Catalyst newsletter 58 May 2014

I S S U E

MOVING TO NEW ZEALAND?

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Christchurch

State of the nation

2014 NZ v Australia budgets

This month has been budget week in both NZ and Australia. Although the Aussies survived the global recession, all of the forward spending based on massive predicted tax revenues from mining came at a huge cost. The budget referred to austerity comparable to Europe in recent years. New Zealand budget in contrast celebrated the country moving back into surplus with a bright future ahead. Of course Australia always tends to bounce back pretty quickly but it’s interesting that our economy is in much ruder health.

Civil Infrastructure

The civil sector is continuing to build slowly with little fanfare. We continue to see isolated requirements rather than recruitment in great numbers. This is partly due to us heading into winter and partly due to waiting for the next raft of tenders to be awarded. Clients however do continue to be optimistic and are regularly discussing recruitment plans with us.

Christchurch continues to move ahead in fits and starts with little cohesion between all the agencies involved. That said there remains a clear determination for things to move forward with small steps being taken every day; hopefully this will produce opportunities sooner than later. As always I’m keen to talk with candidates about their plans to move to New Zealand in the near or distant future so drop a line to Phil at [email protected] if you wish to have that conversation.

Construction

Great news for Catalyst (and by association – you) as we were one of three recruiters appointed to the preferred supplier list for Naylor Love, one of the larger national construction companies in NZ. Naylor Love chose us because for our expertise in the filed of international sourcing and of our commitment to the candidate experience and stickability outcomes. That means they like the fact that we actually care about our candidates.

It now means that Catalyst are the only recruiter who can honestly say that we are able to represent you with all of the major players in the construction sector. In fact – if you were dealing with another recruiter it is unlikely they could put your

CV in front of more than 2 of the top 5, so beware what people tell you!

Linked to this great news, IF you were a Senior Quantity Surveyor turning up in Christchurch this week, you would have secured interviews with the top 6 National Contractors.. I know this because it actually happened. Senior Quantity Surveyors – where are you!!!

This is the first time that we have seen all of the major players look at gearing up when talent arrives. I would love to hear from you if you have Commercial experience and can get here pretty quick.

Engineering Consultants

The Engineering Consultants continue to progress slowly but surely. There has been an increase in demand for Structural Engineers with practical seismic design capabilities with four years experience upwards. These roles are in Christchurch and Wellington although at the Principal level there are opportunities in Auckland also.

Fire Engineers with design experience and specific CFD modelling capabilities (in particular the use of FDS) continue to be sought after in all the main cities. Demand is also growing for Civil Engineers specialised in Geotechnical Design. Some opportunities are now starting to show through for Mechanical and Electrical Design Engineers – in particular within the building services sector – as some of Christchurch’s projects progress. As per always, if your sector of expertise falls outside of these, but you are an experienced technical specialist (with 8+ years experience) in your chosen discipline and you have been contemplating a move to New Zealand, then please get in contact with Mireille to explore opportunities relevant to you.

As always you can follow activity in New Zealand on a more regular basis through our LinkedIn groups and via our blog. We are also regularly posting positions on the Catalyst Job Board and on the ICE website in the UK. If you are planning a move to New Zealand, make us aware of your plans and we’ll do everything we can to assist with the process. There are busy times ahead in the built environment sector and if you want to be part of it then speak with Phil, Andy or Mireille as part of your preparation.

this issueState of the nation P.1

Public sector rebuild – summary of construction P.2Project a first for health precinct P.3Budget boost for Auckland roads P.3

Plans for 18,000 fast track Auckland homes P.4David Hall: case study on moving to NZ P.6

58M AY 2 0 1 4

Welcome to the Catalyst State of the Nation for May 2014. Winter has arrived in New Zealand with gusto this past week. At the risk of derision from readers in the South Island of New Zealand, Auckland has been decidedly “parky” this past week to the point where I had to scrape frost (all be it a light frost) from my windscreen on Wednesday morning. That may not come as a shock to many of you but in all the years I’ve lived here I can count on one hand the times I’ve had to scrape a windscreen in Auckland. However other areas of the country are experiencing more wintery conditions with plummeting temperatures, ice and snow around the South Island. Of course the arrival of snow means the ski season is nearly upon us so once again in New Zealand the glass is half full!

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Project a first for health precinct

Developer Richard Diver is taking his eyes off Victoria St, where he has developed 10 sites since the earthquakes, and now has plans for a multimillion-dollar five-storey development on Oxford Terrace.

It is understood that Diver is the first to confirm plans in the private sector-led project.

So far the only organisations known to have interest in the precinct are the Canterbury District Health Board, the Christchurch Polytechnic Institute of Technology (CPIT) and the University of Otago, Christchurch.

The Christchurch Central Development Unit (CCDU) would not say when a master plan for the precinct would be complete but general manager of project delivery Greg Wilson said public sector developments needed to get underway ‘‘in order to provide the private sector the certainty they require’’.

However, the University of Otago said it could not progress its development plans until the CCDU had finished land acquisition and planning.

The total amount of land needed for the public spaces in the precinct had still not been finalised, Wilson said.

Diver recently purchased the former Deloitte building on Oxford Tce – just west of Montreal St – and hoped to have his latest project completed by the end of next year.

He was in negotiations with health-related businesses but no tenancies had been confirmed.

‘‘I’m still not comfortable with the work in the old CBD and I still don’t have enough confidence to develop in there . . . but I like the idea of being part of an anchor project.’’

The existing building would be stripped until only the shell remained and this would form the basis of construction. The structure would be brought up to 100 per cent of the building code and extensions would be added to either side, creating a 6000 square metre building.

Diver hoped a mix of retail and hospitality would take up the ground floor.

He thought it was a ‘‘bonus’’ to be in an area where the tenants had to fit a certain criteria and felt ‘‘really positive’’ about the project.

University of Otago chief operating officer John Patrick said the university had plans to develop a building on land it already owned within the precinct but there were no timeframes in place.

He said an advisory council was soon to be established and would assume many of the functions of the steering group.

‘‘The university understands the concept of the health precinct, although it has limited knowledge of the details because many of the projects and initiatives required to achieve the desired outcomes are still evolving.’’

Wilson said the Crown’s role was to facilitate private and public investment.

‘‘There is strong interest from health-related private sector firms in being part of the health precinct, but it is not appropriate for the CCDU to announce any private sector developments.’’

Head of the department of nursing and human services at CPIT, Dr Cathy Andrew, said the organisation was ‘‘working closely’’ with the steering group.

‘‘Like all the partners we are keen to begin but there is a process to work through first.’’

CDHB executive lead for the health precinct Stella Ward said the board’s role was to ‘‘help facilitate and direct’’ the project.

Even before the earthquakes facilities for teaching and professional development were limited and the ‘‘current situation is critical’’, Ward said. ‘‘The health precinct is a key development in enhancing, strengthening and building our workforce now and into the future.’’

Source: The Press, Georgina Stylianou

Christchurch’s health precinct has secured its first private sector development, but details about the overall project remain scant.

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Budget boost for Auckland roads

Transport Minister Gerry Brownlee has announced a $375 million interest-free loan to the New Zealand Transport Authority to accelerate $815 million of motorway projects.

The motorway projects in the Budget include an immediate start on three Northern Motorway improvements, five projects on the Southern Motorway around Takanini and scoping the east-west link through the industrial southeast.

Mr Brownlee said the projects would address congestion the country’s largest city, improve access to Auckland International Airport and capitalise on the benefits of major roading projects already under way - including the Western Ring Route.

“No Government has invested so heavily in transport infrastructure across all transport modes,” he said.

“But with freight demand forecast to grow by around 50 per cent across the country in the next 30 years, and by almost 80 per cent in Auckland, and with a growing population, we’ve decided to bring a number of important projects forward.

“Some of these projects were up to a decade from starting, but we’ve decided they simply must begin sooner to give Auckland the best opportunity of moving people and goods around the region.”

The $375 million will be transferred to NZTA as an interest-free loan, to be repaid to the Crown by funding currently allocated to these projects in the National Land Transport Fund up to 2026/27, Mr Brownlee said.

Auckland transport package:

• Delivery of projects on the Northern Corridor, Southern Corridor and State Highway 20A by 2019/20 ($800 million).

• Further investigations to determine the preferred scope of the East-West Link over 2014/15 ($10 million).

• Progression of the Panmure to Pakuranga phase of the Auckland Manukau Eastern Transport Initiative (AMETI) over 2014/15 ($5 million).

Northern corridor motorway projects proposed for acceleration:

• Three-laning State Highway 1 northbound Constellation to Greville

• State Highway 1/Greville Road Interchange improvements

• State Highway 1 to State Highway 18 motorway-to-motorway link

• Benefit-to-cost ratio: 3.8

• Proposed construction period: 2013/14 -2019/20

• Expected cost: $450 million

Southern corridor motorway projects proposed for acceleration:

• Three-laning State Highway 1 southbound Hill Road to Takanini

• Six-laning State Highway 1 Takanini to Papakura

• Takanini northbound onramp improvements

• Takanini Interchange upgrade

• Four-laning State Highway 1 southbound, State Highway 20 to Hill Road

• Benefit-to-cost ratio: 6.8

• Proposed construction period: 2014/15 - 2016/17

• Expected cost: $210 million

State Highway 20A project:

• * Upgrades State Highway 20A to a motorway standard

• * Benefit-to-cost ratio: 1.7

• * Proposed construction period: 2015/16 - 2017/18

• * Expected cost: $140 million

Source: NZ Herald, Photo: Natalie Slade

Auckland motorways have been paved with gold in the Budget, while not an extra cent has gone to public transport.

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The announcement of 41 new “special housing areas” across Auckland will allow 18,000 new homes to be fast-tracked.

Plans for 18,000 fast-track Auckland homes

As part of the plans, parts of Great North Rd, Otahuhu, Flat Bush, New Lynn, Northcote, Albany East and Takanini have been earmarked as strategic areas for large-scale development.

The announcement by Auckland Mayor Len Brown and Housing Minister Nick Smith detailed the third, and biggest, tranche of new housing areas identified under last year’s Auckland Housing Accord.

The accord provides for the creation of areas where consents will be streamlined and fast-tracked. But the plans are raising concern in areas from Takapuna to Newmarket, as residents realise their streets will change dramatically.

Dr Smith and Mr Brown made their announcement at 11 Akepiro St, Mt Eden, a site to be developed into 18 units by Ockham Residential, whose developments include The Isaac and Turing apartment buildings in Grey Lynn.

Dr Smith predicted the first places would be ready by the end of this year.

“Not all of the SHA’s [Special Housing Areas] will deliver all of the housing within the three-year term of the accord - some projects may take up to 10 years to complete. That is why the council and Government will continue to work on many more SHA’s, with the next tranche planned for August,” Dr Smith said.

Mr Brown said the latest batch of SHA’s included seven strategic areas identified as having good transport links and access to other infrastructure.

“These are larger areas where we don’t yet have developers with proposals, but where we are signalling to the market that we want to encourage growth. “In addition, many of the SHA’s announced today are significantly larger than those in the first two tranches, and include 34 direct requests from private landowners or developers as well as extensions to three existing SHA’s,” he said.

Twenty-two areas, with the capacity for 15,500 homes, have already been announced.

The new areas are still subject to Cabinet approval and a recommendation to the Governor-General.

The latest announcement has upset some North Shore politicians who say the areas will suffer from intensification.

Jan O’Connor of the Devonport Takapuna Local Board and Grant Gillon, Lorene Pigg and John Gillon of the neighbouring Kaipatiki Local Board said they were appalled by the plans. “The Northcote Special Housing Area is of particular concern, as there are known to be severe stormwater and flooding issues which make this area unsuitable for intensification in this way,” the leaders said.

A council Housing Project Office spokeswoman said a stormwater project to resolve the flooding through Northcote town centre would be brought forward and having the area designated an SHA would accelerate completion.

Source: Anne Gibson, NZ Herald

The Catalyst Team

Andy [email protected]

Phil [email protected]

Mireille [email protected]

Address:PO Box 17405Green LaneAuckland 1546

Level 2642 Great South RoadEllerslieAuckland 1051

Phone:+64 9 307 6111

UK freephone:0808 234 3587

Fax:+64 9 307 6110

Website:www.catalystjobs.co.nz

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David Hall Case study of moving to NZ

What inspired you to consider moving with your family to New Zealand?

The main thing for us was the chance to bring our children up in a country with so many opportunities for them. My son has already begun a career in civil engineering on a respectable salary with the chance to carry on his education. My daughter has started at pre-school and the facilities are fantastic, she loves every minute.

Has New Zealand lived up to your expectations?

New Zealand is a wonderful place and every day it takes your breath away.

We all had high expectations before we left the UK but none of us expected such a beautiful, friendly and charming place to live.

How has your life changed since moving to New Zealand?

From my point of view it’s the way I wake up for work in the morning; no more M25 or London traffic, allowing me to leave for work at a reasonable time. You get to see the family in the morning and the evening every day.

The Kiwi attitude to work is far more laid back than the UK and the job still gets done in a professional manner.

What one thing would you have done differently?

I began the process with a different recruitment company and felt they strung me along. I was always chasing them for information and was about to give up on the dream of

relocating to New Zealand. Then I made contact with Phil and how things changed. I was continuously updateded via telephone and e-mail and before I knew it I was living in Auckland working in a job I love to do. Thanks again mate!

What one thing do you wish you had known about before moving?

Phil Ponder, say no more.

What advice would you pass to someone commencing the process?

Ring Phil and let him take the stress out of finding the job you want. It can be a long process from start to finish but it’s worth the wait.

Looking back with hindsight, do think you have made the right move for you and your family?

I have no doubt we have made the right decision. This is living not existing!!

Current Employer: City Contractors

David first contacted me whilst he was dealing with another recruiter. During our conversation we decided that his current recruiter was well onto things and so David decided to continue working with them for the immediate future. As Catalyst recommends working with only one recruiter we were happy to go with that and suggested that David keep in touch in case he needed us. A few months later David got back in touch explaining how he had been let down by the other recruiter and so we happily agreed to step in and help him and his family. As David is a specialist in water and utilities we were soon able to arrange an interview with one of our clients in Auckland and very quickly David was made an offer. David arrived with the family in April and they love their new lives, to add to that their residency was approved only a few days ago.

Useful Facts:

1st contact to interview: 132 days

1st interview to offer: 10 days

Offer to arrival: 48 days

Time since arrival: 58 days