Construction Sector Accord a long-term commitment

Connecting New Zealand

Construction Sector Accord a long-term commitment

15 Apr 2019

A New Zealand Construction Sector Accord was announced on Sunday by five ministers, including Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, signalling long-term commitment between government and industry to collaborate on key work areas for a healthy construction sector.

Civil Contractors New Zealand Chief Executive Peter Silcock said the Accord was a positive step forward for the whole construction industry, and specifically for the civil construction industry as its biggest clients were the public sector.

Mr Silcock said CCNZ had ensured strong civil construction industry representation in the development of the Accord, which focused on the key priorities of expanding workforce capability and capacity, rebalancing risk, improving health and safety and boosting supply of affordable and durable housing.

“The challenges we are facing as an industry impact on contractors, their employees, our construction clients and our society. It’s great we have made the first step towards a united approach with government.”

This joint commitment between the construction industry and its clients was now coming into shape and focused on the core problems rather than the symptoms. The accord should now be extended to the relationship between local government and contractors, in addition to head contractors and subcontractors, he said.

“We need to rise to the challenge of doing things differently. We are looking forward to working with Government and industry partners on the detail of the commitments, as well as a clear and defined plan for the accord to be implemented.”

Rather than being a ‘quick fix’, the Accord showed a high-level understanding of the need for real change. Mr Silcock said it was would complement the creation of the New Zealand Infrastructure Commission, with the New Zealand Infrastructure Commission/Te Waihanga Bill currently under consultation.

He said it was hopeful new initiatives and entities such as the Accord and Commission would create a more positive environment for New Zealand’s construction sector.

Of prime importance were increasing certainty around the pipeline of work and overcoming the issues of risk attribution and workforce shortages that had long undermined the health of the construction industry.

Increased road maintenance investment welcome

New Zealand’s civil contractors welcome increased investment in transport funding, announced in today’s Government Policy Statement on Land Transport (GPS) 2021. CCNZ Chief Executive Peter Silcock said the GPS rebalanced priorities so the country’s roads could be kept safer and better maintained, as well as investing in new improvements.

Shovel-ready delays, but stability ahead for civil construction in NZ

Civil Contractors New Zealand and Teletrac Navman announce results of 2020 Construction Industry Survey

Shovels at the ready, but where’s the work?

Construction and infrastructure industry leaders are calling for urgency around the release of the government’s full list of ‘shovel-ready projects’ as increasing numbers of workers face redundancy and business confidence amongst construction and infrastructure companies nose-dives.

Project timing critical for infrastructure workforce

A new package of infrastructure investments has the potential to help kick-start the post-COVID rebuild, but projects need to get started soon to ensure the construction industry can retain its skilled workforce.

Shovels ready... but no projects?

CCNZ has been working with industry partners Infrastructure New Zealand and the Association of Consulting and Engineering New Zealand to request urgent action, ensuring funds Government has committed to support construction jobs and economic activity are quickly mobilised.

Infrastructure investment will benefit everyday Kiwis

New Zealand’s national association for civil contractors has welcomed increased investment in infrastructure announced in today’s budget, and the opportunity for the civil construction industry to create jobs and take a lead role in New Zealand economic recovery.

Rapid construction restart key to economic recovery

Government guidance on handling construction contracts will give many construction companies the confidence to continue to employ their people and take a lead role in the economic recovery following the lockdown, say New Zealand’s civil contractors.

CCNZ survey on COVID-19 impact

CCNZ received 72 responses to a member survey around how civil construction businesses are impacted by the COVID-19 lockdown - thank you to all those who gave their perspective. This information was valuable to us, and was used to inform our approach to the Construction Accord steering group and government.

CCNZ COVID-19 briefing paper

Civil Contractors New Zealand has presented a civil construction industry briefing paper on COVID-19 to Government and the Construction Accord Steering Group.

Video series shows the road to a new career in 2020

A new video series featuring the young infrastructure workers who build New Zealand’s roading, water and internet networks will be released over the next month to demonstrate the inspiring careers people can find in civil construction and infrastructure.

Contractors keen to get started on NZ Upgrade Programme

New Zealand’s civil contractors welcome today’s coalition government announcement of a range of infrastructure projects funded under the New Zealand Upgrade Programme.

Details needed on $12b infrastructure investment

A Government announcement to invest $12 billion in new infrastructure projects has the potential to fill a major gap in the transport infrastructure work pipeline and start to overcome NZ’s infrastructure deficit – now details are needed for civil contractors to get to work.

Insolvency clawback period to be reduced?

The Government has agreed to a number of changes to insolvency law, publishing a Cabinet paper outlining proposed reforms based on recommendations made in a May 2017 report from the Insolvency Review Working Group. CCNZ made a submission on these reforms in 2017, also mobilising the civil construction industry to take on high-profile cases where...

Shovel-ready infrastructure projects needed

The weekend announcement of the Government’s plans to bring projects forward and lift spending on significant infrastructure projects in the short to medium term is welcome news for Kiwi civil contractors and communities. Civil Contractors New Zealand Chief Executive Peter Silcock said Finance Minister Grant Robertson’s announcement...

Climate change is on the agenda

We have a Government which is committed to New Zealand becoming a world leader in climate change action, and New Zealand is on the path to a ‘low emission, climate resilient future’. At this stage, whether you believe in human influence on climate change or not has become irrelevant.

CCNZ presents Vocational Education submission to Select Committee

CCNZ presented to the NZ House of Representatives Education and Workforce Select Committee on the Education (Vocational Education and Training Reform) Bill, calling for the legislation to include more of a focus on strong connections with employers and industry, increased recognition of on-job-training and the need to transition....................

Clearer work programme critical for NZ infrastructure

The civil construction industry is eagerly awaiting ‘record spending’ on three waters, public transport and road safety improvements to bring financial certainty and stability so it can work towards overcoming New Zealand’s infrastructure deficit.

New Commission key to healthy infrastructure industry

The draft New Zealand Infrastructure Commission/Te Waihanga Bill is a positive step towards better and more efficient infrastructure planning and investment on a national scale but needs fine-tuning to be successful in its objectives, say New Zealand’s civil contractors.

Better infrastructure planning welcome

The release of a prototype Infrastructure Pipeline to forecast major projects being delivered by Central Government agencies has been welcomed by New Zealand’s civil construction sector as a move towards better infrastructure planning.

2019 Construction Industry Survey – speak up for your sector

This annual survey is commissioned by Civil Contractors New Zealand and Teletrac Navman, and gauges the big issues for New Zealand’s civil construction companies. Make your voice heard before 25 May 2019 and automatically go in the draw for one of five $100 Prezzy cards!

Arrow’s downfall reflects high risk of construction

The voluntary administration of Arrow International (NZ) announced today will impact not just on the employees of the company and its clients, but the wider network of contractors and subcontractors who supported its construction projects.

Infrastructure Commission welcome

Civil Contractors New Zealand welcomes a Government proposal to create Te Waihanga – The New Zealand Infrastructure Commission as the new Autonomous Crown Entity to deliver long term strategy and coordination of infrastructure planning.

Government yet to fill gap in infrastructure pipeline

Short-term gaps in the infrastructure pipeline are causing long-term headaches for the country’s civil infrastructure contractors, who have criticised a vague forward work programme that sees roading projects down nearly three billion dollars in the next two years.

Government yet to fill gap in infrastructure pipeline

Water review needs coherent leadership

Recognising a need for change in New Zealand’s water industry is a small step closer to addressing issues with decaying water infrastructure, but coherent leadership from central government will be needed to make a change, say New Zealand’s contractors.

Focus on lowest cost undermining major infrastructure projects

The construction industry is under strain to build a record amount of infrastructure on thin margins, but issues in the procurement phase could destabilise the construction industry and set these large-scale projects up to fail.

Forecast shows national infrastructure pipeline needs work

Kiwi civil contractors warn that while a recent construction forecast looks to steady the ship, the current course risks an underwhelming response to major challenges and losing talent to a booming overseas infrastructure markets.

Civil contractors warn of construction gap in Government transport policy

New Zealand’s civil contractors have welcomed a record level of investment in transport, but expressed concern at a medium-term construction gap in the Government Policy Statement on Land Transport which risks losing Kiwi civil construction capability and capacity to overseas markets.