After five years on the board, two as vice-president, it is an honour for me to be elected president of RMBF and follow on from the great work that Blair Cranston has done over the past two years.
My background in building goes back five generations of builders and timber merchants — one of which operated in London in the mid-1800s. It is no wonder that I love this industry! It’s hardwired into my DNA!
I started my own building company in New Plymouth in 1981. I am a Licensed Building Practitioner in two classes, and look forward to further development of this scheme. I believe this is the right way to empower the tradespeople who do care, and to control the quality of residential building.
Also, I hold a seat on the executive of the Taranaki Registered Master Builders Association which is celebrating its centenary on October 5 and 6 this year. I am also on the board of the BCITO, and have a keen interest in apprenticeship training.
My plan over the next two years is to continue to work on the issues facing our members, and make sure these are heard and addressed at a national level.
I look forward to meeting RMB members at local Association meetings and events around the country.
An RMBF appeal for Canterbury
This September will mark the two-year anniversary of the first big earthquake in Canterbury. For those of us who don’t live there, it is almost impossible to really understand the effect this life-changing event has had on our people there.
Canterbury RMBA president Clive Barrington articulates it well when he talks of visiting clients whose new homes are now wrecked.
“They burst into tears and only calm down after a few cups of tea. Our builders have become counsellors,” he says.
I have seen first hand the devastation, and know of the countless cases of our members helping others to safeguard their homes and buildings while their own homes are also destroyed.
Our members continually face the frustrations of insurance being unavailable for the projects that they urgently need to start.
I propose that the rest of us do something to help. A trust account has been set up at the RMBF to send funds to the Canterbury RMBA to do as they please — maybe a family day out perhaps?
This is an opportunity for all the other Associations and individuals around the country to contribute. The account number is available on the members section of the RMBF web site, and will be open until August 31, 2012. Please, if you’re able, give generously.
Some members have offered up their holiday homes around the country for our Canterbury members and their families to get away for a while.
If you’d like to do the same, please contact Katrina Prattley at [email protected]
The best building awards in New Zealand
The curtain is about to go up on the House of the Year 2012 competition, with the first event being held in the legendary Southern Region.
This competition has the highest awareness with the New Zealand public of any annual awards programme. It is no wonder it holds such interest, given the variety and quality of homes. It’s a true home building marketers dream!
But all that glitters is not Gold. Take a look at the graph above which clearly shows how the Bronze, Silver and Gold sit so tightly on the top of the 2000 points.
Very few people realise there is only around 16% between the Bronze and Gold quality marks, which goes to show that a Bronze award is a very good achievement indeed. Good luck to all this year’s entrants.
