20 years ago:
• A renovations award was added to the NZMBF’s House of the Year promotion. There were to be two categories — renovations costing under $100,000 and those costing over $100,000.
The new award was the initiative of one of the joint principal spnsors of the promotion, PlaceMakers. Communications manager Dyan Cann said the award acknowledged the growing trend towards additions and alterations to existing homes.
“ There’s a lot of exceptionally good renovation work going on around the country, and we believe it needs to be recognised as a specialist activity,” she said.
“The new award will also broaden the scope of the House of the Year promotion and its appeal to Registered Master Builders and their clients.”
15 years ago:
• Changes were to be made to the RMBF’s television commercial to drive preference for the use of Registered Master Builders by the public and the commercial market.
RMBF chief executive Chris Preston said building on the brand recognition the Federation now had, the commercial would focus on the positive.
“So, gone are the days that will see the cowboy approach to the market,” he said. “The commercial will also support the brand partners who are supporting us, and will increase exposure of our brand in the marketplace,” Mr Preston said.
10 years ago:
• Building and Construction Minister Clayton Cosgrove announced another step in getting better outcomes for those affected by leaky homes, with the establishment of a $20,000 ceiling for fast-tracked Weathertight Homes Resolution Service (WHRS) claims.
He said claims under $20,000 would be considered lower-value, and would be managed through a new streamlined WHRS claims process which would encourage fast resolution of claims informally through negotiation and mediation within set time frames.
Mr Cosgrove said the new process would mean faster dispute resolution and lower costs.
“I have heard of lower value claims where the costs from lawyers and experts can exceed the cost of repair, so these reforms will help ensure a quick settlement so people can get their homes fixed and get on with their lives,” he said.
5 years ago:
• Minister for Building and Construction Maurice Williamson expressed confidence in New Zealand’s structural steel industry as he opened a forum held in Christchurch.
Organiser Alistair Fussell of Steel Construction NZ said the event’s central theme was seismic resilience.
“The design and construction of Christchurch’s new buildings and infrastructure will be heavily influenced by seismic considerations.
“What the event aimed to demonstrate was that structural steel buildings can withstand even major earthquakes, offer commercial advantages over alternative options, and are achitecturally attractive,” he said.
