Tradie ISS 3 - April

APRil 2017, ISSUE 3

Boost to get Women in Construction

w CRC Speedsho ive Playground mot The Ultimate Auto

• IP-55 hose and weatherproof • Trade tough IK09 impact resistant • Vice-like lead restraints (>100kg) • Built-in securing loop • Fits Ø7-Ø12mm leads

• 240V 15A to 10A adaptor • 10A 2400W circuit breaker • RCD protection • IP-55 hose and weatherproof • H-Class for trade & commercial use • Trade tough IK09 impact resistant • Stainless security bracket • Flip-out hanging hook • Anti pull-out/disconnection cleat • Fits Ø7-Ø12mm leads

NZ-THE-TRADIE-MAR-17

ampfibian.co.nz

Kia Ora Tradies!

Well this year is certainly going fast with Easter done and dusted. Hope you all had a great break and had a least one Easter egg!

CONTENTS

As always, we like to keep you up-to-date with any industry developments, news and events here in NZ. This issue we catch up with Callum Bryson who back in November 2016 was named the country’s top carpentry apprentice, taking out the Registered Master Builders Carters 2016 Apprentice of the Year.

Also in this issue, we cover being safe in the workplace and understanding the new Health and Safety Work Act. BCITO announce funding to boost diversity of trades sector. As part of the solution to New Zealand’s under-resourced construction sector, a new three year research project looking at how to get more women into trades has been launched.

We also cover the CRC Speedshow being held in Auckland in June and will be the ultimate automotive playground for those motorheads out there! Also don’t forget to check out our Insider Tradie – where we meet Nick Ross – a NZ V8 Touring Champion!

Plus we give you some essential housekeeping tips for end of year that will hopefully take the stress levels down.

Finally keep an eye out for a great competition and giveaways in this issue!

Jo May Editor

24. INSIDER TRADIE Nick Ross 2. Nuts & Bolts

20. Finance & Insurance

3. Updates

22. Networking

4. Safety in the Workplace

23. House of the Year

7. Training & Scholarships

28. Travel

10. Women in Trades 13. Dust Free Solutions

29. Competitions and Giveaways

14. CRC Speedshow

30. Have a Laugh & Win

18. Shameless Plugs

31. Fishing Calendar

19. Techie

32. Puzzles

The Tradie NZ

PO Box 2173, Washdyke, Timaru New Zealand 7942 P: +617 3891 7793 www.tradienz.co.nz Advertising Sales: Patrick McElligott patrick@ttmediagroup.co.nz Editor: Jo May Joanna@ttmediagroup.co.nz Printing: www.format.co.nz

w w w.t r a d i e n z .c o. n z cover image: Anna Clearwater BCITO Carpentry Apprentice

Disclaimer: Views expressed in The Tradie magazine are not necessarily endorsed by the publisher.

No responsibility is accepted by the publisher or the printer for the accuracy of information contained in the text or advertisements. Advertisements must comply with the relevant Trade Practices Act 1979. Responsibility for compliance with the acts rests with the person, company or advertising agency submitting the advertisement. Neither publisher nor the editor accepts responsibility for advertisements.

Nuts&Bolts E v ents , S p o r t a n d RA N D O M S T U F F

Holden NZV8 Hot Laps Pukekohe Park, Manukau Rd, Pukekohe, Auckland When:

Thu 27 Apr 2017, 10:00am – 5:00pm Fri 26 May 2017, 10:00am – 5:00pm Sat 27 May 2017, 10:30am – 4:00pm Fri 30 Jun 2017, 10:00am – 5:00pm If you have ever wanted to experience the absolute extreme thrill of being driven “flat out” by a professional driver in a fully modified 400kw 6000cc V8 Holden race car... then this is definitely for you!

Experience life in the fast lane as one of their professional V8 drivers from the NZV8 Hot Laps team “accelerates your life”.

Your NZV8 Hot Laps experience starts off in their upstairs corporate suite when you meet the V8 team and you are then fully kitted out into one of their race suits and helmet.

Then you are strapped into the full passenger’s race seat and race harness of their “Holden Hot Seat” in one of their 400kw V8 beasts.

Then your NZV8 Hot Laps experience goes up to “extreme” and your heart rate quickens as one of their vastly experienced NZV8 Hot Lap drivers takes you out on-track for the ride of your life!

Book your extreme NZV8 Hot Lap experience with New Zealand’s only full-time professional Holden V8 Race Experience operators, in one of their exclusive 400kw V8 beasts.

Quick Fang Option: 2 flying laps (followed by cool down lap) Bang4Buck Option: 3 flying laps (followed by cool down lap) Premium Option: 5 flying laps (followed by cool down lap) Spectators and cameras etc are welcomed. Only a very limited number of exclusive 400kw Holden NZV8 Hot Lap ride positions are available on each day. So ensure you book early!

y tickets ation and to bu rm fo tlaps.co.nz in re o m For www.nzv8ho 1) 83 74 (3 1 ve Dri Phone: (0800)

Something for the kids AA DRIVER’S TOWN IS READY TO ROLL! Rainbow’s End puts kids in the driving seat with the launch of a new ride that combines fun with education AA Driver’s Town, which has been created in partnership with AA and Suzuki, enables children up to 12 years to experience driving a miniature Suzuki Swift around a colourful, tiny town featuring traffic lights, two-way roads, roundabouts, parking spaces, a fire station, café and restaurants, and other landmarks.

Chris Deere, CEO of Rainbow’s End explained that the ride is another exciting step in the development of the park, and what it can offer children in the younger age group.

“Kids love to be independent, they love to emulate Mum and Dad and they

love to drive! In an age where gadgets, devices and technology are prominent in our children’s lives, it is wonderful to step away from this trend and offer an attraction that is real, practical and provides children with the opportunity to use their imagination in a themed environment.”

AA Driver’s Town joins a family of other fun and exciting rides at Rainbow’s End, New Zealand’s premier theme park, and iconic tourist destination.Visit www.rainbowsend.co.nz for more information.

A BIG THUMBS UP FROM US!!

update

Apprentice of the Year embraces role model status Palmerston North’s Callum Bryson is embracing his role model status since being crowned the 2016 Registered Master Builders Carters Apprentice of the Year.

The 25-year-old, employed by McMillan & Lockwood PN Limited, was straight back to work after a momentous November – winning Apprentice of the Year, tying the knot the following day, and then jet-setting on a romantic honeymoon.

Callum said his Apprentice of the Year win has been mentioned almost every day by his colleagues and friends, with a few even intending to enter the 2017 competition after watching Callum’s confidence grow.

“Apprentice of the Year has been the gift that keeps on giving. The prizes that I won included such a great range of tools that has definitely made my job a lot easier. We are currently building a day-care centre, so having the right tools is essential,” he said.

“The project is quite challenging as it has a very tight turnaround time, but my employer is confident in my abilities which is great.”

Callum said he plans to use his cash winnings to travel to a construction expo in Singapore later this year. He has also enrolled in further study, completing a Certificate in Project Management which he hopes to finish this year.

“Winning Apprentice of the Year has definitely grown my confidence and has opened so many doors. I would highly recommend the experience to all apprentices, and am looking forward to cheering on some of my colleagues in this year’s competition,” he said.

Apprentices, employers and young people aspiring to be part of the construction industry are also encouraged to join the Facebook page: www. facebook.com/registeredmasterbuilders.

The Registered Master Builders Carters Apprentice of the Year is made possible thanks to the Building and Construction Industry Training Organisation (BCITO), and supporting sponsors the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) and APL through their Altherm, First and Vantage brands.

www.tradienz.co.nz

Issue 3 APR/MAY 2017

3

SAFETY

Safety first Be Site Safe

Photo: Chris Sisarich

Harness the power of your whole team to assess and manage the risks of your business this year.

Stronger worker engagement and participation leads to healthier and safer workplaces. It’s also good for performance and productivity.

Workers are on the frontline every day and know where the health and safety pressure points are. When your workers are involved in shaping safer work systems, they can suggest practical, cost-effective solutions, and are more likely make them happen in practise.

Health and Safety at Work Act (HSW Act)

The aim of the new Health and Safety at Work Act (HSW Act) is to reduce New Zealand’s workplace injury and death toll by 25 per cent by 2020. This will need action and leadership from businesses, workers and government.

WorkSafe is New Zealand’s workplace health and safety regulator.

They work with businesses and workers to ensure their workplaces are healthier and safer. WorkSafe also have a range of tools and focus areas online. Focus areas range from Asbestos to Construction/Building to Hazardous Substances to Work Related Health.

WorkSafe have released guidance around the HSW Act, you can also subscribe to regular updates on their website.Visit them at www.worksafe.govt.nz Understanding the HSW Act

When it comes to workplace health and safety, New Zealand has a problem.

Every year 50-60 people are killed in workplace incidents, and

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hundreds more die as a result of work-related ill health. Our work-related fatality statistics are three times as high as the UK and nearly twice as high as Australia. This is just not good enough.

Everyone who goes to work deserves to come home healthy and safe.

One thing you will need to make sure of is that you understand the lingo. The helpful team at Site Safe have come up with a quick cheat sheet to help you stay in the know.

WHAT’S CHANGED?

1. PCBU - (person conducting a business or undertaking) is a key new term – the PCBU has the ‘primary duty of care’ to ensure the safety of workers and anyone affected by its work.

2. Worker participation - a stronger emphasis on worker participation and engagement to ensure that workers are engaged with health and safety.

3. Risk management - shifts the focus from hazard ID and control to proactively identifying and managing risks.

4. Safety is everyone’s responsibility - no one can ‘opt out’ and safety becomes everyone’s responsibility. All parties, from executives to workers, have health and safety responsibilities.

5. Due diligence for directors - the Act places more legal responsibility on directors and executives of an organisation to manage risks and keep people safe.

6. Stronger fines and penalties - the HSW Act significantly increases the category of offences, with a three-tiered hierarchy being introduced along with a range of other offending provisions.

SAFETY

Learning the Lingo • Duty holder - there are four types of duty holders under the new act: PCBUs, officers, workers and other persons, which are outlined below.

• PCBU ‘person conducting a business or undertaking’ Despite the name, a PCBU is not usually an actual person, it is a legalism referring to a business entity. In most cases the PCBU will be the business itself, e.g. a company or an organisation.

• Officer - these are people in senior positions who have a significant influence over the way the business is run. The includes CEOs, directors, sole-charge owner operators and anyone else at that level.

• Worker - this is the new term for employees. Workers are individuals who carry out work for the PCBU. A manager who only has influence over daily operational matters is also classed as a worker.

• Upstream PCBUs - this term means upstream in the supply chain, for example architects and designers can be upstream PCBUs. • Control measure - a way of eliminating or minimising the risks that you have identified.

• Toolbox Talk - this is a communication tool which normally takes the form of a short group meeting or discussion about a work related topic and normally includes a relevant health and safety issue or topic. They are a way for information to be provided to workers, and for workers to have their say.

• Worker engagement and participation - this is a key focus under the Act. It means that PCBUs must engage with their workers on health and safety matters and provide opportunities for workers to get involved in improving health and safety.

• Reasonably practicable - this term is used throughout the Act to talk about the duties people have for health and safety. It means that you don’t have to do absolutely everything to get rid of risk, but you do need to do what’s reasonable and prudent in the circumstances. What is reasonably practicable will be a judgement call that you make as a PCBU and it will involve weighing the risk against the resources and knowledge needed to manage it. This will also include risk assessment.

• Risk Assessment - every risk identified must be assessed to determine the level of risk it poses. If the level of risk is high, the work may not be able to progress until controls are put in place that lower the risk to a more acceptable level.

• Due diligence - in plain language this means treating health and safety like you are planning any other important aspect of your business, such as financial forecasting. Under the new Act, Officers have to use due diligence.

• Notifiable event - there are three types of workplace event that are considered to be notifiable events that WorkSafe must be informed of: death, notifiable injury or illness and notifiable incidents. These terms are explained below.

• Notifiable injury or illness – relates to serious injuries and illnesses as listed in Section 23 HSWA. • Notifiable incident – relates to serious near-miss incidents where people could have been seriously harmed, but by luck, weren’t. Notifiable incidents are listed in Section 24 HSWA. So now you know the lingo, you’re probably wondering what does all of this mean for me and my business? To find out more, check out Site Safe’s free Health and Safety at Work Guide: a practical guide for small business owners available for download online at www.sitesafe.org.nz.

About Site Safe

More online resources are:

Site Safe has been helping construction businesses improve their health and safety culture; to control hazards and reduce injuries - that’s been their goal since 1999. Site Safe is membership based, not-for-profit, and their services cater to the entire construction and related industries. Their nationwide team of health and safety professionals offer safety systems, training, consultancy, audits, resources, free information and more. Visit Site Safe’s website for more information on training, products and services plus a range of free templates including the Site Specific Safety Plan (SSSP).

The Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) www.mbie.govt.nz MBIE are releasing new regulations to underpin the HSW Act. These are based on the Australian model and provide specific guidance on areas of workplace health and safety, including: 1. General risk and workplace management 2. Worker participation, engagement and representation 3. Asbestos 4. Hazards substance 5. Major hazard facilities Visit MBIE’s website for more information on these regulations.

www.tradienz.co.nz

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SAFETY SAFETY

NARVA’s New BLUE SPOT L.E.D Light Focuses on Safety With Occupational Health and Safety requirements now more stringent than ever, NARVA has answered the need for more visibility in warehouse and factory environments with the introduction of the new ‘Blue Spot’ L.E.D safety light to New Zealand.

Busy warehouses and loading docks are often filled with the distracting shrill tones of reverse alarms, trucks and general hustle and bustle.

Whilst a reverse alarm provides a clear audible warning for those in the immediate reversing area, the ‘Blue-Spot’ safety light is an innovative new product designed to warn those on foot and other forklift/vehicle drivers of an approaching fork truck.

“The new light is ideal for forklifts and other mobile equipment or trucks used in materials handling applications,” says Tim Paterson, National Sales Manager for NARVA New Zealand.

“The new safety addition is particularly valuable to anyone crossing from a blind angle such as in between racking in front of an oncoming forklift,” says Mr Paterson.

The 9-110Volt light features two potent XP-E 3Watt L.E.Ds and is programmed to be a constant beam, yet despite its strong light output the new ‘Blue Spot’ boasts compact dimensions of just 100mm H x 122mm W x 82mm D. Thanks to adoption of the latest L.E.D technology, the light has a very low current draw (0.4A at 12V and 0.2A at 24V), plus the benefit of exceptionally long service life, which is especially important when fitted to electrically powered fork trucks. For ease of fitment and durability, stainless steel mounting hardware is also included as standard.

As an added bonus the ‘Blue Spot’ L.E.D safety light is supported by a 5-Year L.E.D NARVA warranty.

“Although reversing alarms are already mandatory on such equipment, in loud and busy working environments such as factories and warehouses, the alarm can be lost amongst the noise.”

Already widely used in the USA, Europe and Australia, the new NARVA ‘Blue Spot’ lights are now available in New Zealand from leading automotive and transport outlets.

With a concentrated light projection, NARVA’s ‘Blue Spot’ safety light can be easily mounted to the forklift’s protective roof frame, casting a strong blue coloured beam approximately 500mm wide at 5 metres onto the floor ahead, warning others of the intended driving path.

For further information contact Tim Paterson, NARVA New Zealand (09) 525 4575

CHANCES ARE YOU’VE INSURED YOUR

but what about your health?

Your health is your number one asset – call 0800 ACCURO (0800 222 876) for an obligation free quote.

0800 222 876

Scholarships

Scholarship for Women in Construction Site Safe has announced a brand-new scholarship specifically for women in the construction industry.

Scholarship recipients Stephanie Cerpa and Rebecca Aranga graduate with the Certificate in Construction Site Safety

The scholarship, which will fully fund study towards the Certificate in Construction Site Safety, was announced at the recent Women in Construction Forum in Christchurch.

Site Safe Chief Executive Alison Molloy said the event was the perfect place to announce the launch of the scholarship.

“This is for women who want to be the best that they can be and become leaders who inspire others to see the benefit of a safe, healthy workplace.”

Stephanie Cerpa, who received a general Site Safe scholarship in 2015 and is now a Health and Safety Manager at Contract Construction, said gaining the certificate had undoubtedly helped to advance her career.

“It meant that I got where I wanted to be sooner rather than later. Getting the scholarship was so exciting because it gave me a high-quality health and safety qualification which means employers know that I’ve had that core training. The courses I took for the Certificate were relevant to the challenges that I face all the time, and the trainers were really passionate about what they were teaching.”

Roofer TJ Daly said she hoped the forum would help her meet other women facing the same challenges.

“I’d like to see more events like this to help women find other women. If you know the issues, it helps to talk to other people about it.”

Structural Engineer Honor Columbus said it was exciting to see so many women getting into the industry.

“Construction has it challenges at times, but working in the industry is really rewarding and satisfying, so it’s worth it. I love my job!”

Scholarship applications open 1 July 2017 and close on 1 September 2017. Go to www.sitesafe.org.nz for more information.

Site Safe is a national not-for-profit membership organisation that promotes, supports and inspires a culture of health and safety in the NZ construction industry.

Stephanie was one of the more than 120 women who attended the successful event, where women from around the country gathered to share their experiences and discuss ways to improve working conditions. www.tradienz.co.nz

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training

New World Skills team named WorldSkills New Zealand (WSNZ) has selected a strong squad representing 15 skills to participate at the WorldSkills International competition that will be held in Abu Dhabi, in October this year.

WorldSkills New Zealand chief executive Malcolm Harris is delighted with the support from the NZ Institutes of Technology and Polytechnics (NZITPs) as the principle sponsor of the NZITPs Skills Team, and also the Industry Training Organisations that have sponsored individual skill categories. “Without funding from both these groups, we would not be able to send our young competitors to this prestigious event,” said Harris.

A statement from the NZITPs said: “The NZITPs are excited to be supporting our young tradespeople on their journey to excellence on the world stage. Seeing young people compete on the world stage and show excellence in vocational and technical skills through WorldSkills competitions is great for those individuals, their employers, their industries and ultimately New Zealand’s economy. The NZITPs wish the national team members all the best as they train for the international competition later this year.”

SKILLS SPONSORSHIP

With the aim of collaborating with everyone in the industry to promote vocational skills and push standards to meet international expectations, WorldSkills New Zealand is pleased to have skills sponsorship from the following ITOs: ETCO, ServiceIQ, Skills Organisation, ACG Yoobee School of Design, and MITO WSNZ is also grateful for the wonderful support from employers of team members,

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who have committed significant time and expense as competitors prepare and attend competitions. Likewise, the skill exerts, who give their own time to coach and mentor the competitors.

Congratulations to the team members, who represent the finest of New Zealand’s young ‘tradies’. They will be attending preparation competitions at either Australian or Chinese WorldSkills competitions, and need to achieve agreed performance standards before final selection for Abu Dhabi.

WSNZ still requires additional sponsorship support to fund the team to Abu Dhabi.

This can be direct to WSNZ or through competitors’ pages on givealittle.co.nz ABOUT WORLDSKILLS

WorldSkills New Zealand is an independent, non-profit, charitable trust founded in 1986, dedicated to encouraging young people to excel in vocational skills. This is achieved through exposure to competitions at regional, national, and international levels.

Through competitions, WorldSkills New Zealand gives young professionals on a vocational career path the self-confidence and experiences they need to reach their full potential.

For more information and to contact WorldSkills New Zealand, visit www.worldskills.org.nz.

For 2017, the NZITPs Skills Team will have 15 skill categories represented, with the following team members: Alex Banks Automotive Refinishing Andrew Champion Welding Cargen Cairns Autobody Repair Chabbethai Chia ETCO Electrical Installation Hunter Turner Skills, Plumbing and Heating Jarrod Wood ServiceIQ Aircraft Maintenance Kimberley de Schot Restaurant Service Logan Candy Automotive Technology Logan Sanders ETCO Industrial Control Mathew McLellan Joinery Nicholas Todd ServiceIQ Cooking Nicole Keeber Floristry Sarah Browning ACG Yoobee Graphic Design Technology Shea Keir Industrial Mechanic Millwright Todd Hamilton Carpentry

SAFETY Apprenticeships

Are you New Zealand’s top roofing apprentice?

Let’s be honest – most of us became a tradie to help build New Zealand’s economy while creating a great career for ourselves. But wouldn’t it be nice to win an award or two every once in a while!

That’s what the annual Roofing Awards are all about – recognising the awesome people and companies who keep the industry ticking.

Nominations for the 2017 Roofing Trainee of the Year Award and Roofing Training Company of the Year Award are now open, so if you know of anyone who fits the bill, send in your nomination today!

• The Roofing Training Company of the Year Award goes to a roofing company that currently has apprentices on its books, and is doing a great job training them up.

• The Roofing Trainee of the Year Award is pretty self-explanatory.

It’s for the roofing apprentice who can showcase the best skills and workmanship, or any special projects they’ve been involved in.

Our winning companies in the past have gone on to improve their reputation in the market, win more business, and continue attracting the best roofing talent. For the winning trainees, this is a great opportunity to make a name for themselves early in their career and gain valuable industry recognition.

“A rare breed” Roof Improvements was last year’s Roofing Training Company of the Year.

The Takanini-based business has been doing roofing training since 1999, and definitely knows how to get the best out of its apprentices. The company matches apprentices with a mentor who has a compatible personality, for example. Apprentices’ development goes well beyond their technical training, as the company also focuses on their personal growth.

For both awards, you can nominate a roofing apprentice or company you know of. But hey, if you reckon you’re doing a great job yourself – why not nominate yourself!

“Skilled roofers at present are a rare breed. Therefore it is imperative to the future success of our business to contribute to our pool of roofers with support and ongoing training,” said Roof Improvements’ Clare Barrett.

To nominate yourself or someone else, just flick us an email at support@skills.org.nz or call us on 0508 SKILLS (0508 754 557), and we’ll send you a link to the nomination form.

“Simply put, without quality trained roofers we do not have a business. By investing in training, we get to train our roofers, our way, allowing us to grow our business.”

e an Find m tice appren

!

todaLy CaL

02 102 0800 5

www.tradienz.co.nz

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WOMEN IN TRADES

women in trades

Where are the female leaders in New Zealand’s construction industry?

More women than ever are joining New Zealand’s booming construction industry with the number of women in construction doubling to 17 per cent over the last 15 years but this increase hasn’t resulted in more women in leadership roles within the industry.

“While it is fantastic to see increasing numbers of women choosing a career in construction, this isn’t reflected in the participation of women at a decisionmaking level in construction and in fact all industries across New Zealand,” say National Association of Women in Construction (NAWIC) president Donna Howell.

Only 20.1 per cent of New Zealand women hold senior leadership positions while just 16.8 per cent of listed companies have female directors.

Donna hopes that the third annual Hays NAWIC Excellence Awards which will be held on 18th August in Auckland will generate plenty of discussion on this topic, while the introduction of a new “rising star” category will provide recognition for future leaders within the construction industry.

“The awards celebrate the achievements of women in construction as well as honouring those organisations which are redressing the industry’s gender imbalance.

“We’re delighted with the growing number of entries we’re receiving each year and are excited to introduce this new category which will celebrate up and coming leaders who will inspire others to seek out leadership roles within the construction industry.”

Hays is sponsoring the Hays NAWIC Excellence Awards for the third year in a row to recognise the significant contributions being made by women in New Zealand’s construction industry.

Hays managing director Jason Walker says Hays is delighted to be sponsoring the awards and is looking forward to reviewing more fantastic entries from inspiring

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women who work in the fast-growing construction industry.

“As a long-time supporter of NAWIC, sponsoring the Hays NAWIC Excellence Awards is a perfect fit for us. We actively encourage and support the rising numbers of women joining New Zealand’s trades and construction industries and are keen to keep recruiting as many as possible.

“The construction industry is rapidly changing and women are definitely making their mark. Women choosing a career in building, construction and the trades are seeing that they can progress up the ranks and operate their own businesses while enjoying high wages and excellent growth and training opportunities.”

Entries/nominations for the awards are open until June 5th. Employers and managers are encouraged to submit nominations on behalf of their staff. The awards have six categories which cover a wide range of roles across the industry.

The categories are: The Helen Tippett Award which celebrates achievement in advancing the interests of women in the construction industry.

Tradeswoman of the Year which celebrates the contribution tradeswomen are making to the industry.

Professional Woman of the Year which focuses on women who have managed a construction project or those who operate their own business in the industry.

Rising Star which celebrates women who demonstrate future leadership potential within the industry. This category is open to women who have worked in the construction industry for less than seven years.

Outstanding Achievement in Design which celebrates the design aspect of a construction project in engineering, architecture or urban/landscape design.

Excellence in Construction Services which honours the contribution of women in administration, sales/marketing or operational roles within the industry.

Student/Apprentice Excellence Award which is open to all women engaged in construction-related study or apprenticeships.

Visit the NAWIC website for nomination/entry forms and further information – www.nawic.org.nz

SAFETY WOMEN IN TRADES

Funding boosT As part of the solution to New Zealand’s under-resourced construction sector, a new three year research project looking at how to get more women into trades has been launched.

Jointly commissioned by the Ministry for Women and Ako Aotearoa, the National Centre for Tertiary Teaching Excellence, the project aims to increase the participation and success of women in the construction and engineering related trades where they are traditionally under-represented.

Ako Aotearoa Director Dr Stanley Frielick says it is delighted to join with the Ministry for Women in supporting a major project that will contribute to positive change for women participating in the trades. “The vital importance of this work is evident in the committed and collaborative team supporting the project.”

“ We are confident the project will contribute positively to women’s increased participation and achievement in construction and engineering related trades.”

A group of organisations are involved in the research project led by the Building and Construction Industry Training Organisation (BCITO).

“With $178 billion of work forecast for the next five years*, the strong demand for skilled workers in the construction and engineering trades is unquestionable,” says BCITO Chief Executive Warwick Quinn. “Regrettably, so too is the low participation rate of women in those trades.

“Our traditional workforce pools are not large enough to meet the demand so we must be diverse in approach,” says Quinn.

“We believe the timing is right for a project of this size and scope and that the commitment is there to leverage the demand to increase the participation and success of women.”

Collaboration is at the core of the project and the group’s greatest strength, says Quinn. “Our belief is that by working together we can achieve a significant increase in the participation rates of women.”

Members of the group include four industry training organisations representing 86 industry sectors and 38% of all industry training including BCITO, Competenz, Connexis, the Motor Industry Training Organisation (MITO); Auckland Maori Pasifika Trades Training (MPTT); the Manukau Institute of Technology (MIT); The Southern Initiative Maori and Pasifika Trades Training; Kelston Girls’ College; and the National Association of Women in Construction (NAWIC). They are supported by 18 associated industry educational organisations, 19 secondary schools and a growing list of supporters.

The research will be conducted over the next three years through three interrelated focus areas - working with women in the trades and those involved in pre-trade training, engaging with trade employers, and working with data to establish benchmarks and measure change.

“Through frank discussions with women working in identified trades, we aim to discover what the significant characteristics of their engagement and learning journeys are. Based on what we learn from these discussions, and national and overseas research, we will initiate change projects involving educational and industry programmes, processes, and practices,” says Quinn.

One of the expected project outputs is a set of practical tools, guides and other resources for women, employers, educators and decision-makers.

“We are confident the project will contribute positively to women’s increased participation and achievement in construction and engineering related trades, and increased equity in the workplace,” says Mr Quinn. www.tradienz.co.nz

Issue 3 APR/MAY 2017

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WOMEN IN TRADES

women in trades

larena mcgregor Larena McGregor is a qualified painter at Jeff Dermott Painting and Decorating in Christchurch. We talk to her about what inspired her to quit her full-time job in retail and become a tradie.

How did you get into painting?

My eldest son was doing an electrical apprenticeship and he suggested I should look into painting. I wanted a qualification behind me and it was physical activity where I could learn and work at the same time, which suited me. I guess I thought if my son could do it, so could I. I was really lucky because my pre-trade course at CPIT was part of the He Toki programme.

So through that I was able to meet contacts and get work experience and then a full-time job at Deco NZ. I was the first person to start an apprenticeship there, but now they have nine more doing it. In the end my son and I got our tickets (qualifications) one month apart. We’re even working on the same site now! My youngest son is a hammerhand, too. For me, being Maori, getting that qualification was pretty rare. My sons’ father died a few years ago, and I think he’d be pretty proud of us. Being a single parent you only want the best for your kids, and if you get a trade you’ll never go wrong.

What do you enjoy about painting?

It’s more challenging. I like that every day you’re working on something different – one day you’re doing a ceiling and the next day you are working on something else. And you are responsible and in charge of your own work, and I really like that. It’s so much better than retail. I work for myself sometimes as well and being your own boss and in charge of your work teaches you heaps, which is really good.

Are there challenges working with so many men?

With a lot of men you work with, especially foremen, they can have a real powerhead thing going on, but I just ignore that and get on with my job. But there are also a lot of guys who will look out for you on-site.

What advice would you give women thinking about doing an apprenticeship?

“ I wanted a qualification behind me and it was physical activity where I could learn and work at the same time, which suited me. I guess I thought if my son could do it, so could I. ”

You need to push yourself, be motivated and face your challenges. Stick with it and be disciplined and commit yourself.

There were days when I thought I was over it and couldn’t do it, but two of my colleagues who were a really big part of my journey supported me. They would tell me to focus on the ticket, and that’s what kept me going. And if it wasn’t for that ticket I might not have lasted. I cried when I got it!

It’s three years and you’ll get good people as well as people that’ll try to block you, but you have to just keep aiming for that ticket. Just keep striving and keep going. If you focus and want it badly enough, you’ll get there in the end.

Courtesy of Site Safe Site Safe is a not-for-profit, membership-based organisation that promotes, inspires and supports a culture of health and safety in New Zealand construction.

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top notch product

The Dust Free Solution For Every Tradesman Did you know that Soft Wood dust is now on the government radar, this is the dust from treated wood like pine, used daily in the building industry.

Workplace safety is now, more than ever, so important, creating and maintaining a Dust Free environment is paramount.

What is Dust?

Dust is the result of a myriad of different operations, usually the first that comes to mind is sanding, however you can throw in there anything from grinding, cutting, sawing, drilling and more, including the ever present sanding.

Dust is an incredibly negative bi-product of the work environment, it has many forms resulting from the initial product creating it. Take asbestos, the dust from asbestos fibres are easily inhaled and carried into the lower regions of the lung where they can cause fibrotic lung disease and changes in the lining of the chest cavity. These diseases can lead to reduced respiratory function and death. Long-term inhalation of asbestos fibres also increases the risk of lung cancer and mesothelioma.

That’s just asbestos, what about lead, plaster, concrete and tile dust etc.

Dust containment The first thing you will need to effectively contain dust will be a vacuum, but this alone is not an easy choice as there are thousands of models available with a huge range in function, filtration, purpose and price.Your first considerations should be HEPA filtration!

Please note a HEPA filter does not negate the need for a bag, it is essential when using a vacuum in any environment that you use a dust bag to collect the debris, that way the HEPA filter is only filtering the fine particles and working to provide optimum air quality. I find it strange that a vacuum will be used without a bag and then when it is emptied the dust cloud is like that of a nuclear bomb explosion.

Dust containment starts with a vacuum, to HEPA or not is up to you, however the benefits of having healthy workers, healthy customers, a healthy workplace and a health vacuum make it an easy choice for the tradie.

Solution: Vacmaster 20L Wet & Dry Vacuum with HEPA Filter This is the ideal vacuum for any tradesman, you can connect your powertool directly, the vacuum will turn on and off as you engage the powertool. Complete with a HEPA filter this is ready to tackle all those dusty jobs whether connected to a drop saw, sander or just cleaning up at the end of the day. It comes with floor tools and a crevice nozzle so there is no excuse for a jobsite not being left clean.

What is HEPA? High Efficiency Particulate Air. How does HEPA work? For a filter to be rated as HEPA it must trap a minimum of 99.97% of all particles greater than 0.3 microns in size ...... gibberish?. Basically the width of a human hair is around 50 microns but plaster dust and mould spores from sanding are around 0.3 microns.

A HEPA filter not only provides the highest quality air but protects the motor meaning your machine will last longer.

Vacmaster 20L Wet & Dry Vacuum Head to pg.29 for more details

MILLIN DISTRIBUTORS

CARPET PROTECTION FILM

50 micron, self-stick, reverse wound premium carpet protection during construction, installations and renovations

500mm x 100m $43.99 inc GST 1000mm x 100m $79.12 inc GST CANVAS DROP SHEETS Heavy Duty canvas drop cloth with double sided hemming for superior durability.

$20.46 inc GST INDUSTRIAL VACUUM BAGS

Microfibre vacuum bags available for almost any vacuum, email your brand / model to sales@millin.co.nz and we will let you know what bag suits.

From $22.50 inc GST (5 pack)

p: 09 475 6656 Freephone: 0800 863334 e: sales@millin.co.nz

www.millin.co.nz www.tradienz.co.nz

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AUTO

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AUTO

CRC Speedshow ultimate automotive playground July 22-23, AUCKLAND The CRC Speedshow is New Zealand’s biggest dedicated automotive show, and this year promises to be one of the best ones yet. The team behind the show are self-confessed motor-heads and have a huge line-up of cars, motorbikes, engines, drones, and everything in between to present to people like you.

Project Craz-E-Horse is already confirmed as a major highlight which automotive and perhaps electrical tradies will find quite interesting. It is based around a 5 generation Mustang, but the extensively modified yet street legal vehicle is electric, and it’s going for a world record. Built

by CRC Speedshow with input from global experts, Project Craz-E-Horse will be the world’s fastest street legal electric vehicle.

Craz-E-Horse has been designed for use on both the road and drag strip, and consequently will have two very different operation modes – (1) Nana Mode for street driving with a range of up to 100k’s, and (2) Animal Mode for drag racing duties. It utilises the latest brushless 8 phase DC electric technology producing 2000HP from a single motor with direct drive to the rear wheels.

However, if old-school is more your style than The Jetsons, you’ll like the Teng Tools Grand National Rod and Custom Show, in Hall 1. It is an annual fixture at the

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AUTO

Project

Craz-E-Horse

CRC Speedshow and brings in the best hot rods, street machines, muscle cars, unfinished projects, rat rods or radical custom creation from around the country. This year will also have a few cars that have never been seen before, ensuring this show-withina-show remains a major highlight for many automotive fanatics.

Plus, the workmanship you’ll see on these cars is second-to-none and international visitors often comment on the quality of the builds in this hall.

Another feature, mixing modern and retro cars, is the Classic Cover Insurance Retromania display in the main hall. It will put cars with a long history side-by-side to show how much, or how little, designs have changed over the years. Have a look at a new Mini Cooper vs. the Old Mini Cooper S, or a new Camaro vs. a old Camaro, among many other new-and-old cars.

But if speed is more your style, you’ll enjoy the 200 MPH Club.

Details are still top-secret but just think – how many Kiwis have

broken the insane-200MPH limit? We’ll leave you to ponder what cars/rocket-ship-on-wheels will be displayed on this feature, which are quite honestly, insane.

Plus if you want to know how these cars get their massive power, then you’ll want to see the Dyno Tune School presented by Ross Honor from Dobsons Dyno Tune in the Century Batteries Pit Lane. Following the live demonstration (yes, we will have a car on a dyno!), Ross will answer all your dyno questions and give helpful tips and tricks to get the most of your vehicles.

There are many more features and highlights to be confirmed closer to the show so keep an eye out on their website and Facebook page for more details.

So, join the fun and fuel your passion at this year’s show on July 22-23 at ASB Showgrounds in Auckland.

Tickets on sale now! don’t miss out New cars » live action & family entertainment » Supercars Specialty Equipment - parts & accessories expo » Meet Mad Mike » Motorsport » Hot Rod & Custom Show » Retromania Display » Classic Cars » 200mph club feature » Hot Lap Experiences » Merchandise & Apparel

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Grow your sales by 10% in the first year* and build a great future *Bartercard data contrasted with clients own revenue figures.

Bartercard provides a great opportunity to be part of an enormous community of businesses. With over 6,000 members across NZ, trading over $200 million worth of goods & services outside the cash economy each year, Bartercard NZ is part of the largest global trade exchange business.

Aaron Shirriffs PALMERSTON NORTH

We have been a member of Bartercard since 2007.

We were attracted to the network through the opportunities it brings to our business by allowing us to free up our cash.

We typically use Trade Dollars to pay for advertising and marketing. This is an important component of our business and being able to offset it using Bartercard, allows us to use our spare cash in other areas of the business, such as paying cash creditors.

We can use Bartercard to do jobs which have higher labour costs as well as those jobs that have a high profit margin. We view Trade Dollars in the same way as we do cash, and we fit jobs in where we have the available schedule, as opposed to whether it’s a cash or Bartercard transaction. We have definitely secured contracts which we may have lost to competitors in the cash economy. People have a preconception that, perhaps Bartercard charges more than in a cash environment, but this isn’t the case and we often find members don’t generally get a second quote as a comparison because they’re happy with our offer.

We are very fortunate to be part of a growing network which brings new and exciting opportunities to our business.

Why not give your business the power of Bartercard and start exploring new opportunities?

Call us today and find out how Bartercard can help you!

0800 639 287 www.tradienz.co.nz

Issue 3 APR/MAY 2017

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S S E L E SHAM

Plugs TRADIE SEAT COVERS

CUSHY WORK Adage Cushy Work Socks are a style they designed firstly for themselves at Adage Socks. These are a long lasting durable work sock, that provide great comfort and support.

They are made to stay up in your boots and gumboots! Eveything they sell is designed, tested and made in New Zealand. See them at Fieldays in Hamilton 14-17th June 2017.

www.adagesocks.co.nz

al i Triton Du Mitsubish LX Cab MQ G

www.adagesocks.co.nz

www.adages

ocks.co.nz

UST HAVE TradIE M

JUST BRILLIANT Nano - Fibre Super Eraser

They’re rip and tear resistant, and provide the ultimate barrier against the spills, mud, grease and grime that come with a tough working life.

2/ Removes oxidation from stainless steel sinks 3/ Removes scuff marks left from tools and ladders 4/ Awesome for cleaning light switches 5/ Remove adhesive residue after removing stickers 6/ Clean & shine bathroom faucets & fixtures

www.millin.co.nz

A tradesman’s vehicle takes a pounding during its working life, but there’s no reason for the seats to be trashed when a set of good covers can protect them.

The Tradies seat covers are manufactured from hardwearing, heavy-duty waterproof polyester canvas.

1/ Wiping off dirty finger prints from painted surfaces

This is just a few suggestions among the thousand of uses the Brilliant Eraser has.

Others are cleaning shoes, removing scum from baths, cleaning glass, removing scuff marks from your car etc.

Tradies Canvas Seat Covers For Tradie’s Utes and Vans

So now a range of seat covers designed especially with ‘tradies’ in mind has been launched in New Zealand.

7 Reasons Every Tradesman should have a Just Brilliant Eraser in their Tool Kit.

7/ The most affordable touch up solution available

Ace LWB Toyota Hi Size 304

READERS GIVEAWAY Simply text your name, postal and email address to 021 434 724.

First 100 readers will get 1 FREE!

All seat covers are tailor made for front and rear seats (where fitted), and they are guaranteed to suit the vehicle they are purchased for. They fit like a glove and stay in place without moving around through continual use. Even the seat belt holes are designed so they exactly match where the buckles are positioned on the seats, along with armrests, to ensure full functionality.

Furthermore, Tradies seat covers have been designed and tested to be compatible with seat-mount airbags.

The full range of Tradies seat covers will fit most utes on the market.

All Tradies seat covers benefit from a 5-year guarantee against faulty materials and workmanship. www.griffithsequipment.co.nz

TECHIE STUFF

APPS FOR YOUR TOOLBOX Here are some free apps that will no doubt come in handy especially when working overtime and weekends.

If you have any apps you cant live without please share them with us.

Email: Joanna@ttmediagroup.co.nz

Say Hello to The Future of Domino’s Innovation Domino’s is taking its first step into Artificial Intelligence, launching a virtual, voice activated assistant. ‘DRU Assist’ will help customers place their favourite order faster, find out what’s new and get a great deal, while also adding personality to the online ordering process.

Available on desktop and within the Domino’s app, DRU Assist is the latest addition to the DRU (Domino’s Robotic Unit) platform, and has been launched as a public beta* to the New Zealand market.

To try the new DRU Assist feature, visit the Domino’s website for more information and links to app store and google play www.dominos.co.nz/druassist *Beta – computer software that is undergoing testing and has not yet been officially released.

Domino’s customers will be able to ask DRU Assist either via text on the web or voice recognition in the app to order their favourite pizzas and make customisations.

DRU Assist is on hand to help our customers streamline their ordering process with efficient and helpful service with a side of personality.

DRU Assist will continue to learn and improve recognition skills from every customer experience.

With a natural language voice engine powered by industry leader Nuance, DRU Assist can chat to Domino’s customers with his usual cheeky, fun personality and recognise customer’s orders verbally in the app.

Rova Stay Tuned Listen to your favourite radio stations and explore exclusive 24/7 channels right from your smart phone. Rova is the best way to listen to NZ radio and entertainment online. All of your favourite NZ radio stations and entertainment channels streaming live and all in one place.

Best of all it’s 100% free!

ROVA can be downloaded from the App Store and Google Play.

www.tradienz.co.nz

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FINANCE

Last minute tips for end of financial year The financial year for New Zealand businesses finished on the 31st of March and can be a stressful time for many business owners. Research has shown that many owners will be pulling allnighters and missing out on time with friends and family in order to complete their compliance obligations.

Here are some essential housekeeping tips for end of year that will hopefully take the stress levels down: • Contracts Have you invoiced retentions that are not due and payable for another year? If they are payable in the current year they need to be declared as income but if not, the income will be deferred to a subsequent year.

• Credit notes Credit notes issued to customers after 31 March may be applied to the previous year, potentially reducing the current years taxable income.

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• Dividends and imputation credits Consider reviewing planned dividend payments. The imputation credit account must not have a debit balance at 31 March otherwise penalties may arise.

• Employee expenses Amounts owing for holiday pay, bonuses, redundancy payments, long service leave etc. can be claimed, if you have committed to them at year end and they are paid within 63 days.

• Expenses Can you pre-pay any expenses before 31 March? You may be able to claim for them.

• Fixed assets Do you have any that you are no longer using or don’t intend to use in future? If so, the book value may be able to be written off.

• Loss offset elections and subvention payments Talk to us if you think the company will make a loss.

• Debtors Have you taken reasonable steps to recover bad debts? If so, and you write them off before 31 March, you may be able to claim a deduction.

• Planned maintenance and repairs If any significant maintenance or repairs are due, bring this forward to get an early tax deduction.

• Discounts for prompt payment If you maintain a discount reserve, it is deductible. In the first year a deduction for the actual discount percentage is allowed. In subsequent years, the amount is calculated as a percentage. Different rules apply if credit extended to customers exceeds 93 days.

• Stock Dispose of obsolete trading stock by 31 March or write it down to net realisable value (lesser of cost or market value).

If the stock is worth less than $10,000 and your turnover is less than $1.3m for the year, you won’t need to include your stock movement for tax purposes.

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insurance

A better way to manage retentions?

Any subcontractor who has had to agree to have retentions withheld from their invoices will have experienced the trepidation that comes with worrying if they’ll ever see that money again. Indeed, many find recovering it once their defects liability period has ended a long and painful process, even from a main contractor that’s still trading, let alone one that’s gone bust.

By Ben Rickard Fortunately, from the 31st of March 2017 retention money withheld by a principal or contractor must be held “on trust” until being released to the subcontractor.

This means the money has to be properly accounted for and can’t simply form part of a “slush fund” or be used as working capital to cashflow the main contractor’s operation.

Subcontractors will be able to demand evidence that their retentions are being held on trust.

However, these changes, which were passed into law in 2015 as part of the Construction Contracts Amendments Act, will not require retention money to be held in separate, secured bank accounts. This means there is still a risk that a principal or main contractor could wrongly use the money, and if they get into trouble their subcontractors could still lose out. It does mean that rather than being at the back, subcontractors will be at the head of the queue to get their retention money back through the liquidation process.

Making retentions easier for main contractors Because of these new requirements principals and main contractors will need to develop contract agreements, payment terms, accounting policies, reporting and systems that comply with their on trust obligations. Should retention funds be keep in separate trust accounts for each job, or in one consolidated retentions account, or neither, and simply be accounted for separately in the books? MBIE warns that breaching these obligations, which may implicate directors personally, could result in substantial penalties, including potential criminal prosecution.

In this new environment one alternative that provides the same security as cash retentions, but is much easier and comes

without the consequent trust obligations, is a bond in lieu of retentions (retention bond).

or compliance requirements under the Construction Contracts Act.

A bond in lieu of retentions

Finally, a bond in lieu of retentions is easy to specify in contracts and they expire when the defects liability period ends (or on whatever date is agreed in the contract), so there is no administrative burden or paperwork involved in returning them.

Rather than withholding the subcontractors’ retentions from each invoice, and having to hold it, account for it and repay it once the defects liability period ends, a principal or main contractor can simply demand a retention bond.

Benefits for subcontractors

The subcontractor arranges the bond with an insurance company and presents it to their main contractor. The bond covers the amount of their retentions and expires at the end of the defects liability period.

Firstly, providing a bond in lieu of retentions means that the subcontractor’s cashflow position is immediately improved, as every invoice is paid in full, with no retention money withheld.

A retention bond provides the same assurance to the main contractor that, should any problem arise after the work is finished, the subcontractor will come back to fix it. If they refuse or can’t do so, the main contractor simply calls on the bond and the insurer pays out first, then seeks recovery of their money from the subcontractor. They are called “on demand” bonds because there is an obligation on the insurer to pay first and assess the claim later, so that the process is swift and the bondee (the main contractor) can get on with fixing the defects.

Secondly, they don’t have to wait for 3, 6 or 12 months after the project ends to get their final payment (return of their retentions) and book the profit on the job.

The subcontractor doesn’t get off the hook, because they’ve paid a premium for the bond and if they’re still around, the insurer who backed it will want to recoup their money.

Benefits for principals and main contractors Firstly, bonds provide the same security as withholding retentions do. In the event that the subcontractor fails to rectify defects, the bond is there to be called on to pay for another contractor to do it.

Secondly, because they’re not holding any funds on trust, there are no trust obligations, trustee liability on the directors

Finally, they don’t have the risk that their main contractor goes into liquidation before returning their retention money. Even under the new CCA rules there is still a risk that retention money could be lost if it hasn’t been accounted for properly, or there isn’t enough to go around.

How to arrange a bond Once the two parties have agreed that a bond in lieu of retentions is the preferred method of guaranteeing defect resolution, the subcontractor applies for the bond. After a one-time assessment of the company’s management structure and financial position each bond application resembles any normal insurance application. It requests details of the project, the two parties and the amount being bonded. There is a premium to pay and then the bond is issued to both parties.

If you’re interested in replacing your cash retentions obligations with an insurancebacked bond contact your broker or Builtin for more information.

Builtin Insurance is a specialist in insurance and guarantees for builders and trade professionals. For more information visit www.builtin.co.nz or contact Ben Rickard at ben@builtin.co.nz or 0800 BUILTIN. www.tradienz.co.nz

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networking

Navigate tradie shortage with collaborative networking As the construction industry struggles to find and retain tradies during the current boom, NZ Trade Group (NZTG) has an ingenious solution.

NZTG is a nationwide membership organisation with over 120 trade businesses on board. They provide their members with: cloud-based quote and job management software to optimise their operations, collective buying power through its supplier network and a host of services including business training and education. But it’s the power of its collaborative networking that’s grabbing the spotlight at the moment.

“ Putting steps in place to improve staff retention is critical to today’s market place.”

NZTG’s General Manager Andrew Jameson explains how the collaborative network helps to manage workloads and retain staff: “Despite the current boom, work isn’t coming through uniformly. Some member businesses are struggling to resource the jobs that are flooding in while others are facing project delays which can result in experienced tradies coming off the tools for a while.

“Take, for example, an electrical contracting business facing a three-month delay on a job which keeps 10 tradies on the tools – the business owner is unable to redeploy all of these contractors internally, and typically has to make the call to release them or absorb the cost, knowing that in three to four months he will need the staff again.”

Andrew says other trade businesses should be getting together to replicate this approach which allows member businesses to gain from hiring and subcontracting tradies to and from other members of the network to cope with project delays or increased volumes of work.

Putting steps in place to improve staff retention is critical to today’s market place according to Andrew.

“When an employee leaves it causes a drop in productivity while trying to source new staff and getting them up to speed.

To combat this, a lot of business owners are offering key personnel company share options or other incentives in an effort to retain those whom they cannot afford to lose.”

“That way, if a contractor knows they’re not going to be able to meet a deadline you can send out a message to other member contractors in the area to see if anyone can spare some labour,” he says.

Tradies to business people

Dealing with employee losses

“The more efficient your administration and business operations are the more time you can spend on the tools which is where you make your money.

New Zealand reportedly requires 50,000 more tradies by 2021 but it’s not just finding new tradies that’s the issue, retaining the staff you currently have is imperative in this climate, says Andrew.

“The abundance of work is encouraging some tradies to start their own businesses,

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we’re also seeing more people moving into the regions as a result of rising house prices in major centres so these factors are contributing to a high turnover of staff.”

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Given the abundance of work and shortage of labour, Andrew says trade businesses need to be looking at ways to improve their backroom effectiveness.

“There are only so many hours in the day, so in the current climate it’s imperative you maximise available hours in order to ensure that jobs are completed properly while

increasing the number of jobs invoiced,” Jameson says.

He adds that part of being a savvy operator is making the right decision when choosing between jobs.

“More than ever, it’s important to know when to walk away from a job because it’s not going to be profitable – it’s about trying to transition from a good tradesperson into a good business owner.”

A component of this involves business owners ensuring each job is set up effectively from the beginning in order to achieve a smooth project delivery.

“It’s worth taking the extra time at the beginning to get the planning stages right and strategically allocate assets and time.

Rushing this stage can result in wasting materials and labour, not to mention putting your reputation at risk if your end product is affected.”

Andrew adds that given the challenges today’s market poses, it’s important trade businesses take every advantage they can get, whether it be collaborative networking, job management software, collective purchasing or business training and education.

HOUSE OF THE YEAR

Search begins again for NZ’s best builds

Master craftsmen from across the country are being asked to put their best builds forward as entries open for the Registered Master Builders 2017 House of the Year.

The competition, now in its 27th year, will see Master Builders from around New Zealand compete for regional titles, with the best of the best going on to compete for the sought-after national titles of 2017 Supreme House of the Year and Supreme Renovation of the Year.

Homes entered into the competition will be assessed by a panel of judges – a team of industry experts – who will travel around New Zealand to find the best builds in the country, ranging from new homes and show homes to renovations and builder’s own homes.

This year will see some exciting new changes to the competition, with the addition of three new categories – two for Volume and Group House builders, and one for multi units, such as apartments.

Registered Master Builders Association chief executive David Kelly says these new categories reflect the changing market and the types of homes that are now a part of our landscape.

“House of the Year has been celebrating quality and innovation in New Zealand construction for more than 25 years. It recognises that the market continues to evolve and grow but the focus of our builders remains on quality across all types of homes and price brackets,” he says.

Kelly says the competition plays a leading role in ensuring a better built New Zealand.

“House of the Year showcases what is possible by introducing new trends, materials and approaches. The focus on sustainable building over the past few years is a key example of this. We are now moving into a period which will see the major rise in multi-unit homes and apartments – that is very exciting for the industry and for New Zealand.

“This competition sets a standard for the industry, and has become a valuable source of ideas for anyone thinking about building a new home or undertaking renovation.”

Homes entered into the competition will first be judged at a regional level, with award-winners announced at 11 regional events held throughout New Zealand during July and August.

The top local Gold Award winners will become Gold Reserve National Finalists. The national finalists will then be re-judged by a panel of judges who will determine the overall national winners. These winners will be announced at the National awards event in November.

“Last year, we had more than 330 homes showcase our Master Builders’ high standards and commitment to quality across the sector.

We are excited to see the range of homes this year and the innovation that is currently taking place in the industry,” Kelly says.

The Registered Master Builders 2016 Supreme House of the Year was awarded to Auckland’s Richard Davidson Builders Limited, who won four national awards with their Campbells Bay beach-front home.

This winning home epitomized supreme sophistication and was an exceptionally crafted project.

Hamilton’s John S Macdonald Builders Limited was awarded the Registered Master Builders 2016 Supreme Renovation of the Year for their Tamahere renovation.

This winning renovation was simply stunning and a credit to both the owner and the builder.

Master Builders can enter the competition online at www.houseoftheyear.co.nz, with entries closing on Monday 27 February. www.tradienz.co.nz

Issue 3 APR/MAY 2017

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INSIDER TRADIE

LIFE IN THE

FAST LANE

This month TheTradie speaks with Nick Ross, who is not only a Tradie but a NZ V8 Touring Champion and won Rookie of the Year in his first year of V8 Racing.

Nick is part of the Ross family owned and operated Cambridge business – C & R Developments. (www.crdevlopments.co.nz). The company has been in business since 1998 and Nick works on the Civil side of the operation, where he prices the jobs from tender through to start up and then helps with day to day operations.

Nick is born and bred in Cambridge and his love of cars comes from his dad Michael, who is a car enthusiast and also a qualified aircraft engineer. Nick won several regional titles in Kart Racing from the age of 15.

When leaving school at 17 he worked in NZ Motorsport for Graham Lawrence’s Race Team. Nick thoroughly enjoyed being around cars and mechanics during this time. At age 21 Nick moved to Australia to make some money so one day he could come back home and buy his first race car.

Nick spent time racing in different classes of motorsport in New Zealand and Australia, including Formula Ford,V8 Ute’s and Truck Racing.

In 2014 Nick won the New Zealand V8 Touring Car Championship after chasing the title for 12 years.

Nick and his partner Maria, who is not only a full time mum to their two girls aged 6 & 8, but also looks after all the sponsorship side of their team - Concept Motor Sport. The girls love being 24

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part of the racing and love track days. Nick says that even though he spends long hours with the race car, it is his release and he thoroughly enjoys it!

What is the car you have had the most fun driving? Race or Street car?

I love getting seat time in the race car, whether it is racing or doing ride days.

What is your favourite piece of machinery at work?

That’s easy – the excavator!

Do you have a mentor?

Dad is my life mentor, he is a clever bugger! But when it comes to racing Ayton Senna is a person who inspires me.

What is your most memorable moment to date?

For me it was winning the Championship after 12 years – a huge achievement for me Winning the Championship it was a dream come true.

What is your favourite race track(s)?

I really enjoyed the Hamilton Street Circuit and the Melbourne Formula 1 Track, but my most favourite permanent track that I have raced on is Teretonga in Invercargill. Turn one at Teretonga would be the best turn in the country.

insider tradie

COMMITTED TO WIN

Tell us about your race car number and how that came about?

I liked 007 because when you’re in the car you’re always on a mission.

What is next for you?

Well my goal is to race at Bathhurst! Doesn’t matter in what sort of car.

What is the scariest thing that has happened to you?

For me the worst thing that has happened in a race car would be when I went to stop and the brake pedal went to the floor! That gets your attention.

And finally we can’ not ask this question….. Ford or Holden?

Nissan!

Tell us about your Nissan race car?

The chassis was built in Hamilton by Mitchell Race Extreme. The engine is a 5.6 litre V8 Nissan engine producing around 740 horse power. To run in the NZ Touring Car Class the engine is detuned to 530hp.

To find out more on Nick and read his blog visit www.conceptmotorsport.co.nz

Do you have any training regime before the race season?

I have a personal trainer twice a week during the season and train 4-6 days a week. The season has six rounds from November to April each year.

If you had to pick someone to have dinner with who would it be?

I guess that would have to be the late Ayrton Senna as he’s my most favourite race car driver.

What advice would you have for young people who want to get into motorsport?

My advice would be if you want to achieve your dreams then get off your ass and do it! No one ever made it by waiting for someone to come along and give it to them.

www.tradienz.co.nz

Issue 3 APR/MAY 2017

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We understand most people can’t always get to the store to pick up their copy, so we want to make it really easy for you.

The TRADIE is packed full of articles that will assist you in your job, your health and your life. With everything from industry news to articles about onsite safety; entertainment and events for your time off; fitness and health based columns; all the latest in sports and fishing; you will get your dose of serious stuff and the fun stuff every issue.

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Issue 3 APR/MAY 2017 Photo: Paul 27 Smith

travel

winter adventures in queenstown

Queenstown delivers an unforgettable experience. boating and paragliding to aerobatic flights, horse trekking, rafting and 4WD tours.

For a more relaxed pace, tee up a round of golf, take a boat cruise or scenic flight, sample award-winning Central Otago wines and superb local cuisine, enjoy a treatment at a luxury spa or explore the town’s many shops, galleries, bars, cafes and restaurants.

The Queenstown Trail is a New Zealand Great Ride and the 110km network of trails in the Wakatipu basin wind between rivers, lakes and mountain ranges giving easy access to some iconic Queenstown vistas and experiences. Popular spots such as Queenstown Bay, Frankton, Lake Hayes, Arrowtown or Gibbston’s ‘valley of vines’ can all be accessed via the Queenstown Trail.

With fantastic regional events and great holiday deals make Queenstown an ideal place to visit and there are experiences to suit any holiday, whether you’re looking for adventure, relaxation, luxury or a family break.

There is also a seemingly endless supply of world-renowned adventure activities ranging from skydiving, bungy jumping, jet

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Issue 3 APR/MAY 2017

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More challenging biking options include road rides, heli-biking, a bike park and the Southern Hemisphere’s only gondola assisted mountain biking. Bike operators and rental providers offer a range of hire packages and guided tour options whether it’s for an hour or a multi-day trip.

Queenstown also offers some of the country’s best golfing experiences. The

world-class, diverse golf courses are set amongst dramatic lake and alpine scenery and are a must-do for keen golfers. Spend a leisurely morning or afternoon taking in a round – there are six options, all within 25 minutes of the town centre, ranging from immaculately groomed 18 hole championship courses to a family friendly 9-hole course and driving range.

A trip to Queenstown isn’t complete without a visit to Arrowtown, the historic gold mining village on the banks of the Arrow River.

Scenic walks from downtown Queenstown range from a short stroll around the beautiful lakeside gardens to tackling Queenstown Hill for magnificent 360 degree vistas. Further afield, Glenorchy’s epic Lord of the Rings scenery is a mustsee and leads on to some of New Zealand’s Great Walks.

Queenstown is an easily accessible destination with great air connections and some of New Zealand’s most scenic drives delivering visitors to this iconic destination. www.queenstownnz.nz

GIVEAWAY

& e m i T on i t i t e C omp ! n i W to nce a h c r You Be into win a Vacmaster 20L Wet & Dry Vacuum with Hepa Filter RRP $476.75 incl gst Thanks to Millin Distributors this is your chance to win and add this to your tool kit!

This is the ideal vacuum for any tradesman, you can connect your powertool directly, the vacuum will turn on and off as you engage the powertool.

Accessories include: • Secure fit hose, crevice tool, combination brush floor tool, 2 x metal extension wands, washable cartridge filter, foam filter, cloth pre-filter bag.

• 12 Month Warranty Thanks to Millin Distributors www.millin.co.nz

Features: • 2 in 1 Wet / Dry vac with 35mm accessory system.

To win this amazing prize you must answer the following question:

• Compact, yet powerful 1500W wet/ dry vacuum cleaner with built in outlet socket for powertool connection.

Question: What is HEPA? (hint ...it is in this edition of The Tradie)

• HEPA exhaust filtration.

• Function switch for synchronised start when external power tool is turned on.

• Durable, 20L stainless steel tank, onboard accessory storage and large rear wheels for easy portability.

• 5m powercord and 3.5m hose.

Email your answer including your name and contact number to sales@millin.co.nz before Friday 28 April 2017.

All correct entires will go into the draw which will be drawn by the Editor of Tradie NZ.

Conditions of Entry: Winner will be required to supply a photo with their prize that maybe used for promotional work including the next issue of the NZ Tradie magazine.

CHOW TIME!!

Domino’s Pizza up for grabs!

We know that hungry tradies love pizza so the good folks at Domino’s vouchers have up for grabs. WIN two vouchers for 2 traditional pizzas + garlic bread + 1.5L Pepsi, pickup or delivery worth around $30. www.dominos.co.nz Simply tell us what is the name of their new artificial intelligence (which can be found in this issue of NZ Tradie) and be in to win. Please send your name, postal address and email to our Editor – Joanna@ttmediagroup.co.nz

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Issue 3 APR/MAY 2017

29

What a joke B E T H E S MO K O C OM E D I A N

tool of the month

Thanks to all that sent your jokes into us.

Congratulations to I. Kennedy – movie voucher on its way to you and thanks for sharing the joke below!

On an ordinary day in heaven…

Alright, everyone,” St. Peter said…

“Men, form two lines - one for those who dominated their women while on earth and the other line for the men who were dominated by their women.”

They do as they’re told, then Peter looks up and sees the line of men who were dominated by their women is 100 miles long and in the line of men who dominated their women, there was only one man.

Peter is mad!

“You men should be ashamed of yourselves. God created you in his image and you were all whipped by your mates! Only one of you has made God proud during your journey on earth - learn from him!”

Then, addressing the solitary man, Peter asked him to tell his peers how he managed to be the only one in that line.

“I’m not sure,” he said... “My wife told me to stand here.”

Projecta Unveils Safe Lithium Jump Starters Jump starters are a great emergency idea to fall back on should your vehicle suffer a flat battery, or you need a dependable power source for camping ……it’s just that most people think of them as heavy and rather cumbersome to lug around.

Not anymore.

Projecta has unveiled a new range of affordable jump starters that are compact enough to carry around in your glovebox, thanks to the latest lithium technology.

They also use smart technology which prevents the lithium from over-heating when used incorrectly making them entirely safe.

There are two models in the new Projecta ‘Intelli-start’ 12V Lithium Emergency Jump Starter range now on sale in New Zealand; 900A and 1200A, which are suited to most motorcycles, passenger cars and four wheel drives.

Featuring advanced lithium battery technology, these new jump starters are powerful yet compact and lightweight – they can be up to 90% lighter than old technology lead acid jump starters!

Compared to lead acid jump starters, the high output lithium technology also provides a much longer storage life without requiring recharging. This allows the units to be stored in a vehicle glovebox, centre console or vehicle boot, in the knowledge that they’ll be ready for use when called upon. When recharging is needed, this is a fast and easy process via a handy USB lead.

Despite their compact dimensions and long storage life, Projecta’s ‘Intelli-start’ emergency jump starters provide enough power to bring life to even the biggest of engines. The 900A variant offers 280A of clamp power to start vehicles with engines up to 3.2- litres (diesel) and 6.0- litres (petrol).

Meanwhile, the 400A of clamp power provide the 1200A model with enough grunt to start diesel engines up to 4.5-litres and petrol engines up to an enormous 7.0-litres.

WIN WIN WIN WIN Send through your best joke to Joanna@ttmediagroup.co.nz The best joke emailed in will score a $20 Movie gift card, and it gets even better because your joke will be published in the next issue of The Tradie!

Other benefits of the Projecta ‘Intelli-start’ jump starters include the ability to act as a power bank, enabling charging of any phone types as well as tablets and other portable devices such as SatNav systems.

They can also provide power to run camping lights..

Included with each ‘Intelli-start’ is a durable padded carry case, 12Volt, 2.1Amp USB charging plug adaptor, micro USB charging lead and premium spark-free clamps.

Projecta’s new Intelli-start 900A and 1200A emergency jump starters can be purchased from leading automotive outlets throughout New Zealand.

For further information contact NARVA New Zealand (09) 525 4575 or visit www.griffthsequipment.vco.nz

fishing

the maori fishing calendar Our Maori fishing calendar comes to you courtesy of fishing guru, Bill Hohepa. There’s no doubt the calendar can be a good indicator of days where feeding times for animals and fish will be more intense so it’s worth checking before you plan that next trip.

Here’s what Bill has to say: “The Bill Hohepa fishing calendar has taken information from a variety of historical sources, including Mr Best’s book, together with actual fishing research taken over the past 30 years on when and how long fish bite in relation to the moon phases. There are many variables that contribute to fish feeding habits including the effect of the moon, barometric pressure, water temperature etc, so the calendar is only a guide.

One thing I have noticed though over the years, in particular, is the influence of the tide. It seems to me that the fishing is better on an incoming tide when the moon is waning, and fishing is better on the outgoing tide when the moon is waxing. If you can see the moon, the best time in my experience, is when it is at the 2 o’clock position in the sky” Excellent means up to 1 hour’s good fishing - Good means up to 30 minutes and Poor up to 15 minutes. .

Good luck” - Billy Ho.

may 2017 1st Bad 4.52

2nd Bad 5.49

3rd Good 6.44

4th Good 7.09

5th Good 7.59

6th Good 8.46

7th Good 9.31

8th Good 10.15

9th Good 10.59

10th Good 11.43

11th Good 12.27

12th Good 1.13

13th Good 1.59

14th Good 2.46

15th Good 3.34

16th Fair 4.22

17th Fair 5.10

18th Fair 5.58

19th Bad 6.47

20th Bad 6.52

21st Fair 7.59

22nd Good 8.49

23rd Good 9.41

24th Bad 10.35

25th Bad 11.33

26th Bad 12.33

27th Bad 1.35

28th Bad 2.37

29th Bad 3.38

30th Bad 4.36

31ST Bad 5.29

NOTE: times given are daylight bite times www.tradienz.co.nz Issue 3 APR/MAY 2017 31

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