Jobs & Money Detail
Cowboy builders not wanted
With a variety of construction jobs on the Immediate Skills Shortage List Brits in the building industry shouldn’t have any problems finding work
But could new legislation change all that? Kate Baddeley finds out.
New regulations for New Zealand's construction industry could change what is required of British builders in order to work in New Zealand. Building Issues Minister Clayton Cosgrove recently announced a licensing programme to recognise skilled builders while still protecting New Zealand's Do-It-Yourself culture, and increasing consumer protection. Builders are well respected in New Zealand, but new licences for building practitioners will set a benchmark for quality and should improve consumer confidence in the sector even further.
A change in government regulations over the next couple of years will require building sites to have a licensed builder on-site to oversee building projects. Any design or building work which is classed as 'restricted' must be carried out or supervised by a licensed building practitioner. This system, administered by the Department of Building and Housing, will begin operating in 2007 and licensing for restricted work will become mandatory in 2009. Ruma Karaitiana, Chief Executive of the Building and Construction Industry Training Organisation (BCITO), explains, "From November 2007 all builders working in NZ will be required to be licensed." To date, the few regulations around builders themselves have been health and safety related. "At present a British builder can work in New Zealand without a qualification," says Karaitiana, although she goes on to point out that aspiring migrants would be wise to ensure they know the NZ Building Code and have a good understanding of the building and construction regulatory framework. This is currently something that can be done once you arrive in New Zealand.
However, licensing will be progressively introduced over the next five years, with full roll out of the scheme by 2011. As Pieter Burghout, Chief Executive of the Registered Master Builders Federation, points out: "The introduction of the building practitioner licensing system will be phased in – optional for site supervisors and carpenters from November 2007 and compulsory for site supervisors from November 2009 and compulsory for carpenters from 2011."
So what does this mean for the average builder looking for work in New Zealand? "It is likely that after November 2007 a British builder will be assessed for equivalence of qualification. This will most likely require either City and Guilds or an equivalent NVQ- based qualification in building," explains Karaitiana. There are currently low levels of formal training in the New Zealand building industry. Only one third of builders have a formal qualification and for many specialist trades, the percentage is even lower. At the same time there have been a lot of changes in the building industry including: changing consumer preferences, more complex residential buildings being built and more activity by developers.
The government may have approved the introduction of a licensing regime for building, but it is clear that the licensing plans are still far from finalised. "Eventually, this will be administered by a Registrar within the Department of Building and Housing. The Registrar is yet to be appointed and the standards on which licensing will be based are yet to be developed," says Karaitiana. As before, workers will be required to demonstrate they have a good understanding of the building and construction regulatory environment. People who don't have a licence will still be able to undertake a wide range of building work. But the difference is that significant work must be supervised, or done by licensed people. "The BCITO (and other organisations) offer a recognition of current competence process for those seeking to bring their UK qualifications over to New Zealand." adds Burghout.
Finding work
So where are the best places for Brits to look for jobs in the NZ construction industry? "The advice I usually give in reply to this question is that it depends entirely on what part of the industry they want to work in and what sort of lifestyle they want to have," says Burghout. "In our larger cities, such as Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch, there will be opportunities in both the commercial and residential areas while in our smaller cities/provincial towns, there will be light commercial and residential opportunities; and in our rural areas there will be residential and primary industry related work," he says. So, it really depends on what you want to do and where you might want to live. "Once they have decided that it's usually much easier to put a targeted programme together for them to approach particular companies," adds Burghout.
Approaching construction companies in person either by phone, email, or letter is recommended. To locate construction companies by region you can use the New Zealand Chamber of Commerce website (see below). It's advisable to keep your CV concise and make sure you provide at least two references the employer can contact.
Even though construction is an area where New Zealand currently has a shortage, leaving it until you arrive in New Zealand to find a job may still present a challenge. The best course of action, not only for your peace of mind but also for your residence application, would be to get a confirmed job offer first from a New Zealand employer. The best way to do that is is to browse online newspapers which are full of employment vacancies, contact recruitment agencies of course online job sites are extremely useful, (see below). Many construction companies use an agency for skilled positions and do their own recruitment for lower level positions.
Pay and conditions
So are working conditions good for builders in New Zealand and how much can British builders expect to earn in New Zealand? "Generally working conditions are good", answers Burghout. "Salaries will depend on an individual's particular skills and experience, and on where they want to work (city or rural). On average, a carpenter would be earning NZ$50,000–70,000 and a supervisor NZ$60,000–85,000. But there are obviously people earning either side of those ranges," he adds. New Zealand's building and construction industry is undergoing profound changes and it is happening on all fronts, including the regulatory environment with the Building Code Review and the new Building Act.
So what's the long-term outlook for New Zealand's construction industry? "Over the period 2000–2005 we have seen huge growth in work volumes across the industry – commercial and residential – we expect a softening in the market over 2006–2007, but still at a relatively high level and the experts are predicting an upswing again from late 2007 onwards. So, the Master Builders Federation for one remains relatively bullish about industry prospects in New Zealand over the medium to long term," explains Burghout.
New Zealand's Construction industry ultimately believes licensing will result in significant benefits. Up-skilling the workforce means it will be better able to respond to future changes in materials and products thereby reducing the risk of future costly building failures. In time this should lead to reduced construction costs, fewer delays and disputes, and a happier work environment all round. With a continued demand for skilled construction workers now is the time to build a future for you and your family in New Zealand.
For further information:
Department of Building and Housing
Building & Construction Industry Training Organisation
Registered Master Builders Federation
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