What is the key factor to a successful project? Date: 01 October 2021
Planning, planning, and re-planning. That’s right! But not the way you are thinking, i.e. not Gant chart and scheduling software, etc. Over the last 20 years of my experience in…
News
Industry Training Feedback - Dispute Prevention Date: 02 July 2021
How important is the Construction Programme? - Part I Date: 21 May 2021
Every construction project must have a construction programme, not just because it is a contractual requirement, but because it is an essential planning and management tool (when used correctly) that…
What is the Role of the Project Scheduler? Date: 05 May 2021
Is the Project Scheduler one person? Is he/she the one that creates the construction programme? Is the Project Scheduler the one to schedule subcontractors, material deliveries etc. Should the scheduler be…
Ambiguities are the primary causes of disputes under construction contracts – What is the standard supporting evidence required when preparing EOT claims? Date: 07 April 2021
What is the standard supporting evidence required when preparing EOT claims? Major construction contracts, in particular, the NZ General Conditions of Contract NZS3910:2003 and 2013 do not specify the records required…
Ambiguities are the primary causes of disputes under construction contracts – Should the Engineer to the Contract be obliged to Accept and/or Reject a construction programme? Date: 04 March 2021
Should the Engineer to the Contract be obliged to Accept and/or Reject a construction programme? In continuation of my previous tips (click here to read the last tip), here is another…
NZ Master Builder's podcast- How to set your projects up for success Date: 13 January 2021
Fouad had the pleasure of participating in the last episode of the New Zealand Master Builder’s podcast discussing how to set projects up for success and avoid disputes. The top three…
Ambiguities are the primary causes of disputes under construction contracts – Who owns the float? Date: 25 November 2020
Who owns the float? Most construction disputes occur due to ambiguities and lack of understanding of rights and obligations under a Construction Contract. For example; if the contract does not specify who…
What are the primary causes of disputes under construction contracts? Date: 09 September 2020
Misunderstandings and disputes are an ongoing and expected part of doing business. However, in some industries, these conflicts can take a more significant toll regarding time and money loss. Construction…
Ambiguities are the primary causes of disputes under construction contracts – Which Programme to use when preparing or assessing an Extension of Time claim? Date: 11 August 2020
Which Programme to use when preparing or assessing an Extension of Time claim? I have previously talked about ambiguities in the contract that lead to disputes (click here to read the…
We are helping companies establish their position with a sensible recovery plan Date: 30 April 2020
Before Lockdown -Do you know what was the status of your project? (Time and $) -Were your resources as per tendered methodology? -What records do you have to substantiate your…
Re-building during lockdown! Would the government consider a concurrent sector specific coronavirus alert system? Date: 06 April 2020
Re-building during lockdown! Would the government consider a concurrent sector specific coronavirus alert system? 80% of construction is in the residential market Will the government talk to developers and offer some kind…
Invitation to online "Open Forum" - Unite against COVID-19 Date: 28 March 2020
In light of the latest announcement by the government in raising the Alert to Level 4, New Zealand will be going through very rough period and particularly the construction industry. The…
Why developers and contractors end up in disputes? Date: 12 July 2019
Why developers and contractors end up in disputes? Check out our video! Click here to know more about our Claims & Disputes Services By FC international Ltd© Copyright 2019…
Top 10 Construction Technology Consulting/Services Companies 2019 Date: 26 June 2019
FC International was nominated and awarded the "Top 10 Construction Technology Consulting/Services Companies 2019" in the Asia-Pacific region. The reward is being recognized and published by APAC CIO Outlook, an…
Should the contractor follow it's tender (contract) programme line by line? Date: 23 March 2019
It is very obvious, that during the tender period, which is quite often very short and not long enough for the contractors to prepare a fully priced tender, contractors run…
Presentation of "Concurrent Delays and Extension of Time Claims" at the Thomson Reuters NZ Building and Construction Law Seminar Date: 19 March 2019
It was my pleasure to be the presenter of the topic "Concurrent Delays and Extension of Time Claims" at the Thomson Reuters NZ Building and Construction Law Seminar (Auckland) on…
Is New Zealand ready for the technological revolution in construction? Date: 20 September 2017
It is great to see that the construction industry is finally catching up with technology to minimise inefficiencies and costs overrun. The majority of the disputes that I have been…
Are concurrent delays TRULY concurrent? Date: 14 September 2017
When we hear the term ‘concurrent delays’, we automatically get dragged into a grey area of debate and case laws. From my perspective, it all depends on how we interpret…
Are you ready for the construction site of the future? Date: 07 September 2017
I read a very interesting article last week which appeared on www.brinknews.com talking about the changes which are afoot across the global construction industry. These initiatives, in my opinion, are…
Trench warfare in construction Date: 25 August 2017
By John Beveridge, If you're wondering how it is possible NZ's biggest building company is struggling to make ends meet in the middle of a building boom, you are not alone. It…
The CFMEU has made explosive comments at a recent hearing of the Senate inquiry into non-conforming building products. In his testimony earlier this month, Travis Wacey of the CFMEU alleged…
High Court finds expert unreliable and lacking independence Date: 25 July 2017
A recent High Court decision has highlighted once again the importance of ensuring experts are aware of and comply with their duties to the court. It also demonstrates the potential…
Agreed Damages or Unenforceable Penalties Date: 18 July 2017
—Drafting to Affirm the Former and Avoid the Latter (This article was first published in Lexology USA, July 10 2017) Agreed damages provisions are a staple of many commercial contracts. But as…
Building a New Airport Requires a Special Team Date: 06 February 2017
(This article was first published in The Australian on Friday, 03 February 2017) When a major airport in Germany, a country known for its efficiency, is seven years behind schedule you…
Supreme Court ruling impacts on penalty clauses Date: 18 December 2015
A recent ruling holds implications for liquidated damages clauses. Chris Bridges reports. On 4 November 2015 the UK Supreme Court handed down judgment in the consolidated appeals of Cavendish Square Holding…
Report highlights suicide risks for Australian construction workers Date: 27 November 2015
Australian construction workers are six times more likely to die from suicide than from an accident at work, according to a new report. Each year 169 construction workers die by suicide,…
Vinci wins Auckland street lighting contract Date: 18 November 2015
Vinci subsidiaries Electrix and Citeos IDF Exploitation have won a four-year contract to maintain urban lighting in Auckland, New Zealand. The four-year contract covers the operation, maintenance and renewal of lighting…
BAM to build hotel alongside Berlin Wall remains Date: 02 November 2015
BAM Deutschland has won a €15m (£10.7m) contract to build a hotel in Berlin for development company Am Postbahnhof. It is being built for Meininger, an international chain of budget hotels.…
Construction Contracts Amendment Bill passed Date: 29 October 2015
Amendments to the Construction Contracts Act passed in Parliament yesterday. These changes will affect everyone in the construction industry, from principals to head contractors, subcontractors, architects, engineers and quantity surveyors. Key…
Colas turns roads into giant solar panels Date: 20 October 2015
Colas has launched a new type of road surfacing that acts as a giant solar panel to produce renewable energy. Wattway - described as ‘the Solar Road’ - is the fruit…
No liquidated damages? No problem (unless you're a builder) Date: 30 September 2015
Key Points: Even if a contract states that no liquidated damages are payable to a party for a delay, that party may still be entitled to claim damages at common law. A…
Construction chaos to hit Auckland Date: 22 September 2015
Aucklanders are about to endure a "five-year nightmare", says Auckland Chamber of Commerce head Michael Barnett, as work starts on a raft of major jobs, including the New Zealand International…
Saatchi fit-out uses chilled ceiling system Date: 10 September 2015
A multi-million pound fit-out of the new London office Saatchi & Saatchi is incorporating the innovative Rehau CoolBoard chilled ceiling system. Above: Rehau CoolBoard chilled ceiling system ISG is contractor for…
New Zealand awards Kawarau Falls Bridge Date: 07 September 2015
NZ Transport Agency has awarded McConnell Dowell Constructors the design and build contract for a two-lane bridge at Kawarau Falls. McConnell Dowell has teamed up with Novare Design for the design. The…
Work starts on McKenzie and Willis site - bars and restaurants to move in Date: 26 August 2015
Work has started on the $50 million McKenzie and Willis development in Christchurch's Innovation Precinct, as more businesses sign up to move in next year. The complex of three buildings around…
Leighton wins Auckland motorway contract Date: 17 August 2015
NZ Transport Agency has appointed Cimic subsidiary Leighton Contractors to design and construct the Southern Corridor Improvements (SCI) project in Auckland. The project will generate revenue of approximately NZ$192m (£81m) for…
Dubai launches mega scheme with 711-metre residential tower Date: 10 August 2015
Dubai’s ruler has launched a 3.67 million square metre development that will include the 711-metre tall Dubai One residential tower. Meydan One will become home to more than 78,300 residents. As…
BRE does deal for BIM training in New Zealand Date: 17 July 2015
BRE Academy is to collaborate with research, testing and information company Branz to deliver building information modelling (BIM) training in New Zealand. Branz will deliver BIM training courses as a host…
Costs and delays continue to grow on Hong Kong rail link Date: 07 July 2015
Hong Kong’s government has expressed “grave concern” that the Guangzhou-Hong Kong-Shenzhen Express Rail Link project will now incur cost overruns of more than 30%. The Mass Transit Railway Corporation's latest assessment…
Vinci buys New Zealand contractor Date: 06 July 2015
Vinci has finalised the acquisition of New Zealand contractor HEB Construction. Above: Previous HEB projects include the Atiamuri Bridge HEB operates in across a range of areas including civils work, structures,…
Ayrton Senna Highway rehabilitated with Cold Recycling Date: 03 July 2015
SAO PAULO/BRAZIL, July 2, 2015 - The SP-070, also known as the Ayrton Senna Highway, is another motorway in Brazil where the time-saving, cost-efficient and eco-friendly benefits of the cold…
Renovation of Historic Buildings Challenge Scaffolding and Formwork Date: 22 June 2015
WEISSENHORN/GERMANY, June 8, 2015 – Renovation or construction work on existing buildings offers great challenges for the stakeholders. Formwork and scaffolding technology provider Peri offers unique solutions for different situations…
Here are the Latest Statistics for Leaky Building Claims in New Zealand as at the end of 2014 Date: 07 May 2015
Content sourced from MBIE As at 19 December 2014 the MBIE received 7,115 WHRS claims lodged for 11,224 properties. The Weathertight Service has completed 14,511 property assessments (some owners request more…
Law change takes aim at disputes on building jobs Date: 06 May 2015
Amendments to the Construction Contracts Act are due to be passed in Parliament soon and to come into effect from July 1. Peter Degerholm, a Wellington-based dispute resolution consultant and construction…
Orewa tower owners win NZ's biggest leaky building case Date: 30 April 2015
Owners of Orewa apartment tower the Nautilus have won $25.07 million, the largest amount awarded to leaky building owners in New Zealand. Christine Meechan QC, Tim Rainey, Georgina Grant and Jeanne…
Port presses on with extensions Date: 22 April 2015
Ports of Auckland is proceeding with two huge wharf extensions, despite public protests, a political call to halt work and a legal challenge against consents for the work. Ports chairman Graeme…
NZI Centre boosts NABERSNZ rating with ‘market leading’ 5.5 stars Date: 15 April 2015
The NZI Centre in Auckland has achieved 5.5 stars out of 6 under the NABERSNZ energy rating scheme – a half-star improvement on its previous rating. It is the first…
Tunnelling upheaval for Auckland CBD as work begins on underground railway Date: 08 April 2015
Big traffic and public transport challenges face downtown Auckland from construction starting in less than a year for the $2.5 billion underground railway to Mt Eden. Auckland Transport disclosed yesterday that…
Winning and profiting from PPP contracts Date: 25 March 2015
Faced with a growing government appetite for public private partnerships (PPPs), local construction companies need to evolve their traditional business thinking, embrace the process and, most pertinently, understand how to…
New $35m supermarket for Waiheke Island Date: 19 March 2015
Supermarket giant Countdown has released plans for a new $35 million supermarket for Waiheke Island to replace a small, existing store. Adrian Walker, Countdown's property general manager, said work on the…
When offshore investment meets Kiwi needs Date: 18 March 2015
First-home buyers and property investors are jumping at a new residential offering in the fast-growing Auckland suburb of Albany, in a project that is designed by Kiwis, but funded from…
Do it once, do it right Date: 13 March 2015
The Causeway Alliance is currently raising and widening the Northwestern Motorway in Auckland as part of the Western Ring Route road of national significance – but an unexpected find last…
Contractors beware! Date: 03 March 2015
With a recovering economy and the numbers of issued building consents continuing to rise, it is timely for contractors and developers to reflect on their obligations under the Resource Management…
Controversial build gets the go ahead. Date: 27 February 2015
Auckland Council and commercial landlord Precinct Properties have struck a deal to allow the City Rail Link tunnels to run beneath a $550 million, 36-level downtown office and shopping tower. Mayor…
Is the construction sector losing its appeal? Date: 24 February 2015
It’s no secret that the construction sector in New Zealand is powering ahead with projects of all sizes. But when taking a closer look, there is work to be done…
Auckland's Arch Hill residents in deal with Bunnings Date: 16 February 2015
Arch Hill residents have won concessions from big-box retailer Bunnings in an attempt to minimise the effects of the controversial new store on their Auckland neighbourhood. Nearby houses will be checked…
Scaffolding removed from Sofitel So hotel over payment issues Date: 16 February 2015
Scaffolding has been taken down before work is completed on what was promoted as Auckland's newest five-star luxury hotel. All the steel form work was stripped off the high-rise ex-Reserve…
Sydney's 'squashed brown paper bag' building a one-off Date: 05 February 2015
Architect Frank Gehry says he'll never again design a building quite like the "crumpled paper bag" which officially opened at Sydney's University of Technology yesterday. The Dr Chau Chak Wing…
New plan for prized New Chum beach in Coromandel Date: 19 January 2015
By Jamie Morton of NZ Herald Coromandel's mayor is urging people to share their views on plans for a subdivision next to world-renowned New Chum Beach. Thames-Coromandel District Council is giving…
New Year brings about new builds Date: 15 January 2015
Last September work re-started on the ‘Soho’ project in Ponsonby, Auckland. The scheme had come to a halt some years back, leaving a gaping chasm in the landscape. Construction is…
Breaking the bottleneck at Britomart Date: 15 January 2015
Article by Corrie Cook for Construction News Auckland’s history is littered with failed public transport schemes, including ‘Robbie’s rapid rail’ – the Auckland Rapid Rail Transit Plan of the 1970s. Fifty…
How to avoid a project management communication breakdown on site Date: 15 January 2015
By Wes Simmons of Global Construction When a company communicates effectively internally, it is far more likely to provide effective and unified communications to external organisations. It was the American business writer…
FC International gives to Habitat for Humanity Date: 22 December 2014
FC International got on site with Habitat for Humanity out in South Auckland. A day of building, digging, lifting and letting us all loose with the power tools was a…
Avon River Precinct Date: 18 December 2014
Te Papa ?t?karo/Avon River Precinct is an anchor project in the Christchurch Central Recovery Plan and is in response to the public's call for the river to be more of…
China invests heavily in UK property and infrastructure Date: 17 December 2014
A study by international law firm Pinsent Masons and the Centre for Economics and Business Research (Cebr) suggests that China will be investing $169bn (£105bn) in UK property and infrastructure…
September building consents Date: 07 November 2014
Statistics New Zealand releases key facts and figures regarding September building consents. Download the PDF here. …
Camera-mounted drones put to use in the Port Hills Date: 13 October 2014
As well as trenches and pipes, SCIRT crews have also been repairing retaining walls around the Port Hills – and a small publicly-owned one on Mt Pleasant was recently completed…
New international standard for hand signals on cranes Date: 07 October 2014
A set of universal hand signals, for adoption wherever lifting operations take place in building or construction, has been published, making those operations safer and more efficient. WEB EXCLUSIVE ISO…
Major new SKYCITY hotel and laneway for Auckland Date: 02 October 2014
SKYCITY Entertainment Group has revealed plans to build a new hotel and pedestrian laneway of bars, restaurants and boutique shopping on land it owns in the Nelson and Hobson Streets…
Kapiti Expressway breaks new ground in sustainability Date: 11 September 2014
One of the government’s RoNS (roads of national significance) is setting new benchmarks in environmental sustainability and collaboration between a major government agency, a local authority and outside contractors. The…