Master Joiners

from the president 15.05.2022

frustration but progress

Three years running now the NZJMF AGM has been disrupted and once again has disconnected from the traditional conference venue and will be run via an online meeting. Perhaps 2023 will be the year to get things back on track.

2022 is becoming a frustrating year with the obvious covid at the forefront but now we have to deal with an uncertain future. Cashfl ow is becoming everybody’s headache caused by continuing delays in essential products such as Gib which is causing building sites to grind to a halt so any continuity we once had is rapidly diminishing. There doesn’t seem to be a light at the end of the tunnel on product delays which is concerning for everyone and with material prices going through the roof we are certainly in for interesting times ahead.

I want to shout out to the Executive committee who quietly get on with matters at hand. For many in our community the work of our Executive can sometimes seem like another chore but the camaraderie of the committee is truly borderless despite our branches being regionalized. From the top of the North island to the bottom of the south our branches have a representative at the table and together we advance the strategic work to ensure the future of our industry sits on strong foundations.

We also welcome Paul Baker of Allsop Joinery who now represents Canterbury Master Joiners. Paul has been part of an excellent, inclusive and insightful succession plan which has been lead by Nathan Busch to ensure the branch benefi ts from business continuity planning. Continuity planning and succession planning is not a new activity and Master Joiners around the country can learn more about these and other business practices at conference in Blenheim this September.

Our conference, Inspired to Lead, was postponed but is certainly well underway to ensure the entire event is high quality and a annual flagship event for knowledge sharing and connecting with the industry. I am looking forward to meeting members who are attending conference for the fi rst time, you are all welcome. Please make yourselves known to our Executive Committee members at conference, you will know us by the colour of our name tags. Our conference committee will continue to monitor the progress of conference and we extend thanks to Kristine Holmes of Central Master Joiners and Cherie Van de Poel of Waikato Bay of Plenty Master Joiners for their ongoing support in this event. I encourage industry to get along to conference as we further enjoy the opportunity to meet leaders of our National Associate network. These are our quality suppliers to the industry and their presence at conference providers everyone with critical product learning opportunities. I am proud to have Laminex back on board as our host sponsor this year and New Zealand Panels Group sponsoring our annual excellence awards gala dinner. This team work makes our conference a real collaboration which we are proud of.

The transition of xero to regions has not been an easy road and is still ongoing but promises to be a game changer for all the regions secretaries and treasurers. Group reporting is another fantastic initiative and promises to make things much easier for the regions to manage their own governance. Other major achievements during the year include newly formed complaints committee spearheaded by past president Anthony Neutroski, this four member team are all experts in their respective joinery fi elds and have a wealth of knowledge to call upon for dealing with customer complaints. This new system is far superior to the previous one and more emphasis is now put on giving members the tools and know how to help stamp out complaints before intervention by the new committee is required.

We’ve also formed a new health and safety committee to help with representation to Worksafe and make sure all Master Joiners members interests are being heard before we get the dreaded workshop inspections. Dust inhalation in particular beards and masks have been a hot topic for Worksafe recently and lots of work is being done to ensure our perspective is being heard on how we can operate safely but eff ectively in our workshops without major disruptions or hold ups to productivity.

Lots of work is going on behind the scenes to help with the Te Pukenga transition from the BCITO and several of our members are part of working groups looking at the qualifi cation structure and how

Executive can sometimes seem like another chore but from the top of the North Island to the bottom of the South our branches have a representative at the table and together we advance the strategic work to ensure the future of our industry sits on strong foundations.

apprenticeships will be shaped in the future. Lots of emphasis is on what suits the changing face of joinery and how workshops are becoming more specialized in either kitchens or timber joinery and those who can still train in all aspects of joinery. Now is the time to shape training for how joinery will look in the future so we’re there to make sure the people making the decisions are listening to what our industry wants and needs.

With the disbandment of the BCITO came the Building and Construction Training Fund (BCTF) of which comes with an 80 million dollar surplus left over from the BCITO, this group is now in charge of management of this fund and overseeing how it's used to benefi t industry, trades and apprentices. I’m proud to say our own Reuben Bogue has been appointed as a director on this board to ensure the joinery industry will have a voice.

Master Joiners main role is to ensure your voices are being heard in all sectors whether to government departments or suppliers its important you are being represented and its our job to make this happen. Without a voice in the industry, we would have to follow guidelines set out to us by people who don’t fully understand what we do and how we do it. It’s a privilege to be part of a driven team whose focus is to do the best for its members and ensure a better future for the joinery industry.

Andrew Reilly

National President Registered Master Joiners

from the Publisher

Unique benchtops p.60

energy effi ciency and R values ...

We are privileged to have an article from Rob Campion from the Window & Glass Association of New Zealand (WGANZ) in this issue. This article looks at the impending changes for those in both the aluminium and wood window manufacturing industries with the fi fth edition of H1, the clause in the Building Code that deals with energy effi ciency. This essentially sees a move to weighted R values of houselot joinery and an increase in the minimum R Value. Essential reading if you are a wood or aluminium window and door maker. It signals a further move to thermally superior frames and signifi cantly, a need to move to low E glazing. Also of interest is the latest column from lawyer Geoff Hardy who has an in depth look at the latest changes to the Building Act to come into eff ect later this year. A must read for joiners I think.

In the machinery world there is a strong presence looking at the latest in edgebanding technology, a machine type that has proved very popular (and essential) for manufacturers using the nested based approach in particular. There is an interview with Mike French who has some thirty years experience dealing with and selling edgebanders. Also note there is a look at sixty years of edgebanding from German supplier Homag. There is always something going on when it comes to space for storage in the kitchen. Those fi niickety spaces have become features for many of the leading kitchen cabinetry and accessory suppliers so we have a feature looking at the latest solutions to this issue.

On a broader basis we have a continuing line of new product coming on the market from a number of suppliers. Covid may have been a challange but it has not dulled the introduction of lots of exciting new product. You will see them as you browse through this edition. A note also that we have more information in this issue about the upcoming Master Joiners Conference in early September to be held for the fi rst time in Blenheim. There is a lot to read in this edition, some of it essential for joiners so I’m off to let you get on with it!

Bob Nordgren

magazine

The magazine for the joinery, cabinetmaking & kitchen manufacturing industries

Offi cial Publication of the New Zealand Joinery Manufacturers Federation

Editor

Michael Goddard michael@joiners.net.nz

Publisher

Bob Nordgren bob@joiners.net.nz

PRINTERS

DISTRIBUTORS

M

42 Aldersgate Rd, PO Box 27 - 513, Mt. Roskill, Auckland, 1440, New Zealand. Ph: 64-9-624 4680

Joiners Magazine Online www.joiners.co.nz

ISSN 1173-6836

JOINERS Magazine is the offi cial publication of the New Zealand Joinery Manufacturers Federation. It is distributed to members of the joinery, cabinetmaking and kitchen manufacturing industries and is published quarterly in March, June, September and December. Advertising statements or editorial opinion are not necessarily those of the publisher, its staff , the New Zealand Joinery Manufacturers Federation Inc., or their executives, unless expressly stated. All articles printed in JOINERS Magazine are subject to copyright and cannot be reproduced without the express consent of the Publisher or the authors therein. Advertisements and articles are accepted without liability as to the accuracy or otherwise of the factual matters represented.

Inspired to lead

Every year, pandemics aside, Master Joiners host a Conference, carefully crafted to showcase our work at the Awards dinner, inform via relevant industry presentations and provide opportunities for networking. Master Joiner members meet regularly at regional events, but the Conference brings us together in one place for a few days of learning and exchanging ideas and innovations. The Conference forms an invaluable part of the Federation’s calendar.

This year the Annual Master Joiners’ Conference is being held in Blenheim on the 8th to 10th of September. The theme of our conference is Inspired to Lead, and the program is designed to deepen your knowledge, expand your perspective, and inspire you. The program is designed with workshops, breakout sessions and, of course, opportunities to mingle.

The Conference begins midday Thursday with local joinery factory tours and a complaint workshop facilitated by Trevor Slater from the Resolution Institute designed to show you how to receive a complaint and stop it escalating.

On Friday, after the opening address from the National President, we have the keynote address from Dr Paul Wood on the topic of authentic leadership. Dr Wood is an expert in helping people navigate the path to high performance, satisfaction and well being. He is a regular media contributor and a best selling author. Dr Wood will use his own journey, from delinquent to doctor of psychology, to illustrate the attributes and ingredients that assist us to bring our best as we lead others, and ourselves, through change, challenge, and adversity.

Dr Wood will then facilitate a workshop “What got me here?”. Delegates will have the opportunity to explore and discuss how they got here in terms of their own performance and satisfaction.

Our Friday breakout sessions after lunch include:

• • kitchen cabinetry • • compliant timber joinery • • workplace wellbeing strategies • • succession planning • • creating alternative pathways for secondary transition,

building a talent pipeline • • building a value creating team that is aligned to your vision.

Friday afternoon has our second keynote address Leading High Performance Teams, presented by Stephen Nelson, Chief Executive of Badminton New Zealand and Board Chair of Maycroft Construction. The day ends with the President’s closing address, Leading for the future.

Surrounding the business side of the Conference we have our networking opportunities. On Thursday night, The Gathering is the opportunity to catch up with members you may not have seen

The last Master Joiners Conference 20-22 June 2019.

for a while. On Friday night, we have the Quiz night, always good fun. And on Saturday, our highlight event, the Annual Excellence Awards Gala dinner, held in the Omaka Aviation Heritage Centre.

A special thank you to our host sponsor, Laminex, and all our sponsors without whom the Conference would not be the same.

And fi nally, it will be spring in Marlborough. If you feel in need of a break after the long winter months, what could be better than a few perfect days in Blenheim