A construction conversation
The building sector is looking forward to its August forum, writes Hamish McNicol.
The construction industry wants the Government to have a proper conversation about what it wants from a sector that is about more than just building houses.
But at the same time, it wants to get past simply pointing the finger at the Government to solve its issues.
The building and construction sector has its second all-of-industry forum in August, six weeks out from the general election.
Constructive Forum, launched last year by the Registered Master Builders Association (RMBA), focused on collaboration and transformation within the industry, so it could better meet the country’s needs.
RMBA chief executive David Kelly, said the debate on housing affordability was the most obvious election-year issue, but it was important to understand this was being felt around the globe.
‘‘Across the world we are seeing rapid population growth in urban areas, which is putting pressure on housing and infrastructure.
‘‘As an industry, we have also been very slow to transform and embrace the latest technological opportunities.’’
The forum would bring the sector together to look at the overseas story and see how it could be applied in New Zealand.
Kelly said last year’s first forum was about bringing together an industry which had previously been big and divided.
It was the first time leadership from across the sector, which he said had operated in ‘‘silos’’, had come together.
‘‘This year it’s about recognising we need to put a bit more meat on the bones.
‘‘Where do we go in the medium-term?’’
Kelly said construction, along with tourism, had clearly been one of the two biggest drivers of the economy over recent years.
Research overseas had identified problems similar to those facing the New Zealand industry, specifically the attractiveness of work, productivity and procurement.
A skills shortage was a key area to tackle here, and required a rethink of the traditional apprenticeship model.
The success of the industry relied on collaboration to address these issues, but also required action from the Government in its role as a regulator and a major project owner.
Healthy and safety legislation had seen everyone in the industry ‘‘reinventing the wheel’’, but following last year’s forum, some of the bigger construction companies were coming together to standardise on the issue.
Kelly said the industry recognised it had previously pointed the finger at the
As an industry we have been very slow to transform, and embrace the latest technological opportunities.
Government to solve everything, however, ‘‘We need to get past that.
‘‘What are we going to do before we say, well, you need to do things?’’
That said, Kelly believed the industry did need to highlight to the Government how important it was.
A report from the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment last year, found construction was worth about $30 billion a year, and employed 171,000, making it one of the largest sectors in the economy.
Kelly said the Government needed to consider broader policies relating to building. ‘‘It’s not just about building more houses. We need a more wellrounded conversation.’’