We are in the middle of one of the most exciting times for the building and construction sector in New Zealand.  If you work for one of the 48,000 small firms in the industry, you don’t need me to tell you this is a busy time. Not only is there the work making homes weather tight, insulated, and strengthened for earthquakes, the rebuilding of Christchurch and Auckland’s housing issues present huge opportunities, particularly for smaller businesses who can adapt to meet the increasing demand.

 As Minister for Small Business, my role is making sure government has a ‘can do’ attitude towards small and medium-sized businesses, so you can make the most of these opportunities. Christchurch’s recovery is continuing at pace.  In March I was fortunate to join the Small Business Development Group in their visit to the region and was heartened by the stories of small business owners who had kept things going against remarkable odds.  

One of the suggestions made by the group was for the government to provide clarity around the timing of the large scale projects planned for Christchurch, so that smaller firms could make confident decisions for the future. I am glad to report that a great deal of information has been made available through the Recovery Strategy (available at cera.govt.nz) and the Christchurch Central Recovery Plan and Blueprint (available at ccdu.govt.nz).  The Christchurch Central Development Unit also provides regular updates on timing (ccdu.govt.nz) and a virtual data room with information helpful to understanding the Christchurch rebuild and associated opportunities.  

Recently the government and Christchurch City Council marked a major milestone by agreeing to share the cost of $4.8 billion for the anchor projects in the Christchurch CBD, delivering certainty to private sector developers. In Auckland the future is looking very bright for the building industry, with the

recent agreement by the government and Auckland Council for the consenting of 39,000 new homes in the next three years.  There are also significant developments at Tamaki, Hobsonville, Papakura and Weymouth, and across Housing New Zealand’s housing stock to improve the quality and quantity of homes in Auckland, such as home extensions and infill housing on large sections.  In addition, the recent surge in real estate activity in Auckland has resulted in more spending on DIY goods and home improvement services, which can only be good news for electricians, carpenters, painters, floorers, and plumbers.

With all of this on-going work, pressure will be on the building and construction industry to be better and faster at what you do. The government has set up the Productivity Partnership to look at how productivity in the sector can be improved.  Improving skill levels is one solution and the government is working with industry to identify the key areas which need greater investment in education and training.  

Personally, I believe making the best use of technology such as the internet is a smart move for any small business. For example, we know 96 per cent of all businesses use the internet, but only 12 per cent accept online payments. I encourage you to explore how your PC, laptop or mobile device could be used on site in all your business processes and enable you to work smarter, not harder. For face-to-face business assistance, don’t forget your Regional Business Partner.  The nationwide Regional Business Partner network helps businesses access advice, training, and development services and can add incredible value to your business with their knowledge and experience.  You can find the contact details of your nearest Regional Business Partner at business.govt.nz.

I wish your business all the best for the future.