Construction

Residents in a quiet Auckland neighbourhood had a rude awakening this week, when work on a building site started before the crack of dawn.

Officials are predicting massive growth in job numbers, especially those that are highly skilled.

The Kaikōura earthquake could create opportunities for Pacific workers helping with the Christchurch rebuild as part of a trades training programme.

Two companies being sued over leaky copper pipes at Wellington Hospital are seeking to stop the legal action.

The building industry is set to trial a more flexible way of training apprentices in an effort to fill the growing gap in skilled workers.

Sweeping changes are being proposed to try to encourage higher-density living.

The Christchurch City Council is investigating allegations of sub-standard welding work on five buildings.

Thousands more construction apprenticeships are needed to fill jobs created by the building boom, despite a record number of apprentices, an industry leader says.

The number of building consents rose fractionally last month, the first gain in three months, but the annual rate was the highest in more than a decade.

Pooling construction workers with Australia could help the New Zealand industry's problem with boom or bust cycles, a new report has found.

A structural engineering leader is "supremely confident" that steel mesh floors in houses won't fail in a life-threatening way.

The insurance industry could move to avoid paying out for substandard steel mesh being used in homes, a lawyer has warned homeowners.

Homeowners want to know who is responsible for potential faulty building materials after revelations a class action suit against steel mesh suppliers may hit home insurance.

The steel mesh in tens of thousands of NZ homes could compromise their insurance, major UK insurers have told a class action lawyer. Audio

Business confidence in New Zealand has held steady although firms are a touch more positive about their own outlook.

Welding repairs have been needed on some of the seismic steel imported to build the Acute Services Hospital building in Christchurch.

The building industry is battling with labour shortages but is yet to ask the government to let in more foreign workers.