Articles tagged with Construction
New Regulations to Ease Building Restrictions for Kiwi Homeowners
22 hours ago | 86 viewsRegulation Minister David Seymour and Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk announce changes to reduce red tape for homeowners building garden sheds, sleepouts, or garages by the end of the year. Cabinet has agreed to remove minimum distance requirements and reduce setback distances for single-storey buildings, making it easier and cheaper for property owners to build structures. The changes aim to address frustrations with regulations, improve affordability, and allow homeowners more freedom to utilize their property without the need for building consent, with expectations for implementation by late 2025.
Tags: Red Tape Tipline homeowners garden sheds sleepouts garages Regulation Minister David Seymour Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk setback distance building consent property ownersNew Papakura District Court Construction Begins: Speeding Up Justice Processes & Enhancing Infrastructure
1 day ago | 50 viewsConstruction begins on the new Papakura District Court, aiming to improve court processes and critical infrastructure, according to Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith and Courts Minister Nicole McKee. The project reflects a modern approach, with half the building being prefabricated off-site to enhance safety and efficiency while addressing demographic changes in South Auckland. The new courthouse, set to open in early 2027 with a $34m budget, will feature three courtrooms, two hearing rooms, and a dedicated suite for vulnerable witnesses, emphasizing the importance of timely access to justice and supporting victims within the justice system.
Tags: Paul Goldsmith Nicole McKee Construction Papakura District Court Court processes Infrastructure Justice Law and order Prefabricated modules Vulnerable witnessesBuilding Better: Minister Van Velden Spearheads Productivity Boost in Construction Sector
1 week ago | 180 viewsWorkplace Relations and Safety Minister Brooke van Velden is consulting with builders and construction professionals to simplify scaffolding rules and streamline the prequalification process, aiming to align them better with the level of risk. The current complex rules have led to overuse of costly scaffolding, impacting construction productivity and increasing building time and costs. Van Velden is also addressing the frustration with prequalification systems and overlapping duties in the construction sector, aiming to provide clearer guidance and improve efficiency.
Tags: Brooke van Velden Workplace Relations Safety Minister construction sector scaffolding rules productivity WorkSafe prequalification systems overlapping duties Approved Code of PracticeNew Zealand Construction Industry Welcomes Expanded Range of Building Products for Cost Savings and Quality Boost
1 week ago | 210 viewsStarting tomorrow, New Zealand will see increased accessibility of various building products such as plasterboard, cladding systems, external doors, and windows, aiming to boost the construction industry and lower building costs. The government, led by Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk, is focused on driving economic growth, creating jobs, and improving wages through initiatives like allowing quality overseas building products into the market. These changes are part of a broader effort to introduce competition, reduce costly monopolies, and streamline the use of international building standards, with the Building Product Specifications document being a key resource for this transition.
Tags: Chris Penk New Zealand construction building products economic growth plasterboard cladding systems external doors windows AustraliaGovernment Pauses Major Changes to Building Code System for Certainty in Construction Sector
1 week ago | 176 viewsBuilding and Construction Minister Chris Penk announced a pause on major changes to the Building Code system to provide stability and clarity for the building sector amidst disruptions from the pandemic and supply chain challenges. The government aims to implement a predictable three-year cycle for updates, allowing businesses to plan ahead and invest with confidence. While major changes will be paused, updates related to life safety, energy efficiency, Building Product Specifications, and fire safety will continue, supporting economic growth and productivity improvements in the building sector.
Tags: Government Building sector Building Code system Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk Ministry of Business Innovation and Employment MBIE Builders Designers DevelopersGovernment-Funded Infrastructure Projects Worth $6 Billion Set to Boost Economy and Create Jobs Nationwide
2 weeks ago | 330 viewsBillions of dollars in government-funded infrastructure projects are set to begin in the next few months, creating thousands of jobs and driving economic activity nationwide. The projects include new roads, hospitals, schools, and government buildings, aimed at improving infrastructure quality to boost the economy and help with the cost of living. The Infrastructure for Growth work program has delivered on actions to strengthen the infrastructure pipeline, with future projects totaling $207 billion planned across various sectors.
Tags: Nicola Willis Chris Bishop infrastructure projects economic activity jobs roads hospitals schools construction government buildingsAuckland Schools Receive $120M Investment for New Classrooms and Schools
2 weeks ago | 351 viewsThe Government is investing over $120 million to build 137 new classrooms in Auckland, creating space for 3,014 additional student places in schools facing growing rolls. The investment includes cost-effective repeatable designs and offsite manufactured buildings to maximize funding impact. Additional projects include establishing new schools in Pōkeno and Chapel Downs to accommodate future growth and ensure a safe and conducive learning environment for students in Auckland.
Tags: Erica Stanford Simeon Brown Auckland classrooms students schools education Budget 25 funding infrastructure constructionMajor Milestone: Construction Progress on Dunedin's Innovative New Inpatient Building Accelerates
1 month ago | 452 viewsWork is back underway on Dunedin’s new inpatient building, marking a major step forward in the Government’s commitment to delivering this critical health project, Health Minister Simeon Brown says. “It’s great to be back in Dunedin to see physical works now underway again on the former Cadbury site. This visible progress clearly demonstrates our commitment to delivering this vital project.
Tags: Dunedin inpatient building Health Minister Simeon Brown construction phase pile caps concrete reinforcing steel substructure base isolators IL4 foundationsInvestment Summit drives strong bids for Northland Expressway
1 month ago | 518 viewsThe positive impact of the Government’s Infrastructure Investment Summit earlier this year is beginning to show, following the shortlisting of three consortia for the Warkworth to Te Hana section of the Northland Expressway, Infrastructure and Transport Minister Chris Bishop says. “The Investment Summit, which took place in Auckland in March 2025, attracted international and local companies which collectively manage over $6 trillion in capital,” Mr Bishop says. “Ministers’ presentations at the Summit left the investors in no doubt that New Zealand is serious about attracting investment into the big infrastructure projects our country needs.
Tags: Acciona cons s And transport Auckland Chris bishop Construction Construction limited together Dome valley Engineering Express For proposals Grandjet Highways Holdings Infrastructure Infrastructure investment summit Investment summit Limited New zealand Northland expressway Northway