Concrete Magazine - Volume 62. Issue 04

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concrete VOLUME 62 ISSUE 4

CARBON UPTAKE

-6%

CONCRETE PRODUCTION

CLINKER

-12%

CEMENT & BINDERS

A Net-Zero Carbon Concrete Industry for Aotearoa New Zealand: Roadmap to 2050 Decarbonisation strategies and percentage contribution to net-zero carbon

-9%

ELECTRICITY

-1%

-28%

CARBON CAPTURE & UTILISATION

-34%

DESIGN & CONSTRUCTION

-10%

CONCRETE NZ CONFERENCE AWARDS ACKNOWLEDGE EXCELLENCE ACROSS THE CONCRETE INDUSTRY

LEARNED SOCIETY TO HOST 2024 INTERNATIONAL FIB SYMPOSIUM AT TE PAE CONVENTION CENTRE


THE MAGAZINE OF CONCRETE NZ

UPFRONT NEW GOVERNMENT – FOCUS ON RESILIENT INFRASTRUCTURE Thank you to everyone who attended our recent conference at Claudelands. It was an outstanding success with fantastic feedback from attendees, particularly on the technical programme, which included international and local speakers covering topics relating to concrete construction, design and materials. I also extend our gratitude to all the conference Patrons and Sponsors, along with those who took trade stands - your support is greatly appreciated.

concrete MAGAZINE

Editor/Advertising: Adam Leach +64 4 915 0383 adam@concretenz.org.nz Subscriptions: Angelique Van Schaik +64 4 499 8820 admin@concretenz.org.nz concrete is published quarterly by Concrete NZ

We are already looking forward to next year, when the Concrete NZ Learned Society is hosting the fib Symposium at Te Pae Christchurch Convention Centre 11-13 November. The Symposium is an annual international event that facilitates the dissemination of research and practice across concrete and innovative materials, structural performance & design, construction methods & management, as well as outstanding structures.

PO Box 448 Level 7, 22 Panama Street Wellington NEW ZEALAND

Titled ReConStruct - Resilient Concrete Structures, the Symposium will focus on the seismic designs and innovative construction technologies implemented in the Christchurch rebuild. Sustainability will also be a key theme of the Symposium, with the New Zealand concrete industry having just released its 2050 Roadmap to NetZero Carbon. The event will be followed by a one-day Concrete NZ conference on 14 November in the same Te Pae space.

ISSN: 1174-8540

The outcome of the recent general election is an indication of the country’s appetite for change. The new National-led administration has outlined a strong focus on infrastructure, with plans for a National Infrastructure Agency to coordinate government funding, connect domestic and offshore investors with New Zealand infrastructure, and improve funding, procurement and delivery. Regarding infrastructure, the 2023 Future Roads conference took place in Hamilton recently. This is an important event in the context of the change of Government, offering the New Zealand roading sector a forum for strategy, discussion and execution. As a Gold sponsor, Concrete NZ sought to promote the benefits of concrete roads – a key way to bring longevity and resilience to our transport network and avoid the huge number of potholes we’re seeing! As we progress through coming weeks and the newly formed Government settles in, Concrete NZ will be delivering a Briefing for Incoming Ministers that highlights key opportunities and challenges for the construction and infrastructure sectors, as well as stating how the concrete industry can help achieve policy objectives. I will be sure to share this with members as soon as possible. In the meantime, we hope the last few weeks in the lead-up to Christmas are productive, following what has been a huge year. Ngā mihi, Rob Gaimster, Concrete NZ Chief Executive 2 concrete

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Tel: +64 4 499 8820 Email: admin@concretenz.org.nz Website: www.concretenz.org.nz

ISSN: 1174-9374 (online) Disclaimer: The views expressed in concrete are not necessarily those of the Concrete NZ. While the information contained in the magazine is printed in good faith, its contents are not intended to replace the services of professional consultants on particular projects. The Association accepts no legal responsibility of any kind for the correctness of the contents of this magazine, including advertisements. © Copyright 2023 Concrete NZ Advertorial


FAREWELL DAVID BARNARD It was with great sadness that Concrete NZ recently learnt of David Barnard’s passing. David was a Life Member and former President of the New Zealand Concrete Society (now Learned Society) and Concrete NZ’s inaugural Honorary Life Member.

construction workers, the development of the Certificate in Concrete Technology and Construction correspondence course, and an emphasis on durability research that led to a specific chapter on the subject in NZS 3101 Concrete Structures Standard.

David started his career in the United Kingdom in 1952 developing engineering experience in local government, contracting and consultancy before coming to New Zealand in 1974. Described as a “single-minded advocate for concrete” David spent close to 25-years at CCANZ, including in its previous guises of the New Zealand Portland Cement Association and the New Zealand Concrete Research Association. David was the New Zealand Concrete Society president from 1987-88.

Although David “officially” retired from his role at CCANZ in 1999 he remained in demand and extremely busy as a consultant, fulfilling roles for the New Zealand Ready Mixed Concrete Association and New Zealand Concrete Masonry Association.

Refer to any technical publication or Standard on concrete or concrete masonry produced since the mid-1970s and chances are David either wrote it or was a significant contributor. Tireless in his efforts to implement relevant research and deliver practical training David prided himself on developing strong relationships across the construction sector and imparting independent advice. Examples of David’s achievements include the introduction of daytime training for concrete

David Barnard receives his Concrete NZ Honorary Life Membership from Concrete NZ CEO Rob Gaimster in 2021.

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Winners with Claire Falck, Rob Gaimster and Nigel Smith.

ARCHENGBUILD WINNERS 2023 A group of top architecture, engineering and construction management students from around the country showed that the future of New Zealand’s building and construction industry is in good hands. This year marked the tenth year of the ArchEngBuild Challenge, which was held in Wellington at the Faculty of Architecture and Design Innovation/Te Wāhanga WaihangaHoahoa during August. Participants collaborate in ten teams of three respond to a real-life client brief, addressing issues faced by industry and allowing the students to come up with creative and innovative solutions. Over three days, students heard from industry experts, visited exemplary sites and had specialist mentors available to provide advice and support along the way. THE DESIGN CHALLENGE Climate change is affecting New Zealand’s natural and built environments and our communities. In the coming decades, climate change will pose more and more of a challenge to the New Zealand way of life.

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This year students were asked to look at how climate change and its associated weather events require us to shift our thinking about: •

How can we build and modify residential buildings to better cope with increased rainfall and fluctuating temperatures, while minimising carbon footprints and cost?

How we shift our thinking about what, how and where we build?

How can we better adapt residential buildings to cope with a changing climate?

How can we look at resilience through a different lens and build with nature rather than fight against it?

How can resilient buildings keep to a smaller carbon footprint at the same or lower cost?

The winning students were: • Mila Makasini, Architect from Otago Polytechnic. • Aleksandr Bakharovskii, Construction Manager from Ara Institute of Canterbury • Andrea Tang, Engineer from the University of Auckland


SECURING THE FUTURE OF STEELMAKING IN NEW ZEALAND PACIFIC STEEL IS PROUD TO HAVE RECENTLY ANNOUNCED THAT NEW ZEALAND’S BIGGEST EVER EMISSIONS REDUCTION PROJECT HIT A MILESTONE, ENTERING ITS EXECUTION PHASE. This means sister business, New Zealand Steel, is now on track to have lower carbon steel being produced as soon as 2026.

the execution phase and starting to work on establishing this new lower carbon way of making steel.

All Pacific Steel’s raw billet feed is supplied by New Zealand Steel, so this signals a progression in the sustainability journey for reinforcing and wire products.

The EAF will see New Zealand Steel cut its emissions by more than 45 per cent, an emissions reduction equivalent to keeping approximately 300,000 cars off the road.

NEW ZEALAND STEEL’S ELECTRIC ARC FURNACE

Pacific Steel and New Zealand Steel have both been a part of the community for close to 60 years and this co-investment secures steelmaking in New Zealand for many years to come, sustaining our critical domestic steel supply into the lowcarbon, climate-resilient future.

In May, New Zealand Steel shared a landmark announcement - a project and partnership with the Government to co-fund the installation of an Electric Arc Furnace (EAF), the country’s largest emissions reduction project to date. When announced in May, they said the project & co-funding by the Government was subject to confirming several critical aspects of the project. That’s now complete and Pacific Steel are excited to share that New Zealand Steel are moving to

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Nick Traber (Fletcher Building, Chief Executive Concrete), Barbara Nebel (thinkstep-anz, Chief Executive), Rob Gaimster (Concrete NZ, Chief Executive), Hon James Shaw (Minister for Climate Change), George Agriogiannis (Holcim Australia & New Zealand, Chief Executive) and Jennifer Taylor (Construction Sector Accord, Transformation Lead - Environment).

NZ CONCRETE INDUSTRY LAUNCHES 2050 ROADMAP TO NET ZERO CARBON AOTEAROA NEW ZEALAND’S CONCRETE INDUSTRY HAS LAUNCHED ITS ROADMAP TO NET ZERO CARBON BY 2050 - A NET-ZERO CARBON CONCRETE INDUSTRY FOR AOTEAROA NEW ZEALAND: ROADMAP TO 2050. Concrete New Zealand (NZ) Chief Executive Rob Gaimster says the publication of the roadmap is a pivotal moment for the concrete industry and the country’s built environment. “We must provide adaptive solutions that address and help ease the impacts of climate change in a country that is also at risk of earthquakes, tsunamis and volcanoes. 6 concrete

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“As well as contributing to our nation’s resilience, the concrete industry is committed to being part of efforts to mitigate climate change. “This roadmap represents a collective effort, combining the expertise, ingenuity, and commitment of the concrete industry and wider construction sector, to meeting our environmental responsibilities. It builds on global cement and


concrete industry progress to achieve net zero carbon emissions which has been recognised by the United Nations.” Barbara Nebel, Chief Executive of thinkstep-anz, leading sustainability consultants responsible for developing the roadmap, applauds the concrete industry for its efforts. “We have run a rigorous rule over the proposed strategies, so we could develop the roadmap as a realistic and achievable pathway forward. “In fact, the industry has already started its decarbonisation journey, with an 11 percent reduction in CO2 emissions achieved between 2005 and 2018, even though ready mixed concrete use increased significantly during that time. “Based on this roadmap, the Aotearoa New Zealand concrete industry can achieve a 44 percent decrease from 2020 levels by 2030, and ultimately net zero carbon by 2050.”

in cement manufacturing, to our low carbon supply chain and low carbon binder technology developed in our research lab focused on sustainable concrete solutions.” Chief Executive of Holcim Australia & New Zealand, George Agriogiannis, feels that industry is walking the talk outlined in the roadmap after having invested significantly in researching and producing new lower-carbon products. “We have also constructed a new low-carbon cement replacement facility at the Ports of Auckland. At peak operation the site is expected to enable replacement of just under 100,000 tonnes of Ordinary Portland Cement, which will substantially reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Annually, this is the equivalent of removing approximately 78,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide.”

Progress is clear, with low-carbon cement and concrete options available on the market for use across a range of residential, commercial and civil construction projects.

Leader of the Building Innovation Partnership, Professor Larry Bellamy, whose team is working on strategies for reducing carbon emissions from buildings and communities, believes construction needs new approaches to enhance the resilience and sustainability of building materials and structures.

Fletcher Building Chief Executive Concrete, Nick Traber, believes the roadmap reflects the genuine direction of companies such as his.

“The roadmap is important because it identifies the research needed to help transform concrete for the benefit of New Zealand.”

“We are playing a key role in reducing emissions right from using alternative fuels and raw materials

Visit the Concrete NZ website to download the roadmap – www.concretenz.org.nz

A NET-ZERO CARBON CONCRETE INDUSTRY FOR AOTEAROA NEW ZEALAND Roadmap to 2050

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Roadmap to 2050

ROADMAP TO NET-ZERO 2050 | CONCRETE NZ

A NET-ZERO CARBON CONCRETE INDUSTRY FOR AOTEAROA NEW ZEALAND

1

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ROADMAP TO NET-ZERO CARBON FOR AOTEAROA NEW ZEALAND’S CONCRETE INDUSTRY THE AOTEAROA NEW ZEALAND CEMENT AND CONCRETE INDUSTRY IS DETERMINED TO REDUCE ITS GREENHOUSE GAS (GHG) EMISSIONS TO NET-ZERO BY 2050. THIS IS BASED ON A STRONG COMMITMENT TO NEW ZEALAND’S CLIMATE CHANGE RESPONSE (ZERO CARBON) AMENDMENT ACT 2019, AND ITS INTENTION TO ENSURE THE COUNTRY PLAYS ITS PART IN REDUCING GHG EMISSIONS UNDER THE PARIS AGREEMENT. The A Net-Zero Carbon Concrete Industry for Aotearoa New Zealand: Roadmap to 2050 sets out a plan for how industry will do this and play a major role in building the sustainable world of tomorrow. It describes an achievable pathway to producing netzero concrete by 2050 that works for industry in New Zealand. MAPPING OUT THE ROAD AHEAD Covering both ready-mixed concrete and concrete products, the roadmap builds on past and current initiatives, and involves the major parties in the concrete value chain: • cement manufacturers • concrete producers • manufacturers of concrete products • designers of buildings and infrastructure • construction companies and contractors To be successful in continuing to reduce emissions, further R&D, investment and commitment from researchers, government and all stakeholders throughout the concrete value chain will be crucial. Developed with support from sustainability firm thinkstep-anz, the roadmap also involved engagement with Concrete NZ’s member groups: Cement, Masonry, Precast, Readymix and Learned Society.

(GCCA) Cement and Concrete Industry Roadmap for Net Zero Concrete. New Zealand’s focus is on Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions, which aligns with the GCCA’s global roadmap and other national roadmaps. It also focuses on areas where our industry has direct influence. Figure 1 (see page 12) illustrates Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions in the cement and concrete manufacturing process. If indirect (Scope 3) emissions are included to align with an Environmental Product Declaration approach, this reduction is 29 percent by 2030 (see Annex B of the roadmap).

TARGETS FOR 2030 AND 2050 The roadmap identifies ways to reduce the direct (Scope 1) and electricity-related (Scope 2) GHG emissions from industry by 44% from 2020 levels by 2030 (as described in the body of the roadmap). The 2020 reference year was chosen to align with the Global Cement and Concrete Association’s

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Figure 1. Scope 1 and 2 emissions from producing cement and concrete.

HOW WE ARE GOING TO ACHIEVE THIS The Impact of Portland Cement Manufacturing Portland cement releases CO2 directly through a chemical reaction. This chemical reaction is a major share of industry’s total emissions. WHERE OUR ACTIONS WILL MAKE THE BIGGEST DIFFERENCE Until 2030 - industry will further reduce the emissions of cement through alternative fuels and increasing the use of mineral additions (e.g., ground limestone) and Supplementary Cementitious Materials (SCMs). SCMs are typically mineral by-products of industrial processes with lower embodied carbon than cement. New Zealand has some history of using SCMs, but there is scope for growth. 2023 will see greater volumes of SCMs entering the market. Between 2030-2050 - industry will focus on significant reductions in GHG emissions in cement

manufacture and is planning to use a technology known as CCUS (Carbon Capture, Utilisation and Storage) to capture any remaining emissions. Further CO2 will be captured naturally by concrete as it ages, through a process called recarbonation a carbon uptake mechanism. OUR PATHWAY FOR DECARBONISATION The chart below shows the actions industry will take to achieve net-zero GHG emissions from cement and concrete in New Zealand by 2050. In addition to clinker factor reduction, replacing some Portland cement with SCMs and carbon capture technologies, industry expects that improving efficiency in the design of buildings and infrastructure and in producing clinker will also make for additional reductions. Further small savings are anticipated as the electricity grid continues to decarbonise.

Figure 2. Decarbonisation roadmap of cement and concrete in Aotearoa New Zealand.

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1-DAY CON FERE NCE 14 NO VEM B 2024 ER

FIB SYMPOSIUM 2024 HEADING TO AOTEAROA NEW ZEALAND THE CONCRETE NZ LEARNED SOCIETY IS HONOURED AND EXCITED TO BE HOSTING THE FIB SYMPOSIUM AT TE PAE CHRISTCHURCH CONVENTION CENTRE 11-13 NOVEMBER 2024. fib - Fédération Internationale du Béton (International Federation for Structural Concrete) is a not-for-profit association committed to advancing the technical, economic, aesthetic and environmental performances of concrete structures worldwide. The Learned Society, and before that the New Zealand Concrete Society, is a long time National member of fib. The fib Symposium is an annual event that covers issues related to concrete and innovative materials, structural performance and design, construction methods and management, and outstanding structures. It provides an international forum for scientists, engineers, industrial partners and practitioners to present and discuss the state-of-the-art practice, recent advances, and future perspectives in terms of durability, sustainability and resiliency in civil engineering. The sequence of devastating earthquakes that Christchurch experienced in 2010 and 2011 destroyed the city centre and required the demolition of hundreds of buildings across the Canterbury region. However, a decade on, and the city has been rebuilt using seismic resilient designs and innovative construction technologies. As such, the organisers have chosen the title ReConStruct Resilient Concrete Structures - for the Symposium. 14 concrete

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In addition to resilient structures, sustainable design and construction are a key focus of the Symposium, with New Zealand having committed to achieve net zero emissions by 2050, a pledge supported by the concrete industry’s own A Net-Zero Carbon Concrete Industry for Aotearoa New Zealand: Roadmap to 2050. Therefore, it is the Society’s pleasure to extend a welcome to delegates and sponsors, both domestic and international, to the Symposium, which will take place here in Aotearoa New Zealand for the very first time. Concrete NZ will provide regular updates via the Symposium’s newsletter, LinkedIn page and website - www.fibsymposium2024.org

Professor Alessandro Palermo NZ fib Head of Delegation, University of California, San Diego Associate Professor Rick Henry Concrete NZ - Learned Society President, University of Auckland Dr. David Fernandez-Ordoñez Secretary General of the fib International, École Polytechique Fédérale de Lausanne


SYMPOSIUM 2024 ReConStruct Resilient Concrete Structures

Christchurch, New Zealand 11–13 November 2024

fibsymposium2024.org Call for Papers OPEN To keep informed visit the Symposium website and register your interest.

ReConStruct: Resilient Concrete Structures Topics include, but are not limited to:

Key Dates Abstract submission:

NOW OPEN

▶ Earthquake engineering

Special Session proposals:

NOW OPEN

▶ International developments in structural engineering codes and standards

Abstract submission deadline:

15 December 2023

▶ Bridge engineering

Author notification of acceptance: 15 February 2024 Full paper submission deadline:

19 April 2024

▶ Forensic engineering ▶ Rehabilitation and modification of structures ▶ Sustainability ▶ Digital technology and fabrication

Register your interest

▶ Performance under multi-hazards

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1-DAY CON FERE NCE 14 NO VEM BER 2024

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Moustafa Al-Ani, Chair of the Conference Organising Committee, welcomed delegates and supporters.

CONFERENCE 2023 AT CLAUDELANDS IN HAMILTON STRIKES THE RIGHT NOTE WITH DELEGATES AND SUPPORTERS BUILDING ON THE SUCCESS OF THE 2022 PANDEMIC DELAYED CONFERENCE IN ROTORUA, THE 2023 EVENT IN HAMILTON AGAIN OFFERED AN OPPORTUNITY TO CONNECT WITH PEERS, AND SPEND TIME DISCUSSING KEY DEVELOPMENTS IN CONCRETE MATERIALS, DESIGN, CONSTRUCTION AND RESEARCH. Over 400 delegates from Aotearoa New Zealand’s concrete industry and wider construction sector, supported by a strong contingent of exhibitors, gathered to share knowledge, network and enjoy a range of social activities. Chair of the Conference Organising Committee, Moustafa Al-Ani, got proceedings underway by welcoming delegates and reflecting on how the diversity and depth of the technical programme echoes the complex and dynamic nature of the New Zealand construction sector. 18 concrete

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Keynote speaker Andy Taylor from the University of Washington opened the first session with a summary of the USA cement and concrete Standards development system.


Romilly Madew from Engineers Australia was one of three keynote speakers at conference.

Maria Juenger from the University of Texas opened up the technical programme on the final day.

The Technical Programme was headlined by three outstanding international construction experts - Andy Taylor from the University of Washington, Romilly Madew of Engineers Australia and Maria Juenger from the University of Texas - who travelled to New Zealand to offer their insights. Eager to keep the conference format fresh, the Organising Committee asked Bernie Napp to facilitate a sustainability panel discussion that featured both Maria and Romilly as well as Cyril Giraud from Holcim New Zealand and David Welsh from Fletcher Building. The outcome was an informative and thoughtprovoking conversation appreciated by delegates.

Cyril Giraud, Romilly Madew, Maria Juenger and David Welsh take part in the sustainability panel discussion.

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Concrete NZ’s conference offered an outstanding array of technical papers/presentations that showcased concrete materials, design and construction.

Rick Henry chaired session 1 of the conference technical programme.

By way of a small sample, James Mackechnie of Allied Concrete spoke on sand quality in producing low carbon concrete, Neil Lee of WSP covered chloride thresholds in assessing concrete structures, with Rosie Pagel also of WSP looking at bridge connections under tsunami loading.

James Mackechnie.

Rosie Pagel.

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Neil Lee.



Invited speaker Joesph Thomas from the Natural Pozzolan Association gave an introduction on how pozzolana offers new beginnings, while Luis Manuel De La Flor Juncal from the University of Canterbury explored 3D concrete printing mixes.

Joseph Thomas.

Luis Manuel De La Flor Juncal.

Rounding out the third day of the technical programme were Sam Allan and Brent England of Beca who spoke to FRP bridge strengthening, Sam Archer from the NZGBC who touched on embodied carbon calculations and Jamil Khan (Mewati) of Beca who described the challenges overcome on pedestal structures at the Tauhara geothermal power plant.

Sam Allan.

Brent England.

Sam Archer.

Jamil Khan (Mewati).

Concrete NZ acknowledges the time and effort given by all presenters, as well as their willingness to share their expertise and insight.

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LIGHTNING TALKS IGNITE A DATA BLITZ ACROSS TEN RAPID FIRE PRESENTATIONS NEW TO THE CONCRETE NZ CONFERENCE IN 2023 WAS THE ‘LIGHTNING TALKS’ SESSION CHAIRED BY JASON INGHAM, WHICH OVER A FAST-PACED 5-MINUTE PRESENTATION LOOKED TO COMMUNICATE KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE OF A PROJECT, INITIATIVE OR TECHNOLOGY.

Tasha Eagle of Fosroc ANZ - What are carbon nanotubes and why are we putting them in concrete?

As chair of the Lightning Talks, Jason Ingham kept a very close eye on the time.

Alistair Russell of Holmes Group - 5 things I wish I’d know about concrete earlier.

Milap Dhakal of Callaghan Innovation - Methyl cellulose in 3D-printable concrete.

Matt Cheyne of WSP in New Zealand - How technology helped to build New Zealand’s busiest train station – Te Waihorotiu Station.

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John Marshall of Busck Prestressed Concrete Ltd Precast floors are alive & well.

Banujan Balaskandan of University of Canterbury - Low-carbon binder systems for lunar concrete: Opportunities and challenges.

Dewi Todd-Jones of Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency - Giving concrete answers to concrete specifications!

Jonathan Watkins of WSP in New Zealand - How we repaired concrete bridges slammed by Cyclone Gabrielle.

Mark Kurtovich of BBR Contech - A new & novel approach to the strengthening of reinforced concrete using near surface mounted titanium bars.


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Learned Society President Rick Henry invites delegates to visit the trade exhibitors and then get their sea-legs ready.

PRESIDENT’S RECEPTION ACKNOWLEDGES CONFERENCE SUPPORTERS AND THEN CASTS-OFF ON A VOYAGE OF DISCOVERY

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DELEGATES WOUND DOWN THE FIRST DAY OF CONCRETE NZ’S 2023 CONFERENCE WITH THE HOLCIM NEW ZEALAND PRESIDENT’S RECEPTION AMONGST THE TRADE EXHIBITS. Rick Henry, President of Concrete NZ’s Learned Society, acknowledged the support of Holcim New Zealand along with the conference patrons, sponsors and all trade exhibitors, before setting the scene for the evening’s casual dinner aboard a special (concrete) ship! 26 concrete

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Delegates mixed and mingled on board a cruise ship, with a range of activities and entertainment available. However, this wasn’t just any old cruise ship! The theming took inspiration from an extraordinary steam ship, the SS Faith, the world’s first large concrete ship, built in 1918 by the San Francisco Shipbuilding Company in Redwood City, California.

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Simon McKinney, New Zealand’s number #1 stand up character impressionist kept the laughter levels high as awards evening MC.

CONFERENCE AWARDS CELEBRATE EXCELLENCE AMONGST CONCRETE NZ MEMBERS ALWAYS A HIGHLIGHT OF THE ANNUAL CONCRETE NZ CONFERENCE, THE 2023 AWARDS EVENING STRUCK A PERFECT BALANCE BETWEEN ACKNOWLEDGING OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT AND KEEPING GUESTS ENTERTAINED.

Carbon Reduction

Plant Audit Scheme Gold

Concrete Industry Apprentice of the Year

Health, Safety & Wellbeing Achievement

Inclusion & Diversity

Learned Society (Student) Concrete Prizes

Concrete NZ moved to two awards events in 2022/23 to enhance opportunities for celebrating achievements in, and to raise the profile of, the concrete industry.

Simon McKinney managed the awards ceremony while also providing plenty of fun with his unique brand of humour. At the end of the evening guests left having had a relaxing and enjoyable experience.

One of the events remains part of the established annual Concrete NZ conference formal dinner and is primarily inward facing, appealing to Concrete NZ members across all the Sector Groups and the Learned Society. 2023 Conference Awards were presented across the following categories: •

Outstanding Contribution

Producer - Extra Distance

Producer - Technical Excellence

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Rick Henry, Learned Society President acknowledges the importance of students and early career professionals to the concrete industry and wider construction sector.

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TECHNICAL EXCELLENCE AWARD

FIRTH INDUSTRIES FOR THE CENTRAL INTERCEPTOR LOW VISCOSITY ANNULUS GROUT SUPPLY This award is given in recognition of a producer’s involvement in a project or initiative which calls for innovative solutions to meet a challenging architectural vision or engineering requirement. Firth Industries worked with the Ghella Abergeldie Joint Venture team to deliver the Lyon Avenue Caisson Wall, a critical project element of the Central Interceptor. The caisson stands 39 metres high and weighs approximately 1,000 tonnes.

Central Interceptor wastewater tunnel, Auckland.

The challenge was to design and place a grout to fill the 70mm annulus gap left behind by the cutting shoe, joining the external wall of the caisson with the ground to hold up the weight of the concrete. Subject to rigorous testing, the specialized grout, with an ultra-low viscosity, required a 28-day characteristic compressive strength of 40MPa and had to remain fluid for over 50 hours. The judges appreciated that these characteristics were crucial to the grouting process, which through careful planning and execution overcame many challenges.

John Boules of Firth Industries receives the Producer Technical Excellence Award from Rob Green.

TECHNICAL EXCELLENCE AWARD - HIGHLY COMMENDED

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The Central Interceptor is one of the largest wastewater projects in New Zealand. The $1.2 billion tunnel runs underground from Grey Lynn to Watercare’s Māngere Wastewater Treatment Plant, reducing wastewater overflows into central Auckland waterways. The project includes 14.7 kilometres of 4.5 metre diameter tunnel, two link sewers totalling 4.3 km, as well as 18 shafts, a major pump station and substantial wastewater management and network infrastructure works.

Americo dos Santos of Hynds Pipe Systems receives the Producer Technical Excellence Highly Commended Award from Rob Green.

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Hynds was successful in tendering for the manufacture and supply of high-performance hybrid jacking pipes and inter-jack sets for the link sewers. The judges acknowledge the significant innovation and commitment required before and throughout the project.


HEALTH, SAFETY & WELLBEING ACHIEVEMENT AWARD

HIGGINS CONCRETE FOR ITS GOLDEN RULES PROGRAMME This award category acknowledges organisations and individuals that have demonstrated innovation and leadership in helping to improve health, safety and wellbeing in the concrete industry.

Higgins’ Concrete’s Golden Rules Programme.

In 2020, after a period of less that acceptable performance in safety data, Higgins Concrete embarked on a strategy designed to lift and substantially improve the health and safety performance of the business. Following employee feedback on current procedures and processes the simple but effective statement - Start Safe, Stay Safe, Home Safe - led to the development of nine Golden Rules that set the evolving safety parameters for all staff. Higgins Concrete’s ongoing commitment to health, safety and wellbeing has resulted in a seismic shift in culture, engagement, understanding and improvement.

Mike Botherway of Higgins Concrete receives the Health, Safety & Wellbeing Achievement Award from Rob Gaimster.

This is evidenced by “the numbers”, which the judges couldn’t ignore, and that include significant reductions in a range of key metrics acknowledged by ACC and WorkSafe New Zealand.

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EXTRA DISTANCE AWARD

HIGGINS CONCRETE FOR THE TURITEA WIND FARM

This award is given in recognition of a producer’s involvement in a project or initiative that demands uncompromising commitment to customer satisfaction.

Turitea Wind Farm is a 222-megawatt wind farm near Turitea, Palmerston North.

Consented back in 2011, the Turitea Wind Farm is New Zealand’s largest and consists of 60 wind turbines, each standing 125 metres high. Managing pandemic disruption, extreme weather and difficult access, the mix and sustainability requirements of the project were met via Higgins Concrete’s onsite batching plants. Following the completion of the North Stage, the first plant had to be disestablished and removed from site. Protracted earthworks along with planning obstacles meant Higgins had to establish a second, temporary batching plant at the South Stage, which after certification went on to supply concrete in a challenging environment to the project’s completion.

Mike Botherway and Scott Ferguson of Higgins Concrete receive the Producer Extra Distance Award from Rob Green.

The judges admired the tenacious endeavour of Higgins Concrete in adapting to and overcoming multiple obstacles over an extended period of time to get the job done.

EXTRA DISTANCE AWARD HIGHLY COMMENDED

ALLIED CONCRETE (FULTON HOGAN & TAYLOR CONTRACTING JV) FOR THE WAIMEA COMMUNITY DAM The Waimea Community Dam is the largest dam built in New Zealand in over 20 years. At 53 metres high and 220 metres long, the concrete-face rockfill dam required more than 32 thousand cubic metres of concrete from October 2019 to August 2023 – all in line with a strict and demanding specification. Concrete was supplied to the remote site for multiple purposes, including shotcrete for stabilisation purposes, as well as for the starter dam, culverts, plinths, up-stream face and spillway. Accurate heat of hydration analysis was critical, as was extensive testing and modelling. Amongst many features, the judges were impressed with the approach taken to address the project’s complex carbon footprint reduction specification. This involved cement replacement – with an estimated 30 percent of cement substituted for fly ash – as well as native bush protection and comprehensive recycling. 34 concrete

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Waimea Community Dam, Lee Valley, Nelson.

Nasser Almesfer of Allied Concrete receives the Producer Extra Distance Award - Highly Commended from Rob Green.


DIVERSITY & INCLUSION AWARD

ALLIED CONCRETE - DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION INITIATIVES This award acknowledges organisations and individuals that have made a genuine commitment to advancing their culture by embracing: • •

Diversity as the presence of difference within a given setting; and Inclusion, which relates to individuals with different identities feeling and being valued within that setting.

As part of the HWR Group, Allied Concrete considers itself a leader in term of integrating diversity and inclusion across all aspects of the business, believing that it is their people that make the difference as they are the ones who “keep the wheels turning”. HWR is a member of Diversity Works New Zealand, which as a partnership between the private and public sectors helps drive diversity and inclusion as a tool for better outcomes.

Allied Concrete’s “Get a Haircut” campaign.

Allied Concrete actively takes part in Mental Health Awareness Week, encouraging staff to connect with their colleagues and explore the Mental Health Foundation’s Five Ways to Wellbeing in the Workplace. Amongst a range of factors, the judges were struck by Allied Concrete’s “Get a Haircut” campaign to help recruitment in a competitive market, appreciating the use of hair as a metaphor to say, ‘whoever you are, we want you just the way you are’. Ella’s Story also resonated as a real-life example of Allied Concrete’s commitment to diversity and inclusion.

Bob Officer of Allied Concrete receives the Diversity & Inclusion Award from Rob Gaimster.

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DIVERSITY & INCLUSION AWARD - HIGHLY COMMENDED

ITW CONSTRUCTION FOR THEIR COMMITMENT TO DIVERSITY & INCLUSION

Ramset, Reid and Danley are part of the ITW Construction Asia Pacific family, who have built success around teams which are diverse and feel a strong sense of belonging. ITW has adopted a holistic approach to diversity and inclusion, making small, impactful actions that deliver sustainable results for their people, across different areas of the business.

ITW Construction Asia Pacific commitment to diversity & inclusion spans a range of companies.

ITW are committed to attracting, and developing a representative workforce and breaking down barriers to create a culture where belonging and inclusion is at the heart of everything they do. The judges acknowledged ITW’s all-inclusive focus on diversity and inclusion, which has seen them promote inclusive leadership, establish Employee Resource Groups to embed a culture of inclusion, as well as support cultural days and encourage employee community engagement.

Cameron Gilmour of ITW Construction Asia Pacific receives the Diversity & Inclusion Award - Highly Commended from Rob Gaimster.

CARBON REDUCTION AWARD

HOLCIM NEW ZEALAND FOR ITS LOW CARBON CEMENT REPLACEMENT FACILITY & VERIFIED CARBON MODEL The Carbon Reduction Award acknowledges those organisations that have undertaken initiatives to reduce their carbon footprint, and in turn help the concrete industry achieve its 2030 and 2050 targets.

Holcim New Zealand’s low carbon cement replacement facility, Ports of Auckland.

Holcim New Zealand recently opened a new lowcarbon cement replacement facility at the Ports of Auckland, which will enable the reduction of embodied carbon from the construction of our built environment. Complementing this development, Holcim can now also provide project-specific, on-demand Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs), a service that represents a significant step in the company’s sustainability journey. In short, the new Port facility in Auckland enables Holcim to offer customised low carbon products and solutions, backed-up by a verified carbon model that provides certified EPDs.

Cyril Giraud of Holcim New Zealand receives the Carbon Reduction Award from Rob Gaimster.

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The judges noted that Holcim’s recent achievements are hugely important steps on the New Zealand concrete industry’s decarbonisation pathway to net-zero carbon by 2050.


CARBON REDUCTION AWARD - HIGHLY COMMENDED

GOLDEN BAY FOR ITS CARBON REDUCTION AT SCALE FROM DECONSTRUCTION AND ENERGY GENERATION WASTE

Golden Bay’s carbon reduction at scale from deconstruction waste.

Golden Bay is looking at all aspects of its business to shape a circular future by diverting wood waste from landfill to utilise as fuel replacing 28 percent of coal to make their EcoSure cement. Golden Bay have also partnered with Genesis Energy to solve their bottom ash (from electricity generation) waste stream issue. Traditionally taken to landfill, this pond ash will now be incorporated into Golden Bay’s cement as an alternative raw material, assisting with product performance.

David Welsh of Golden Bay receives the Carbon Reduction Award - Highly Commended from Rob Gaimster.

The judges applauded Golden Bay’s unwavering progress in this space, and that it remains on track with its world leading plan to displace 100 percent of fossil fuels with more circular waste, and in turn decarbonise their operation and products to achieve a 30 percent carbon reduction by 2030.

SANDY CORMACK BEST PAPER AWARD

JAMES MACKECHNIE (ALLIED CONCRETE) FOR SAND QUALITY CONTRIBUTION IN PRODUCING LOW CARBON CONCRETE James’ paper (and presentation) looked at how significant cement savings and therefore carbon emissions can be made by investing in better control of the quality of fine aggregate.The judges felt that James’ written and verbal presentation addressed an important issue on the New Zealand concrete’s industry’s decarbonisation journey.

James Mackechnie of Allied Concrete receives the Sandy Cormack Best Paper Award from Alistair Russell.

BEST TRADE STAND AWARD

HOLCIM NEW ZEALAND

The support offered by conference patrons, sponsors and trade exhibitors undoubtedly increases the value proposition of the Concrete NZ conference and deserves acknowledgement. As such, every year the Concrete NZ Readymix Sector Group presents the Best Trade Stand Award. This year’s recipient was Holcim New Zealand for their impressive display across multiple stands spaces.

Rick Henry presents the Best Trade Stand Award to Delwyn Smedley and Kerry Rosewarne of Holcim NZ.

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Sue Freitag graciously acknowledges those that offered assistance throughout her career.

SUE FREITAG ACKNOWLEDGED WITH OUTSTANDING CONTRIBUTION AWARD FOR INDUSTRY SERVICE IN RECOGNITION OF AN EXCEPTIONAL AND SUSTAINED INVOLVEMENT TO THE ADVANCEMENT OF THE AOTEAROA NEW ZEALAND CONCRETE INDUSTRY, SUE FREITAG OF WSP WAS PRESENTED WITH AN OUTSTANDING CONTRIBUTION AWARD AT THE SEPTEMBER 2023 CONCRETE NZ CONFERENCE. As part of the concrete industry’s revised awards structure, overseen by Concrete NZ, the peernominated award celebrates those who have contributed meaningfully to making a difference in the field of concrete materials, design, construction, research and/or administration. Amongst an extensive résumé, Sue’s participation in Standards development has been particularly significant, with NZS 3104 Specification for Concrete Production and NZS 3121 Water and Aggregate for Concrete, along with many others, benefitting from Sue’s analytical mind and eye for detail. Sue’s expertise is in the field of concrete durability, and she is an international specialist in the effects of alkali silica reaction (ASR) on concrete. In the 1980’s Sue was instrumental in carrying out the first surveys of New Zealand structures affected 38 concrete

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by ASR and was on the original committee that developed TR3 Alkali Silica Reaction: Minimising the Risk of Damage to Concrete: Guidance Notes and Recommended Practice. Always modest, Sue acknowledged Department of Scientific and Industrial Research (DSIR) and Industrial Research Limited (IRL) cement experts who undertook much of the scientific work that is the foundation of ASR (and now pozzolan) knowledge in New Zealand. Sue also saluted the concrete experts who welcomed her into Standards New Zealand, RILEM and Concrete Institute of Australia technical groups and committees, so that she could ensure their documents address the needs of New Zealand designers.


Allied concrete’s Technical Team receives a number of Gold Awards from Concrete NZ Honorary Life member Rob Green.

PLANT AUDIT SCHEME GOLD AWARDS PRESENTED FOR 10+ YEARS OF EXCELLENCE CONGRATULATIONS TO ALLIED CONCRETE’S HOROTIU, TAURANGA, ALEXANDRA, NELSON, WANAKA, WASHDYKE, CHRISTCHURCH NORTH AND SETTERS LINE PLANTS FOR EITHER MAINTAINING OR SECURING GOLD STATUS IN THE 2023 CONCRETE NZ PLANT AUDIT SCHEME EXCELLENCE AWARDS. Firth Industries’ Aotea Quay plant and Terry’s Concrete Te Horo plant also stood on the top-step of the podium, accompanied by Atlas Concrete’s Takapuna and Wiri plants.

GOLD STATUS •

Allied Concrete’s Horotiu - Zone 4

Allied Concrete’s Tauranga - Zone 4

The Scheme, which provides an independent audit of around 200 ready mixed concrete plants, now operates a Gold, Silver and Bronze acknowledgement system as a simpler, more transparent way to reward excellence.

Allied Concrete’s Limited Alexandra - Zone 1

Allied Concrete’s Limited Nelson - Zone 1

Allied Concrete’s Limited Wanaka - Zone 1

To receive an annual Excellence certificate a plant must not have received any corrective actions nor have its testing requirements questioned under the Scheme.

Allied Concrete’s Limited Washdyke (Timaru) Zone 1

AML Limited’s Christchurch North - Zone 1

Allied Concrete’s Setters Line, Palmerston North - Zone 2

Firth Industries’ Aotea Quay - Zone 2

Terry’s Concrete’s Limited Te Horo - Zone 2

Allied Concrete’s Penrose - Zone 3

Atlas Concrete’s Limited Takapuna - Zone 3

Atlas Concrete’s Limited Wiri - Zone 3

Plants that have demonstrated 3+ years of continuous Excellence are recognised as Bronze, those with 5+ years as Silver, and those with 10+ years as Gold.

Terry Whiteman of terry’s Concrete receives a Gold Award from Rob Green.

Alistair Bennett of Firth Industries receives a Gold Award from Rob Green.

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Dave Russell and Sabina Sekerovic of Atlas Concrete receive their Gold Awards from Rob Green.

SILVER STATUS • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

Allied Concrete’s Cambridge - Zone 4 Allied Concrete’s Matamata - Zone 4 Allied Concrete’s Taupo - Zone 4 Allied Concrete’s Whakatane - Zone 4 Allied Concrete’s Whitianga - Zone 4 Bowers Brothers Concrete Limited’s Hamilton - Zone 4 Bowers Brothers Concrete Limited’s Matamata - Zone 4 Bowers Brothers Concrete Limited’s Putaruru - Zone 4 Allied Concrete Limited’s Ashburton - Zone 1 Allied Concrete Limited’s Cromwell - Zone 1 Allied Concrete Limited’s Gore - Zone 1 Allied Queenstown Concrete Limited’s Frankton, Queenstown - Zone 1 Christchurch Ready Mix Concrete Limited’s Belfast No. 1 - Zone 1 Christchurch Ready Mix Concrete Limited’s Belfast No. 2 - Zone 1

Christchurch Ready Mix Concrete Limited’s Rolleston - Zone 1

Cromwell Certified Concrete Limited’s Cromwell - Zone 1

Firth Industries Invercargill - Zone 1

Allied Concrete’s Gisborne - Zone 2

Allied Concrete’s New Plymouth - Zone 2

Allied Concrete’s Ohau - Zone 2

Allied Concrete’s Wanganui - Zone 2

PERTH Concrete Limited’s Wanganui - Zone 2

Allied Concrete’s Avondale - Zone 3

Allied Concrete’s Bombay - Zone 3

Atlas Concrete Limited’s Kumeu - Zone 3

Atlas Concrete Limited’s Panmure - Zone 3

Atlas Concrete Limited’s Silverdale - Zone 3

Atlas Concrete Limited’s Warkworth - Zone 3

Formstress Precast Limited’s Waiuku - Zone 3

• • • • •

Firth Industries’ Belmont - Zone 2 Higgins Concrete Limited’s Otaki - Zone 2 Higgins Concrete Limited’s Porirua - Zone 2 Higgins Concrete Limited’s Wellington - Zone 2 Counties Ready Mix Limited’s Drury No.1 Zone 3 Duracrete Products Limited’s Kauri - Zone 3

BRONZE STATUS •

Bowers Brothers Concrete Limited ‘s Morrinsville - Zone 4

Allied Concrete Limited’s Greymouth (South Beach) - Zone 1

Allied Concrete Limited’s Renwick - Zone 1

McGregor Concrete Limited’s Te Anau - Zone 1

Allied Concrete’s Upper Hutt - Zone 2

Concrete NZ chief executive, Rob Gaimster, applauds the 2023 Gold, Silver and Bronze status recipients for their dedicated focus on producing quality assured ready mixed concrete. “Concrete NZ’s Plant Audit Scheme remains the construction sector benchmark for producers to show that their output meets required obligations as set out in NZS 3104 Specification for Concrete Production,” says Rob. “Maintaining excellence for 10 consecutive years or more is a tremendous achievement for all thirteen plants. “It is fantastic to see Allied Concrete and Atlas Concrete increase the number of plants securing Gold status, and well done to Firth Industries and Terry’s Concrete for retaining Gold status. “I look forward to seeing a number of the Silver plants continue their commitment to quality and achieve Gold status in 2024.”

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Daniel Blunden receives his award from Learned Society President Rick Henry.

TALENTED FINAL YEAR TERTIARY STUDENTS RECOGNISED WITH LEARNED SOCIETY CONCRETE PRIZES A TRIO OF NOTEWORTHY FINAL YEAR TERTIARY STUDENTS WERE ACKNOWLEDGED WITH THE LEARNED SOCIETY’S CONCRETE PRIZES IN 2023, WITH DANIEL BLUNDEN FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF AUCKLAND RECEIVING HIS AWARD AT THE RECENT CONCRETE NZ CONFERENCE HELD IN HAMILTON. Daniel’s research project focused on the geometric, mix, and structural design of a concrete canoe, with his recommendations including the use of a hybrid pumice and expanded glass mix as well as post tensioning. Connor Rice from the University of Auckland’s School of Architecture and Jesse Northcoat from the University of Canterbury were the other recipients. Connor’s research - Concrete Abstraction - looked at an adaptive re-use project of the Hotel Cargen, located at 10 Eden Crescent, Auckland City (1912-1913). Jesse’s research explored the feasibility of zeolite modified blended cement for 3D concrete printing as a sustainable alternative for the concrete construction industry. The Concrete NZ Learned Society Concrete Prizes are available to students undertaking

their final year of a relevant bachelor’s degree or a professional/taught master’s programme. They are awarded to New Zealand based students, nominated by their tertiary education institute, who demonstrate excellence in their studies and who contribute to the following objectives of the Learned Society: •

Advancing excellence in environmental, architectural and structural design and construction.

Networking within, and promotion of, the concrete industry.

Encouraging and recognising innovation in concrete.

Promoting the Learned Society.

The Learned Society congratulates Daniel, Connor and Jesse on their accomplishments, and wishes them all the very best in their future research endeavours and careers.

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Caleb Van De Westerlo along with supporters.

GROWTH MINDSET HELPS PRECAST APPRENTICE TAKE HOME 2023 CONCRETE INDUSTRY AWARD FRANKLIN SOUTH AUCKLAND APPRENTICE CALEB VAN DE WESTERLO, OF WAIUKU BASED FORMSTRESS PRECAST, RECEIVED THE 2023 CONCRETE INDUSTRY APPRENTICE OF THE YEAR AWARD. After completing his OE Caleb returned to Aotearoa in 2018 to start an apprenticeship with Formstress, progressing quickly after he approached manager and mentor Greg Johnston seeking a structured programme of exposure to important aspects of the business. 42 concrete

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Impressed by his ambition, Formstress put in place a plan that has ended with Caleb identified as a future leader. This pathway included positioning Caleb to fill the next available foreman position, rotating him through batching, quality assurance, dispatch and precast manufacture, and also


Dene Cook (Concrete NZ), Caleb Van De Westerlo (Formstress) and Greg Durkin (BCITO | Te Pūkenga).

Caleb Van De Westerlo with his father Theo and partner Rachel.

gaining a National Certificate in Precast Concrete Level Three and a New Zealand Certificate Concrete Specialist Level Four.

Caleb says he would encourage others to consider being a tradie as a career option, as he has found it “really fulfilling and interesting.”

In fact, Caleb is the first person and the first of Māori descent to gain the new level 4 certificate.

Concrete NZ chief executive Rob Gaimster says apprentices with Caleb’s approach to challenges and setbacks are vital to keep the industry innovating, improving, and becoming more efficient at a site level.

“This is the mindset with which Caleb completes all tasks. It is not enough to finish the course, he had to be first,” says Greg Johnston. Caleb firmly believes that all Formstress employees would benefit from industry qualifications and has already helped four of his direct reports through their level three certificates. He himself is now being supported as a future senior manager and stands in for the company’s operations manager as required.

“Caleb’s swift progression within Formstress and bright future shows there are great prospects and supportive workplaces that enable energetic young people to get ahead in the concrete industry. “There are real opportunities to make a difference and secure a rewarding future that don’t necessarily depend on a university degree.”

“Showing the guys his own progression is important in motivating them to better themselves. Caleb understands that the mentoring he is receiving is an important part of his development, and he passes the same effort and time on to his staff,” says Greg.

Director Greg Durkin, BCITO | Te Pūkenga reflected that, “Since its inception in 2016, the Concrete Industry Apprentice of the Year award has proved its worth as an important tool to celebrate apprentice success, the importance of trade training and the value of employer and family support.”

Caleb says a growth mindset is the most important attribute for an apprentice. “You must understand mistakes will happen and accept these are all important lessons that will occur in the process.

“Caleb’s achievement is impressive. We salute his accomplishments in this highly skilled and technical trade, and also his leadership as a successful tradesperson. Ka mau te wehi | how fantastic Caleb!”

“You need to be able to set goals and have a clear vision for your future, not just at work but at home too. The days on site don’t get easier. You become better.”

The award was open to all those enrolled in, or who had recently completed, one of the BCITO | Te Pūkenga concrete apprenticeships.

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Pacifica Building, Auckland – this stunning 57-floor mixed use tower is a new landmark on the Auckland skyline and was realised using BBR post-tensioning for the elevated floors and lateral load resisting system.

CONTECH CELEBRATING 60 YEARS CONTECH DIRECTOR PAUL WYMER IS PROUD OF HIS ORGANISATION’S ACHIEVEMENTS AS LEADERS IN SPECIALISED BUILDING, CIVIL AND REMEDIAL ENGINEERING AND CONSTRUCTION. For three decades, Paul has been a senior member of the Contech team, holding key management roles that have shaped the company’s trajectory across the second half of its 60-year history. “The reasons Contech is now celebrating its 60th anniversary as New Zealand’s leading specialist civil engineering firm can be summed up quite simply – we have always loved finding solutions to engineering challenges and we enjoy mastering our skills to be the best we can be,” says Paul. He’s led the company through 30 years of bringing to life difficult, iconic projects that deliver new structures and those that give new life to old structures, such as heritage buildings, tunnels, wharves and bridges. The company is also behind many of New Zealand’s new construction projects that enable the economy to flourish including retail outlets and shopping centres to business parks, universities, high-rise buildings, warehouses, dams, highways, factories, reservoirs, sewers, wharves, museums, art galleries, car parks, stadiums, hangars, hotels, and water and wastewater facilities. Today, Contech is led by Chief Executive Derek Bilby, who joined the business as a director and shareholder in 2017 after a long career with one of New Zealand’s biggest construction firms. A recent accolade for the team is their involvement in the 57-storey Pacifica Tower in Auckland. The project took out the Excellence in Commercial Concrete category award before going on to win the Premier Concrete Award at the 2023 Concrete Industry Awards. The awards recognised the use of in-situ posttensioned floors as providing an elegant solution 44 concrete

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Premier Concrete Award 2023 – Pacifica Building. Members of the project team celebrate winning the Premier Concrete Award and Excellence in Commercial Concrete category award.

to architectural and structural performance requirements for multi-storey buildings. Paul commented, “This is a company that many people wouldn’t know is the quiet achiever behind real lifeline projects like upgrading of the North South Junction. Working for Downer and KiwiRail, the project involved lowering and strengthening a string of brick-lined rail tunnels, which has kept Wellington’s rail network alive. Our component of work was incredibly challenging, stretching across five separate tunnels and involving installation of some 1,750 rock bolts and 500m3 of grout, on a relatively isolated hillside site - the Paekakariki Escarpment that runs along the edge of the sea front and is almost perpendicular in places.” Paul also references the significant work carried out in the South Island by the team based in Christchurch. “While we played a critical part in post-earthquake Christchurch rebuild with hundreds of repair and strengthening projects,

Princes Wharf Auckland – the largest underwharf concrete repair project undertaken in the Auckland region to date.

we’re also proud of our post-tensioning work in the region, with over one million square metres of post-tensioned slabs across 160 projects. These PT slabs are used for premium quality floors with high load resistance, minimal joints and low maintenance, supporting the region’s industry in dairy sheds, large storage warehouses, coolstores and heavy-duty load out aprons.” The company’s can-do approach is underpinned by strong relationships that support new knowledge, such as research projects with the Universities of Auckland and Canterbury that explore post-tensioning and FRP (fibre-reinforced polymer) applications as retrofit solutions for earthquake resistance. The Contech organisation has maintained a strong and active connection to the concrete industry. The company was an active contributor in the early days of the New Zealand Concrete Society and many employees have served on the Council and as President over the years. Paul has continued this commitment and engagement and has been an active member of the Society since 1998, serving as its President in 2005/2006. His passion for knowledge sharing is evident in the numerous technical papers and guest lectures he has presented on a range of topics through his affiliations with Engineering New Zealand, universities and industry organisations. Paul has served as an independent board member of the consolidated Concrete NZ since its inception in 2017 and currently holds the position of Deputy Chair.

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Fonterra Darfield – the largest development of PT slabs in NZ. To date, a total of 80,900m2 of PT slabs have been constructed for drystore warehousing, packing stores, coolstore and heavy-duty external pavements.

Paul credits a strong team of people, some of whom have been with the company for decades, for the company’s success. The highly valued team has learned from unique environmental challenges, including floods and earthquakes, faced by the New Zealand construction sector, to become a specialist in post-tensioning, seismic strengthening and high-tech concrete repairs. “The project achievements and awards over the years are only made possible through the dedication and commitment to excellence of our people. It is a reflection of the whole team’s passion for delivering the finest technical solutions for our customers.”

our existing buildings and structures and reuse them so that we minimise the amount of greenhouse gas emissions generated by building materials and construction processes. And third best is to focus on solutions involving reduced quantities of concrete and steel.”

Paul also places great emphasis on building for climate change. “A review of our work over the past 40 years shows that we have consistently had about two thirds of our work in the repair and strengthening activity area. In addition, our other core work has involved post-tensioning where the solutions specifically involve using technology to provide for high performing and resilient structures with reduced materials.

A recent project in Auckland is a great example of delivering on all these fronts – and utilising a wide range of Contech expertise and experience. Princes Wharf in Downtown Auckland is the largest under wharf repair tackled in the region to date and builds on a long track record of similar projects – more than 20 wharf repair projects in the Auckland region alone. Princes Wharf is over 100 years old, and the wharf and buildings have been progressively repaired and strengthened to allow repurposing from historic cargo handling sheds to a busy commercial precinct incorporating hotels, apartments, international cruise terminal, offices, bars, restaurants and tour operators. The Contech team has been involved in the wharf previously with topside concrete repair and seismic upgrading by FRP strengthening and ground anchors.

“If we’re focusing on reducing carbon in construction, the best thing we can do is to not build anything. The next best thing is to retain

This current project involves approximately 160m3 of concrete repair to the substructure, incorporating piles, bracing, deck beams and slab

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soffits. The work brings together all Contech’s past expertise and experience including specialist underwharf access, hydro-demolition, in-house designed marine concrete and working within a busy operational environment. It is an excellent example of durability, resilience and adaptation that can be gained from a concrete structure. Discrete interventions can be applied and service life well in excess of 100 years can be achieved with only minimal embodied carbon related to the repair and upgrading work.

Projects like these contribute positively to the pursuit of reduced carbon in our construction sector and our industry goal of a net zero carbon concrete industry. Contech has branches in Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch, and a dedicated team of some 80 specialists working with clients nationwide. It is widely recognised for its technical expertise and is an active member of the international BBR Network, working in close collaboration with other BBR Network members around the world.

International accolades – it was a great honour to accept – from Antonio Caballero, then CEO of BBR VT International – the 2018 BBR Network Project of the Year Award on behalf of Contech for work on the award-winning PT floor slab for the James Pascoe Distribution Centre in Auckland. The project also won the 2017 Post-tensioning Institute Award of Excellence, Slab-on-Grade category – recognising a world-first hybrid approach to VNA floor construction utilising large post-tensioned slabs and achievement of a super-flat floor.

Contech is New Zealand’s leading concrete engineering company. Our specialist team have over 60 years of unmatched experience in concrete construction and remediation.

Find out more at

contech.co.nz

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LIGCHINE LASER GUIDED CONCRETE SCREEDS – BEYOND LEVEL FOUNDED IN THE USA LIGCHINE, A GLOBAL LEADER OF INNOVATIVE COST SAVING CONCRETE SCREEDING EQUIPMENT IS NOW IN NEW ZEALAND. Since 2008 the company has rapidly expanded to become a market leader in laser-guided and 3D LPS guided concrete technology and can now boast an impressive range of automated concrete screeding machines backed by a worldwide distribution network. Ligchine is now literally cementing its place in history with the launch of a new product that not only redefines innovation but takes it to a new level. And what’s more it places Youngman Richardson, New Zealand distributor, for SCREEDSAVER MAX PLUS® (the first model of the range to arrive in New Zealand) at the forefront of a revolution that will see a major change to the way concrete floors are delivered to any future building, warehouse or facility that requires a large flat floor. Youngman Richardson’s Sales Director, Phil Fairfield first noticed the Ligchine range at the World of Concrete Expo and immediately saw its potential for the concrete industry in New Zealand. With a full range of automated flatwork screeding machines available and square meter rates of 278m-929m per hour, both small and larger contractors can now benefit from a state-of-theart product that is accurate, durable, versatile and above all, affordable. 48 concrete

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“Ligchine is a family owned and operated company with values similar to Youngman Richardson who are genuinely interested and excited about their products now having a presence in our country,” says Phil Fairfield. “Introducing these outstanding machines will not only help our concrete customers in their quest to improve their own productivity and profitability but also provide better outcomes for their clients,” he said. The SCREEDSAVER MAX PLUS® builds on the strengths of its other high-performance boom operated screeds with a lightweight body that makes it easy to manoeuvre, drive-in and transport by trailer from site to site. The SCREEDSAVER MAX PLUS® is packed with features including a laser guided concrete screed that when combined with TOPCON technology will delight local contractors who are familiar with the benefits TOPCON provides when it comes to maintaining leveling accuracy. It will also help them to work more quickly and profitably by being able to produce and deliver a more consistent flatter surface.


SCREEDSAVER MAX PLUS® SPECIFICATIONS Width: 1.9m | Length: 4.8m | Height: 1.7m | Weight: 2177kg • 2-wheel proportional drive • ScreedShiftTM Pivoting Frame provides up to 1.6m side-to-side screed head with a pivoting boom member. • Screed coverage: 5.18m boom extension with a 3m High Performance screed head.

• Honda iGHX800, electronic fuel injection, air cooled, four stroke, 24.9HP (18.5kW). • Comes with: 2D Laser levelling for Grade, Slope. Dual Scope Topcon LS-B1190. • Optional: 3D Systems for Contoured concrete paving – Topcon 3D and LPS robotic.

For more information or an on-site demonstration contact Youngman Richardson: Auckland Head Office 09 443 2436. Mt Wellington, Auckland 09 553 5470

Wellington 04 212 2456 South Island 03 341 6923

Alternatively visit our website www.yrco.co.nz

The Plant Audit Scheme audits Concrete NZ Readymix Sector Group member’s concrete plants as defined in NZS 3104 0 1 Specification for Concrete Production. The Scheme provides a rigorous audit of the quality systems in place at a ready mixed concrete plant. FOR A FULL LIST OF SCHEME MEMBERS AND THEIR AUDITED READY MIXED CONCRETE PLANTS VISIT THE SCHEME WEBSITE www.rmcplantaudit.org.nz

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BUILDING RESILIENCE INTO YOUR ROADING NETWORK CONCRETE NZ WAS PROUD TO ONCE AGAIN BE A GOLD SPONSOR OF THE FUTURE ROADS CONFERENCE, AN ANNUAL TWO-DAY EVENT FOR THE NEW ZEALAND ROADING SECTOR PROVIDING A FORUM FOR STRATEGY, DISCUSSION AND EXECUTION. The theme for 2023 was Building Resilience Into Your Roading Network, with delegates benefitting from: •

panel discussions and expert speakers

updates on the latest roading projects

local and international case studies

interactive exhibition and displays

training and education opportunities

networking and industry gala dinner

The conference programme covered leadership and government strategy, procurement, materials, technology and smart traffic signals and control centres.

Innovations, information, and practical advice were shared with the knowledge that a better understanding and a more informed, cohesive sector can help achieve New Zealand’s roading goals sooner.

To help advance the case for concrete roads, Concrete NZ arranged for Eric Ferrebee, Senior Director of Technical Services at the American Concrete Pavement Association (ACPA), to present at Future Roads.

Claudelands Events Centre, Hamilton 50 concrete

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INTERNATIONAL SPEAKER (UNITED STATES) ERIC FERREBEE – SENIOR DIRECTOR OF TECHNICAL SERVICES AMERICAN CONCRETE PAVEMENT ASSOCIATION (ACPA) From Overlays to Full Pavements – A US Perspective on Sustainable Concrete Pavements Concrete pavements and concrete overlays to existing pavements are regularly used as sustainable solutions in the United States. Concrete’s reputation for durability and longevity provides significant economic benefits and can also help reduce transportation-related environmental impacts.

Eric Ferrebee of ACPA

Eric’s presentation focussed on experiences in the United States to design, build, and maintain concrete pavements that help deliver on economic and environmental transportation goals: •

long-term performance of concrete pavements and concrete overlays to existing pavements

economic impacts and benefits of concrete pavements

cost-benefit analysis vs alternatives

how to optimise and reduce the environmental impacts of transportation infrastructure

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Image. Pexels/Zeeshaan Shabbir.

THE ALBEDO POTENTIAL OF CONCRETE ROADS ROAD DESIGNERS SHOULD TAKE FULL ACCOUNT OF THE ALBEDO EFFECT IF THEY WANT TO IMPROVE THE PERFORMANCE OF ROADS AND REDUCE THEIR ASSOCIATED CO2E IMPACT, BELIEVES JOE QUIRKE OF BRITPAVE, THE INFRASTRUCTURE INDUSTRY ASSOCIATION. The albedo effect is the ability of a surface to reflect solar rays. The effect can reduce both immediate and adjacent ambient temperatures. For road pavements, this is important. Reflecting solar rays and reducing heat absorption can reduce the immediate temperature of the road while also reducing the adjacent ambient temperature and so mitigate the impact of urban heat islands. Albedo is measured as a fraction of solar radiation reflected from a material’s surface. It is measured with a solar spectrum reflectometer on a scale of 0 (not reflective) to 1 (100% reflective). The higher the fraction, the higher the reflectivity. The higher the reflectivity, the lower the absorption of solar heat. Concrete has an albedo of 0.4, while asphalt has an albedo of just 0.1. The Portland Cement Association reports that the incorporation of slag or white cement can give a concrete pavement an albedo reading as high as 0.7. The potential of concrete’s heightened albedo effect is attracting increased attention due the need to 52 concrete

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Table 1 – Albedo of pavement surfaces (American Concrete Pavement Association, 2002)

PAVEMENT TYPE

ALBEDO

Asphalt

0.05–0.10 (new) 0.10–0.15 (weathered)

Grey Portland cement

0.35–0.40 (new) 0.20–0.30 (weathered)

White Portland cement

0.70–0.80 (new) 0.40–0.60 (weathered)

reduce global warming, improve long-term road performance and lessen the need for – and therefore the CO2e energy impacts – of street lighting. SOLAR RADIATION By reflecting more of the sun’s energy, the amount of solar radiation absorbed by the Earth’s surface is reduced. Research has found that an increase in pavement albedo of 0.15 (from 0.10 to 0.25 for example) is equivalent to eliminating 38kg of CO2e


per square metre. If implemented for pavements in the 100 largest cities on Earth, the equivalent CO2e offset would be over 20 gigatons (see Akbari et al. (1)). Research carried out in Spain suggested that the albedo impact of all Spanish concrete motorways and major roads could provide an annual equivalent CO2e reduction of up to 27 million tonnes (see Sanjuan et al. (2)). Locally too, the albedo effect can reduce temperatures. The temperature of urban heat islands, typically metropolitan areas, can be significantly higher than the surrounding suburban and rural areas. The MIT Concrete Sustainability Hub found that if Houston increased the albedo of its pavements by 0.20, maximum summer air temperatures would decrease by 2.7°F (1.5°C). While this may not sound significant, climate simulation studies suggest that the lowered air temperatures would result in 59% fewer heat waves affecting the city. Furthermore, if the increase of 0.2 was replicated throughout the United States it could provide global warming impact savings equivalent to taking 3.75 million cars off the road for one year due to the lowered atmospheric temperature. This onetime benefit would remain as long as the increased albedo is maintained (see Azarijafari et al. (3)). The superior reflectivity of concrete makes it possible to achieve savings in the costs of lighting motorways and roads. Designers of road lighting make their calculations based on ‘luminance’, which is the reflected light in the direction of the observer. Savings can be achieved by placing fewer lighting columns or by using lamps of a lower luminance. In both cases, costs can be reduced, primarily by cutting back on the number

of lighting columns required and secondly in annual electricity consumption. REDUCE ENERGY CONSUMPTION Studies in the United States have shown that concrete pavements reduce the required lights per unit length of roadway. Costs in initial energy consumption and ongoing maintenance of light poles are reduced by 31% and operational energy costs to light a concrete road were 33% less compared with dark asphalt. Compared with concrete, an asphalt roadway will require 24% more light poles, an increase in project costs of £24,400 while the annual energy consumption of these extra light poles equates to an additional cost of £893 per mile of roadway (Ashley (4)). The higher reflectivity of concrete pavements reduces the initial capital costs of lighting provision and its ongoing maintenance and energy consumption costs. The considerable benefits in concrete pavements’ high albedo reflectivity should have greater appreciation and consideration. These benefits are built in and free at the point of delivery. Realising albedo potential should have a higher priority with road clients and designers. REFERENCES: 1. KBARI, H., MENON, S. and ROSENFELD, A. Global cooling: increasing world-wide urban albedos to offset CO2. Climate Change, Vol.94, No.3, August 2009, pp.275–286. 2. SANJUAN, M.A, MORALES, A. and ZARAGOZA, A. Effect of precast concrete pavement albedo on the climate change mitigation in Spain. Sustainability, Vol.13, No.20:11448, October 2021. 3. AZARIJAFARI, H., LEVINSON, R. and LAURNET, A. Extreme heat kills inequitably: Reflective pavements can help, but city action is required. The Hill, 30 August 2022, available at: https://bit.ly/3wIOzTe. 4. ASHLEY, E. Environmental and cost benefits of high albedo concrete. Concrete in Focus, September/October 2008. Article reproduced with kind permission from the author and the UK Concrete Society.

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CONCRETE NZ LIBRARY LISTED BELOW IS A SELECTION OF RECENTLY ACQUIRED MATERIAL BY THE CONCRETE NZ LIBRARY. MEMBERS CAN EMAIL LIBRARY@CONCRETENZ.ORG.NZ TO BORROW THESE ITEMS.

CONCRETE SIBERIA BY ALEXANDER VERYOVKIN A photographic insight into the Soviet-era architecture of one of the most extreme, little-known and vast territories on Earth. From the Ural Mountains to the Arctic Circle, the book features the extensive microrayons of Siberia’s urban centres, the brutal landscapes of industrial monotowns, cosmic circuses, concrete theatres and opera houses, as well as prefabricated panel blocks, or panelki, erected on permafrost. Concrete Siberia contains over 100 photographs taken by Russian photographer Alexander Veryovkin, capturing the stark splendour of post-war modernist architecture scattered around the cities of Novosibirsk, Omsk, Krasnoyarsk, Norilsk, Irkutsk and Yakutsk and the quotidian lives of their inhabitants.

CONCRETE: FROM THE GROUND UP BY LARISSA THEULE & STEVE LIGHT (ILLUSTRATOR) From a lowly mixture of stone, sand, water, and cement have sprung sidewalks, streets, and skyscrapers, sturdy lighthouses and magnificent palaces, long bridges and massive dams. In ancient building practices, in modern engineering, and in the architecture of the future, humble concrete plays a mighty role in the creation of the human-made world. Brimming with facts and spiced with clever running narrative in the form of repartee-filled speech bubbles, Concrete: From the Ground Up is as intimate and entertaining as it is informative and visually sweeping. Curious readers of all ages - from would-be engineers to science and history buffs to retrodesign lovers - will delight in this bold, one-of-a-kind guide to the (literal) bedrock of civilization.

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CARBON DIOXIDE SEQUESTRATION IN CEMENTITIOUS CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS BY F. PACHECO TORGAL, CAIJUN SHI AND ANGEL PALOMO This book provides an updated, stateof-the-art review on the development of cementitious construction materials based on carbon dioxide storage, which will have a major eco-efficient and economic benefit for the construction industry. Key chapters include methods for the assessment of carbon dioxide absorbed by cementitious materials, air and waterbased carbon dioxide storage, carbon dioxide storage modeling, carbonation mechanisms, carbon dioxide storage on recycled aggregates, calcium, sodium and magnesium- based binders, properties and the durability of carbon dioxide based concrete. CONCRETE: FROM ANCIENT ORIGINS TO A PROBLEMATIC FUTURE BY MARY SODERSTROM Imagine what the world would be like without concrete: there’d be no high-rises, no grand irrigation projects, no lettuce from southern climes in the winter, no multi-lane highways crisscrossing continents, a shortage of electricity, more mud in some places, more solitude in others. But because of the fossil fuels and other resources required to make concrete, there also would be less CO2 in the atmosphere and less dramatic climate change. In Concrete: From Ancient Origins to a Problematic Future, Soderstrom tells the story of concrete’s glorious past, extravagant present, and uncertain future with careful research, lively anecdotes, and thoughtful reflection.

LIBRARY QUIZ To go in the draw to win a copy of Concrete: From The Ground Up by Larissa Theule & Steve Light (Illustrator) answer the following question:

CONTACTS

Concrete NZ Readymix Sector Group Ph (04) 499 0041 Chair: Kerry Newton Convenor: Rob Gaimster

Concrete NZ Masonry Sector Group Ph (04) 499 8820 Chair: Dene Cook Convenor: Ralf Kessel

Concrete NZ Precast Sector Group Ph (04) 499 8820 Chair: Rakesh Nauhria Convenor: Dave McGuigan

Concrete NZ Learned Society Ph (04) 499 8820 President: Rick Henry Convenor: Adam Leach

On its way to net-zero carbon by 2050, what reduction in emissions will the Aotearoa New Zealand concrete industry have achieved by 2030? Email your answer to library@concretenz.org.nz. Entries close Friday 23 February 2024. Congratulations to Emma Munro of CGW Consulting Engineers, who correctly answered the Vol. 62 Iss. 03 Library Quiz to receive a copy of Brutalist Italy: Concrete Architecture From the Alps to the Mediterranean Sea by Damon Murray (editor).

Concrete NZ Reinforcing Stakeholder Group Ph (04) 499 8820 Chair: Peter Ensor Convenor: Dave McGuigan

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