NZQA must urgently bolster vocational training

Jan 30, 2019 | News

This is the opinion of Warwick Quinn, chief executive of New Zealand’s largest construction trade training organisation, BCITO. Quinn says the current review of the New Zealand Qualifications Framework – NZQF – needs to urgently address the issue of...

Editorial: KiwiBuild not only weapon in armoury

Jan 30, 2019 | News

The KiwiBuild initiative was not the Labour Party’s only response to the affordability crisis, or perhaps the most important. Tax proposals, tenancy laws, banning foreign buyers, state house building and infrastructure bonds were all just as important. But...

Kaikoura homeless sent 260km away as housing units sit empty

Jan 29, 2019 | News

The Ministry of Business Innovation and Employment (MBIE) opened the temporary housing village in April last year for those displaced by earthquake damage to their homes. But in the nine months since they opened some units have not had a single occupant. Ngaio Te Ua...

New Housing Developments Proving Attractive to First Buyers

Jan 29, 2019 | News

Hutt City Council-owned property company Urban Plus Limited (is experiencing high demand for its new developments with one sold out, over half of another under contract and a 27 dwelling development in the planning stage already receiving enquiries. Bringing new...

Insulation boost means more warm dry homes

Jan 29, 2019 | News

Community organisations have contributed $4.7 million to the programme, further reducing insulation costs to home owners. “The Government has allocated funding of $142.5 million over four years for grants covering two-thirds of the cost of ceiling and underfloor...

Guide to designing accessible public buildings released

Jan 28, 2019 | News

“Access to public buildings is a basic human right and New Zealand building legislation supports this. The Buildings for Everyone guide encourages building owners and designers to consider the needs of all users of public buildings right from the start,” says Jenny...