Just yesterday I here a sound bite article on the New Zealand news. "The economic growth which had showed a non sustainable growth rate now seems to be sustainable".

I am saddened that firstly their seems to be NO challenging critique to this sound bite culture. I wish with all my heart that our building industry could have a representative organisation. I would wish for a staff economist within this representative organisation who give clarity on the reading of our industry market movements.

I am saddened secondly because due to the adoption of Adam smiths theory of economics in 1776 en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Wealth_of_Nations‎ and its later adapt-ions people are machines NOT HUMAN. Simply put the real estate industry, the manufacturing of building materials market and finally all the other associated organisations that connect themselves to the construction of houses want the industry to be where it currently stands.

I am increasingly very afraid of the outward expression and ramifications to the New Zealand market place. We are starting to see the creation of the biggest freight train the NZ market has ever seen. The engine of this train is the banks,NZ government and maybe monopoly building supply providers.

I am increasingly concerned that we do not have the manpower, the personal respect, the skilled training on technique, the skilled training on environmental management and finally the culture that cares enough about their fellow workmate to make this freight train work effectively. Their is a theory called "Homeostasis"

http://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/how-homeostasis-keeps-your-system-in-balance.html

It is a concept in Biology. Our building industry does not have this. They need to be able to be self disciplined. They need to no when to say no.

The LBP at the bottom of the food chain have had it very hard over the past few years. They deserve the ability to earn more income to take into consideration their loss they made over the past few years. In addition to that the directors and managers of the construction companies have no regulatory incentive to protect the LBP. Simply meaning the business man who makes millions of his/her developments can shut up shop and dis appear of the face of the earth, with his millions leaving the LBP to carry the can if and when there is failure. Read my recent article in the BOB magazine to get more background on this information. www.bobuilders.co.nz 2013 bi-annual Section 4,page 34

Finally I remind all the LBPs utilize the Construction Contracts act 2002 in all of your invoices and study yourselves its requirements:

http://www.buildingdisputestribunal.co.nz/ADJUDICATION/THE+CONSTRUCTION+CONTRACTS+ACT+2002+-+A+BRIEF+INTRODUCTION.html

Think intelligently about empathy think about your men their families and how you would feel if it went baaaaad. Doing a quality job for future generations is always best.I remember a client reminding me that they may never remember how much it cost but they will remember how well you built it. ( because there is evidence today to how well you built it yesterday)

The current updated forms- Why

Hi guys,

I have deleted the cost of the use of these forms. I noted that 1707 people have accessed the site to read and check the forms. I am the first to admit that I am not a good blogger. Sometimes I do not have anything to add to the industry or the current conversation. I also am aware that not a lot guys in the trade read as much as they could. I am convinced that helping the guys in cost effective educational tools will help the guys in their business,s right at the point that they need it. In my day job as a building inspector I see the quiet desperation of builders and all the broader participants again being swamped with more and more work.

My vision for the Builders Quality Systems Limited is to help/support LBPs with their educational requirements in the most cost effective way as possible. Part of this thinking is to provide you with these checklists for free. The purpose of the checklists is to support you as an additional archive for your Record of Work requirements. In addition to this the checklist has a educational component. When you hover your mouse over the right hand side of the checklist you will find the reference for the Pass/ Fail question.

Please feel free to use this tool. The document will be emailed to me once you submit it and I will email you back as soon as I recieve the info. You can keep this information for 10 Years on file and I will do the same by creating a specific file for you.

Carl Graham
Executive Director

0279479884

Final Re Write

Pre-Line-Re-Write

Cladding Re Write

Framing-Decking

Framing Roof Pak Re Write

Framing Walls Re Write

Framing Sub Floor Rewrite

Concrete Slab Re Write

Footings Re Write

A reminder of our future risk in the building industry

A reminder to construction companies to stick to the basics
Tuesday, 6 August 2013, 3:10 pm
Press Release: University of Canterbury

A timely reminder to construction companies to stick to the basics

August 6, 2013

A University of Canterbury (UC) business lecturer is warning contracting companies that they should stick to the basics, even when the industry appears to be entering a boom period.

Business expert and MBA director Tony Mortensen says key factors include managing working capital, increasing the use of key information systems, attention to key legal requirements and client risk management.

``With the projected growth in the construction industry in New Zealand over the following next five years it is critical that contractors in this industry consider their exposure to risk. They need to understand how they can ensure that they do not overextend the organisations cash flows and other critical resources.

``The demise of Mainzeal, New Zealand’s biggest building group, demonstrates that even the perceived biggest and brightest companies may, in fact, be facing financial distress.

``Such issues often result in financial hardship to a wide section of the community. In Mainzeal’s case the company’s 500 plus employees were cut down to just 14 while many of the company’s customers and suppliers looked to incur significant financial losses.

``While the building industry has been through difficult trading conditions over the past five years there are some positive signs of growth in the coming periods.

``The two biggest drivers of construction growth in New Zealand at present are the after effects of the Canterbury earthquakes and the continued positive population growth in Auckland.

``However, this in itself does not always guarantee success for everyone involved as even the busiest companies can sometimes find themselves in difficult trading conditions.

``It is important that those in the construction industry stick to the basics, even when faced with the prospect of significant growth.

``This is even more critical to firms involved in the Christchurch rebuild, with a projected $40 billion to be injected over the next 10 years creating both opportunities and potential risks in the construction industry.

``The immediate concern is that an increase in the volume of work does not always transpire into guaranteed financial stability and prosperity.

``Even the best operators will have to be extra vigilant and apply sound business practices to ensure they remain financially viable throughout what will be one of the strongest economic times experienced in the past 40 years in New Zealand.’’

Mortensen’s study of the New Zealand construction climate has just been published in The Journal, published by the New Zealand Institute of Chartered Accountants.