Building
Building sector braces for an uncertain 2023
Demand appears to be easing back to pre-Covid-19 levels but one industry leader says the sector's historical 'boom or bust' model is a sign reforms are needed. Audio
Specialist Trade Contractors Federation on building sector cool
Specialist Trade Contractors Federation President Grant Price spoke to Charlotte Cook about the building industry's boom cooling in 2023. Audio
Fears of staff layoffs grow as building industry boom cools
The phone has already stopped ringing in parts of the building industry as the boom cools - and operators fear staff layoffs are on the way.
Economic uncertainty, inflation and rising interest rates… Audio
Replacing the RMA: What you need to know
Explainer - Back from the dead, cobbled together from old parts and handed to the NBA: It's not Frankenstein's monster playing basketball, it's the government's RMA replacements.
Several Treaty breaches by Crown on Kāpiti Coast - Waitangi Tribunal
The Waitangi Tribunal has found the Crown committed several treaty breaches on the Kāpiti Coast - including the origins of the town of Waikanae.
The 992 page report released just now is the latest… Audio
Expert on Commerce Commission report into building supplies
A Commerce Commission report says the building supplies sector's not working well, offering a raft of recommendations.
The report proposes making competition a key objective of building regulation.
… Audio
Commerce Commission releases final report on building supplies
The Commerce Commission released its final report into the building supplies industry yesterday and announced an investigation into Fletcher Building's GIB rebate scheme, which competitors claimed was… Audio
Master Builders doubts competition moves will help cut costs
A key building industry association doubts recommendations aimed at increasing competition will dramatically cut costs. The Commerce Commission's confirmed competition in the sector's not working as… Video, Audio
Government reacts to Building supplies report
Workers in the building industry are hoping the Government takes meaningful action following the Commerce Commission's final report into the residential building supplies industry.
The report has… Audio
Luxon 'highly sceptical' RMA reforms will alter status quo
Critics of the two bills to replace the Resource Management Act (RMA), are questioning whether they will actually deliver the promised benefits. Audio
Five surprising facts about Sydney Opera House
In a new three-part series for ABC TV, cameras have been given exclusive backstage access to reveal some of the iconic building's more curious facts.
Wood makes solid construction comeback
Wood is making a comeback as the construction industry looks to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from high carbon materials like concrete and steel. The government's Building for Climate Change… Audio, Gallery
New home build hits owner with extra $213,000 bill as costs rise
A woman in the process of building her dream home has been lumped with an extra $213,000 bill due to "soaring building costs". Audio
Mountaineers upset by Department of Conservation huts closure
Mountaineers and conservationists are upset over the sudden removal of DOC huts in Te Uruwera.
Forty-four huts are being removed as directed by Tūhoe, who in say in their annual report they want the… Audio
Building new home costs rise to new highs
The cost of building a home has reached a new record high, and Corelogic say it's likely to get even worse before it gets better. According to its just-released Cordell Construction Cost Index, the… Audio
Crane use sky-high across New Zealand
The residential sector continues to power the construction industry with a record number of cranes operating around the country.
"Scared of change": the cities shirking new housing laws
Christchurch is saying 'no' to the government's new housing density rules. Has the whole thing backfired? Audio
Hokitika man builds DOC hut in his backyard
A Hokitika father has built a full-scale replica of the humble back country DOC hut in his backyard, as a way to safely teach his children some valuable outdoor skills.
Zak Shaw even got his kids on… Audio
Master Builders says building consents system is 'broken'
The building consents system is "broken" and under-performing councils should face sanctions or even lose accreditation, says the Registered Master Builders Association.
New West Coast paint colour guidelines ‘not a rule’
The draft Te Tai o Poutini Plan includes guidelines on what colours buildings can be painted in the main West Coast towns.
