Kiwi economic refugees are fleeing NZ in droves
Kiwi exodus to Australia grows as pay gap widens. Photo / 123RF
THREE KEY FACTS
Given such matters are in vogue, I hereby request a pay equity claim.
Rather than race or gender, the presence or absence of one's C-word, this claim seeks to compare the wage of a New Zealander with that of his/her/its Australian equivalent.
The sad but inevitable trend
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[1] Marti Amos (Ngāpuhi), a former marketing lecturer at Otago University and the New Zealand-based head of The Professional Builder, says these issues are amplified by the industry's boom-and-bust cycle, cost-of-living crisis and a training model that prioritises trade skills over business acumen. [2] 'Kiwi tradespeople are trained to excel on-site, they are underprepared to manage the multimilliondollar business aspects of their work, with dire consequences for their mental wellbeing. 'Our construction workers account for about 7% of workingage male suicides – with nearly one worker losing his life to suicide each week and the avoidable burden and impact of suicide in the NZ construction industry has been estimated at $1.1 billion per annum,' he says. 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Amos says his concerns extend beyond the daily operational stresses that plague many builders. He says that without a proper understanding of financial management, many are left grappling with severe cashflow challenges, working long hours and sacrificing their personal lives – a situation that has, in many cases, led to overwhelming stress and deteriorating mental health. 'When you're constantly worrying about how to pay your subcontractors or secure payroll for the next week, it isn't just your business that suffers – it's your whole life,' he says. Amos says demand for targeted support from builders around the world is growing rapidly and his service, The Professional Builder (TPB), which started with a team of three people in 2004, has expanded to 56 and is projected to reach 100 employees within the next 18 months. Company revenue is also projected to double to $30 million within the same timeframe. 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'What we need is to implement business training into apprenticeship programmes to ensure that our future generations of builders are as adept at managing large-scale financial responsibilities as they are at delivering quality craftsmanship. 'With a vital sector at risk and the mental health of thousands hanging in the balance, my message is clear: reform is essential. 'As New Zealand's construction industry stands at a crossroads, stakeholders must adopt a more balanced training model – one that nurtures not only technical excellence but also financial literacy and sustainable business practices. 'This call for change is more than an economic imperative; it is a matter of safeguarding the well-being of those who build our nation,' he says. More information on The Profitable Builders Playbook is available here [1] BRANZ. (2024). Workplace psychosocial stressors in the construction industry. Retrieved from here. [2] BRANZ. (2024). Workplace psychosocial stressors in the construction industry. Retrieved from here. Marti Amos Marti Amos (Ngāpuhi) is a business strategist, entrepreneur, and global mentor who has helped over 2,500 building company owners scale their businesses and achieve financial independence. As the founder of The Professional Builder (TPB), he has built a team of 56 professionals operating across New Zealand, Australia, Canada, the UK, the US, and Puerto Rico, delivering business growth strategies for the construction sector. Born and raised in Stewart Island, Marti studied commerce at Otago University, where he pursued PhD research on branding. He lectured in Marketing and MBA programs, examined MCom theses, and worked as a Māori students' tutor and thesis officer in Otago's Commerce Division. As a Mannaki Scholarship recipient, he was also awarded the Otago University Postgraduate Māori Scholarship in 1998. 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