There are two key events we host at a national level each year — one being the House of the Year final gala evening, and the other being our annual conference. Once again, the Federation showed its strong leadership and passion by putting together an immensely informative and enjoyable conference in Queenstown over the Anzac weekend.
I personally wish to thank all those who attended for proving why we are the best at “building excellence” in the construction sector. What impressed me the most, perhaps, was the ability of conference delegates to be talking serious business one minute, be roaring with laughter the next and then be socialising and networking to all hours the following minute.
Not only were our guest speakers educational, enlightening and at many times highly humorous, but we also heard from a range of speakers who wanted to give our members the best information to help them succeed in their businesses. As Mary Haggie from Kensington Swan said: “It’s not often you get free advice from a lawyer!”
We had many wins at this conference. Not only did the Minister for Building Issues Clayton Cosgrove announce the new licensing system for building practitioners, but we also launched our new book for RMBF members — Business Best Practice – residential and commercial construction.
And BRANZ also took the opportunity to launch its own Sustainable Building Toolkit publication. I wish to thank our sponsors for helping make this conference happen, for without their support we wouldn’t be able to put on such a spectacular show. I encourage all of the Federation’s members to show your support to them.
The Taranaki RMBA won the Construction Cup for the highest percentage increase in membership — so well done Taranaki! We were also pleased to announce at the Carters Gala Dinner that Taranaki was the successful host Association for the 2007 conference.
Again, well done Taranaki, and we look forward to seeing you all there! As one first-time attendee at the conference noted to me one afternoon: “I had heard from other members that the conferences can be a bit dull and boring. “I took the plunge and decided to come to this conference, and it has been absolutely superb. “If this is how they are going to be in future, then I will definitely be going to the next one, and to the next one after that. It’s been a highlight of the year for me and my family so far.”
I couldn’t have asked for a better endorsement of the work that went into running the conference.
