Page 14 - HW May 2021

hard news
Towards more diversity in construction
Currently, in New Zealand’s people-
and skills-short construction-related industries, women make up only 18%
of the total workforce, while Māori and Pasifika are also underrepresented in the skilled professions and at a leadership level.
At present, less than 14% of all tradies are female and there are only 1,653 women in apprenticeships or managed apprenticeships in the construction
and infrastructure sector, just 3.2%
of the 35,428 people who enrolled between the start of 2019 and are now in construction.
In the first of two initiatives designed
to increase diversity in construction,
the Construction Sector Accord (CSA)
is partnering with Diversity Works New Zealand to “map out paths towards a more sustainable workforce for the construction sector”.
CSA Director, Dean Kimpton, says the old ways of working won’t stand
up to the challenges facing the sector: “Construction as a sector is made up
of an expansive variety of creative and rewarding careers, yet we are struggling to attract and retain a diverse range of people into these jobs.”
Using research and a range of assessment tools with which companies can also use to benchmark themselves, the CSA and Diversity Works New Zealand want to take stock of and then enable the construction sector “to better invest in and promote diversity”.
Also seeking knowledge about what’s stopping females entering the trades is organisation Trade Careers, which has launched a nationwide survey to gather information and find ways to boost
the number of women working in the infrastructure and construction sector.
Trade Careers is presented by Women in Trades Collective (WITC) and supported by BCITO, Connexis, Skills and Competenz and received funding from the Tertiary Education Commission.
The WITC survey will help discover what support New Zealand women need to enter the trades, supported by focus groups around the country.
https://www.constructionaccord.nz/ https://diversityworksnz.org.nz/ https://www.tradecareers.co/
Mitre 10 Trade debuts partnership with Kiwi rally star
AN ACTION-PACKED VIP experience with Kiwi rally star, Hayden Paddon in early April marked a new partnership between Paddon Rallysport and Mitre 10 Trade.
A dozen trade customers spent two adrenaline-filled days in the Central Otago high country including testing for the 2021 Otago Rally, a behind-the- scenes tour of Hayden’s workshop at Highlands Motorsport Park, and a self- drive off-road adventure through Ben
Nevis station (see photo) .
The Mitre 10 Trade Facebook page will
alert customers about future promotions and exclusive customer experiences with Hayden and the Paddon Rallysport team as they campaign the 2021 NZ Rally Championship (NZRC) and continue development of the stunning Hyundai Kona EV rally car.
www.facebook.com/Mitre10Trade https://paddonrallysport.co.nz/
Who are BuildLink’s highest performers?
IN LIEU OF February’s sadly cancelled conference, BuildLink GM, Simon Burden, has been travelling extensively meeting and greeting with members and handing out the group’s awards and congratulations in person.
He says it was “great to get out
of Auckland and present awards to BuildLink members, John Weyers from BuildLink Tairua (photo above left)
and Drew Ridley from Kiwi Timber
in Horotiu (photo above right). I hope to present more awards in person later this year when I catch up with our members.”
And here are the winners:
· The BuildLink Attitude Award – BuildLink Kaitaia.
· Store of the Year - Less than $2 million – BuildLink Tairua.
· Store of the Year - $2-4 million – Eastown Timber & Fencing.
· Store of the Year - $4+million – Kiwi Timber Supplies.
· Supreme Store of the Year – BuildLink Selwyn.
· Premier Supplier of the Year – Winstone Wallboards.
· Store of the Year as voted by suppliers – Hautapu Rural Supplies. Congratulations to them all! www.buildlink.co.nz
12 NZHJ | MAY 2021
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