Some big news for the sector is that infrastructure training provider Connexis has become a Private Training Establishment, with one of its founding members, Civil Contractors New Zealand. The change is expected to provide training certainty, with stronger industry-led workforce development pathways. Read more about it on page 34.
Also in this issue, we have profiles on two members of CCNZ’s Executive Council who stepped up in August. They are Fletcher Cranfield, who’s based in Wanaka (on pages 30-31); and Kylie Bourke from Northland (on pages 36-37). You may remember Kylie from an article in Contractor three years ago about her wedding at a quarry!
On page 38, we have analysis of the two Acts that have replaced the Resource Management Act written by Benno Blaschke and Nick Clark from The New Zealand Initiative. They argue the structure of the new system is in place but decisions about how it will work are yet to be made.
We also have the winners of the CCNZ Napier and Canterbury Westland excavator operator competitions (on pages 40–41). The precision tasks that these operators can do, such as pouring a beer or a cup of tea, on a digger is incredible.
The topic dominating the news is the general election, which, if the polls are anything to go by, will be a close-run race. As I write this column, it seems every day there’s another political debate and the volume of policies is dizzying.
I’m not a political analyst so sifting my way through all that and condensing it into an intelligible form would be a challenge. Thankfully, Miles Rout and Brendan Cash from Dentons have written a very useful piece in our legal section (on pages 48–49) outlining the infrastructure policies of the major and minor parties. They’ve done the legwork of going through all the announcements and summarising them, which you’ll find useful as you go to vote. Later, you can hold the parties that make it into government to account via your local Member of Parliament if they don’t do what they promised!
Also, in this issue (pages 42–43), we hear from the Crane Association. We have an article by Michael Clayton from Brian Perry Civil, the new President. I met Michael at the Civil Contractors conference in Wellington in August and was impressed by his enthusiasm for the sector, and for long-distance running. We also have an announcement about the new Managing Director of the Port and Crane Academy of New Zealand (PCANZ).
Regulations can be a minefield, but Jonathan Bhana-Thomson, the Chief Executive of the New Zealand Heavy Haulage Association, outlines a new course to help people stay up to date with the rules for transporting overdimension (OD) loads (pages 44–45).
Tendering is another tricky topic so Caroline Boot, Director of NZ Procurement and Probity Services and Clever Buying, gives advice (on pages 46–47) about what to do if the process seems unfair.
Our project for this month was done in the Pacific. I’m sure you’ll be interested to read (on pages 50–55) about the challenges the award winners, MAP Projects, faced in that unique environment.
And of course, we have the ever popular Classic Machines (on pages 58–61).
I’m looking forward to seeing some of you at the Auckland CCNZ Hynds Construction Awards 2026 later this month. I’m also keen to hear about what’s happening at the other CCNZ branches around the country so please keep in touch.
Natasha Jojoa Burling
Editorial Manager
Election 2026: steady as she goes for infrastructure policy?