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Article Archive


Creating a cool landscape
Keeping gardens and outdoor living spaces cool and comfortable over summer is a key consideration for many homeowners – and will likely...
Mar 33 min read


Major consent reform under consideration
The Government has announced it is considering major consent reform, such as a move to make it easier for building practitioners to...
Jan 1, 20254 min read


Legendary Status
John Roper One of New Zealand’s paving entrepreneurs, John Roper started off as a paving contractor more than 50 years ago and built the...
Nov 1, 20242 min read


Time bar saves ‘negligent’ council
A win for Tasman Council at the Court of Appeal against a $271,000 negligence verdict highlights the value that builders and landscapers...
Sep 2, 20243 min read


Inland Revenue says 'cut your excuses and sort your tax'
In a last chance warning to the construction sector, Inland Revenue is telling businesses and sole traders to do the right thing and get...
May 20, 20242 min read


Careful with consents!
Have you been getting consents for low-risk jobs that don’t require them? Or worse, have you been carrying out work that does require a...
May 1, 20245 min read

CCAA updates now apply
The Construction Contractors Amendment Act has been updated again and, after 5 October 2023, landscapers must ensure commercial contracts...
Dec 22, 20234 min read


Exemptions Explored
In August 2020, more building consent exemptions were added to Schedule 1 of the Building Act. As builders have become busier and busier,...
May 1, 20223 min read


Covid-19 update from MBIE
At the time of publication, the whole of New Zealand is at red under the traffic light system. To help guide businesses through the...
Feb 28, 20223 min read


Stay up to speed with greener requirements
The Government has introduced stringent new requirements on the construction industry, but will that filter through to landscaping? The...
Feb 28, 20222 min read


Certification changes in new Building Act
Landscapers should note changes in the revised Building Act, which are expected to bring stronger building product information...
Jul 1, 20212 min read


Our plant import pipeline is broken
It’s crucial for every successful business to have a point of difference – that little advantage that competitors cannot match. For many...
Sep 30, 20202 min read


Upcoming changes to retention money
Based on feedback from the sector, changes to the retention money regime are under way to ensure more protection for subcontractors,...
Aug 1, 20204 min read


New building consent exemptions
Minister for Building and Construction Jenny Salesa announced in May that new building consent exemptions are being added to the Building...
Aug 1, 20203 min read


Don’t start a cluster!
‘Cluster’ just might be 2020’s word-of-the-year. In the past six months, we’ve watched and learnt as a deadly virus has spread through...
Aug 1, 20202 min read


Working post lockdown 101
In order to support landscapers in their return to work, Registered Master Landscapers, in conjunction with support from New Zealand...
Jun 1, 20201 min read


RMA moving with the times
A select panel has examined the Resource Management Act to identify areas of weakness and suggest potential improvements. The panel’s...
Jun 1, 20204 min read


Building Act Changes put to Parliament
On 8 May 2020, the Minister for Building and Construction introduced the Building (Building Products and Methods, Modular Components, and...
Jun 1, 20203 min read


Landscaping within community rules
Residential construction continues to pump out new housing developments and living spaces, each of which bring their own guidelines for...
Jun 1, 20202 min read


Consent Considerations
Have you been getting consents for low-risk jobs that don’t require them? Or worse, have you been carrying out work that does require a...
Mar 1, 20203 min read
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