At the end of last year, Business Coach Britta Christiansen and Darrell took part in a Master Builders Elevate webinar titled ‘Hard Conversations’ – or, as Britta prefers, conversations that matter. The webinar looked at how to have difficult but often necessary conversations with clients, staff, subbies and others.
10 September is World Suicide Prevention Day. It’s an opportunity for people in New Zealand and worldwide to raise awareness of suicide and suicide prevention. MATES in Construction has moved its annual Fly the Flag campaign to get behind suicide prevention from 10 September to 10 November due to the recent lockdown that continues to affect our mates in Auckland.
Young Kiwi men in the construction sector are taking their lives at an alarming rate. A 2019 BRANZ report on Suicide in the NZ Construction Industry Workforce found that of 685 people who died by suicide in New Zealand in the year to June 2019, 6.9% or 47 of those worked in the construction sector. It’s a serious problem that MATES in Construction NZ are determined to do something about it.
Price is an important part of any project, but more important is what you’re getting for that price. Clients are always after the best value they can get from their construction project or program. The industry and many clients are moving away from the limitations of traditional master-servant project relationships and lowest price tendering towards a more collaborative approach because of the many advantages a partnered approach to project procurement provides all partners.
Advisory firm BDO NZ has released the 2020 Construction Survey. In two parts this year – giving a pre and post-COVID snapshot of the industry, the 2020 survey report looks at the impact COVID-19 has had on the industry and the industry’s key concerns and strategies for survival and growth.
Believe it or not, my role as National President Master Builders comes to a close at the end of August at the Master Builders AGM.
As everyone says, where did the last two years go, and how did they slip by so fast? It has been a real privilege to get around the country and meet the members that range from extremely large businesses to one employee. The passion for the Master Builders brand, their people and the industry has been fantastic to experience. I look forward to continuing to support them all at the events such as Apprentice of the Year, House of the Year, NZ Commercial Project Awards, together with all of their local events.
As an industry that employs large numbers of men, the health of our workforce is a hugely important issue for the sector. Master Builders NZ have sponsored and supported Men’s Health Week since its inception, to help get the message out to men to proactively take care of their health, and break down some of those macho mantras that might prevent men from getting regular health checks.
Men’s Health Week NZ Ambassador, Mark Sainsbury & National President, Darrell Trigg came into The Cafe to talk with Mel Homer about the health of our male population. These two offered some fascinating statistics, about why we should take notice. You will learn a lot from this one! And if you would like any further information head to Men’s Health Week NZ.
June 15-21 was Men’s Health Week 2020. Registered Master Builders Association president Darrell Trigg says you look after your vehicles and site equipment — what about yourself?
I’m writing this article from my dining room on Day 10 of the Alert Level 4 lockdown — as we are adjusting to the new norm for the immediate future, and wondering what the long-term outlook will be for our businesses and the industry as a whole.
