Contractors 'too busy for small jobs'

A skills shortage is hindering growth throughout the Central North Island as the backlog of new homes waiting to be built continues to grow.

The lack of builders, architects, plumbers, electricians and other tradespeople has delayed many building projects, commercial and residential alike, and Rotorua appears to be particularly hard hit.

Residential building is being delayed by up to a year because of the shortage and tradespeople are taking on extra cash jobs at weekends to cater for demand.

One business which has had its expansion plans into Rotorua temporarily thwarted is the Hawke's Bay-based Travel Cafe, which wants to expand the premises of the former Harvey World Travel business in Tutanekai St into the now vacant Desirable Lingerie shop next door by the start of summer.

However, general manager Greg Southcombe said the fit-out had been delayed by almost three months because the company was unable to find a local builder with the time to do the work.

"We have found someone now, but we must have gone through at least a dozen other local builders on the way - they were all too busy.

"Of all those we called, we were only able to get three to actually come out and look at the place and of that, we only got two serious proposals."

Mr Southcombe said he finally "struck it lucky" when the builder they eventually hired gained an unexpected gap in his schedule.

While the delay had been frustrating, Mr Southcombe praised Rotorua District Council staff who had been "bloody good" in helping with building consents.

"If we were a bigger business with bigger pockets, we would just bring someone in from out of the area, but we are not. We also wanted to deal with local people."

Architectural designer Darren Peacock said he had six to eight months of scheduled work ahead of him.

"I probably turn down about twice as many jobs as I can accept," he said. "The builders are in the same basket. Most of the ones in Rotorua have got about 12 to 18 months' work in front of them. It's a pretty amazing situation to be in.

"All the new [residential] subdivisions are basically full now, like Baxendale and the Lake Vista Estate. We could probably do with a few more to keep the momentum going ... but I can't see things slowing down in Rotorua too soon."

In Taupo increasing demand and a shortage of tradesmen is leading to waits of up to six months.

Taupo builder James Gourley said clients could expect a month-long wait for a small job but delays for bigger tasks ranged from three to six months.

Plumber Peter Wilton said there was about a two or three-week wait for bigger plumbing jobs in Taupo.

"We are taking mostly bigger jobs at the moment, and leaving the smaller ones."

Qualified tradesmen are also in short supply in the Eastern Bay of Plenty. The situation is worse for families affected by last year's floods, who are still unable to move back into their homes due to the lack of building tradesmen to finish repairs.

The more recent Matata flooding and landslips has also created problems for builders, painters, electricians and tilers who expect to be booked out for at least a year.

There was no light at the end of the tunnel for Awakeri Electrical co-owner Brett Magee.

"We have a dire shortage of tradesmen. There are apprentices coming through but not nearly enough."

The Government needed to subsidise employers to take on young apprentices and put them through trade schools as well as training on the work site. Schools should be encouraging students to take up trades, he said.

"It is not going to get any better until they do. There are nowhere near enough electricians now or in the near future."