10 minute read
Updates
SOME FINAL INDUSTRY UPDATES FOR 2022— WE’LL BE BACK IN THE NEW YEAR!
Do you hire migrant staff?
If you’re looking to hire staff from overseas, make sure you’re up to speed on more changes for immigration settings in 2023.
Mandatory Employer Accreditation The opening of the Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV) means employers hiring migrant staff must now become accredited as part of the 3-stage AEWV process. In 2023, Immigration New Zealand (INZ) will also require employers to be accredited in order to employ any migrant regardless of visa type.
“INZ has announced that a more stringent visa renewal process is also underway,” says Zinny Cheng, Head of Immigration
Services NZ at international recruiting and immigration consultancy Working In. “We advise you to review your internal processes to ensure you are meeting your obligations.”
Job Checks & AEWV For each role you are hiring, a Job Check must be completed prior to an AEWV being submitted. Unless exempt, all AEWV applicants must meet the median wage requirement of $27.76/h—increasing to $29.66/h on 27 February 2023. While some of your employees may be in the process of obtaining residency, they must still hold valid work visas. Those requiring visa renewal will likely need to go through the AEWV process.
Whilst your focus may be on recruiting new staff, Cheng recommends you also check your current staff list to ensure you are covered.
Sector agreements Plumber’s Assistant and Roof Plumber are covered by the Sector Agreement and exempt from meeting the median wage. The current threshold is $25/h but is increasing to $26.69/h in February as the median wage increases. “Take advantage of the lower rates before they change!” says Cheng. “Ensure your Job Checks and AEWVs are processed prior to the changes.”
2022 MERIT OF EXCELLENCE AWARD WINNERS
Each year, the Plumbers, Gasfitters & Drainlayers Board acknowledges high standards of achievement in the Certifying Plumber, Gasfitter and Drainlayer registration exams with its Certifying Merit of Excellence Awards.
“Top performers such as these are contributors to the growth of the industry and lead by example in raising the profile and ensuring the highest professional standards within the trade,” says the Board. The 2022 awards went to: Henry Bacon – Plumbing Ryan Wilson – Gasfitting Brian Fridd – Drainlaying
Ryan works at Master Plumbers’ member business Hutt Gas & Plumbing and was featured in the AugustSeptember edition of NZ Plumber for also winning the overall 2022 James Douglas Medallion.
LOWERED IMPORT LIMITS FOR HFC GASES
The limit for importing hydrofluorocarbon gases, which are used in heat pumps, air conditioning and refrigeration, has been reduced more than 13 per cent for 2023 compared with the two previous years—and will continue to be decreased every two years, with the goal of an 80 per cent drop by 2036.
HFCs have a global warming potential more than 50 times higher than carbon dioxide and the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) has been working to reduce their use since 2019.
“HFCs were created to reduce our reliance on ozone-depleting gases such as chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), but they also contribute to climate change,” says Dr Lauren Fleury, EPA Hazardous Substances Applications Manager. “Reducing levels of HFCs is expected to avoid up to 0.5 degrees of global warming by 2100.”
Hydrofluoroolefins (HFOs) are an alternative group of gases used in refrigeration that don’t affect the ozone layer and have minimal impact on the climate. Some businesses are already using HFC/HFO blends to help adjust to a lower amount of HFCs available for import.
NEW WEBSITE INFORMING KIWIS ABOUT THE FUTURE OF GAS
Kiwi households will have answers to renewable gas questions at their fingertips on the refreshed Future Sure website. As well as laying out the industry’s long-term vision for gas in Aotearoa, and explaining the various renewable gas options, the website addresses common queries around renewable gas pricing, appliances, and likely timeframes for its introduction in New Zealand homes.
Future Sure is a collaboration of organisations invested in the low-carbon future of gas. Master Plumbers, Gasfitters & Drainlayers NZ is among the growing number of Future Sure partners, who include Rinnai, Firstgas and other gas supply and equipment companies.
The website launch is being accompanied by consumer-facing social media advertising.
Point your customers to futuresure.co.nz
RAROTONGA R&R WITH RINNAI AND PLUMBING WORLD
As winter began to thaw in New Zealand between August and September, Rinnai and Plumbing World took 10 lucky winners from their latest trade promotion for an island escape in Rarotonga.
“The week whirled by with the guests enjoying a carefully curated itinerary that featured the perfect balance of activities for both adventure and relaxation—and of course, fabulous food!” say the Rinnai team. “Their time in paradise started with cruising around the magnificent Muri lagoon on a glass bottom boat, featuring cheerful live musical performances on board. This was followed up the next day with an off-road buggy drive across the island, where the guests toured the hills and plantations while getting marvellously muddy.
Rinnai and Plumbing World say to keep an eye out for future promotions for your chance to experience a truly memorable trip like this one!
WA HINE ON THE TOOLS WEB SERIES
More Māori and Pacific wāhine are being encouraged to enter a trades career with a new five-part web series launched by Workforce Development Councils Waihanga Ara Rau and Hanga-Aro-Rau.
A welder, builder, loader driver, electrician and health & safety officer are among the trailblazing women to share their inspirational stories in the video series—along with plumber Hera Eruera!
A fourth year Masterlink plumbing, drainlaying and gasfitting apprentice, hosted by Auckland Plumbers Group, Hera featured on RNZ’s Morning Report, Waatea News, 1News and TVNZ Breakfast, promoting the web series and talking about her own journey from stayat-home mother to passionate tradie, and why she loves her mahi so much.
“We know that the Covid-19 pandemic disproportionately affected the employment of women—especially our Māori and Pacific wāhine,” says Hanga-Aro-Rau Deputy Chief Executive Samantha McNaughton. “This webseries proves that wāhine have a strong place in our sectors, with highly successful careers full of a diverse range of opportunities.”
©Stuff
Watch the Wāhine on the Tools web series at tradecareers.co or facebook.com/TradeCareersNZ
NEW HAZARDOUS SUBSTANCE SEPARATION DISTANCE CALCULATION TOOL
WorkSafe have a new tool to help businesses calculate the necessary separation distances for hazardous substances used, made or stored at their premises. The calculator is based on separation distance requirements in the Health and Safety at Work (Hazardous Substances) Regulations 2017.
Find the calculator at www. worksafe.govt.nz/topic-andindustry/hazardous-substances/ managing/separation-distances/
The Ministry of Education is one of the largest buyers of non-residential vertical buildings in New Zealand, managing around 2,100 state school properties nationwide.
It works closely alongside the construction sector and is part of the Construction Sector Accord working to tackle the industry’s challenges— including high suicide rates.
The Ministry has signed a two-year partnership with MATES in Construction to implement a sitebased wellbeing programme.
MATES will enlist field officers who can visit school construction sites to build the programme into the workplace. They will lead general mental health and wellbeing education sessions for the workers on site. They’ll also train and guide volunteers who are keen to help promote a mentally healthier workplace and offer relevant support.
The programme will start with school construction sites in Wellington and Auckland, and eventually be rolled out across the motu.
To launch the partnership, Ministry of Education and MATES in Construction representatives joined Naylor Love in flying the MATES flag at their site on Wellington East Girls’ College. Flying the Flag in a construction site shows support and raises awareness of suicide prevention in the industry.
Our industry is full of people making a difference in the community.
Colleen Upton ONZM, General Manager of Hutt Gas and Plumbing, is the new President Elect of the National Association of Women in Construction NZ (NAWIC). She will join fellow President Rebecca Hodges, who describes Colleen as “an absolute powerhouse in our industry”. During her seven-year involvement with NAWIC, Colleen has been on the Wellington Chapter committee as well as their national trades representative, national council member and MC at their recent NAWIC Excellence Awards. Colleen says she is greatly looking forward to helping the organisation grow and acting as a cheerleader and advocate for women in construction.
New President Elect Colleen Upton (right) with NAWIC Immediate Past President Stacey Mendonca (left) and current President Rebecca Hodges.
Clive Steenson’s memory was honoured at the Te Awamatu Rowing Club’s 2022 regatta, with a name change for the annual event to the Clive Steenson Memorial Regatta. Clive, who ran Master Plumbers’ member business Clive Steenson Ltd, coached for the club up until a few months before he died in May 2021, aged 74, from asbestos-related cancer. Steenson rowed for the club from 1966 to 1981, when he started coaching, reports the Te Awamutu News. The article notes that among his protegees was Hannah Osborne, who won Silver with Brooke Donoghue in the Women’s Double Sculls at the Tokyo 2020 Summer Olympics. A humble man to the last, Clive won several awards, including the Sport Waikato Service to Sport Award in 2017. According to the report, Club Captain Tony Edmondson says Clive believed if you give people opportunities, you give people chances.
Robyn Brown and Peter Reilly recently retired from their roles as Skills Account Managers after looking after apprentices for many years—Robyn in Canterbury for 14 and Peter in Wellington for 10. For Robyn, working with all the fantastic people in the industry made her role easy. “People really look after each other here,” she says. “When I first started, I remember going to all the Master Plumber meetings and seeing the mutual respect everyone had for each other. It’s been great to be a part of that over the years. And, of course, I’ve loved seeing the apprentices complete their courses—seeing them satisfied with their results and then going on to become employees.”
For Peter, being part of the positive changes that have come about because of industry growth is what he’s most proud of. “Some of the companies I’ve worked with are just fantastic and really prioritise their apprentices,” he says. “Working with them has been a highlight. And as clichéd as it sounds, seeing young people develop sums it up for me—it certainly made all those early morning meetings worth it! Pastoral care grew to be a big part of my role. Seeing the difference you can make to a young person’s life made me want to stay on after all these years.” The Plumber Dan Duck Race has done the Whanganui community proud again this year. Plumber Dan owner Dan Goldsworthy has helped support local whānau by donating proceeds from the Duck Race to Jigsaw Whanganui every year since 2017—and raised over $17,000 this year!
Tilly from WaterWorx Plumbing and Gas (above) looks the business in her smart branded jacket, modelled here on a wintery day in spring! Love your style, Tilly.
