Georgia will then confirm receipt of your order via email and attach an invoice for all items.
For more information about this amazing deal, the latest price list or to place an order please email Georgia at the NZCB NSO on georgia@nzcb.nz
Please note, payment of this invoice is required in full before your order can be placed with Fisher & Paykel.
New! Introducing Styx Mill,
Oilskin Wax jackets and vests
Brown Long Sleeved Jacket
New Zealand Certified Builders (NZCB) have teamed up with Styx Mill to add a new range of Oilskin Wax jackets and vest to our clothing range. Available in sizes S – 5XL, all items include the NZCB logo, and all prices are inclusive of GST. Who are Styx Mill? Styx Mill manufactures a leading range of New Zealand oilskin wax clothing. Purpose designed for demanding outdoors conditions, their oilskin wax clothing is proudly made in Christchurch and constructed to last. Famous worldwide for their top-quality oilskin wax clothing that looks great, offers unparalleled functionality and durability, and is made to the highest standards. What is Oilskin Wax? Oilskin is a waterproof fabric that has been in use since the 1700’s, historically worn and developed by sailors. Originally methods included coating fabric in treatments like linseed oil, tar, whale oil or paint to achieve a higher waterproof and durability factor. Today’s Oilskin is engineered to keep the wearer dry in rain and yet still be strong and breathable at the same time. Produced from 100% cotton that goes through a wax treatment process, modern oilskin is not only high performance for wet weather and cold, but also sought after for stylish casual clothing. Head over to the ‘Shop’ on the members’ Toolshed to view the full range. Any questions please contact Georgia at the NZCB NSO on georgia@nzcb.nz
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$209.90
Hi Vis Fur Lined Vest
$155.29
Brown Short Sleeved Jacket
$178.81
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Fisher & Paykel washing machines and dryers have pre-programmed cycles that complement each other, offering exceptional fabric care, water and energy savings, and drying performance. Whether you prefer a front or toploading machine to go with any of our three dryer types, there is a perfect pair made just for your beautiful laundry.
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FROM NZCB —
NZCB post COVID-19 survey Recently New Zealand Certified Builders (NZCB) asked our members to take part in a post COVID-19 survey. The purpose of this survey was for NZCB to get a better understanding of the economic impact COVID-19 had on our members’ businesses, and to enable them to identify key areas of concern and then offer suggestions to overcome these concerns moving forward into the future. Thank you to all members who took the time to complete this survey, your assistance and the information you provided has been invaluable. You will find some of the collated results below based on responses from 115 NZCB members. The survey results have also been shared with NZ Government and
NZ Government Agencies such as the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment and the Department of Housing and Urban Development to help them with the current state of play within the building sector. We will keep you updated on any developments that may eventuate as a result of this survey.
How long have you been in business?
How long have you been a NZCB member? YEARS
17%
54%
1–5
13%
6–10 11–15
17%
73%
OF RESPONDENTS HAVE BEEN MEMBERS FOR MORE THAN 5 YEARS
1 year
7%
3 years
5%
2 years
6%
4 years
3%
16+ How many staff do you employ? (not including subbies)
61%
Employ 1–5 staff
16%
OF OUR MEMBERS ARE AGED BETWEEN 35 AND 54 YEARS 25 – 34 years
10%
35 – 44 years
30%
45 – 54 years
31%
55 – 64 years 65+ years
71
%
How old are you?
Employ 6–10 staff
22%
10% Employ 11–20 staff
7% 3% Employ 20 or more staff
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Karla Farrar Communications & Group Services Manager
Have you lost work due to the COVID-19 lockdown?
43% 57%
With the current projects that you have on, do you have enough work going forward for:
65%
If you have lost work due to COVID-19, at which stage of the project did you lose the work? NO. OF MEMBERS:
While still in the negotiation stage with the homeowner, even though you were confident you were going to get the job – 2 projects After the price was initially accepted by the homeowner – 1 project After the price was initially accepted by the homeowner – 2 projects Under the building contract stage – 2 projects
9 8 8 1
6%
What type of work will you focus on for the next 12 months? Renovation work under $50,000
Will you be looking to increase or decrease your staff numbers post COVID-19?
Renovation work over $50,000 Residential – full new home build
21%
19%
INCREASE
DECREASE
53%
STAY THE SAME
7% OTHER
Have you quoted any new work since the COVID-19 lockdown?
No
26%
Yes
74% 13
20%
12 MONTHS+ OF WORK
9
Under the building contract stage – 1 project
15%
3 MONTHS OF WORK
15
30%
NO WORK
While still in the negotiation stage with the homeowner, even though you were confident you were going to get the job – 1 project
9 MONTHS OF WORK
NO
6 – 12 MONTHS OF WORK
YES
Kitchens and bathrooms
48% 48% 43% 31%
Decks and fences
30%
Residential – top end architectural build
20%
Labour only
20%
Maintenance work only
20%
Weathertightness work
11%
Light commercial – full contract
9%
Project management
7%
Other
7%
Multi-unit developments
6%
Light commercial – design and build
3%
Industrial and commercial
3%
Submissions now open! REVERE Volume Four with an added ‘benefit’! Submissions are now open for Revere, Volume Four with the added benefit of the new and exciting “Revere Accredited” badge of honour which the Association is proud to offer to all contributing members. With this new logo positioned on the next front cover of Revere, the Association aims to publish Volume Four towards the end of 2020. Revere Accredited logo The “Revere Accredited” logo has been created for members of New Zealand Certified Builders (NZCB) who promote their build project/s in the Associations publication Revere. Introduced by the Association in 2018, Revere showcases some of the outstanding work of our NZCB members and provides them with an opportunity to leverage off this exposure to generate and increase sales leads and brand awareness for their business.
A wonderful sales tool A magazine to be proud of, Revere is a wonderful sales tool for all members. The calibre of submissions is high and ideally projects have been completed within the last two years. Over 10,000 copies of each volume are distributed nationwide to NZCB members and partners along with our external target market, the homeowner, via various offices of influence such as architects, designers, lawyers, accountants and other places our target market may frequent, e.g. Air New Zealand Koru lounges Published electronically on both the Issuu and Houzz NZ websites, Revere reaches a further 200,000 people in New Zealand made up of an affluent educated audience who are either looking to or are actively renovating or building. Such a publication is a large financial undertaking which does require some financial support from those NZCB members submitting successful material ($1,500+gst for two pages and $2,750+gst for four pages) and from a limited number of merchants/national partners that may also contribute to the magazine. Those members that successfully subscribe to Revere will each receive 20 complimentary copies per submission along with a digital file of all professional photographs taken, an electronic copy of their article(s) and become eligible to use the newly created “Revere Accredited” logo.
0800 BUILD
REGISTR ATION OF PLEASE COMPLET INTEREST FOR REVERE E YOUR DETAILS BELOW:
Contributors will have access to this new and exciting branding (in two different colours) once their article has been published in Revere. This will further promote recognition of their involvement in Revere honouring their craftsmanship, work ethic and quality as some of the industry’s best in the business. The Association suggests members may like to apply this new badge of honour to both print and digital products to promote their business, e.g. company website, email footers, business cards, apparel, vehicles and site signage.
Date:
Name:
For an application form or further information about Revere, please contact Julie Thomas at the NZCB National Support Office on either 0800 237 843 ext.707 or julie@nzcb.nz
Joe Builder DIRECTOR
ph 021 123 4567 joe@creativebuild.co.nx www.creativebuild.co.nz
Email Add
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Company
Name:
Contact Pho ne
Number: How man y builds wou ld you be inte
How man y pages per Please com
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build wou
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2 x Pages – $1,500 + gst 4 x Pages – $2,750 + gst
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Built by The Bu
Please ema il use dropbox. your appli images ensu com to sen ring the ima Company and site addr e
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ication to julie nd through @nzcb.nz and your ages are nam selection of ed with your ess detail per build, e.g.:
REVERE
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Bivouac-ins pired beauty Queenstown
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CELEBR ATING CRAFTS MANSHI P OF THE HIGHES T CALIBRE
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‘The Bivvy House’ is Alan and Jen’s affectionate nickname for their hilltop holiday home, perched just six kilometres from Queenstown. “It was inspired bivouac,” says Alan. “We wanted by a like a little hut that you’d stumble it to feel while out on across a tramp.” With every corner made to suit South Island its panoramic surroundings, The Bivvy has surpassed the Australia-based House expectations couple’s from every angle. The structure was Waiheke architect designed by award-winning put forward Andy Vaughn McQuarrie, who McRae of The as his builder Builders.co.nz of choice. “To capture the essence of a bivouac, we used materials,” says a lot Andy. That includedof natural clad exterior, an interior featuring a cedarexposed concrete, driftwood, and band-sawn and not a spot of gib to be seen. plywood – The bivouac theme unexpected details comes to life in throughout. “The entrances are designed to feel walking through like job was so demanding, a crack in a rock,” you’re the team took “The way the it ‘Niggle Ridge’ to calling inside and outside says Alan. instead. But they together is just bit of the challenge.” marry loved every outstanding.” For The Builders.co.nz All the hard work didn’t slip by team, the Hammock Ridge home’s “It was a really unheralded. inventive difficult build,” says Alan. “Andy whole new dimension geometry added a and the team have done exceptionally of difficulty. “There only about three well.” right angles throughout were whole house,” the says Andy. “The NZCB Member nature of the
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Appraisal No.964 [2017]
IN THE KNOW —
Four reasons why tech is vital post lockdown During lockdown, technology helped many businesses be able to continue to function. Now, it’s time to put it to better use. The right software can improve your basic processes, maximise your time and increase your profitability on jobs. Here are four reasons why construction project management software is now even more vital for your business:
1. Work smarter and faster Even little changes to the way you work can have a big impact on your workload. For instance: • Manage your team by planning your jobs over the next few days to a few months in advance
They can log-on to communicate with you, sign variations, review project schedules, and more. This visibility is vital to building trust and having a transparent relationship with clients.
3. Be better than the competition If the market starts to tighten as expected, you’ll need to outperform against your competitors. Technology can help you to do this by:
• Cut down on the amount of admin paperwork you have to manage by using a timesheet app
• Providing fast, accurate and professional quotes and estimates to your potential customers
• Easily share info with your support team (such as your bookkeeper), who may not be onsite with you
• Helping your customers to manage their costs by tracking their project budget
• Online meetings using Zoom or Facetime could also be a winner – saving you time, money and helping you to be more efficient.
4. Keep your team safe At a time when worker safety is even more of a priority, it’s crucial to have systems in place at every stage of your build. Mobile tools can help your site teams work safely with little disruption. Health & Safety apps that can help you to: • Monitor job site cleanliness, security and safety • Capture and report any illness or injury as soon as it happens • Instantly report your response to incidents and detail the actions taken and easily communicate these to your team • Empower your team by providing 24/7 access to all necessary project safety documents and procedures.
2. Improve your communication For many people, face-to-face meetings are impractical, for instance, if your client is not based in the same location as you. Having an online client and subcontractor portal could be incredibly valuable. It lets your customers track what’s happening with their project and collaborate with you in real-time, even if they’re not there.
As we return to our ‘new normal’ and head back on site, job management software is the tool you need to keep your projects going and growing. Cloud-based software can help you to focus on running your projects, delighting your customers, ensuring everyone is on the same page and help to grow your business for the future. If you need help with choosing construction project management software or more info, contact Anna on anna@freeup.kiwi for a free 30 min consultation. Anna Brooks Free Up. Free Up are NZCB National Partners and tech experts for Builders. Anna makes the process quick and easy, from selecting the right software to setting up the system to training staff.
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IN THE KNOW —
Why you should be using Payment Claims When you do building work for clients, you invoice them from time to time. Sometimes, your clients do not pay those invoices, either because they cannot, or they do not believe they should. There are various ways in which you can make them pay you, or at least resolve the underlying dispute that is causing them not to pay you. Those methods range from negotiation, mediation, Disputes Tribunal claims, adjudication, arbitration, and suing in the courts. Because none of them is perfect, you may as well take advantage of everything that is available to you. And there is one more option that you can use if you make the effort, and that is to turn your invoices into payment claims under the Construction Contracts Act (the “CCA”). You’re mad if you don’t.
Why? Because payment claims are like invoices on steroids. They have super powers that ordinary invoices don’t have. Parliament intended it that way, because Parliament was concerned that it was too easy for unscrupulous clients to withhold money from the contractors and subcontractors below them, based on fictitious reasons. So, in 2002 Parliament introduced this new method to force them to either pay up or explain why not.
Turn your invoices into payment claims under the Construction Contracts Act (the “CCA”) – you’re mad if you don’t. What you do is, you take your invoice and you modify the wording of it so that it becomes a CCA payment claim. Then you “serve it” on your client. They have to respond to it with a payment schedule by a certain deadline. That payment schedule has to say how much of the claim they will pay. If it is not 100% of the claim, they have to say why. Then they have to pay the amount that they promised, by the due date. And if they do not respond by the deadline, they have to pay 100% regardless.
What if they do not pay? You can sue them in court and recover your legal costs off them. It is a process known as summary judgment, so it is quicker and cheaper than most court cases. Having said that, no court case is quick, and no court case is cheap, so you may be wondering why you would bother. The answer is that once they are served with court papers, they take it seriously, and they consult a lawyer. Their lawyer will look at the situation, and if you have done everything right, the lawyer will advise your clients that they are likely to lose. Faced with that, they generally pay up promptly, to avoid losing in court and having to pay not only their own legal fees, but yours as well. It does not matter if they have a counterclaim against you. They cannot even raise it in these proceedings. It is a “pay now, argue later” system, and it is all about who gets to have the money in the short term. The underlying dispute can then be resolved afterwards, and if the clients are on solid ground, they may well claw some or all of that money back from you. But in the meantime, you can use it to pay your subcontractors and suppliers, and your legal fees for that matter. And you will have given your clients a taste of defeat, and undermined their confidence a little, making it all the more likely that you will be able to negotiate a satisfactory settlement of the dispute.
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Turning your invoices into payment claims To turn your invoices into payment claims, there are nine criteria in the CCA you have to satisfy. Some are easy, but others require more effort. Once you’ve got the hang of it you’ll be okay, but you must not cut corners and you must not be lazy. The idea is to explain very clearly what you are claiming and why.
Nine criteria to turn your invoice into a payment claim: 1. It must be in writing 2. It must say “This is a payment claim under the Construction Contracts Act 2002”
there instead, or fax it. Whatever method you use, make sure you have evidence of having done it, so your clients cannot later deny they received it. Once you have served your payment claim, your clients have the opportunity to give you a payment schedule in response, but it is amazing how often they miss the deadline even though Form 1 spells it out in no uncertain terms. The deadline for a payment schedule is 20 working days after the payment claim is served, unless the building contract says something else. NZCB contracts say 5 working days, Master Builders contracts say 10, and NZIA and NZ Standards contracts have longer periods. Even if your clients make the deadline, their payment schedule may not be valid. There are six criteria they have to satisfy, and they are:
3. It must identify the relevant construction contract
1. It must be in writing
4. It must identify the construction work you are charging for
2. It must identify the payment claim to which it relates 3. It must state the amount that they propose to pay
5. It must identify the period of time during which the work took place
4. It must indicate the manner in which they calculated that amount
6. It must state a claimed amount
5. It must indicate their reason or reasons for the difference
7. It must state the due date for payment 8. It must indicate the manner in which the claimed amount was calculated
6. Where the difference is because they are withholding payment on any basis, it must indicate their reason or reasons
9. And it must have “Form 1” attached to it
You will need a bit of help to get it right at the outset, and you will need to keep up with any law changes that affect payment claims. New Zealand Certified Builders (NZCB) can help you with both of those. The important point is, this is one of those situations where you need to get it 100% right. There is no point in spending thousands of dollars and waiting months for a Court hearing, only to have the Court throw out your payment claim because you did not comply with all nine requirements.
Finally, just be aware that payment claims can also be used against you – by your subcontractors. So, watch for the words “payment claim” on all incoming invoices, and train your staff to look for this immediately on receipt. Make sure you know what deadlines apply to each subcontract, because it may not necessarily be the CCA 20 working days. Have a payment schedule template ready to be completed, and send a payment schedule each time, even if the payment claim is repeated. For more information on turning an Invoice into a Payment Claim using Xero or MYOB accounting programmes, check out the ‘Chew the Fat: Payment Claims’ video under the ‘Training – Chew The Fat’ section of the members’ Toolshed.
You are supposed to “serve” your payment claim on your clients in the proper manner. If you are using NZCB building contracts, then email is the best way. But you can also personally deliver it, post it to the clients’ usual or last known place of residence or business or leave it
Geoff Hardy is a partner in the Auckland law firm Martelli McKegg and is a construction law specialist. Contact Geoff on (09) 379 0700 or geoff@martellimckegg.co.nz. This article is not intended to be relied upon as legal advice.
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IN THE KNOW —
Updates from the Building Performance Team New learning modules available to help you understand the Building Code A series of online learning modules has been developed by The Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment to help people understand the basics of the Building Code.
The modules are broken into sections focusing on The Building Code, Building Performance Requirements and Building Consent Compliance. They are between one and three minutes long, easy to use and come complete with an assessment at the end (they are short videos to watch, so you may need headphones).
They’re a great resource for any one new to the industry or as a refresher for those who are more experienced. To access the modules, visit www.building.govt.nz, press ‘Start learning’ and either log in as a guest or register for an account.
New building consent exemptions have been approved by the Government New building consent exemptions are being added to the Building Act. Building consents will no longer be needed for a number of new or expanded types of low-risk building work, like sleep-outs, sheds, carports, outdoor fireplaces and ground-mounted solar panels. The new exemptions will save building owners time and money, by not having to go to their local council for consent for common, low-risk building work. This reduction in building consents will also allow Councils to focus on building work that is higher-risk, helping to boost productivity.
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This package of new exemptions adds to the work that can already be done without a building consent, outlined in Schedule 1 of the Building Act. Some of the new exempt building work can be done without the help of a professional, while others require the involvement of a Chartered Professional Engineer or Licensed Building Practitioner.
Building law reform update The Building (Building Products and Methods, Modular Components, and Other Matters) Amendment Bill is now before Parliament. The Bill is with the Environment Committee for consideration and consultation. The select committee is due to report back to Parliament on 27 November 2020. Follow the Bill’s progression on the Parliamentary website at https://www.parliament.nz/en/pb/bills-and-laws/billsproposed-laws/document/BILL_97710/tab/digest The changes in the Bill will allow the sector to shift to new, more effective ways of working, help support productivity improvements, lift the efficiency and quality of building work and improve trust and confidence in the building regulatory system.
A strengthened LBP scheme will aim to ensure that builders have the right skills, knowledge, experience and behaviours to do quality building work. • widen the scope of the building levy; and • create new offences and penalties, and increase existing penalties, for offences against the Building Act.
The Bill forms part of a wider law reform programme to lift performance of the regulatory system and drive better outcomes for the sector and for New Zealanders.
The next phase of the building reform programme is focused on occupational regulation, and will look at ways to strengthen the LBP scheme and the regulation of engineers.
Key changes in the Bill will:
A strengthened LBP scheme will aim to ensure that builders have the right skills, knowledge, experience and behaviours to do quality building work, and increase accountability when LBPs do not meet the standards expected of them.
• introduce minimum information requirements about building products to support better and more efficient decision-making; • introduce a specialist framework for modern methods of construction such as offsite manufacturing and prefabrication and speed up the consenting process; • strengthen the product certification framework (CodeMark) to improve trust and confidence in the scheme;
Strengthening the regulation of engineers will aim to ensure that engineers provide engineering services with reasonable care and skill, operate within their areas and level of competence, are held to account for substandard work or poor conduct and people have confidence in the engineering profession.
Learn more about the Bill on the Building System Performance website at https://www.building.govt.nz/ getting-started/building-law-reforms/
Under the Licensed Building Practitioners (LBP) scheme, more building work can be done without requiring a building consent such as: • Single-storey detached buildings (e.g. sleep outs, sheds and greenhouses) with a maximum floor area of 30 square metres. Kitchen and bathroom facilities are not included in this exemption.
• Ground floor awnings up to 30 square metres • Ground floor verandas and porches up to 30 square metres • Single-storey pole sheds and hay barns in rural zones with a maximum floor area of 110 square metres
• Carports with a maximum floor area of 40 square metres
Find out more about the becoming an LBP by visiting www.lbp.govt.nz/become-an-lbp/ The new exemptions are expected to commence at the end of August. We will be providing more educational content about these new exemptions in August. For more information and a full summary of the new building consent exemptions, visit www.building.govt.nz Editors Note: MBIE are consulting on the Technical Guidance around this change.
MBIE is the over-arching regulator of New Zealand’s building system. Our Building System Performance (BSP) branch provides policy and technical advice on New Zealand’s building system, rules and standards, and implements building legislation and regulations to meet New Zealand’s current and future needs.
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IN THE KNOW —
Beyond green claims Understanding sustainable products and materials There’s a shift towards sustainable products and the considered use of materials happening right now. The use of Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs), Life Cycle Assessments (LCAs), and ecolabels is increasingly common, and we’re likely to see greater transparency and reporting of how well building products serve the environment become the new norm. Half of building-related carbon emissions come from the materials used to make them. Fortunately, we know we can do better both through what we use and how they’re made. If we make some key improvements we could take the equivalent of up to 15 percent of New Zealand’s passenger cars off the road permanently. We know there are real and increasingly important environmental impacts. We also know there are strong drivers that will force the industry to actively consider the impact of the products and materials we are using as we work towards a zero-carbon future. Recently, the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment announced its Building for Climate Change programme promising a ‘once in a generation’ system reform. It plans to set mandatory reporting requirements and targets for emissions, including from construction materials and their disposal. “These targets will provide pressure on the whole supply chain to reduce emissions,” the Ministry says. Also, being driven in part by Government, there is a growing environmental approach to procurement. Its residential development agency Kainga Ora have committed to building homes rated to Homestar and we’re seeing an increasing number of organisations and companies building exclusively to Homestar or its commercial building equivalent Green Star. Not only are these developments growing the sector’s appreciation and ability to deliver greener building, importantly they highlight the need for effective and transparent product information. If we expect designers and builders to make good decisions about what goes into a building we need to ensure there’s good information available to them. Unfortunately, and unsurprisingly, the complex world of sustainable materials and credentials is often poorly understood. When it comes to designing and building a sustainable space the Green Building Council recognises products that are reused, have high recycled content, have ecolabels, stewardship programmes, or that have low Volatile Organic Compound emissions. Importantly, we rely on these claims being well documented and verifiable. We rate green buildings rather than individual products and materials. Instead we use, and incentivise the work of, third-party certifications and ecolabels who are independent of manufacturers, suppliers and the NZGBC.
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There is a raft of tools out there that either provide transparency about a material’s footprint or directly validate better products. Life Cycle Assessments (LCAs) provide a comprehensive calculation of a product’s environmental footprint from cradle to grave (i.e. through its manufacture, use, end of life etc.). For the average builder or consumer an LCA is largely unintelligible and therefore unhelpful in making decisions or comparisons. This is where an Environmental Product Declaration (EPD) is useful. An EPD takes the extensive LCA data and summarises the key information in a more succinct and accessible form. It’s like a nutrition label for a product except instead of providing data on the energy, fat and sodium, it provides the carbon footprint, water footprint and embodied energy, among other things. This allows fairer comparisons between products and supports better decision-making. They’re widely recognised by green rating tools (BREEAM, LEED, Green Star etc.) and can therefore also differentiate products in a highly competitive field. EPDs differ from an ecolabel in that they simply state a product’s environmental performance rather than benchmark or certify any environmental merit. However, given the rigorous process behind it, an EPD will often prompt improvements and shifts by manufacturers and the supply chain to improve. Ecolabel schemes like ECNZ, GreenTag GreenRate, PEFC and Good Environmental Choice Australia (GECA) can help identify products that are better environmentally through their manufacture, or that have little to no hazardous substances in the products themselves. They often provide clear and easily communicable verification of sustainable products and are therefore a useful tool for the sector to establish a greener build. A list of ecolabels recognised under Green Star and Homestar ratings can be found on the NZGBC website. There are also useful databases from the likes of EnviroSpec for comparing and selecting products and their certifications. What all of these schemes have in common is they’re data led, independent and, most importantly, they’re transparent. It’s no longer good enough to say a material or product is eco, green, or better for the environment. We need the information or certification to back that up.
Andrew Eagles, CEO New Zealand Green Building Council. The New Zealand Green Building Council (NZGBC) is a not-for-profit industry organisation that promotes better buildings, because better buildings mean healthier, happier people. It has the backing of approximately 500 members across the construction and property sectors. For more info visit nzgbc.org.nz
IN THE KNOW —
Meeting your KiwiSaver obligations Despite the KiwiSaver Act 2006 having been in force for more than a decade now, it is still not uncommon for us to find that some employers are not properly complying with the requirements of the Act.
(for example, a decision to opt in); or if a pack is requested by the employee. You can be subject to a penalty if you do not comply with this obligation. Information packs are available on www.kiwisaver.govt.nz;
Some of the key obligations for employers are: • You must automatically enrol any new employee who is not an exempt employee. The automatic enrolment rules do not apply if the employment is truly casual; if the employment is as a casual agricultural worker (which is defined); if the employment is for a fixed term of 28 days or less; and in some other specific situations; • The automatic enrolment rules apply even if the employee advises he or she does not want to be in KiwiSaver. An employee is not permitted to opt out of KiwiSaver at the commencement of employment, and is only able to do so in the period beginning on the 13th day after the start of employment and ending on the 55th day after the start of employment; • You must provide each new employee with a KiwiSaver information pack within 7 days of the commencement of employment; or of the employee notifying you on a change in their KiwiSaver status
• The compulsory employer contributions must be paid additionally to the employee’s salary or wages, unless you and the employee have specifically agreed in the employment agreement that the remuneration is inclusive of the compulsory employment contribution (and ESCT); • You must pay the KiwiSaver contributions (both employee and employer) as part of the monthly PAYE paid to IRD; • You must give certain information to the Commissioner of IRD about the employee. Employees also have obligations, including giving you a completed KiwiSaver form (available on the website) which includes information about the KiwiSaver status of the employee.
Danny Jacobson and Trudy Marshall are Partners at Employment Lawyers Tauranga and they specialise exclusively in employment law. They operate our Employment Helpline for NZCB members: phone 07 928 0529 for 10 minutes free advice on any employment related issues. (The above is by its nature general, and is not intended to be a substitute for legal advice.)
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IN THE KNOW —
Jump in puddles With a recession typically comes a reduction in consumer confidence and a trend to delay or cancel big-ticket spend items. Building projects are the biggest ticket of them all. To combat this, you should be looking at increasing your marketing. If you have been using “word-of-mouth” as your only marketing strategy over recent years, it is time to review your activities in this space and put together a more comprehensive plan. The first place I suggest you start in putting a marketing plan together is picking a market segment or two in which to focus your energies. Segmentation is the most fundamental of marketing concepts. To quote marketing guru Theodore Levitt, “If you’re not talking segments, you’re not talking marketing”. Furthermore, there has never been a greater need for effective segmentation, due to several factors: • Greater choice of products and services, allowing customer purchasing patterns to fragment • Media proliferation and specialisation, requiring more careful selection • Consumer sophistication and the desire to be treated as valued individuals. There is often a resistance to targeting down to smaller groups of consumers because of the perceived risk of missing out on opportunities to quote. When asked “who is your ideal customer” some people respond with “anybody who needs a builder.” While technically correct, the problem becomes how will you stand out to everybody in a crowded market, given the humble marketing budget that you have. It is hard to make a noise that resonates with potential customers if your message is very generic; “I am a quality builder – hire me.” To quote Dan Kennedy, the father of direct response marketing, you need to think about your marketing focus in terms of puddles, not oceans.
“There’ s absolutely no point in jumping up and down in the ocean and thinking you’ve done something. You want to jump up and down in a puddle. You can move from one puddle to the next, but you want to work puddles, not oceans. Small, carefully selected.”
There are many ways to slice and dice the market in order to select your puddles to focus on. Residential versus light commercial is a start. Within residential it could be; reclads, high-end new builds over $1million, bathrooms and kitchen makeovers, villa restorations, small renovation/extension projects under $100K, etc. Pick a puddle where you have a natural competitive advantage, experience, capability, and a real interest and start to put together a compelling offer to the people who live in that segment. As you go deeper into your selected market segment, you will find that your understanding of the customer will become better and better. By doing some primary market research around the fears and frustrations, wants and desires of people in your target segment, you will be able to hone your messaging and offer to better resonate with them. This should lead to a more effective and easier sales process. I can help you review your current marketing efforts and together put a more effective marketing and sales system for your business. To discuss what this could look like for your business contact me at andy@tradescoach.co.nz or 027 688 6721 and we can talk.
– Dan Kennedy
Andy Burrows, Director of The Trades Coach and NZCB National Partner. I encourage you to take advantage of a free business strategy review session to see how we can improve your business performance. Call Andy today on 027 688 6721 or email andy@tradescoach.co.nz.
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OUR PEOPLE —
Turning ‘locally grown’ into sustainable building materials Recently we caught up with Dan Gallagher, New Zealand Certified Builders (NZCB) Mid and South Canterbury President, and owner of Gallagher Trade Building Limited. Dan, who has been working on an interesting build in Southburn, south of Timaru was approached last year by owner Miles Anderson, to build a new 240m2 four-bedroom dream home, on family land which previously housed four generations of family members. The old farmhouse had done its dash and it was time for a new, warm and more sustainable home. The build was started in November 2019 and although progress was delayed as a result of the COVID-19 lockdown, Dan and his team are now back on track and are hoping to have it completed by October 2020. This new family home is being built directly in front of the old one, making the most of the beautiful landscape and sunsets. “The views are pretty stunning! You can see right up the Canterbury plains, out to sea and back up to the Southern Alps” says Dan. When asked what was to become of the old home, Dan advised “After everything useful (and without borer) has been removed, the local volunteer Fire Brigade are going to have a small controlled burn, so nothing will be wasted.” Speaking of waste and sustainability, Miles, South Canterbury sheep farmer/owner, and immediate past national chair of the Federated Farmers Meat and Wool Industry Group, wanted to use local building materials where possible, right down to his own sheep. As a result of this idea, both the insulation and carpet have come from wool products produced from his sheep, like the ones he’s been farming for 25 years.
Dan Gallagher (pictured left) and owner Miles Anderson showing a sample of the wool insulation product installed in his new home.
Not only will the family home be insulated with a traditional Kiwi product, it will also have a covered patio made from Oregon timber grown on the same property.
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The kitchen joinery will be made with wood from a shed on the farm which was built in the 1900s and blew down in 1981. The shed was made from Blue gum which had been grown on the Lyalldale Estate in nearby St Andrews. Miles is very proud of his sheep. “Wool insulation is biodegradable, renewable, sustainable and has great flame-retardant properties”, he says. “Wool fibres don’t end up in the food chain or waterways.” He is also a firm believer that if you need personal protective equipment (PPE) to install insulation, then how can that be safe?
“The views are pretty stunning! You can see right up the Canterbury plains, out to sea and back up to the Southern Alps” says Dan. He wonders if synthetic insulation will be the next asbestos problem to cause health issues. From the photos, all the sheep look happy and Miles is all smiles that the wool can be put to good use in his new home. The wool batts were sourced through a local Christchurch company – Terra Lana – who specialise in recycled natural wool products including insulation.
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IN THE KNOW —
Changes to tertiary education will impact the construction industry The education sector is undergoing a total re-vamp of how training will be delivered to apprentices which will also impact the builders who employ them. How do these changes affect the way we train our apprentices and what support is going to be on offer for apprentices and employers? The changes are a result of the New Zealand Governments Review of Vocational Education (RoVE) with many of the legislative requirements having already been passed into law by parliament. Regardless of the outcome of the September general election, these changes are set to occur and will have an impact on all parties involved in the delivery of training apprentices including employers within the construction industry. These changes caused some confusion within the construction industry, resulting in the risk of apprenticeship completion rates dropping away. A further risk was employers who didn’t understand the new scheme simply chose not to take on apprentices, forcing the number of unqualified workers calling themselves tradesmen/women to potentially increase. New Zealand Certified Builders (NZCB) Chief Executive, Grant Florence, attended a government select committee meeting in October 2019 calling for the government to get this right or run the risk of history repeating itself. Currently, it is business as usual, with existing and new apprentices choosing to enrol in training with either an Industry Training Provider (ITP) or the Building and Construction Industry Training Organisation (BCITO) model and this will remain unchanged up until 31 December 2022. There’s some good news for those apprentices who enrol from 1 July 2020 through until 31 December 2022. The Targeted Training and Apprenticeship Fund (TTAF) will make a range of training and apprenticeship programmes at sub-degree level free and the current industry standard, New Zealand Certificate in Carpentry qualification is included. However, some eligibility criteria must be met to access the TTAF.
School leavers will be able to study for free which is great news for younger apprentices, however anyone who has undertaken prior tertiary study for more than half a year or 60 credits at level 3 will not be eligible. Arguably, an older apprentice who has qualifications from previous employment and wishes to retrain, will be disadvantaged. Employers have not been overlooked either. The Apprenticeship Support Programme (ASP) was announced on 17 June 2020 by the New Zealand Government, who confirmed a $390 million subsidy for employers to train apprentices. The Apprenticeship Boost scheme, accessible under the ASP will allow employers to apply for funding support of $1,000 per month for a first year apprentice and $500 per month for a second year apprentice, up until they complete the first 24 months of their training. Access to the Apprenticeship Boost scheme will be via the Ministry of Social Development and is expected to be accessible for 20 months. Further details on this are being announced.
What happens after the transition, when we see new initiatives like the Workforce Development Councils (WDCs), the Centre of Vocational Excellence (CoVE) and Regional Skills Leadership Groups (RSLGs) developed and appointed? Specific details are still emerging from the Tertiary Education Commission (TEC) about the various roles and influence these groups and bodies will have on training. The general consensus is, that these are high-level decision-making authorities who will not have a massive impact on the day-to-day training of apprentices on a building site. After the transition deadline date of 31 December 2022, all apprentices will most likely be required to enrol in the newly established New Zealand Institute of Skills and Technology (NZIST). The NZIST was established on 1 April 2020, effectively merging 16 existing ITPs and Polytechnics into one “Super Institute”. It is anticipated that the NZIST will absorb the day-to-day onsite assessment and training delivery functions of BCITO.
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Nick Matthews NZCB & ITAB Business Development Manager – South Island
The Apprenticeship Boost scheme will allow employers to apply for funding support of $1,000 per month for a first year apprentice and $500 per month for a second year apprentice. Under this new training model, it could be that all apprentices will be required to attend offsite training at a regional campus of the NZIST. Offsite training generally consists of a mix of both practical and theory components of apprenticeship training which, in my opinion, is something that has been lacking in training offered by other models in recent years. Yet to be resolved are the practical implications for remotely located apprentices e.g. How does an apprentice who has to travel two hours or more to attend a night class or a block course achieve their offsite training?
This is compounded further for the builder having to deal with staff away and the loss of onsite productivity. Not to mention whether the apprentice gets paid whilst attending offsite training and whether those apprentices who are not employees but are in a subcontractor relationship with the principle contractor are paid? Keeping in mind the varying scenarios, I suspect we are likely to see a blended model catering for all learners, taking into consideration the age of an apprentice, practical ability, geographical location and the type of employment contract agreed to by both parties. Never has there been a better time to take on and train an apprentice than right now. However, there are some old sayings that keep occurring to me “the devil is in the detail” and “information is key” so I will be keeping a close eye on government announcements. As we draw closer to 31 December 2022, I will endeavour to keep NZCB members well informed on the changes affecting our industry and the way our apprentices achieve their Trade Qualification.
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CM70024 www.miteknz.co.nz
IN THE KNOW —
To Corporatise, or not to Corporatise? That is the question... What structures are available to builders that can balance tax efficiencies, offer flexibility for businesses, and ease of compliance?
There are four main structures that are available; Sole Trader, Partnerships, Companies, and Trading Trusts. Each structure has positives and negatives, and it is the balancing of these competing factors that work out what the best structure should be for you. Members who are also Licensed Building Practitioners (LBP) have the additional complication that the structure is “looked” at through to the individual license holder. If this is you, you may need to discuss this further with your advisor to determine a way of undertaking additional asset protection structures with trusts and spouses.
The business risk to a sole trader is that they are liable for all business debts as there is no separation between the individual and the business. Sole Traders A Sole Trader is the simplest structure and easy to set up because when you are born, you are automatically given an IRD number, which is all you need.
From a compliance point of view, all income after expenses are deducted and treated as being taxed in the sole traders’ hands, however this does not always give you the most tax efficient outcome. For example, you are not able to employ your spouse without the IRD’s approval and the deductibility of some expenses are limited. On the counter side, it is very easy to wind up a sole trader as you can make an election with IRD to cease operating. The business risk to a sole trader is that they are liable for all business debts as there is no separation between the individual and the business. Therefore, all personal assets belonging to the sole trader could be exposed to creditor risk.
Partnerships If two friends decide they want to work together they can form a Partnership. The partnership is separate from the two individual partners, so the nature of expenditure in a partnership is directly related to the business and any personal expense is “charged” to the partners current accounts. Partnerships also have an additional level of complexity for compliance as they are required to complete tax returns, and then any profit (or loss) is attributed to the individual partners. If partners enter
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and exit a partnership, this is seen as a restructure and the partnership continues (although there can be some adjustments made for the exiting and entering partners) therefore resulting in nil negative tax consequences for the remaining partners. The partnership can be dissolved if all partners agree and is a similar process to winding up a sole trader. Partnerships can be risky as all partners are joint and severally liable for each other. It is almost like a business marriage, so when entering into a partnership it is important to have trust in your business partners, or at a minimum, documented accountability. While you may have confidence in your abilities, you also need to have the same faith and confidence in your business partners.
Companies Due to the liability issues of a Partnership, a Company is the preferred structure for business partners. A company has limited liability (represented by the “LTD” at the end of a company name) meaning the shareholders of the company are seen to be separate from the company itself. This also increases the compliance costs as the company needs to account for the inflows and outflows of the resources of the company.
A company has limited liability... meaning the shareholders of the company are seen to be separate from the company itself. The separation of ownership (shareholders) and management of the company (directors) means that expenditure to assist in running the business, (including payments to working shareholders) is treated as a deductible expense to the company and not as private expenses to the shareholders. The company pays tax in its own name which is separate to the tax paid by individual shareholders. Surplus profits are distributed by way of dividends to the shareholders, and this is where the Imputation Credits are used, in effect reducing double taxation on the distribution of surplus profits. Winding up a company can be difficult because of the separation between the shareholders and the company itself. The company needs to go through a formal removal process from the companies register and prove the shareholders have agreed to cease trading. Companies are often removed through “liquidations” which has a negative connotation on the basis that the business was insolvent, but even solvent companies can be liquidated. It is more common to have the company struck off for not filing an annual return, but the correct process is a liquidation process.
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Trading Trusts The fourth option, which has diminished in popularity over recent years, is the Trading Trust concept. Trusts will be well known to many as part of asset protection for the family home, or other investments that are held in trusts. These are more passive in nature, as they are not taking on business risk by trading. Trading Trusts have the same level of compliance as companies, as there is an accountability to the beneficiaries on the use of the resources of the trust by the Trustees; but trading trusts have the flexibility on the distribution of the profits as these can be taxed in the trusts hands (33%) or in the hands of the beneficiaries (marginal tax rate). Trading trusts are still governed by the trust deed, so it is important that trustees are still familiar with the terms of the Deed. The Trustees of the trading trust will usually take on the risk of the business, and if trading insolvent, can be held personally liable. It is common, therefore, to have a company as the corporate trustee of the trading trust. It is easier to wind up a trading trust than a company, as it only requires a deed to bring forward the vesting date, vest the assets, and then wind up the trust as it no longer holds any assets. Often the Trustee company will be wound up which means the trust can “fail” as it no longer has a trustee.
The table below summarizes the benefits and weaknesses of the four options: STRUCTURE
EASE OF COMPLIANCE
TAX EFFICIENCY
PERSONAL RISK
Sole Trader
3 3 7 7
7 7 3 3
3 3 7 7
Partnership Company Trading Trust
Each business is going to have different needs and it is also expected that business will evolve over time. Pick the best structure that meets your needs, monitor the evolution of your business and adapt as your needs change. For more information or to chat further please call us on 0800 651 900 or visit our website www.tradeworx.co.nz
David Waine is a director of Tradeworx Limited. Tradeworx are NZCB National Partners and a cloud integration company that works with a number of software suppliers to tailor the best IT solutions for you and your business to meet your business goals.
HEALTH AND SAFETY —
Stay safe, speak up Adjusting to life under the “new normal” can be challenging. In the construction sector, it’s meant getting to grips with the additional COVID-19 safety protocols designed to prevent the spread of the virus. This can be even more challenging when there are multiple trades on site at the same time. So, what happens if you and your team are doing your bit to prevent the spread but someone else on site isn’t? Site Safe looks at your rights, responsibilities, and when to speak up. If you have concerns that the actions of workers from another PCBU may be putting you or others at risk e.g. not following good hygiene practices like washing or sanitising hands, you should treat this like any other health and safety issue you may encounter on your site. In a nutshell, under New Zealand’s health and safety law, the main contractor/PCBU (person conducting a business or undertaking – note this is a legal term for the business and it can mean an organisation or an individual) in charge of the site has a responsibility to ensure that all those on site have good health and safety practices in place and that the work of their contractors is not putting anyone – including the public – at risk. The COVID-19 situation is no different from any other health and safety issue. Generally, workers don’t deliberately breach health and safety procedures; but we’ve all made mistakes at one time or another that has led to an incident and this will be no different for the COVID-19 protocols that have been put in place. There will also need to be a record of an occurrence as a safety incident; this is especially important for COVID-19 contact tracing. Remember, it’s always important to speak up if you see something you know is unsafe on site. In the first instance, and if you’re comfortable doing so, go and have a chat with the person involved. Chances are they didn’t realise what they’ve done and will be grateful for a friendly reminder. If you can’t do this or don’t receive an acceptable response, then you should bring it to the attention of your manager or supervisor, who should then let the main contractor or person in charge of the site (on a residential site, this may be the client) know what’s going on. If you feel your concerns have not been taken seriously or addressed appropriately, you can stop or refuse to carry out work if you believe that the work is unsafe or would expose you to a serious health and safety risk (in this case exposure to COVID-19). If you do this, then you should inform your manager immediately and remain available to carry out suitable alternative work. If the issue can’t be resolved, then any of the parties involved may request WorkSafe to mediate on the issue – see the WorkSafe website for more information. Whether the issue is with your own employer or with another contractor on site, or with the main contractor, and it is putting people at serious risk, then there are a few options to consider: • Talking with your own employer • Involving your health and safety representative
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• • • • • •
Involving your safety committee Talking to your union representative Asking your industry association for advice Seeking advice from Site Safe Cessation of work Requesting WorkSafe to intervene
Under the Health and Safety at Work Act, workers have the right to: • Work in a healthy and safe environment • Speak up about health and safety ideas or concerns • Be given a chance to have a say • Ask for a health and safety representative or committee • Appropriate training before starting work • Work with safe machinery, vehicles, tools and equipment • Have access to health and safety information • Be provided with PPE if appropriate • Stop or refuse to carry out dangerous work – you must tell your manager as soon as possible if this is the case • Be provided with toilets and handwashing facilities, clean drinking water, first aid facilities and a place to have a meal break in reasonable comfort and shelter • Understand what to do in an emergency. Workers are responsible for: • Taking reasonable care of their own health and safety • Take reasonable care that what they do doesn’t make others unsafe • Comply with any reasonable instruction from the PCBU • Cooperating with any reasonable health and safety policy or procedure of the PCBU. If you have questions about the COVID-19 protocols and how to apply these on site, you can make use of the Ask an Advisor form on the Site Safe website www.sitesafe.org.nz, or contact a Site Safe health and safety advisor directly. Site Safe is also offering a new Pandemic Readiness Review (audit) service for businesses keen to find out how they’re measuring up to the COVID-19 protocols.
Jeff Strampel, Health and Safety Lead, Site Safe NZ. Site Safe is a not-for-profit, membership-based organisation that supports a culture of health and safety in New Zealand construction.
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HEALTH AND SAFETY —
Bad vibrations Tools. Vehicles. Heavy equipment. They take a toll on the body. It’s a normal part of any tradie’s day – picking up the power tools or jumping in the truck and getting stuck in. It’s so normal that many of us don’t recognise the potential harm we are exposing our bodies to through the vibrations they give off. But it is something that you should start thinking about and being aware of.
How are workers harmed? Vibrations are a natural part of working on any construction site. Many of the most commonly used items give off some form of vibration. With that said, the most common ways tradies are exposed to vibrations are: • Power tools
Early warning signs We understand that for many tradies, working with vibrations is a natural and unavoidable part of the job. With that in mind, there are a few warning signs and symptoms of overexposure to keep an eye out for: • Tingling and numbness in your fingers (which can lead to disturbances to your sleep patterns – not ideal!) • Loss of feeling in your fingers • Loss of strength, both grip, and holding, in your hands • Fingers turning white and red when working in cold/ wet conditions
What you can do to manage risk
•●Trucks and machinery
It is up to everyone on-site to look out for each other. Consultation with your team should take place to make sure an environment can be created where excessive exposure to vibrations is eliminated or minimised.
• From our working surfaces being exposed to vibrations (including break or smoko areas) While these are the most common forms of exposure, the below should also be considered: • Working in cold and damp conditions
Below are simple yet effective ways to either eliminate or minimise the effects.
• Increased grip force
• Use suitable low vibration power tools where possible
• Working with power tools for extended periods of time
• Use the right tool for the job – don’t use a power tool to get the job done faster when it is not required. Enjoy the task, don’t rush • Look after your tools, trucks, and machinery – get them serviced regularly, repair any breaks or faults as soon as possible and store them properly – keep them out of the cold and rain • Avoid gripping or being too forceful with a tool • Keep your body moving and take a break if needed • Wear the correct equipment and clothing Above all else, be aware that vibrations can be extremely harmful, especially when you’re exposed for lengthy periods of time. Your best tool for minimising the effects of vibrations is to start a conversation with your boss, or your team, and put steps in place to look out for each other and your equipment.
The HazardCo Team. As your trusted safety partner, we provide you with the tools and support you need to #SortYourSafety. To find out how HazardCo can benefit your site, call us on 0800 555 339 or visit hazardco.com
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Advantage
HEALTH AND WELLBEING —
Why do I feel so angry? Do you get worked up about small things? Is your threshold for everyday annoyances low? Sometimes anger is perfectly normal and healthy when you are feeling angry or facing a frustrating situation. Anger isn’t always a negative emotion; however, it can be a sign that you are suffering from something else such as depression or stress. For example, you may have lost someone close to you, in which case anger can be a natural part of the grieving process. Anger is a human issue, most people get angry at some point in their lives, but not everyone has an anger problem. Causes of anger can include feeling powerless or threatened – having feelings that other people are not treating you with respect. Signs that you may have an anger problem: • Do you have to have the last word, or you always need to win an argument? • You find you cannot listen to constructive criticism, and you are quick to become defensive and fire back at the person trying to help
Concentrate on breathing in and breathing out. Relax your shoulders – think about letting them drop back to a normal position. Unclench your fists and massage your hands together slowly. You could try listening to music, knitting, colouring-in, meditation, kick-boxing or hitting a punching-bag to release some of the anger you are feeling. By including relaxation techniques – such as deep breathing exercises, visualisation techniques or repeating positive affirmations into your lifestyle – you’ll find you can contribute to making a significant difference in helping control your anger and remain calm. As soon as you feel your anger rising, count from one to ten. Remove yourself from the situation, find a task or activity that may help to distract you. Going for a walk to get some fresh air can help to clear your mind.
• You explode at the drop of a hat and are unable to control your outburst
How to move forward
• You hold grudges, hanging onto resentment and bitterness with no tolerance
The past will never be back, learn from the past, remember what you have learnt, be nice to yourself and move on.
• You talk over your partner and you both lose out because no one is really listening. You end up by one or both of you feeling that you are walking on eggshells for fear of causing a fight, while the problems remain heated and are never revealed and resolved.
Identify the problems and accept responsibility. When you commit yourself to changing the way you think and behave you take back the power over your life.
Discover mood boosting tips
Through EAP Services you can seek support with a Professional who can teach you how to control your anger. Swallow your pride, humble yourself and seek help before it is too late.
Learn how to create a space between your trigger and your reaction. Some people find that when they get hungry this affects their mood. If this is something that has an effect on your mood, it is a good idea to keep regular meal times and have a few snacks on hand for when you start to feel a bit grumpy.
To find out more on how they can help you please contact Karla at the NZCB National Support Office on 0800 237 843 ext 710.
Before you react, think carefully about what you are going to say, this will help you to not say anything that you will regret. You may find your heat rate increases and you are breathing more rapidly as your body becomes tense. You may also find you are clenching your jaw or fist. EAP Services Limited. EAP Services are Partners of NZCB and New Zealand’s leading employee assistance programme provider, committed to supporting organisations to enhance the wellbeing and performance of their staff.
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HEALTH AND WELLBEING —
Three ways to stop playing the ‘what-if’ game Some days it feels like the spark has gone out of your work even though you’re still producing the results. And you’re tired, the lack of sleep is starting to catch up. And you notice you’re not quite present with your family either… it seems like you’re there in body but your mind is elsewhere, you can’t really be bothered. And you’ve started playing the ‘what-if’ game! Your mind is full of horrific thoughts rapidly gathering speed. You find yourself negatively building up things in your mind, adding thought after thought, and your worry is manifesting as you’re thinking about every possible future scenario and then planning for every one of them.
How do you stop these ‘what-ifs’ in their tracks?
The ‘what-if’ game is wearying and can be quite alarming.
We know that by modifying our thoughts, we can feel happier and less stressed. We need to become ultra-aware of actually observing what is causing our stress, negative thinking, and bad moods. Only then can we actively challenge these bad feelings, negative thoughts, overwhelm and stress.
Here’s an example: Last month, Jeff’s effort for new clients wasn’t so successful, so income is down a little for the month even though last month was way ahead of schedule. And he finds he’s listening to a lot of negative talk out there – online, television... it all seems bad.
It all starts with your thinking Knowing we can never be 100 percent certain about life allows us to take steps toward increasing our ability to handle those moments when we’re not too sure about what will take place.
Is it possible to get rid of these ‘what-ifs’ – a debilitating mind process also known as ‘scenario building’ or ‘catastrophising’? Yes, and here’s how. Three ways to stop playing the ‘what-if’ game: 1. Deal only with the facts. Most anxiety is centred around imaginary, not real, things. 2. Write your thoughts down to help you focus on the ‘real’ issues at hand. 3. Ask yourself, and answer, these two questions: What’s the worst that can happen? How would I cope if the worst did happen? Over time, you can learn how to control your anxious thoughts by using this technique. You see, there’s no easy ‘fix’, there’s no magic pill, yet the moment you start attending to your anxiety, it’s amazing how quickly you start to feel more relaxed and life seems a whole lot lighter and freer, with more joy.
So even the faintest possibility of losing a long-term client of his sets up a train of thought which gathers steam… “What if the client doesn’t re-sign the contract? What if I don’t have enough to pay the bills next month? What if I have to let go one of my staff? What if the economy tanks? What if the bank won’t increase my overdraft? Or what if another big client pulls the pin? My life is ruined! I’m a total loser!” Within seconds, Jeff’s initial thinking about one client leads to a chain of other worries and what-ifs in the blink of an eye and these thoughts threaten to derail him.
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Controlling stress needs to be the number one focus for the majority of adults operating in the modern world. If you are unable to control your anxious thoughts, you will be unable to relax or have control over your life. For helpful, practical strategies, communication tools and techniques Linda has written the Award Winning book ‘Transforming Your Stress Into Business Success’. This is available at: www.transformingyourstressintobusinesssuccess.com
Linda Wells – The Business Stress Specialist. Linda is a speaker, trainer and consultant. Over the past 14 years, she has inspired and educated men and women to lead, communicate and respond more effectively to avoid overwhelm, reduce stress and increase productivity, success and enjoyment.
Advice Financial, together with NIB, have negotiated a special group health insurance offer for NZCB members.
Advice Financial will help you make sure
your Plan B works and organise
great benefits for your staff. HEALTH INSURANCE IMPROVES: Retention Productivity Reduces the business risk associated with non-availability of staff
The NZCB health plan has some great benefits:
As well as providing this great offer, Advice Financial work with businesses to establish their Plan B. Successful businesses often focus on Plan A – everything going well – but neglect Plan B – what happens when things go wrong.
Full acceptance of pre existing conditions* for staff and immediate families.
Whether it’s managing your ACC to make sure you and your
Immediate cover - no waiting around for certain
employees are protected, understanding the risks you face in
conditions to be accepted.
losing a key person, or planning for succession should one of the
Major surgery cover up to $300,000 to cover big health issues.
owners be unable to continue in the business, Advice Financial
Optional extras, including GP cover, Dental cover,
make sure that you have the right risk management at a competi-
and the ability to access Specialists.
tive price. Many businesses have bought insurance and have not
A great recruitment tool as it is exclusive to NZCB Business
reviewed whether it meets their needs – often, businesses are
Members – no other building firms can offer it.
paying for something that won’t work when needed.
*Providing 75% of staff take up the cover Terms and conditions apply.
Contact us today to find out how your business can take advantage of this great offer.
If you’d like to talk to Jamie and the team at Advice Financial about how to make the most of the NZCB Health Plan, get in touch with us today on:
P. 0800 10 22 64 or email Jamie at jamie.coltman@advicefinancial.co.nz
AROUND THE REGIONS —
Andrew Macdonald Business Development Manager – Auckland
Message from our Auckland BDM
AUCKLAND
Over the COVID-19 lockdown period, like many others, I was faced with new challenges. Working from my home office meant adapting my acquisition process liaising with potential members by phone and email only. As restrictions eased it felt great to be back meeting potential members face-to-face. It has been encouraging to see an increase in enquiry from both our experienced builders and those builders wanting to take the next step in their careers, stepping out on their own and starting their own building company. Good on them and I wish them all the best in their new ventures.
New Zealand Certified Builders (NZCB) offers a Mentoring Programme that helps match some of our more experienced members with other members who are either new to business or looking to expand and may need support, guidance or sometimes just a sounding board. For those new business owners who do not have experience managing a company, New Zealand Certified Builders (NZCB) offers a Mentoring Programme. This programme helps match some of our more experienced members with other members who are either new to business or looking to expand and may need support, guidance or sometimes just a sounding board – ensuring a wealth of knowledge, skill and good practice is passed on before our more experienced members hang up their toolbelts. If you are interested in joining the Mentoring Programme, either as a mentor or a mentee, please email Trudi at NZCB National Support Office on trudi@nzcb.nz.
A question I am often asked, is “how do I market my new business?”. After some banter I discover most builders often do not do any marketing/advertising and their contracts come via word-of-mouth. Although this is free advertising triggered by customer experience, there are other avenues such as social media with Facebook and Instagram pages. Both options offer cheap and more affordable marketing opportunities, however it is important to keep these pages up-to-date with good quality photos and include current testimonials and referrals received from homeowners upon completion of work. Postcard and flyer drops around the neighbourhood where you are working may also be an effective way of promoting your business and one I have observed. And, given neighbours are generally nosey, if they see a postcard from you, they are more likely to respond after seeing you work on the neighbour’s property than contact somebody unknown to them. For further information on marketing refer to The Power of a Brand article on page 10 of the last InHouse magazine (June/July 2020 issue) or contact Karla at NZCB National Support Office karla@nzcb.nz. I also hear a lot about a local networking group called BNI New Zealand, who are known as world leaders in ‘referral marketing’. BNI helps you grow your business by teaching you how to network with other quality business professionals and provide an opportunity for you to develop a network of colleagues for ideas and advice helping improve your personal and professional skills. For more information visit www.bni.co.nz. Looking forward into the future, the general feedback I am receiving from members is that they are positive with the amount of incoming work they have in the pipeline which is reassuring to hear. Bye for now from (as I like to say) “Just Another Aucklander”.
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AROUND THE REGIONS —
David Gunter NZCB President Nelson Bays
NZCB Nelson first to hold Zoom evening for Members NELSON BAYS
On 11th June, the New Zealand Certified Builders (NZCB) Nelson region became the first NZCB region to hold a Zoom meeting for Members. In line with the huge increase in Zoom meetings during the COVID-19 lockdown, the NZCB Nelson Committee chose to hold a Zoom meeting for Members. We also extended the invite to the NZCB Blenheim/Marlborough and NZCB West Coast regions to join in. NZCB Group Technical Manager, Jason McClintock worked closely with NZCB President Nelson, Dave Gunter, to create six short video interviews on different topics. Each presentation was played and then followed by a discussion time, for Members to exchange ideas about the topic. Topics ranged from financial advice to Council inspection failures and information, Government assistance packages, business acumen and software packages. The evening was sponsored by ITM, who also presented their own tips on how to work with suppliers in these post COVID-19 lockdown times.
NZCB Nelson Committee is planning to hold similar evenings, but with a modified style.
The NZCB Nelson Committee felt this was a good start to future Zoom presentations, and the possibilities this offers to enable presenters to Zoom in without having to travel. Feedback was positive about this Members’ evening and the
A quick update on NZCB Nelson events… the BUILDNelson Expo that was due to take place in October 2020 has been postponed to Thursday 18th March 2021 – save the date, we look forward to seeing you there!
Industry Events Calendar 2020 CONZTRUCT TRADE SHOW
24 August – 1 October
CITY
DATE
TIME
VENUE
CHRISTCHURCH
Monday 24th August
4pm – 7pm
Air Force Museum
DUNEDIN
Tuesday 25th August
4pm – 7pm
Edgar Centre
INVERCARGILL
Wednesday 26th August
4pm – 7pm
SIT Velodrome, Stadium South
QUEENSTOWN
Thursday 27th August
4pm – 7pm
Queenstown Events Centre
TAUPO
Tuesday 8th September
4pm – 6:30pm
Great Lake Centre
ROTORUA
Wednesday 9th September
4pm – 6:30pm
Energy Events Centre
AUCKLAND SOUTH/EAST
Monday 28th September
3:30pm – 7pm
Auckland Netball Centre
TAURANGA
Tuesday 29th September
4pm – 7pm
Trustpower Baypark
NAPIER
Wednesday 30th September
4pm – 7pm
Pettigrew Green Arena
GISBORNE
Thursday 1st October
4pm – 7pm
Showgrounds Park & Event Centre
CONZTRUCT is for builders, electricians, architects, designers, and other specialist trades people to further their breadth of knowledge, education and gain a greater understanding of new product technologies. There’s LBP & CPD points available and it’s FREE to attend!
For more information and to register visit www.conztruct.co.nz
NEXT GENERATION —
Nick Matthews NZCB & ITAB Business Development Manager – South Island
ITAB welcomes WITT partnership New Zealand Certified Builders (NZCB) is pleased to announce the partnership between the Western Institute of Technology (WITT) and Industry Training Association Building (ITAB). This partnership will provide the Taranaki region with the industry recognised New Zealand Certificate in Carpentry Level 4 qualification. We train our apprentices like Olympic athletes.
Taranaki can now fully train and qualify under the Industry Training Provider (Polytechnic) model without leaving home. Apprentices who attend polytechnic learn the theory of “how and why” we build. Theory underpins practical ability and benefits the employer by having a capable and productive apprentice who is an asset to their business. Now, employers and their apprentices in Taranaki will be able to directly enrol in the ITAB programme, gaining access to additional support such as the Apprenticeship Scholarship Trust and compete in the NZCB Apprentice Challenge.
Up until now, apprentices based in Taranaki have had limited access to the full carpentry qualification due to WiTT only providing a part qualification. However, thanks to a formal arrangement with the Universal College of Learning, the neighbouring institute based in Manawatu, apprentices from
ITAB has been providing training for close to 20 years and is available nationwide. Preferred by the educated builder, ITAB is regarded as the best mix of traditional apprenticeship training combined with modern teaching and learning techniques. For more information visit www.itab.co.nz or call 0800 482 284.
NEXT GENERATION —
ITAB Apprentice Completions Congratulations to all the ITAB Apprentices who have recently completed their National Certificates in Carpentry! Ara Institute of Canterbury Mathew Buckingham
Property Enhancement Company
Campbell Graham
Brannen Construction
Alex Emery
Stanton Builders (Chch) Limited
Wairere O'Brien
He toki ki te mahi Trust
Richard Cowan
MAXRaft
Nathan Kaye
L R M Builders Limited
Alexander Paterson
Casey Construction Limited
Aukuso Tuii
Cassidy Construction
Nelson Marlborough Institute of Technology (NMIT)
Toi Ohomai Institute of Technology Limited
Robert McIntosh
Right Edge Builders
Jayden Jensen
Building Central
Mardi McBride
Glenn Grant Builder Limited
Ashton Wilder
Wade Construction Limited
Kyle Bennett
IMB Construction Limited
Thomas Grainger
Wade Construction Limited
Northtec – Future Trades Scott Wilson
Wellington Institute of Technology Limited (WELTEC) Kerikeri Falls Investments Limited
Otago Polytechnic Limited Gavin Breach
Central Blue Limited
David Adamson
A & H Building
Blake McGregor
Bay Building Dunedin Limited
Brad Lee
G J Gardner Homes (Otago)
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Bryce Savage
Villa Builders Limited
Jack Craughwell
LT McGuinness
Hillary Leuluai
McKee Fehl Constructions Limited
Daman Cutler
Haines Homes and Construction
Thomas Dunn
Skinner & Skinner Building
NEXT GENERATION —
Brian Dillon AST Trust Chairman
A bumpy road ahead I think it’s fair to say that a few weeks post-lockdown, we still haven’t felt the full impact of the economic shutdown. While businesses are still trying to manage wage subsidies, business grants and other ways to support their operations, the training sector is starting to see a delayed effect, with some apprentice redundancies, and withdrawals from full-time programmes.
Organisations involved in training have been working together to identify ways to retain and support these trainees; many of them have made a sound start to their construction careers, and the industry needs these people to continue training. A Construction and Infrastructure COVID Skills Response group has been established to identify how these trainees can be retained, and possibly continue some training, while businesses and the industry come right. The group includes representatives from Industry Training Providers (ITPs), Building and Construction Industry Training Organisation (BCITO), Connexis (Infrastructure ITO), and Skills.Org (ITO for Electrical, Plumbing, and Scaffolding, among others). It is hoped that a training framework and plan will be established very soon, which should be of comfort to the trainees, and the employers who have committed to their training too. A number of funds are becoming available to support trainees and employers alike. There are too many to list here, but they include the Targeted Training and Apprentice Fund (TTAF) – essentially zero-fees for trainees in their first or second year, whether they are doing full time study or an apprenticeship.
Also being rolled out is the Apprenticeship Support Programme (ASP), which will help employers retain current apprentices, and/or take on new ones. Details are now starting to emerge on criteria, and applications processes.
A number of funds are becoming available to support trainees and employers alike. All of this support could be seen as comparable to what we’ve been striving for with the Apprenticeship Scholarship Trust (AST) over the years, albeit on a much larger scale, and with government backing. We will continue to provide specific support as and when needed for apprentices in the Industry Training Association Building (ITAB) partnership – a recent example involved support for an apprentice with reduced hours, but is still going to block courses. Let’s hope these support initiatives, and a continued commitment from industry, contribute to a more positive second half of the year.
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TECH TIPS —
Membrane refurbishment work – what’s consentable? During uncertain economic times, there is a tendency for some new-builds to be cancelled; postponed; or for building owners to consider refurbishment instead.
In terms of membrane roof and deck refurbishment, there’s confusion around what is council-consentable. Many project stakeholders including builders, believe the only viable option is to completely rebuild versus considering an overlay. In many cases, membrane replacements or overlays can legally take place without replacing the existing substrate and supports. More importantly, they will remain robust and code compliant for a further 20+ years. Don’t get me wrong, problematic, poorly designed roofs and decks must be completely replaced and consented. Responsible construction is not negotiable, however tearing down well constructed, compliant structures is unnecessary, expensive and irresponsible even as this adds to the burgeoning waste dumped in our land-fills. Knowing the Building Code could be the difference between projects going ahead or not. Refurbishments render surprising additional revenue during subdued economic times. Below is an over-simplified summary of the intentions of the key Code clauses pertinent to membrane work: E2 ‘External Moisture’ – a roof must shed water, not pond, and keep water out of the building
If an existing membrane roof or deck is sloped less than E2/AS1’s current prescribed minimum, but it: (i) continues to shed water; (ii) doesn’t pond; (iii) remains watertight and (iv) has been keeping people; their property; and neighbours safe for 15 years or longer… then in principle, a comparable membrane replacement/overlay can take place without having to embark on consentable ‘restricted building works’. Admittedly, further conditions apply to the above, e.g.: I recommend invasive testing of the substrate, but hopefully you get the idea.
B1 ‘Structure’ – a roof must safeguard people from injury and loss, and protect other property
If you’re still unsure, get in touch with us on either info@vikingroofspec.co.nz or 0800 729 799.
B2 ‘Durability’ – envelope materials must withstand New Zealand conditions for a minimum of 15 years
This Tech Tip was supplied by Viking Roofspec. Viking Roofspec are NZCB National Partners and specialises in the area of membrane refurbishment. We’re intimate with the Code and more importantly, can recommend robust, compliant membrane or warm roof replacement or overlay methodologies that will stand the test of time.
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TECH TIPS —
MiTek screw innovation One of the largest advances which has affected both off-site and on-site construction in recent years is the improvement in battery technology. This has allowed battery drills to become serious work tools which [with fully charged back-up battery packs in the UTE!] will last for a full day. This has allowed battery drills/cordless screw guns to become increasingly popular and they are now starting to rival nail guns as the most convenient way to fix timber together. There is a significant health and safety advantage with screw guns over nail guns too, you are much less likely to shoot yourself accidentally! Recognising this, MiTek® continued screw innovation to specifically develop the engineered StudLok™ Screw. MiTek’s Initial testing facilitated the developed of StudLok™ SL125 [yellow] screw as a fixing developed for top-plate to stud hold down fixing, which is convenient to install in a pre-nail frame production facility. MiTek also provided Manufacturers with a StudLok™ stamp and accompanying paperwork for each individual project, to inform building inspectors of installation while saving builders money and on-site time. This fixing option was further developed into the StudLok™ SL170 [blue] screw. As a longer version of the StudLok™ SL125 [yellow] screw, it allows the same top plate to stud fixing to be made on site, but after the very top plate was installed. Allowing installation to be completed by builders, with the blue head being visible for inspection by building officials. Without modern battery technology, MiTek® don’t think there would be many 170mm long screws being used on site at 600c/c around the top plates.
The latest element of the MiTek® StudLok™ screw range is the lintel uplift fixings range. The StudLok™ screw is the SL125 [yellow], but in this application the screw is installed through the trim stud into the end of the lintel. All of these fixings sit within the thickness of the panel hence they don’t get in the way of the GIB, they can all be installed off-site, which allows for improved quality control and they reduce the number of opportunities for nail gun related injuries. Its fair to say that through MiTek innovation and understanding modern building trends the StudLok™ screws are now a common place either at the Frame & Truss Fabricator or on Site in a builder’s apron. For more information visit www.mitek.co.nz
This Tech Tip was supplied by MiTek New Zealand. MiTek are NZCB National Partners and is a proud and committed New Zealand manufacturer specialising in the building components industry. They are continually streamlining building component design for improvements in timber truss and wall-frame design solutions and associated fixings with engineers, designers and construction companies.
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TECH TIPS —
Easy protection of cut timber ends, with Abodo’s new Protector End Seal Sealing the ends of external timbers is critically important. Too often the first place of failure in wood decking or wood cladding applications is the exposed end.
Fungal decay requires moisture to develop, and the end grain of wood absorbs moisture at up to 100 times the rate of absorption of the face of wood. This means that on average, the end grain retains more moisture than other parts of the wood, and is more likely to decay first. This phenomenon affects both treated timbers, and naturally durable species. Even “Class 1″ durability species such as Kwila/Merbau, Garapa and Vitex are affected by this problem. It is critical therefore, that the cut ends of wood are sealed prior to application with an end sealant.
End sealants are available as a wax based water repellent, designed to block moisture ingress, or as a chemical preservative, intended to protect the wood from fungal development. Homegrown natural timber specialist, Abodo, has launched Protector End Seal – a one coat colour matched end sealer for the easy protection of cut ends. In one easy step seal and colour the ends of your exterior timber cladding, decking and structural timbers. Learn more at www.abodo.co.nz/endseal
Any cutting of timber, whether from sawing, shaping or planning has the potential to exposure the end grain and allow the uptake of moisture. This is particularly relevant for timber decking, but also for timber cladding or weatherboards.
This Tech Tip was supplied by Abodo Wood Limited. Abodo are NZCB National Partners, who craft timbers with lasting beauty that are safe for people and the environment. Formed in 2001, Abodo remains a New Zealand-owned, family business with a purpose.
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News Bites
NEWS BITES
NEWS
Beat the cold with the Moderno Carbon Infrared Heaters The innovative and stylish Moderno Carbon Infrared Heaters by Tranquillity are an efficient and cost-effective heating option used both indoors and outdoors The Moderno Heaters by Tranquillity are available in two colours – black and silver, and in two sizes – standard and mini. Moderno heaters have a certificate
of compliance (SAA certificate) and meet the electrical safety standards and requirements. Features: • do not burn oxygen • no air blowing and zero noise • not affected by wind • create efficient directional heat • remote control included • timer
• 4 or 2 temperature settings • IP55 – can be used in wet areas The Moderno Heaters are on sale now – check with your local electrical or plumbing merchant or PlaceMakers! For more information visit www.warmup.co.nz/heating-products/ infrared-heaters/
NEW PRODUCT
Check out MyProjects. It’s free! Looking for an easier and safer way to store, share and archive project information? Developed in response to the industry’s need for a better way to manage project information, MyProjects allows you to: • Securely store and archive project files, • Share this information with project stakeholders, and • Maintain a library of frequently used information that’s always kept up-to-date. MyProjects connects directly to Productspec and Smartspec, however it’s freely available to everyone, regardless of the specification platform or operating system you use. Try MyProjects for free at www.myprojects.co.nz
NEW PRODUCT
Franklins to launch new Italian tapware range in September Armando Vicario Glam Basin Faucet in English Gold
Franklins is launching a new Italian Designed and manufactured tapware brand Armando Vicario. There will be a range of bathroom tapware and kitchen all stocked in up to 10 finishes including
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Tabacco, Old Brass and Graphite. You can expect to see these spectacular products hitting New Zealand in September 2020. Ask for more information at your local Franklins branch or visit www.franklins.co.nz
NEWS
Biannual Building Code update programme
NEWS
A guide to helping your mates This handy mental health pocket guide provides practical tips on how to have a conversation about mental health. Construction Health and Safety NZ (CHASNZ), with assistance from Dr. Kate Bryson and the Mental Health Foundation, has made available a simple pocket guide on how to have real conversations with a team member before, during and after
about mental health. The intent is to normalise these conversations and create better workplace supportive bonds, ensuring worksites are safer places to be for physical and mental health. You do not have to have the necessary skills to start conversations about mental health and wellbeing. Simply make talking about wellbeing an everyday thing.
Site Safe is pleased to be able to offer the guide in conjunction with CHASNZ, the Mental Health Foundation and Mates in Construction.
The guide is free for download at https://www.sitesafe.org.nz/guides-resources/tools-for-wellbeing/ mental-health-pocket-guide/
The Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) currently updates the Building Code twice annually in June and November. The next update was due to be implemented in June 2020, however due to the impacts on the sector from COVID-19 and stakeholder feedback, MBIE has decided not to proceed with the June 2020 Building Code update as planned. MBIE will be delaying the June update until 24 September 2020. After the September 2020 update, MBIE will be moving to annual updates of the Building Code with the subsequent update occurring in October 2021. These changes will reduce the burden on the sector to provide feedback twice yearly on proposed changes and related activities to implement these changes. MBIE is confident that annual changes are regular enough for the Building Code to remain credible and up to date, while having the ability to release urgent updates if required. For more information, please visit www.building.govt.nz
NEW PRODUCT
Cemintel: A new range of Fibre Cement products for NZ CSR Building Products continues to increase the range of Cemintel® Fibre Cement products available through Mitre 10, with CeminSeal® Wallboard and Cemintel Rigid Air Barrier. CeminSeal Wallboard is a wet area internal lining Fibre Cement sheet. Cemintel’s unique CeminSeal water block technology repels water and increases paint adhesion. It has been applied to the face of CeminSeal Wallboard panels for superior water resistance. Available in 6mm and 9mm thickness in Square and Recessed Edge
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options, it is suitable for use in bathrooms, showers, and laundries. Cemintel Rigid Air Barrier is a 6mm, Square Edge Fibre Cement precladding product. It is a BRANZ Appraised system, that withstands weather exposure for up to 6 months from date of installation. Cemintel Rigid Air Barrier panels are sealed on the face and edges with CeminSeal water block technology providing a durable sheet that will not rot, swell or warp. It has also been appraised for use as a wall bracing system for timber framed buildings within the scope of NZS 3604.
These join other quality products introduced last year, including Cemintel Cladding Sheet, Ceramic Tile Underlay, Eaves Lining and Texture Base Sheet. CSR is committed to bringing the NZ market the best fibre cement products to help Kiwis design right and build better. For more information, visit cemintel.co.nz or email cemintel@csr.co.nz
News Bites
NEWS BITES
NEWS
At your fingertips. Study construction online! Are you already working in the residential or commercial construction sector? Do you want to become a construction manager or quantity surveyor? Now you can make it happen with TANZ eCampus. The new online New Zealand Diploma in
NEW PRODUCT
Future proof attic access Roof space makes great storage space for a home. Sellwood believes that every home that can have an attic ladder should have an attic ladder for safe easy access into the roof. However, where budgets are being squeezed, why not future proof the home for later on? Sellwood’s CH1300600 ceiling hatch has an opening of 1300mm x 600mm, the same size opening as their P30 attic ladder. Framing the opening to the right size prior to lining adds no extra cost.
The larger opening makes using the ceiling hatch easier and safer. And when the time comes to install an attic ladder, there is no need to reframe the ceiling. The CH1300600 is easy to install with built in architrave and screw in brackets. It is also easy to use with soft touch spring latches and a swing down lid avoiding obstructions in the attic. For more information visit www.sellwood.co.nz
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Construction, with strands in Construction Management and Quantity Surveying will help you become a leader in construction. Developed in collaboration with industry, this new online course combines handson, real life experiences and virtual reality simulations to cement your on-the-job training. Learn more at www.tanzecampus.com/ construction/ or enquire on 0800 328 269.
NEW PRODUCT
James Hardie Range Extension – Stria™ Cladding James Hardie responds to customer demands with the new Stria™ Cladding – 14mm 2700 x 405mm. The new 2700mm length will provide greater design flexibility for architects and designers, while also supporting less wastage and a reduction in labour required on site through cutting panel to desired sizes. This will enable greater cost efficiencies on projects for builders.
• CodeMark certified for CLD™ installation • 15 year product warranty • Dimensionally stable • Engineered to stand up to harsh conditions, including coastal conditions • The interlocking edges allow for quick and easy installation • Can be installed horizontally or vertically • Wide panel format allows faster installation • Can be painted any colour, even the darker shades
• Cost effective and long lasting • Resistant to damage from moisture and rotting • Up to 60 minute fire resistance rating (FRR) can be achieved when installed as per the James Hardie Fire and Acoustic Design Manual • Classified as non-combustible material • Low maintenance Product code: 405109 For more information visit www.jameshardie.co.nz
NEWS
JSC superior plywood High quality Cedar-toned Hardwood plywood with a textured face – gives your building a nice band sawn texture while improving colour depth and reducing coating maintenance. This allows the sheets to take full range of coatings & colours to match the looks of bandsawn face solid timber. It can be combined with battens on sheet sizes up to 3m. The ply can also be used inside safely due to its numerous environmental credentials. Available in 2440 / 3050mm x 1219mm x 12mm (all plain face square edged).
NEWS
Sustainable eco-timber showcase launches in Cardrona Abodo’s showcase Cardrona Cabin is now open. Carefully crafted to demonstrate how New Zealand local alternatives for imported old-growth cedar can withstand Central Otago’s harsh alpine climate, the cabin is located in the heart of valley. Reflecting the historic nature of the township, the cabin’s simple gable form is a contemporary interpretation of rural huts and sheds found scattered across the region.
The 102-square-metre show cabin, designed by award-winning Arrowtownbased Assembly Architects and built by Wanaka-based Dunlop Builders, took about eight months to complete. Read more at www.abodo.co.nz/ cardronacabin
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For more details contact us today www.jsctimber.co.nz
FROM NZCB —
Advertising spend Year ending 31st December 2019
48% Digital Media / Consumer 20% Public Relations 19% Print Media / Consumer
Total Spend $682,000
8% Print Media / Trade 2% Exhibitions & Shows 2% Research 1% Website
The Advertising Levy is invoiced annually to all Business Members and is separated from the New Zealand Certified Builders (NZCB) annual membership fee. This is due to the fact it is solely used for advertising. One of the primary objectives of the levy is to target potential leads/ sales enquiries for our members. We call this homeowner facing advertising and communication. The levy promotes NZCB and its members nationwide, effectively branding NZCB, targeting the primary audience of ‘homeowners in New Zealand’, and a secondary audience of increasing brand awareness to the trade. The messaging is educating our primary target group on the fundamental advantages of hiring a member of NZCB versus other builders.
Find A builder searches are now consolidating at over 5000 per quarter and visits to our web sites were close to 100,000 over 2019. Both of these measures are metrics that we monitor closely. Other advertising is in print magazines, exhibitions and expos, as well as banner advertising on popular and industry related websites. The levy also goes towards helping with the cost of our Public Relations activities. During the year we planned and targeted our Public Relations activities around the NZCB Annual Conference, Apprentice Challenge (regional eliminations and finals) and some thought leadership media releases.
There is a collection of methods and a range of places that this advertising and promotion has been undertaken. Over the past 18 months we have continued to execute our digital media strategy. The key driver of the strategy is to target the 800,000 +/- people who are in the market for and showing some interest in building (in its widest sense) at any one time. This is primarily being executed via Facebook, Instagram, Programmatic, Google Ads and On Demand channels. The intent is to drive those people to our public facing website and in particular to the ‘Find A Builder’ page on nzcb.nz.
All Business Members are invoiced annually in June/July for the year ahead, and a pro rata amount if joining the Association during the year. The amount invoiced is based on the membership category of the Business Member.
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FROM NZCB —
NZCB National Partners NZCB is proud to partner with the following companies who align with our Association and give NZCB members access to a wealth of expertise and support throughout New Zealand. COMPANY
WEBSITE
COMPANY
WEBSITE
Abodo Wood Ltd
www.abodo.co.nz
Open2view
www.open2view.co.nz
Altus NZ Ltd
www.altus.co.nz
P W Systems Ltd
www.deckmasternz.co.nz
Anzor Fasteners Ltd
www.anzor.co.nz
Pacific Steel (NZ) Ltd
www.pacificsteel.co.nz
APL Window Solutions
www.aplnz.co.nz
Paslode New Zealand
www.paslode.co.nz
Assa Abloy New Zealand Ltd
www.assaabloy.co.nz
PlaceMakers
www.placemakers.co.nz
Bowers Brothers Concrete Ltd
www.bowersbrothers.co.nz
Pro Clima New Zealand Ltd
www.proclima.co.nz
Brand Collective
www.elwdworkwear.com.au
Building Recruitment Ltd
www.buildingrecruitment.co.nz
Productspec Ltd
www.productspec.net
Bunnings Ltd
www.bunnings.co.nz
Proven Systems Ltd (DVS)
www.dvs.co.nz
CS For Doors Ltd
www.csfordoors.co.nz
Quotable Value Ltd
www.qv.co.nz
CSR Building Products (NZ) Ltd
www.csr.co.nz
Ramset New Zealand
www.ramset.co.nz
Curtis Architecture
www.curtisarchitecture.co.nz
Rave Build Management
www.ravebuild.co.nz
ECKO Fastening Systems
www.ecko.co.nz
Red LBP Ltd
www.redlbp.co.nz
Fairview Systems Ltd
www.aslnz.co.nz
Red Quantity Surveying 2017 Ltd
www.redgroup.nz
Franklin Plumbing and Builders Supplies Ltd
www.franklins.co.nz
Red Stag Timber
www.redstag.co.nz
Free Up
www.freeup.kiwi
Renault New Zealand
www.renault.co.nz
Futurewood
www.futurewood.nz
Resene Construction Systems
www.reseneconstruction.co.nz
GTEE.co.nz
www.gtee.co.nz
Resene Paints Ltd
www.resene.co.nz
HazardCo
www.hazardco.com
Rosenfeld Kidson & Co. Ltd
www.rosenfeldkidson.co.nz
Hilti (New Zealand) Ltd
www.hilti.com
Sellwood Products Ltd
www.sellwood.co.nz
HomePlus
www.homeplus.co.nz
Senco Brands (NZ) Ltd
www.senco.nz
Independent Building Supplies
www.ibs.co.nz
SIKA New Zealand
www.nzl.sika.com
INTAKS NZ Ltd
www.intaks.co.nz
Simx Ltd
www.simx.co.nz
Jacobsen Creative Surfaces Ltd
www.jacobsens.co.nz
Soudal Ltd
www.soudal.co.nz
James Hardie New Zealand
www.jameshardie.co.nz
Steel Frame Solutions
www.steelframesolutions.co.nz
Jesani Distributions Ltd
www.jesani.co.nz
TANZ eCampus
www.tanzecampus.com
JSC Timber
www.jsctimber.co.nz
Tax Management New Zealand
www.tmnz.co.nz
KLC Ltd
www.klc.co.nz
Kopine
www.kopine.co.nz
The New Zealand Building Economist
www.nzbe.co.nz
Laminex New Zealand
www.laminexnewzealand.co.nz
The Trades Coach
www.tradescoach.co.nz
Marley New Zealand Ltd
www.marley.co.nz
Thermakraft Ltd
www.thermakraft.co.nz
Marshall Innovations Ltd
www.mwnz.com
Tradeworx
www.tradeworx.co.nz
Matley Ltd
www.matley.co.nz
USG Boral New Zealand
www.usgboral.co.nz
MiTek New Zealand Ltd
www.miteknz.co.nz
Viking Roofspec
www.vikingroofspec.co.nz
New Zealand Visa Connections
www.nzvisaconnections.com
Warmup NZ Ltd
www.warmup.co.nz
NZ Foam Ltd
www.nzfoam.co.nz
YourQS Ltd
www.yourqs.co.nz
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