If there’s one way to describe the construction sector right now, it’s a tale of two halves—the North and South Islands. Here in the North, while the Trigg team has been busy preparing proposals for several exciting projects over the past few months, the market has slowed noticeably. Opportunities are taking longer to emerge, and even projects already in the pipeline are taking longer than usual to get off the ground.
Over the past few months I’ve had the chance to talk with builders from around the country at several Master Builders NZ forums. Those conversations confirmed what many of us have been feeling—the industry is experiencing two very different realities. What I heard was remarkably consistent: south of Nelson, the industry is thriving. Builders report strong demand, full project schedules, and not enough staff to keep up, with waiting times stretching further than ever. North of Nelson, however, the picture is quite different. Many residential and commercial builders say clients are delaying projects due to ongoing economic uncertainty and the upcoming national election.
The good news is I don’t think this slowdown reflects a lack of demand. Quite the opposite. There are plenty of shovel-ready projects waiting in the wings. The general view is that once the election is behind us and there’s greater certainty around the new government’s direction, confidence should return and these projects will begin to move. I’ve always believed there’s genuine intent from clients—it’s simply a cautious market right now. While the pace may be slower in our part of the country, the opportunities are still there.
While we’re waiting for market confidence to return, we’re focused on delivering value wherever opportunities arise. One way we’ve been able to do that is through our involvement with the New Zealand Construction Alliance (NZCA). The NZCA is a partnership of leading regional commercial construction companies delivering nationwide construction services, through local expertise and delivery.
One recent example is the nationwide security upgrade programme for the Ministry of Social Development (MSD). Our team was responsible for completing upgrades across MSD offices from Kaitaia to Whangārei. The NZCA delivery model provided significant benefits for MSD, delivering savings in cost and time while allowing them to redeploy more than 80% of their internal project team to other priorities.
Looking ahead, the future is equally exciting. NZCA has recently entered into a partnership with Tier 1 construction company Icon Construction, which is expanding its presence in New Zealand. Icon recognised that NZCA’s regional delivery model aligns closely with its own strategic approach, making the partnership a natural fit. Together, the NZCA partners and Icon are looking forward to delivering more significant projects across New Zealand.
If there’s one thought I’d like to leave you with, it’s this. Construction has always been an industry built on confidence. Right now that confidence varies depending on where you are in the country—but it hasn’t disappeared. At Trigg, we’re continuing to invest in relationships, deliver quality projects, and position ourselves for the opportunities ahead. We believe the next chapter looks bright and we’re ready for it.
