Fees overhaul
Property Council New Zealand believes an overhaul of development contribution fees will pave the way for more commercial viability, and the construction of much-needed homes across the country. Leonie Freeman, council chief executive, says with housing affordability an increasingly pressing issue, this reform could go a long way in ensuring that development is […]
No success without succession: Janine Stewart
The Mainzeal case highlights the importance of board skill sets and the need for succession planning. Those points have come into sharp focus since Mainzeal because the financial situation was dire at the time. Had they reflected on whether they should have gotten expert advice, or considered stepping down, I wonder about the […]
Connecting with communities: Christchurch City Mayor Phil Mauger
I really enjoyed getting out and about promoting the Neighbours Aotearoa campaign last month. The theme was Let’s Celebrate, encouraging us all to reach out to neighbours, and strengthen community connections. I love nothing more than meeting the people doing great things in the community and hearing their stories. They all help make […]
Home by the sea
Waking up each day to the sounds of the sea is becoming increasingly popular around Canterbury, as more high spec beachside homes and projects are developed. Christchurch has several coastal suburbs, including Brooklands, Spencerville, part of Styx, Queenspark, Parklands, Waimairi Beach, North New Brighton, New Brighton, South New Brighton, and Southshore. Sumner and […]
A summer to remember: Christchurch NZ CEO Alison Adams
What a summer we just had in Ōtautahi Christchurch. From the revitalised World Buskers Festival to Crankworx and Electric Avenue, the city was buzzing with energy. More than 70,000 people packed into North Hagley Park over two days for the annual summer festival, Electric Avenue, in February. Featuring international acts such as Chase […]
Calls for ban on engineered stone heat up
Submissions from health and industry groups on how to deal with Respirable Crystalline Silica (RCS) which causes the deadly lung disease silicosis are now being considered. Among those supporting major changes are employers, unions and MinEx which represents health and safety for quarries, mines and tunnels. A workshop was held by MinEx earlier […]
Do it once, do it right: Perfection Plasterers
A high-end finish to a home is wonderful to live with, and it can punch above its weight in adding value. Easy to maintain, a plaster-clad home is a crisp and clean, surefire ‘one and done’ way to happy ever afters. When planning a new build or renovating an existing home, Perfection Plasterers […]
Get cross with it
Cross-laminated timber (CLT) has emerged as a popular material of choice for residential and commercial buildings throughout New Zealand, in line with European and American trends. Originally developed in Europe in the 1990s, CLT is a wood product made of several layers of structural grade lumber that are arranged crosswise and glued together. […]
Better home design needed
To achieve year-round comfort, energy efficiency, including in warmer weather, and affordable, healthy, sustainable homes, we need to consider home design holistically. Factors such as the orientation of the building site, the number and position of windows, shading, insulation, heating and cooling systems, and ventilation work together to determine the level of year-round […]
Let’s talk relationships: Arthouse Architects’ Jorgen Andersen
I often get asked about the design process for residential projects and our approach as a practice. It’s something I have been thinking about more in depth as I design my own family house. Relationships. The relationship of the mass of the house to the site, to the neighbours and the street – […]