Page 12 - HW May-June 2020

hard news
Budget 2020 – a quali ed thumbs-up
IT WAS A quali ed thumbs-up from around the building industry for last month’s extraordinary Budget. Included, to recap were:
• $3billiontofundinfrastructure projects aimed at “immediate job creation and income growth, construction activity”.
• $1.6billiontofundfreetrades& apprenticeships training for (eg) building, construction and agriculture over next two years.
• 8,000morepublicandtransitional homes to stimulate resi dential construction, create jobs, and reduce the housing shortage.
• Low-incomegrantrisesfrom67%to 90% of the costs of adding insulation and/or heating under the Warmer Kiwi Homes programme.
• An extension of the Wage Subsidy Scheme to support worst cases, now includes pre-revenue R&D start-ups. Reactions to Budget 2020 were
generally positive, despite much champing at the bit for Government
to select exactly which projects will
get some of the $3 billion set aside for large scale “shovel ready” projects in the COVID-19 Response & Recovery Fund.
In this respect, Julien Leys, Chief Executive of the Building Industry Federation (www.bif.org.nz), says that although BIF was “very pleased” with the Budget’s trades and apprenticeships package and, while welcoming the investment in infrastructure and public housing, he reminds us that most of the 250,000 jobs in the building sector are not in infrastructure but in vertical,
commercial and residential construction. Trades training was another big winner
with the announcement of a $1.6 billion Trades & Apprenticeships Training Package.
Among the subsequently announced targeted vocational programmes was construction, including building, plumbing, and civil engineering, vocational training for which will be paid for by the Targeted Training & Apprenticeships Fund (TTAF).
Admitting on TV to be slightly taken aback at the sheer scale of support announced for trades training, Warwick Quinn, CE of BCITO (https://bcito.org. nz/), congratulated the Government, saying: “ e real strength of the Budget is that the Government has recognised the various sides of the training industry.
“ e Government also recognises that we need to continue to develop and
grow our skills during recessionary times as historically we’ve struggled to have su cient skills when the market recovers.
“Free fees for all for two years, support for group training schemes, support for Maori and Pasi ka trades training and trade academies in schools is all targeted at this.”
On top of all this, says Warwick Quinn, the news that the reforms to Vocational Education and the establishment of the six Workforce Development Councils would be fast-tracked this year will “pave the way for Industry Training Organisations and Polytechs to work closely together and form the New Zealand Institute of Skills and Technology.
“For too long we have been competitors and we have to remove those incentives, so we work together for the best interests of employers and learners.”
Sealants & Fillers Selleys (Poly, Bostik). www.trustedbrands.co.nz
MORE AT www.hardwarejournal.co.nz
Who’s 2020’s “most trusted”?
THERE ARE FEW surprises in the list of Reader’s Digest 2020 Trusted Brands,
but well done to all. e top brands most relevant to our readers are as follows with Highly Commended brands in brackets: BBQs Weber (Masport, Gasmate).
Car Care Turtle Wax (CRC, ArmorAll). DIY Power Tools Bosch (Ryobi, Makita). Garden Power Tools STIHL (Bosch, Ryobi).
Gardening products Yates (Tui, Daltons). 10 NZHJ | MAY/JUNE 2020
Glues & Construction Adhesives
Selleys (Ados, Bostik).
Home Builders GJ Gardner (Lockwood, Signature Homes).
Home Improvement Stores Mitre 10 (Bunnings, PlaceMakers).
Lawnmowers Masport (Husqvarna, Briggs & Stratton).
Paint Resene (Dulux, British Paints). Retail/Department Stores e Warehouse (Farmers, Noel Leeming).