Building and Construction Taskforces

This section provides information on the Building and Construction Sector Productivity Taskforce and the Urban Taskforce, which were established at the first Building and Construction Sector conference in August, 2008.

The Taskforces were asked to investigate ways to improve:

• productivity in the building and construction sector (including approaches to procurement for major development projects)
• current approaches to planning and coordination in support of improved urban development.

Background to the Taskforces

The first Building and Construction Sector Forum held in Auckland on 1 August 2008 was attended by leaders from the building and construction industry and central and local government. The Forum explored current and emerging issues and opportunities for the sector. It also explored the sector’s ability to positively respond to these challenges. Participants agreed to work together to improve the sector’s productivity and make it more adaptable and responsive to emerging economic, environmental, social and cultural changes.

Forum attendees identified the following issues:

• disappointing growth in productivity was limiting the sector’s ability to respond positively to change
• the need to improve skill levels across the whole sector
• pressure on land use which was driving urban intensification
• urbanisation was an issue for all New Zealand cities, not just Auckland
• there are not enough large scale intensification projects, either planned or underway, to cope with future needs within current urban boundaries
• the quality of urban intensification in delivering sustainable environments was patchy and generally poor. 

Sector Productivity Taskforce

This taskforce focused on developing a sector-wide skills strategy and improving the process for procuring construction projects.

• information on the work of Sector Productivity Taskforce is located here. 

Urban Intensification Taskforce

This taskforce focused on improving approaches to planning and coordination in order to improve urban development.

• information on the work of Urban Intensification Taskforce is located here.

Taskforce members and specialised working groups, met throughout the year to discuss ways the sector could lift skill levels and increase productivity. They completed their work in March 2009 and their reports were released at the second Building and Construction Sector Forum in July 2009.

Both Taskforces were supported by a small Secretariat located in the Department of Building and Housing.