Building Monopolies Busted: Tradies And Home Buyers To Benefit From Cheaper Materials
'Builders and tradies are finally free to use materials trusted and approved around the world,' says ACT Building and Construction spokesperson Cameron Luxton, Parliament's only licensed builder.
'For years, outdated red tape has locked our building industry into high-cost, low-choice options. Dumb rules kept out better, cheaper, and more innovative products. This stifled competition, inflated prices, and put the dream of home ownership out of reach for too many Kiwis.
"I remember the plasterboard supply crisis back in 2022 and how it crippled the building industry. Only a Government could create the absurd situation where there's a black market for plasterboard. Tomorrow's changes will break up the plasterboard monopoly and have similar effects for products all across the sector.
'Plasterboard in New Zealand costs 67% more than in the US and Canada, and 38% more than in Australia. That's not because ours is better, it's because tradies haven't been allowed to use anything else.
'More competition doesn't just help those who choose the new products, it forces existing suppliers to drop their prices or risk losing out.
'This is how ACT thinks across the board. We're already streamlining medicine approvals, and we're pushing to open the supermarket sector to more overseas players. When there's more choice and more competition, Kiwis get better products at better prices.'
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
NZ Herald
2 hours ago
- NZ Herald
Is it time to curb our fast-fashion addiction?
April saw the 12th anniversary of the Rana Plaza garment factory collapse in Bangladesh, a tragedy that took the lives of more than 1100 workers and left thousands more injured. Structural failures and poor building safety rules were blamed for the disaster. A report highlighted atrocious working conditions and a lack of safety regulations. Ultimately, the collapse became a symbol for the dangers in the production of what has come to be known as 'fast fashion' and sparked a global call for reforms. Workplace safety, supply chain transparency and brand accountability were all in the spotlight, but tangible outcomes have been slow and mixed. The term fast fashion refers to hastily produced and marketed clothing trends that are, for the most part, manufactured in high volume and sold cheaply. It is widely agreed that fast fashion exploits people and the environment. But what does this have to do with Kiwi consumers? A 2023 report prepared for Auckland Council found Aucklanders consume more than 24,000 tonnes of fashion clothing a year, while retaining just 7800 tonnes for continued use and wear. That excess clothing is, in some cases, recycled, but with fewer clothing bins around and second-hand shops not always accepting used clothing, it can be difficult to pass on the unwanted apparel. Estimates suggest Kiwis send about 180,000 tonnes of clothing and textile waste to landfills every year. Last week, US President Donald Trump signed an executive order ending the de minimis trade loophole that allows for low-value goods to be shipped to the US duty-free. This will likely impact fast-fashion online shopping platforms such as Chinese retail giants Temu and Shein, for which the US is a huge market. If, when that US$25 dress becomes US$35, US consumers could well look elsewhere for their cheap clothing fix. If those giant global retailers decide to seek out new markets, Kiwis' desire for the latest fashion trends at a cheap price could make us a sound target. While not all cheaper fashion is unethical, it is perhaps time all of us took a moment to question the provenance of that top, or those shorts, before hitting the pay now button. Sign up to the Daily H, a free newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
NZ Herald
14 hours ago
- NZ Herald
Local elections 2025: Meet the Hamilton City Council candidates
Aside from the above, there are 22 candidates standing for the six vacancies in Hamilton's East ward. They are: business director Rachel Afeaki, Stuart Aitken, Act party candidate Preet Dhaliwal, Marie Hamilton, Louise Harvey, Suhair Hassan, former council candidate Horiana Henderson, Peter Humphreys, Tim Hunt, previous council candidate Jason Jonassen, Leo Liu, Danielle Marks, Alexander Mcconnochie, former Labour MP Sue Moroney, previous council candidate Jenny Nand, Jono Ng, Turi Robinson, former Labour MP Jamie Strange, Jackie Talbot, as well as current councillors Andrew Bydder, Anna Casey-Cox and Maxine Van Oosten. Current councillor Kesh Naidoo-Rauf announced last month she would be stepping down to spend more time with her family. She served on the council for two terms. On LinkedIn, Naidoo-Rauf said the decision to step down hadn't been easy. 'But the passing of my beautiful mum earlier this year reminded me to slow down and be present for my family, for life beyond the busy rhythm of public service. 'I'm proud to have been the first South African-born and Indian-descent councillor elected in Hamilton, and one of the very few to welcome a baby while in office.' Candidate nominations closed last week. Voting opens in September. In the West ward, 13 candidates, aside from Taylor and Thomson, have put their names forward for the six vacancies. They are: Paul Alforque, Matthew Beveridge, Modern Transport Group chief financial officer Mark Flyger, Act candidate Nidhita Gosai, previous council candidate Mesh Macdonald, Allan Mckie, JP and celebrant Graeme Mead, previous council candidate Michael West, and Roderick Young, as well as current councillors Louise Hutt, Angela O'Leary, Emma Pike and Geoff Taylor. Current councillor Ewan Wilson announced in July that he would not seek re-election and would be taking up a job as a Commissioner of the Environment Court. Wilson has been a councillor for 18 years across six terms. Announcing his decision on social media, he said it was time for a new chapter. 'I've genuinely loved being part of the conversations and decisions that have helped shape our city ... but the time feels right. 'I've recently been appointed as a Commissioner of the Environment Court, starting in early 2026. While it's a shift in direction, I'll remain based here in Hamilton and very much part of our community.' In the Kirikiriroa Maaori ward, six candidates have announced their candidacy for the two vacancies. They are: Jarrad Gallagher, Lawrence Jensen, Robbie Neha, Andrew Pope, Jahvaya Wheki and current councillor Maria Huata. Current councillor Moko Tauariki is not seeking re-election. Nominations closed last week. Candidate profiles will be published on the council's website soon. Voting packs will start arriving in the mail from September 9. Voters are asked to post their ballots by October 7 to guarantee they will arrive in time to be counted. There is no online voting. Until October 11, voting papers can also be hand-delivered to the council's office in Garden Place or dropped off at ballot box locations around the city. Votes received after midday on October 11, won't be counted. Alongside the candidates, Hamiltonians will be asked to vote in a binding poll on whether the city's Kirikiriroa Maaori ward should continue beyond the 2028 election. In the 2022 local election, only 29.4% of eligible Hamiltonians voted. For more information visit
NZ Herald
17 hours ago
- NZ Herald
Ikea reveals top five must-have products for Kiwis ahead of NZ launch
Swedish home furnishing giant Ikea has unveiled five items tipped to be the products Kiwis will snap up when they go on sale in New Zealand - including an iconic unit that the company claims to sell every five seconds. Ikea's flagship New Zealand store is scheduled to open at
