A new Infrastructure Commission raises hopes of a more strategic approach to New Zealand infrastructure, says BusinessNZ. Chief Executive Kirk Hope says the new body would be more politically durable if independent of the government of the day. "It should also be independent of a single government department and made up of more than just a merger of the infrastructure and PPP units of Treasury." The governance of the new body would matter to business and BusinessNZ offered to work with Government and other stakeholders to flesh out details. "The new Commission should start with a long-term view of infrastructure…

"The National Party’s announcement today that, if elected, it will set up an independent National Infrastructure Commission should have cross party support," says Infrastructure New Zealand Chief Executive, Stephen Selwood. "Establishment of such a body will bring New Zealand’s infrastructure practices up to speed with Australia, the UK, Canada and other leading countries. "The UK’s National Infrastructure Commission was established in 2015 to provide independent, strategic thinking, analysis and advice to address the UK’s long-term infrastructure needs. "A New Zealand infrastructure commission needs to be charged with equivalent responsibility. This would include investigating and recommending responses to our most pressing…

With a reported $11 billion dollars to be spent on strengthening infrastructure over the next four years, the New Zealand government’s pledged funding has fostered strong confidence among the domestic workforce. In a survey conducted by global recruitment specialist, Michael Page, professionals in New Zealand rated the fourth highest in employment confidence within Asia Pacific. The Michael Page Job Applicant Confidence Index Q2 2017, evaluated the responses of mid to senior-level employees across industries and revealed New Zealand ranked 72 on the confidence index, above the Asia Pacific average of 64. “The government is investing in infrastructure on the back…

Raimondi Cranes, an Italian equipment manufacturer owned by Saudi Arabia’s KBW Investments, has appointed Heavy Lift Designs (HLD) as its official agent in New Zealand. Wellington-based HLD will represent Raimondi Cranes in New Zealand’s North and South Islands, conducting all installation and dismantling procedures. Founded in 2014 by managing director, Eng Blake Hammon, HLD provides engineering services for New Zealand’s heavy lifting segment, following previous success in New South Wales, Australia. The firm’s service offering includes technical lift planning, erection, dismantling, and site planning, as well as feasibility assessments, third-party verification, and equipment sourcing. Commenting on heavy lifting-related activities in…

McConnell Dowell has been awarded the contract for Te Mato Vai Stage 2 which includes the design and construction of 10 water intake upgrades. Awarding of the contract marks a milestone in the progress of the Te Mato Vai project and comes after consent was granted from landowners of all 10 intakes to undertake surveys to provide information for detailed designs. The scope of Te Mato Vai Stage 2 involves the upgrade of water inlets, construction of treatment facilities, additional storage capacity as well as the replacement of trunk mains and some improvements to access roads. As part of their…

Tertiary Education, Skills and Employment Minister Paul Goldsmith has today released the Future Demand for Construction Workers Report 2017, the updated forecast of New Zealand’s need for workers in building and construction through to 2022. “Demand for skills across the board is at fever pitch, but nowhere more so than in construction, which in the year to June employed over 18,200 more people across New Zealand, the second largest contributor to annual employment growth,” Mr Goldsmith says. The number of people expected to be employed in construction occupations is projected to increase by 10 per cent by 2022, adding around…

Japanese architect Shigeru Ban, known for making cathedrals and concert halls out of paper, is designing 20,000 new homes for refugees in northwest Kenya. Ban, who won the Pritzker Architecture Prize in 2014, will be working with the UN Habitat to build homes in the Kalobeyei refugee settlement in Kenya’s Turkana region. After the 2011 earthquake in Christchurch, Ban designed a temporary replacement for the church made out of cardboard.  Ban, a minimalist who uses materials ranging from cardboard and paper to beer crates, is known for his work on emergency housing. He’s built DIY refugee shelters in Rwanda after the…

Property Council New Zealand welcomes the Government's announcement of a Crown company to invest in housing infrastructure. “The Property Council has long called for adequate funding tools, and at last the Crown gives us a useful solution to address New Zealand’s housing crisis,” says Connal Townsend, chief executive, Property Council New Zealand. “We have a severe lack of housing. If we continue along this path, you will see more homelessness. “The development community is ready to respond to the urgent need for more housing. The handbrake has been a lack of infrastructure such as roading, water and sewerage that supports…

The number of women working in construction in Canterbury has more than doubled since the quakes, Minister supporting Greater Christchurch Regeneration Nicky Wagner says. This week’s Greater Christchurch Dashboard — Women in Construction shows the number of women working in both residential and non-residential construction in Canterbury has increased from 3400 in March 2010 to 7600 in March 2017 — a 124 per cent increase. “That’s 4200 more women employed in skilled trades such as carpentry, plumbing and gas fitting,” Ms Wagner says. “More and more women are embracing rebuild opportunities by entering and succeeding in this traditionally male-dominated industry.…

The Government will co-invest up to $600 million alongside local councils and private investors in network infrastructure for big new housing developments through a re-purposed ultra-fast broadband company, Finance Minister Steven Joyce and Local Government Minister Anne Tolley say. “Crown Fibre Holdings will be re-named Crown Infrastructure Partners, and bring the investment skills and experience gained through the Government’s world-leading ultra-fast broadband rollout to the job of attracting private investment in roading and water infrastructure that open up big new tracts of land for more housing development,” Mr Joyce says. "Crown Infrastructure Partners will set up special purpose companies to…

 SANY Group, China's top construction machinery manufacturer, has made remarkable progress in Asia-Pacific region since entering the local markets in 2007. After establishing its branch office in Sydney, SANY continues to make substantial efforts to develop business in Australia. SANY's vast range of products have participated in major projects in the Australian market. In Aug 2015, three 300 ton SANY crawler cranes were delivered to the Wheatstone LNG project in Ashburton North, Western Australia. As one of Australia's largest resource developments, it is expected to produce 8.9 million tonnes per annum (MTPA) of LNG that will power 1.8 million local…