Construction stories
Auckland households can now check whether rooftop solar will pay off, using a free calculator that maps shading and roof angles.
Low productivity in construction is pushing firms towards robotics, 3D printing and modular building as McKinsey says the sector lags on R&D.
Public feedback opens on four cheaper routes after the Manawatū Gorge closure left the region without a safe state highway link.
A cloud-based compliance platform is giving the NZ Transport Agency, Auckland Council and contractor a single live view of consents on the $709.5m motorway.
More than 20 councils joining GoShift could cut delays and costs for builders, developers and homeowners across New Zealand.
Property owners facing subsidence can now avoid major rebuilds as resin injection offers a cheaper, less disruptive way to steady sinking foundations.
Better safety and quality control in prefab building could speed up cheaper, more durable projects as Victoria unveils a world first code.
Rebuild spending and repaired homes are reviving Christchurch’s case for top-city status, with billions still to go and 2020 milestones ahead.
Low-income households are being left behind by disaster advice that assumes everyone can afford food, water and survival kits.
Growing construction demand has prompted Royal Wolf to open an Invercargill office, giving Southland customers local access to container solutions.
A 220-metre timber tower could clean contaminated reservoir water while opening one-eighth of Central Park to swimming and sailing.
Limited industrial land in Napier is being turned into 20 lots for lease or sale, with demand lifted by regional growth and shortages.
Lower-cost pipe repairs are helping cities cut sewage leaks and avoid roadworks as ageing sewer networks come under pressure.
The faster method could help ease Auckland’s housing shortage, though Fletcher says the first panelised homes will not yet cost less.
Public voting is open as finalists for New Zealand’s innovation awards include solar-powered cow collars, quiet drones and Te Reo Maori smartphones.
Fuel shortages could be eased by better storage and contingency planning after the Marsden to Wiri rupture, Infrastructure New Zealand says.
Freight services are easing pressure on the alternate road, with up to 2000 trucks a month expected to be taken off it during the rebuild.
Tight supply and surging demand are pushing industrial property yields to record lows across New Zealand, with Auckland and Wellington hardest hit.
A Montreal university team’s net-zero house could cut heating and cooling demand by up to 90 per cent in the 2018 Solar Decathlon.
New Zealand projects claimed three prizes as the inaugural IPWEA Australasia awards recognised public works judged best across the region.
