What is a site waste minimisation plan?

Posted on Thursday 03 August, 2023

Proposed Building for Climate Change Amendments to the Building Act 2004 and a number of media driven stories have dragged the construction sector into the spotlight when it comes to the waste the sector produces recently. Some figures suggest that the construction sector in Aotearoa is responsible for up to 50% of the waste that goes to landfill.

To counter this, there has been a shift by some organisations to increase the weighting of non-price criteria relating to sustainability in the tendering process. Auckland City Council recently announced their intentions to pursue social and sustainable outcomes whenever goods, services or works are procured and have indicated that some tenders will include a sustainability weighting as high as 15%.

So, what does this mean for the construction sector?

Launching the Digital BIM Guidance (DigiGuide) Project

Posted on Friday 02 June, 2023

New Zealand Institute of Building and the BIMinNZ Steering Group are launching a Digital BIM Guidance (DigiGuide) Project. The project will bring together key stakeholders to form an inclusive network of subject matter specialists lead this project. The Construction Sector Accord is providing funding through its Innovation workstream.

Leading this project are members of the BIMinNZ steering group: Andrew Field, Melanie Tristram and Glenn Jowett, along with Pamela Bell and Hannah Keir-Smith from the NZ Institute of Building. 

Andrew Field explains what the group aim to achieve through this work and why it is necessary. 

Construction Sector Accord launches it’s $37 million transformation plan

Posted on Friday 02 September, 2022

The Construction Sector Accord launched it’s $37 million transformation plan that sets out bold actions to lead a culture change for a thriving, fair and sustainable construction sector. The Transformation Plan 2022-2025 focuses on four areas: People, Client Leadership, Environment and Innovation, with the ability to also respond to emerging issues and opportunities.

Aotearoa's largest mass timber office building to be built in Tauranga

Posted on Friday 02 September, 2022

Tauranga City Council’s new office building, set to be built in the heart of the city, will be the largest mass timber office building in New Zealand! The building will target a net zero carbon footprint for the building’s construction process and will feature rainwater harvesting, electric vehicle charging and facilities that encourage active transport options.

Is attraction and retention one of the top three things keeping you awake at night?

Posted on Friday 02 September, 2022

Attraction and retention is top of mind for all our valued Members, and is proving to be an industry-wide issue as highlighted in the recent EBOSS 2022 Construction Industry Confidence Report, see what we can learn from Fletchers! 

What can we learn from history about how to tackle material supply issues?

Posted on Friday 29 July, 2022

Institute of Building member Dr Nigel Isaacs is a senior lecturer at the Wellington School of Architecture at Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington. Nigel has looked back nearly 400 years searching for answers about how to tackle material supply issues, and focusing on the current plasterboard shortage in New Zealand and around the world. Check out this article he wrote for Newsroom.

Have your say about the building consent system

Posted on Friday 29 July, 2022

You may have seen that MBIE is consulting on an issues discussion document as the first step in the review of the building consent system.The Review of the Building Consent System issues discussion document aims to build a shared understanding of issues with the current consenting system as a basis for considering future system changes. How would you like to get involved and have your say?

Extension on home insulation deadline decided by MBIE

Posted on Friday 29 July, 2022

Radio NZ reported recently on the six-month extension to the deadline for complying with new energy efficiency regulations in homes. MBIE has pushed the start date for wall, floor and roof insulation requirements from November to May next year because of industry input claiming supply chain disruptions and material shortages.

Controlling the spread of airborne diseases in commercial buildings

Posted on Friday 29 July, 2022

Managing ventilation, heating and air conditioning (HVAC) systems can aid in reducing the risk of airborne diseases travelling within a building. MBIE’s Building System Performance (BSP) branch has provided guidance on controlling the spread of airborne diseases in commercial buildings.

Resource Management Acronym Update

Posted on Friday 29 July, 2022

Environment Minister Hon David Parker, in a speech to Local Government last week said reforming the resource management system is a priority and the Government has committed to repealing the Resource Management Act (RMA) and enacting the Natural and Built Environments Act (NBA) and Spatial Planning Act (SPA), this parliamentary term.