Even a former building minister encourages everyone to get involved in homebuilding. What are you waiting for? More practical insights await in the ‘Subdivision for everyone’ seminar series!

The pandemic and border controls cannot stop industry exchanges between China and New Zealand. The power of modern online media makes anything possible. Jointly organised by the New Zealand Chinese Building Industry Association, YIJU New Zealand and 3A Events, with Germany’s BRAVAT as naming sponsor, the New Zealand satellite event for the Shenzhen International Finished Housing Exhibition and the opening seminar in the ‘Land subdivision’ series were successfully held in Auckland on 31 October. This was also the first major gathering of Chinese industry professionals in New Zealand since the pandemic began.

Nearly 200 professionals from New Zealand’s property, construction and related sectors gathered that day to learn from one another, share resources and discuss topics of keen interest. These included bringing the latest international construction technologies to the New Zealand market, prospects for prefabricated construction in New Zealand, and matters to consider in the early stages of subdivision projects. The attendance of numerous prominent guests further affirmed the irreplaceable role of Chinese developers and construction businesses in New Zealand’s building sector and in addressing the local housing crisis.

Prominent guests share their hopes for the Chinese building industry

Sarah Tong hosted the New Zealand satellite event, with Frank Xu, president of the New Zealand Chinese Building Industry Association (NZCBIA), delivering the opening welcome.

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Numerous prominent guests attended and spoke at the satellite event. They included former New Zealand Minister for Housing and Building and Construction Hon Jenny Salesa; National MP Melissa Lee; National MP and former Air New Zealand CEO Christopher Luxon; former MP and former chair of Parliament’s Justice Committee Raymond Huo; National Party list candidate Nancy Lu; Employers and Manufacturers Association chief executive Brett O’Riley; New Zealand China Trade Association deputy chair and former New Zealand trade commissioner in Guangzhou John Cochrane; and the executive vice-president of the New Zealand Guangdong Chamber of Commerce.

The guests fully acknowledged the irreplaceable position of Chinese developers and construction businesses in New Zealand’s building industry, and their important contribution to addressing the country’s housing crisis. They expressed their hope that the Chinese building industry, which had seized opportunities and worked hard to grow amid the pandemic crisis in 2020, would achieve even greater success in the future.

Connecting Shenzhen and Auckland

The New Zealand satellite event for the Shenzhen International Finished Housing Exhibition marked the first time New Zealand’s construction industry had used a video link to participate in one of China’s most important home fit-out exhibitions.

At the event, participants watched an impressive replay of the ‘Challenge the Impossible’ project and heard presentations from leading Chinese industry figures. These included Guan Yongkang, chief curator of the Shenzhen International Finished Housing Exhibition and director of the Shenzhen Furniture Association’s Finished Housing Research Institute; Zhou Yanmin, a professor at Tsinghua University’s School of Architecture; and Zhang Feng, chief engineer of Shenzhen Jinxin Green Building Co Ltd. Topics included: 

• ‘Integrated design leads the way’: an industrialised approach to home fit-outs underpinned by industrial design.
• Rethinking residential design during the pandemic.
• Building the main structure of a two-storey steel-framed home in 6 hours: an introduction to prefabricated steel-frame and lightweight-panel construction systems and their applications.

Although Auckland’s second lockdown had delayed the New Zealand satellite event, preventing live interaction with Shenzhen, the many local Chinese construction experts taking part were equally impressive. They shared their views on introducing and using integrated prefabricated buildings in New Zealand, discussing how to adapt them to local building conditions, ensure quality and compliance with New Zealand standards, reduce costs through integrated construction in China, and assess local market prospects. There was near-unanimous agreement that prefabricated buildings would secure a place in New Zealand’s future housing market. 

Practical insights fill the opening ‘Subdivision for everyone’ seminar

YIJU New Zealand and NZCBIA also used the occasion to launch the opening session of their specialist seminar series, ‘The golden age of subdivision for everyone: can anyone run a land subdivision project?’ The first seminar focused on ‘The early stages: market, design, engineering and finance’.

Five experts in property information, planning and design, policy interpretation, law and lending were invited to speak. Drawing on their specialist fields, they used professional explanations and case studies to outline the investment and preparation required in the early stages of a subdivision project, and how to avoid potential risks effectively.

     

• Leon Hong, also known as Heiyang, founder of property research website Fangyanwang co.nz and a former property information engineer at Auckland Council, introduced the website he had created. Unlike many property websites in New Zealand, Fangyanwang was designed specifically to save property professionals research time. From property searches tailored to developers’ needs and utility maps for designers and builders to a subdivision calculator for cost estimates, professionals across the sector can find the information and tools they need on the site.
  
  
• NZCBIA secretary-general and Archiland Auckland general manager Dylan Huang explained how to identify land suitable for medium-density subdivision, distinguishing between ‘Basic’ requirements and ‘Bonus’ features. Drawing on many years of industry experience, he also explained how to avoid potential risks involving budgets, utilities, rubbish and other issues when managing a subdivision.
  
  
• Ethan Fu, a guest lecturer at education and training provider BIET and a development engineer at Auckland Council, introduced New Zealand’s land development laws and regulations, covering land purchases, applications for land development consent, construction and permit applications. Although dedicated English-language webpages explain these rules, even industry professionals are often unfamiliar with many of the details. Ethan used case studies to explain the rules clearly and accessibly.
  
  
• Stella Chan, executive director of Forest Harrion Lawyer, used practical examples involving different residential title types and land sizes to explain legal issues in land transfers and subdivisions. From a lawyer’s perspective, she covered preparing easement documents for transfer and settlement, legal requirements for resource consent and building consent, legal considerations in unit and apartment construction such as body corporate management and common units, managing responsibilities in dealings with developers as clients, and matters to consider when applying for titles for new homes.
  
  
• York Zhang, chairman of Huarong Lending, has 16 years of financial industry experience. Drawing on practical cases, he explored how to maximise borrowing when applying for development and construction loans, considering both the types of loans available and the borrower’s status.

After the presentations, the experts answered further questions from the audience. Attendees made recordings, took photos or wrote notes, and said they had gained a great deal.

Whether the opening seminar left you keen to learn more about issues and solutions in the middle stages of a project, or time constraints meant your questions went unanswered, you are welcome to register for the next session on 19 November: ‘How to run a subdivision project efficiently: the middle stages — subdivision, engineering, materials and law’.

A lively reception, prize draw and auction

The event on 31 October offered more than serious professional discussion: it also gave participants a chance to meet new people and reconnect with old friends. A drinks reception generously sponsored by Baiqi Wines created a relaxed, welcoming atmosphere for industry colleagues gathering again after lockdown. Alongside a prize draw, an auction opened at $1. After spirited bidding, new appliances supplied by ROBAM sold at prices below their market value.

Registration for the second seminar is now open. We look forward to welcoming colleagues from across the property and construction industries!

Time: Thursday 19 November, 3:00pm–5:30pm

Venue: 153 Captain Spring Road, Onehunga, Auckland

Scan the QR code to register