Affordable housing stymied by red tape
By Matrix Homes managing director Sean Murrie
Matrix Homes, the Trentham-based company building quality affordable homes in the old General Motors factory, claims red tape...
The folly behind the falls from height campaign
The New Zealand Initiative (TNZI) recently published a report, A Matter of Balance: Regulating Safety. It was critical of the Ministry of Business, Innovation...
The real dollar cost of the falls from height campaign
Dr Bryce Wilkinson, economist, senior research fellow of the New Zealand Initiative and author of the report A Matter of Balance: Regulating...
Working with timber weatherboards
In Building Today June 2015, Mike Fox expressed concern at what he saw as a problem with “shrinking timber
weatherboards”, and at the failure of wood...
Minister: Too many Loopy Rules!
By Minister of Local Government Paula Bennett
One of the best things about my job is getting around the country, talking to New Zealanders from...
Report confirms construction laws are a mess!
The Loopy Rules Report confirms what the industry has known for years — laws around land development and construction are a mess!
The Government should...
Construction Contracts Amendment Bill (retentions) will impact on contractor cashflow
The purpose of retentions is to ensure that customers get the specified services and quality delivered on time from the contractor. If work is...
Changing mindsets, saving lives
Mike Fox’s Opinion editorial in Building Today September warmed up and chewed over the New Zealand Initiative’s critical report of WorkSafe NZ’s working at...
Is petty rule enforcement driving builders from the industry?
Those that have been building for more than 20 years will remember an industry that was more co-operative, less aggressive, less regimented and certainly...
New ways to reduce housing costs must be found
New ways must be found to reduce constrcution costs in New Zealand after a recent survey of housing affordability across 22 markets found this...