Relief for ‘crippling’ housing material drought,

yesterday the exemptions were “a good start” but the “net had to be cast wider” to address the issue of a lack of material supplies.

“It’s put a plug in a barrel full of holes, but there are still a few holes in that barrel,” he said.

“It’s positive to hear they’ve made an exemption for some selected products and that will have a good effect on some of those material lines.”

“It is still going to take some time to meet the demand across the country.

“The Bay of Plenty will be in the queue with everyone else as they start production again,” he said.

Classic Builders director Peter Cooney said earlier this week the impacts would have a severe effect if Auckland’s businesses did not get back up and running.

In response to the exemptions, Cooney said yesterday they would “certainly help” but it was only a “small portion” of the issue.

“You’ve got the plumbing side of it, PVC piping . . . the electrical side ...”

“All major manufacturing plants supplying materials for housing need to be operational.

“It needed to happen, it’s great that it has happened, but it should never have shut down in the first place because it really is going to cost the country an awful lot of money, and it’s going to force the prices of materials to go through the roof.”

“There are issues around a catchup now to get going and it’s whether we can catch it up,” he said.

In response to Cooney’s comments, Robertson said the decision on products was based on the Ministry of Business, Innovation and

Employment’s investigation and consultation with the sector on where supply was “significantly constrained” and which products were “critical”.

“The changes strike a balance between maintaining our alert level 4 response and supporting the residential construction industry,” he said.

“Limiting the movement of people is key to New Zealand’s success in containing the Delta strain of the virus, and moving the Auckland region to lower alert levels.”

Registered Master Builders Tau