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Chief Executive's Report:
Julien Leys
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Welcome to our March newsletter. It is encouraging to see signs of renewed momentum across the building and construction sector, with residential building consents beginning to trend upward in several of our largest regions. While challenges remain, the industry continues to demonstrate resilience, innovation and a strong commitment to improving how we design, specify and deliver buildings across New Zealand.
February was a busy month for BIF NZ, and one of the highlights was our networking event hosted in partnership with GS1 on the topic of digital labelling. It was a fantastic evening bringing together industry leaders to discuss how better product information and traceability can support compliance and efficiency across the building supply chain.
We were also pleased to welcome Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Regulation Hon. David Seymour as keynote speaker for the evening. David shared insights into the Government’s regulatory reform agenda and its potential impact on the building sector, prompting valuable discussion from guest panellists about how regulation can better support innovation and productivity.
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I also attended the Building Products Summit in Sydney, hosted by the Building Products Industry Council (BPIC) of Australia. It was a valuable opportunity to connect with our Australian building supply chain counterparts and introduce the work BIF is doing in New Zealand. I had the chance to meet with BPIC Executive Officer Rodger Hills to explore opportunities for collaboration between our two organisations.
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A key theme throughout the summit was the importance of improving building product assurance and traceability to reduce non-compliance, safety risks and unnecessary costs across the supply chain.
One example discussed was the update to the AS 1252 standard for structural bolts, which now requires manufacturers to provide verified test reports. This change has significantly improved traceability and confidence in product performance.
Supporting these standards with accessible digital product information makes it easier for builders, designers and regulators to verify compliance and ensure the right products are used.
Looking ahead
As the building sector looks ahead, there is growing momentum around improving productivity, strengthening product assurance and making better use of digital information across the supply chain.
Clear, accessible and reliable product information will be increasingly important in supporting compliance, reducing risk and improving decision-making across projects.
Regulatory reform is also likely to shape the year ahead, as the Government looks to streamline processes while maintaining strong safety and performance standards.
At BIF, we will continue working with our members, government and industry partners to support initiatives that improve transparency, strengthen confidence in building products and help create a more productive and resilient construction sector.
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Ngā mihi nui,
Julien Leys
Chief Executive, Building Industry Federation of New Zealand
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In this newsletter:
- Industry news
- The Post op-ed: Materials, supply chains, distributors - the invisible backbone of good infrastructure
- Stats NZ: New home consents rise in January
- Russell McVeagh: Construction Survey 2026
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National Infrastructure Plan: Materials, supply chains, distributors - the invisible backbone of good infrastructure
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With the release of NZ's first National Infrastructure Plan, BIF NZ Chief Executive Julien Leys penned an op-ed for The Post, highlighting how building supply chains are the invisible backbone of good infrastructure.
"Infrastructure might be about roads and pipes and buildings. But behind every asset is a network of building products and materials manufacturers, importers, merchants and distributors making it all possible.
In the tighter, more demanding era ahead, their efficiency and innovation could make the difference between infrastructure ambition and infrastructure affordability."
You can read Julien's full article on The Post.
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New home consents rise in January
Stats NZ has released their latest figures on home consents with 36,944 new homes consented in New Zealand in the year ended January 2026, up 9.3 percent compared with the year ended January 2025.
In the year ended January 2026, annual growth in new home consents was concentrated in several of New Zealand’s largest regions.
“New home consents increased over the year, with multi-unit homes continuing to play a significant role in the annual rise,” economic indicators spokesperson Michelle Feyen said.
You can find the full report on the Stats NZ website.
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Russell McVeagh's Construction Survey Report 2026
Russell McVeagh has published their construction survey report, providing insights into the health of the sector through a legal lens that reflect the views of construction professionals across New Zealand.
It looks at how the industry is navigating contracting practices, pricing pressures and dispute trends, along with rising curiosity about AI and the key issues shaping the next two years. You can find the full report on the Russell McVeagh website.
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Source: Russell McVeagh Construction Survey Report 2026
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If you would like to be on the mailing list to receive our BIF monthly newsletters directly, please let us know by emailing office@bifnz.co.nz
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