Looking ahead

Q: What do you think are the biggest challenges facing the industry in the next ten years?

Firm: HAMR Home

Principal: Richard Warwick

Location: Whitianga

Staff: 9

Keeping up with all of the new regulations and health and safety changes is an ongoing challenge, as it pushes up the cost of doing business.

One problem in our area, which I suspect is also a problem in Auckland, is that we have so much work on but a shortage of houses, so it’s difficult to bring in outside workers because you can’t find them somewhere to stay. I think it’s the ripple effect of people leaving the main centres.

The labour shortage we’re experiencing ties into it as well, because it’s difficult to find skilled employees. I think that, as an industry, we could be better at targeting young people and encouraging schools to push them towards trades.

The Gateway programme is a good initiative, as it allows students to spend some time on building sites and get a feel for the job.

I also think the resource consent process needs to be more forward-thinking; we’re running out of sections up here, and it takes a long time for land to become available to build on.

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Firm: Ohlson & Whitelaw Ltd

Principal: Craig Ohlson                                  

Location: Whitianga

Staff: 8

Finding enough skilled workers to meet demand will continue to be an issue in the coming years.

There is a concern around the lack of skilled workers in the industry, and the idea of having inexperienced workers running sites is a major part of that – not only in regards to the quality of work, but also to the health and safety of those on site.

Construction projects are also becoming more demanding, as designs become more complicated.

Therefore, we need to ensure we have a steady supply of skilled and qualified workers coming into the industry.

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Firm: Ross Bailey Builder Ltd

Principal: Ross Bailey

Location: Christchurch

Staff: 7

One of the biggest challenges currently facing the building industry, which I believe will continue, is a lack of collaboration between designers, architects, engineers, council compliance teams and builders – it’s too fragmented.

Greater education is also required around builders understanding their obligations in respect to the building code. This would be beneficial to everyone involved.

I’d also question if ‘stick’ construction (timber framing) is still the best way for us to build, as it feels and looks like there are ever-increasing costs across the board.

In the future, I think houses will likely become smaller and more sustainable. If this is the case, design innovation will have to evolve and maybe this will lead to an increase in productivity in the construction sector.

Homeowners’ expectations also continue to grow. How we go about understanding this to ensure we’re delivering what they want is another challenge. We’ll have to keep looking at our systems and processes, and at finding ways to measure our performance throughout builds.

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Email your answer with your full name, contact phone number, company name, number of full-time staff and the city or town in which you’re based to editor@pmundersconstruction.co.nz. All responses must be submitted by 25 June 2017. The answers to this question will be published in Under Construction August/September 2017.