People

To support the people in the construction sector, we need to build leaders, develop the workforce, grow a strong Māori economy and improve the wellbeing, health and safety of all workers.

Two people looking over plans on a table

People are the heart of the construction sector, which is why they need to be at the heart of the sector's transformation. For the industry to move forward, it needs to attract, retain, and develop leaders, have a skilled and engaged workforce, prioritise diversity, health, safety and wellbeing, and improve outcomes for Māori.

Priority 1. Leadership for change

Change is driven by leaders. We need to build the capabilities of current and future leaders so they can effectively create and adapt to change in the sector. The next generation of construction leaders will be key to driving ongoing transformation for the industry.

The vast majority of construction businesses are SMEs, which is why we need leaders of all businesses to understand how the industry needs to change, and to help them acquire the skills and knowledge to take their business on that journey.

Initiatives

Initiative Potential partners Mid-term goals Delivery dates
1.1 Building Leaders Advisory Service
This one-to-one advisory service will support leaders of SMEs by providing training such as increasing resilience, adopting technology, and reducing emissions and waste. This will help prepare SMEs for the disruption our industry faces now and in the future, and will allow SMEs to transition to more sustainable, innovative and resilient business models.
MBIE Small Business team
  • Increased capabilities of leaders to drive change
  • More thriving people and organisations
2022 – 2024
1.2 Next Generation Leaders Programme
By identifying, developing, and supporting the next generation of construction leaders, this programme will help ensure the industry has a pipeline of talent that is equipped to lead the industry forward.
Infrastructure New Zealand, Accord Agencies
  • A more skilled and diverse workforce that is future ready
2024 – beyond

Priority 2. Workforce development

To create a culture of growth and innovation, the construction sector needs a resilient and empowered workforce. The construction workforce needs to develop so it can meet the increasing demand for homes, buildings and infrastructure.

The shortage of people and skills throughout the sector means there’s not enough capacity to deliver the growing pipeline of construction projects. This shortage includes a variety of trades and professions, such as plumbers, electricians, builders, engineers, planners and project managers.

To build sustainability, the sector must promote and value diversity and ensure that everyone can choose a prosperous career in construction. Building and construction methods are also evolving in response to new technology, innovation, and environmental and policy changes. The workforce needs to adapt alongside these changes to ensure it has the skills to support a modern, productive industry.

Initiatives

Initiative Potential partners Mid-term goals Delivery dates
2.1 Developing an Action Plan from the Construction Skills Strategy
Use the insights from the strategy, for government and industry to deliver a range of actions. These actions will ensure that the workforce is developing the skills that the industry needs now and in the future.
ConCOVE, Waihanga Ara Rau Construction and Infrastructure Workforce Development Council
  • More thriving people and organisations
  • A more skilled and diverse workforce that is future ready
2022 – 2025
2.2 Construction Diversity Roadmap implementation
The sector needs to find new ways of recruiting and retaining a diverse workforce, including more women, Māori, Pasifika and people with disabilities. The Accord will continue to partner with Diversity Works New Zealand to implement the Construction Diversity Roadmap to drive this culture shift within the industry.
Diversity Works New Zealand
  • A more skilled and diverse workforce that is future ready
2022 – 2024

Priority 3. Strong Māori construction economy

The Accord wants to deliver better outcomes for Māori construction businesses, leaders and workers in order to create a thriving, fair and sustainable construction sector. Māori make up 16.7 percent of the construction workforce, however they are more likely to be in low-skilled positions and are underrepresented in leadership roles.

The Accord will partner with tangata whenua to enable change in the construction economy that supports Māori wellbeing and aspirations.

Initiatives

Initiative Potential partners Mid-term goals Delivery dates
3.1 Māori end-to-end supply chains
There is an opportunity for Māori to have greater ownership in the building supply chain from access to raw materials (particularly timber), to processing, manufacturing and construction. The Accord will work with the Forestry and Wood Processing ITP and other partners to help Māori businesses, organisations and iwi collaborate and gain greater ownership across the supply chain.
Forestry and Wood Processing ITP, Te Puni Kōkiri, Accord Agencies
  • Greater Māori construction economy success
  • More thriving people and organisations
  • A more skilled and diverse workforce that is future ready.
2022 – 2025
3.2 Māori SME capability development
The Accord will provide support for Māori service providers and lead contractors – who are valuable in building the capabilities of Māori SMEs – to improve important business practices, such as tendering for larger and more complex work.
Amotai, Tātaki Auckland Unlimited, MBIE Small Business team, Accord Agencies
  • Greater Māori construction economy success
  • More thriving people and organisations
  • Increased capabilities of leaders to drive change
2022 – 2024
3.3 Kaiako Construction Mentorship Programme
This programme will help provide intergenerational knowledge – by Māori for Māori. Connecting Māori working in construction to experienced Māori leaders will help them build and grow their leadership and business skills from a te ao Māori perspective.
MBIE Te Tumu Houkura team
  • Greater Māori construction economy success
  • More thriving people and organisations
  • Increased capabilities of leaders to drive change
2023 – 2025

Priority 4. Wellbeing, health and safety for all people

Good health and safety practices are critical to a successful construction industry. From October 2020 to September 2021, 14 construction workers lost their lives on the job in New Zealand. There were 654 injuries in March 2021 alone (source: Workforce). Each year, hundreds more get sick or die from conditions such as cancer and respiratory disease after exposure to chemicals, dusts and fumes, or develop heart conditions related to stress. The high demand and low stability of construction work has contributed to the construction industry having the worst record of mental health issues and suicide of any industry in Aotearoa New Zealand.

Access the Worksafe construction dataset(external link)  - worksafe.govt.nz

Demands on the industry are only going to increase, which is why our wellbeing, health and safety practices, culture and performance must improve. We need to reduce the number of workplace accidents, create a more supportive work environment and improve the sector's health, safety and wellbeing culture.

Initiatives

Initiative Potential partners Mid-term goals Delivery dates
4.1 Thriving Infrastructure pilot projects Culture change is needed to decrease the number of health and safety incidents in the construction sector. We will support the establishment of Thriving Infrastructure pilot projects led by WorkSafe and the Business Leaders Health and Safety Forum to find new and innovative ways of improving health and safety. WorkSafe, Business Leaders' Health and Safety Forum
  • More thriving people and organisations
  • Increased capabilities of leaders to drive change
2022 – 2023
4.2 Construction Health, Safety and Wellbeing Strategy
Despite the importance of health, safety and wellbeing in construction, the sector lacks a cohesive vision for how to tackle high rates of serious injuries, deaths, suicides and poor rates of mental health. In partnership with CHASNZ, ACC, WorkSafe and MATES, the Accord will support the delivery of a health, safety and wellbeing strategy for the industry.
CHASNZ, ACC, WorkSafe, MATES, Accord Agencies
  • More thriving people and organisations
2022 – 2025
Last updated: 29 July 2022