Despite Dunedin’s chilly weather, proceedings at this year’s Concrete NZ Conference hummed with warmth during the event held in October.
The conference generated plenty of positive feedback from exhibitors, patrons, sponsors and delegates — a definite thumbs up — with the excellent range of papers presented receiving particular mention.
Many delegates also commented on the elegance of the venue, with the Dunedin Centre’s magnificent 100-year-old organ drawing admiration.
Keynote speaker David Rowlands of the NCTIR Alliance presented Moving Mountains to Reconnect Communities, which recounted efforts undertaken during the Kaikoura earthquake response.
In terms of social activities, delegates enjoyed dinner and dancing to live music at Dunedin’s impressive Forsyth Barr Stadium, as well as a tour of the Speights Brewery and The Seasider train journey.
The Concrete NZ Learned Society’s awards didn’t disappoint, with Auckland’s spectacular Waterview Connection securing the Infrastructure Award and the Concrete Award. Awards results can be found on page 22.
Other awards included:
• Concrete Industry Apprentice of the Year: Zen Tahana of Bartlett Concrete Placing, Christchurch.
• Concrete NZ Plant Audit Scheme GOLD Status: Allied Concrete’s Penrose and Nelson Plants for 10 consecutive years of Excellence.
• Sandy Cormack Best Paper Award: Tim Shannon, Jamaledin Borzouie and Helen Trappitt of Lewis Bradford Consulting Engineers for Hybrid Rocking Precast Concrete Wall Panels used at Christchurch’s Turanga Library.
As always, Concrete NZ extends its deep appreciation to conference patrons and sponsors, including:
• Patrons: Golden Bay Cement, Holcim, Pacific Steel and Sika.
• Sponsors: Ancon Building Products, BASF, Nauhria Precast & Reinforcing and Technical Welding Services.
Next year’s conference will be held at Rotorua’s Energy Events Centre on October 15-17, 2020.
