8 October, 2002 NEWS RELEASE The New Zealand Construction Industry
Council today set out an action list of
4 October, 2002 NEWS RELEASE UNIFIED CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY GROUP ESTABLISHED The formation of a New Zealand Construction Industry Council containing the country's major professional and trade organisations linked to the building and construction industry was announced today. The first assignment on its agenda is to correct the conditions in the industry that members believe led to the weather-tight buildings problem said the Chairman, Mr John Pfahlert, Chief Executive of the New Zealand Contractors Federation. "Our aim is to rebuild consumer confidence in the industry as a whole and to represent the interests of the industry in developing standards and procedures that will ensure there is no repeat of today's situation." Mr Pfahlert said the Council was established yesterday by the Construction Liaison Group, a pan-industry grouping that has been in existence for approximately 10 years as an informal discussion forum for a range of trade and professional associations. The new council will act as the peak industry body for the construction industry into the future. Members of the Council include: Registered Master Builders Federation, NZ Institute of Architects; Building Industry Federation (representing materials suppliers) Certified Builders Association, BRANZ, and the Contractors Federation - as well as 15 other professional institutes and trade bodies representing all aspects of the construction industry. "Collectively our membership believes that the weather-tight issue has shown up a need for leadership that must be exercised to restore the confidence New Zealanders are entitled to feel in standards of construction throughout the home and commercial building industry," said Mr Pfahlert. "We intend to give that leadership. Our immediate priorities are two fold. The first is to get in place as quickly as possible quality systems that will ensure future standards. Our second is to work with the Government and local authorities to address the problems already identified that involve home and apartment owners. "By bringing together the professional and trade groups that represent most sections of the industry, through design and architecture, building firms, research, materials suppliers and training organisations, we believe we can restore faith in the industry's ability to deliver the high standards our customers are entitled to expect. "There are likely to be more than 18,000 homes built in New Zealand next year. If it means making life tougher for ourselves through more exacting standards, more frequent and rigorous inspections and increased training obligation we will adopt them in order to make sure New Zealanders get what they expect - homes that are built to last with a minimum of problems." Mr Pfahlert said the council hoped to be in a position early next week to announce a broad outline of early action the Council believed necessary to eliminate many of the conditions that led, in its view, to the current problem. "In regard to already identified home owner problems we see these falling into three areas: · Situations in which contracts
exist that permit disputes to be settled through legal action "It may well be that as has happened overseas some of these latter cases will have to be dealt with by either local authorities or the government. "We believe that the mediation process established by the government will go some way toward identifying the scope of the problem that exists as it will provide an immediate outlet for expressions of grievance." Ends For further information: John Pfahlert, Chairman, 
22 May 2002 Construction Industry Supports Authority Initiatives on Weathertightness The peak body representing the construction industry has come out in support of a preliminary report by the Building Industry Authority into water damage of modern residential buildings. The Construction Liaison Group is a pan-industry organisation representing a wide cross section of trade groups and suppliers within the building, contracting and professional services. The Group exists to take action on issues affecting the whole construction industry. Group chairman John Pfahlert said today that the issue of water damage to modern residential housing was one that demanded the attention of industry at the highest level. "People expect that when they buy a new home, or commission the construction of a new home, that they will get a product of the highest quality. Work undertaken by an investigative group appointed by the Building Industry Authority has confirmed that the problem of leaking homes is systemic - and will involve action in a number of areas over some time to resolve." said Mr Pfahlert The preliminary report of the BIA group indicates that town planning, industry training and skills, site management, and inadequate use of flashings to prevent water penetration were among some of the many causes of the problem of leaking buildings. Mr Pfahlert said that their group had members working with the Building Research Association (Branz) and their steering group to identify the causes of water penetration of houses. That group was preparing comprehensive guidelines for builders and homeowners to ensure the problem did not persist. This would allow existing homeowners to identify whether their house was at risk from water damage they may not be able to see, and to take action to rectify the damage. The BIA report is consistent with the findings of industry and Branz based Weather Tight Buildings Steering Group. "The problem is restricted to a small percentage of modern homes, typically with monolithic cladding systems, complex roof designs, no eaves, flush windows, inadequate flashings and balconies. The first line of action for the homeowner should be to approach their builder if they believe they have a problem." said Mr Pfahlert. Mr Pfahlert said that the problem did not affect the vast majority of New Zealand homes, which were generally well built and of the highest quality materials. For Further Information: John Pfahlert, CEO NZ Contractors Federation DDI 04 496 3275 or Cell 021 1509 763
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