ANNUAL CHAIRPERSON’S REPORT
Date: 15 November 2024
To the Board of the Building Official Institute of New Zealand
Please find below the annual report for Nelson/Marlborough Branch for the year 2024.
ANNUAL REPORT
I’d like to start by expressing my gratitude to all members of the Nelson/Marlborough Branch for their active participation and support. A special shout-out goes to Dhyanom Gala for his tenure as the Nelson/Marlborough Branch Chairperson. Dhyanom has stepped down to take on the role of Building Control Manager at Marlborough District Council. While he remains a loyal BOINZ member, he is now focused on his new role, and we wish him all the best. I hope as the newly appointed Branch Chairperson I can continue to build on Dhyanom’s great work. I would also like to extend my heartfelt thanks to Paul Guile, who has served as the Branch Secretary for many years, always going above and beyond. Our Branch would not be what it is today without his dedication. Thank you, Paul.
We are also truly grateful to BOINZ's National Office and membership relations staff for their ongoing support and confidence in this Branch to be able to deliver their member services.
Throughout the year we have successfully organised five Branch meeting and have had some interesting and informative guest speakers including:
- Russell Pedersen and Dan Reynolds from GIB
- Steve Power from Resene Construction Systems & Bryan Newman from Resene Paints
- Jeremy Cosgrove from Stop Digging
- Chris Siebert from Mainmark
- Kirsty Wallace BOINZ Professional Development Manager (by Zoom) introduced members to the Advanced Learning Workshop Series.
We have also had two site visits including:
- A visit to the new Envision Joinery Factory which opened in 2023
- Mark Thompson from Fairfield Construction and architect Meredith Robinson showed members through a partially completed $1.3 million conversion of a 1990’s dwelling to a passive house.
I want to thank all our presenters and sponsors without whom the success of these Branch meetings would not have been possible.
Some members attended the BOINZ Annual Conference & Expo 2024 which was hosted in Wellington, and the BOINZ SBCO Forum 2024 in Queenstown. Although overall numbers appeared to be down from previous years those that attended enjoyed both events. We are looking forward to the revamped BOINZ Annual Symposium and BCA Leadership Forum to be held at the new Te Pae Christchurch Convention Centre in May 2025.
Going forward into 2025 we plan to focus on:
- Membership Growth: Focus on increasing membership and participation from all three councils—Nelson City Council, Tasman District Council, and Marlborough District Council. Consider hosting open houses or informational sessions to attract new members.
- Engagement Activities: Organise more site visits and hands-on workshops. We are proposing to include tours of innovative construction projects or interactive sessions on the latest building technologies.
- Professional Development: Continue to invite expert speakers and offer advanced learning workshops. You could also explore partnerships with educational institutions for specialised training programs.
- Community Outreach: Increase visibility and engagement within the community. This could involve participating in local events, offering public seminars on building safety, or collaborating with other local organisations.
- Advocacy: Strengthen lobbying efforts to MBIE and the Minister of Building and Construction. Gather feedback from members on key issues and present a unified voice to influence policy changes.
- Networking Opportunities: Create more opportunities for members to network and share knowledge. This could include informal meetups, online forums, or collaborative projects.
Lastly, I wish to thank everyone for their participation and support. With continued support from our Branch members and National Office we expect the Branch to grow in membership and continue to provide benefit to its members. I am confident that with continued support, our Branch will achieve even greater success in the coming year.
Thank you.
Brendon Robertson
Chairperson
BOINZ Nelson/Marlborough Branch
