NZCB Board Report

A busy and rewarding 17 months

In July 2021, I started as an Independent Director on the New Zealand Certified Builders (NZCB) Board. It has been a busy and rewarding 17 months, including being Acting Chief Executive (CE) for NZCB and for Halo Guarantees Limited for a time this year, while new Chief Executives were recruited and ‘installed’. I also joined the Halo Guarantees Ltd Board in August of this year.

A lot has happened during this time. There have been changes and challenges, and much has been achieved. The NZCB Board and NZCB National Support Office (NSO) have worked hard to support members through the challenges and disruption caused by COVID-19 and the impact this had on building supply chains, and the subsequent economic downturn. This is what NZCB is here for – to support its members, to back you, and to advocate on your behalf.

The commitment of my fellow NZCB Board members to the success of NZCB, their knowledge, experience, and passion for the sector, and the desire of the NSO to deliver real value to members, is what makes NZCB a successful membership organisation with a bright future. It is a privilege to be part of a Board where the organisation’s members are front and centre and there is strong commitment to promoting quality building, investment in trade skills and training, as well as business skills and business support for its members.

We want you, our members, to be the best and to be successful. We want homeowners to actively seek NZCB members to build their homes, knowing they will get a quality job. We want NZCB members to be recognised and valued for their skills. We want NZCB and our NSO to be an organisation that engages openly and works collaboratively for the betterment of our members. We want to be the ‘go to’ for knowledge and expertise and commentary on the building sector. It is time to lift our profile and build our capability.

It’s great to see new Chief Executive Malcolm Fleming getting out and about, engaging with members and Presidents of our 22 regions. Stepping strongly into an active advocacy role on behalf of NZCB, he has also had success in influencing the Government, for example through getting changes to the timeframe for H1 implementation, thereby allowing the building sector to better respond. I know Malcolm has an absolute commitment to NZCB/NSO being ‘at the table’ and involved in discussions and decisions that impact our sector and members. I look forward to NZCB being actively involved in developments and delivery of trade training/apprenticeships under the new Te Pūkenga vocational training model. With the appointment of David Lee as Chief Executive of Halo Guarantees Ltd, we have a dedicated leader in place who knows the insurance sector and has the experience necessary to make Halo Guarantees Ltd a success. David can take the Halo 10-Year Residential Guarantee product to where it needs to be and make it an attractive product for NZCB members to offer to their clients. A review of the product has been completed, and there will be changes and improvements to both the product and the way it operates. These will provide greater clarity, simplify and streamline processes, and make it easier for both NZCB members and the homeowner. The message remains the same: NZCB stands behind our members and the quality of their work.

It is a privilege to be part of a Board where the organisation’s members are front and centre and there is strong commitment to promoting quality building, investment in trade skills and training, as well as business skills and business support for its members.

Katrina Bach NZCB Board Independent Director