Latest from Building & Construction

Huge repair costs alter tender policy

The horrendous cost of repairing a leaky Auckland school is changing the traditional Government view that the cheapest tender is the best tender.

Govt's new house affordability step

The Government fired another shot in its battle to control rising house prices yesterday, announcing law changes it says will curb charges levied by local authorities on developers for providing infrastructure such as roads and sewerage to new subdivision

Williamson: Bulk homes the future

New Zealand buildings including houses will increasingly be manufactured in bulk in factories and assembled on site, and the consenting process will have to change accordingly, says Building and Construction Minister Maurice Williamson.

Behind-the-scenes: The Block

Experts debate fate of heritage sites

Auckland Transport consultants are divided over whether heritage buildings more than 140 years old will survive excavations for the city's railway.

Company sticks by expansion plan

Port bosses express confidence mayoral investigation will vindicate their blueprint for further development.

Quake buildings deadline set

The Government has set a deadline of 20 years for assessing 193,000 buildings for earthquake risk and strengthening them.

Hills Flooring folds - 18 jobs to go

Eighteen people are expected to lose their jobs after a 53-year-old flooring company owed $250,000 by failed construction firm Mainzeal went into liquidation today.

Claim lawyer overcharged buddy

A lawyer is facing a disciplinary tribunal after he charged his golf buddy more than $1 million to help sort out legal problems created by his leaky Remuera home.

Quake builders' work at standstill

Builders are laying off staff and say they face economic ruin in Christchurch because insurance companies and Fletcher EQR are taking too long to approve earthquake work.

Fletcher targets Auckland apartment market

Fletcher Building is making a big push into Auckland's apartment development market, forming specialist new division Fletcher Developments this year to hunt down opportunities on big sites.

Chch consents crisis: Investigator appointed

Fletcher aims for fast-track homes

Auckland houses could soon arrive off assembly lines as the country's biggest construction business ponders factory-prefabricated houses.

Bernard Hickey: Council costs block growth

The councils in our biggest cities are increasingly seen as one of the big roadblocks for economic growth, says Bernard Hickey.

Chancery $3m leaky payout fuelling repairs

The owners of properties in Auckland's leaky Chancery shopping complex have won $3.4 million for repairs, now about halfway through.

Chch councillors brace for ministers

Councillors are bracing themselves for a dressing down by government ministers over Christchurch City Council's failure to retain accreditation for building consents.