20 years ago:
• James Hardie Building Products launched one of the most eye-catching and innovative advertising campaigns for building products in New Zealand. Models wearing high fashion garments took to the catwalk before 200 top architects, designers, developers and building merchants at Auckland’s Aotea centre.
The company was previewing its television and print commercials and customer brochures, which matched the textures and hues of fashion garments with images of architectural shapes and details.
15 years ago:
• The RMBF allocated $100,000 to improve its representation of commercial builder members, with the money funding a business development manager. Chief executive Trevor Allsebrook said the initial six-figure sum reflected the Federation’s commitment to commercial builders who “warrant greater representation than they have been given”.
10 years ago:
• The RMBF launched a new 7 Year Guarantee after extensive consultation with members. The guarantee extended cover and insurance for member builders, while encompassing a range of new benefits for home owners.
The new guarantee featured a deposit cover up to $20,000, non-completion cover up to $30,000, a two-year workmanship structural and materials cover to the home owner, and an additional five years structural defects cover for the builder and the home owner.
The guarantee remained compulsory for all work worth $25,000 and over, but optional for work under $25,000.
5 years ago:
• The inaugural building forum “Leading for the Future” held in Auckland laid down the foundations for the long-term future of the industry, according to Building and Construction Minister Shane Jones.
He said industry leaders were enthusiastic about being given a platform to express their ideas and views on a number of big issues the construction industry was to face in the long term.
“The summit will create a road map for the industry as the economic and climatic times change around us,” Mr Jones said. “Construction has an important role to play in the housing affordability question but, like everything else, it is subject to global and local factors which will need to be anticipated, considered and addressed.”
