[Timbo]

Does any one on the ground in NZ have the inside track on the general work availabilty in the building trades?? I am getting a lot of mixed views from the people I talk to. :roll

[Singel]

Hello Timbo

Information about building work : http://www2.stats.govt.nz/domino/external/pasfull/pasfull.nsf/web/Hot+Off+The+Press+Value+of+Building+Work+Put+in+Pl ace+June+2005+quarter?open

Information about construction industry : http://www.worksite.govt.nz/en/construction-industry

These 2 renown constuction companies may require building tradespeople :
http://www.fcc.co.nz/ (largest construction company in NZ)
http://www.mainzeal.co.nz/

:cheers

[bricky]

What is your trade specifically?

[Moorf]

Our next door neighbour is doing the renovations in our back room - he's a carpenter and plasterer. He doesn't actively market himself and yet has so much work he has to turn stuff down. He said that it's not so much the lack of tradesmen - the yellow pages are full of them - but it's the lack of quality tradesmen. He acknowledged that British tradesmen were noted for their quality of work.

A decorator friend in Sumner is also having to turn down work, and the recent opening of an interior design / curtain shop in Sumner has almost doubled his calls!!

It feels like when we were in Scotland, there was so much building going on when we lived there that you couldn't get a plumber, electrician, decorator or tiler for love nor money. :no

Timbo, from what I have experienced so far, tradesmen in our area seem "stretched" so I would imagine that there is plenty of opportunity for work. I think the key would be to find a quality outfit to work for to ensure better rates, prospects and more work, or run your own outfit. A few immigrant friends have commented on their frustration at the lack of quality / skill in fellow workers - and even a few from the IT industry!

[Timbo]

Hi Bricky. I am a painter/decorator by trade. No real need to ask you the same is there?
Thanks for the encouraging feedback moorf and Singel. I am being actively chased up by an outfit in BOP who would like me there asap, but not willing to formally offer a job.

[bricky]

I have three friends who are painters and decorators. They are far too busy to do a small cash job on my hose. Some friends! I have mountains of work in front of me bricking houses and they all need painting afterwards. You'll find some things different......roofs are painted externally over here and much internal painting is applied with a spray gun (!)

[Bubbles]

They are far too busy to do a small cash job on my hose.

:laugh :laugh :laugh

Sorry bricky, had to laugh at that typo'
Welcome to the forum mate.

John

[Timbo]

Cheers Bricky. Welcome aboard by the way. Where abouts in sunny NZ are you?
Dont laugh Bubbles. Have you ever tried to paint the inside of one of those hose things. :roll

[Bubbles]

I can imagine it could get a tad tricky and you'd need a pretty steady hand.

:laugh

[bricky]

I guess that 'hose' thing could well haunt me for years to come.
Dam laptop. Trying to balance it on one knee while pouring another cold lager and admiring the views of Mount Grey from my verandah. Tough life.
I've been here two years, left sunny Milton Keynes and settled in Rangiora.

[Bubbles]

Milton Keynes you say, 3/4 hr drive from me in not so sunny Stevenage. I've spent many a happy hour fishing on the canal in and around MK.

Myself, I'm looking forward to sitting, pouring a beer and looking out over Tauranga harbour towards the Mount. :nice1

John