Message from the North Island BDM – Shane Ririnui

What does it mean to be an NZCB member? NORTH

Being a member of the New Zealand Certified Builders Association (NZCB) has more value than just a sticker on your vehicle, turning up to a Trade Evening for your LBP points, or acquiring a building contract! Yes, these are some of the services we have to offer but NZCB has and is much more than that.

My question is: what made you join the Association? Was it for the services and tools we have for our members, or was it more than that? The ‘more’ I am alluding to is the ethos of the Association and what it was built on from the beginning. No, it wasn’t a product or a service but instead recognition of the Carpentry Trade Qualification and a sense of being part of a group of likeminded individuals that has each other’s backs. It was about networking with your peers and the comradery that comes with that. It was the sense of pride you felt at becoming a member of the Association after jumping through a few hoops to prove yourself worthy.

Over the many years the Association has been running, the services, products, tools, templates, and education we offer to members has been tailored and developed to better assist members in managing their businesses. But amidst all of this, I believe, the ethos of the association has been somewhat watered down. We have members who have only joined for “what can I get?” or “what is in it for me?”, which is a ‘me, me, me’ attitude and not the ethos the Association was built on.

I am not saying our entire membership is this way inclined and I do acknowledge we are all busy and have businesses to run, but it is my belief that we need to revisit some of the traditional values the Association was built on. Networking with our peers, being proud to be an NZCB member, and telling the story of how you jumped through a few hoops, met the criteria and were accepted as a member, because not every builder can become a member of NZCB.

The Code of Conduct and Ethics can be found on page four of the NZCB Member Handbook enclosed with this issue of InHouse or on the members’ only Toolshed.

With the ethos of the Association in mind, and more so the new Halo 10-Year Residential Guarantee being introduced, I think it is a timely opportunity to revisit the Association’s Code of Conduct and Ethics (The Code) because compliance with this code will only become more important in the future. The Code was developed in consultation with the NZCB Board and identifies values, best practice, and the standard of professionalism we require our members to adhere to. With the purpose of ensuring we maintain a high standard and quality across the board - from building to business management to client relationship care - assures homeowners they are in good hands. That expected high level of quality is our point of difference.

The Code of Conduct and Ethics can be found on page four of the NZCB Member Handbook enclosed with this issue of InHouse or on the members’ only Toolshed.

One last thing I would like to bring to your attention. Since the launch of the new members’ Toolshed last year, we have had a number of enquiries from members who are either unable to find what they are looking for or unsure of what tools are available to them. These enquiries prompted me to put together a Toolshed Navigation webinar. I’ll hold the webinars at the end of the month to answer any questions you have and run through practical, simple steps to help you navigate the members’ Toolshed.

Notification of the Toolshed Navigation webinar is included in the Building Trade Professionals (BTP) Training email and InTouch email Newsletter. To register, click on the link provided in the email or email me: shane@nzcb.nz.

Well, that’s all from me! I will be around the regions supporting various events to close out the year and if I don’t see you on my travels, I wish you all the best over the Christmas and New Year break and will see you in 2021 for another exciting year in the building industry.