'Relentless’ price increases choking life out of construction

'Relentless’ price increases choking life out of construction
Pricing home builds is a 'moving feast', builders say. (Image: Getty)
Brent Melville
It’s mid-February and builder Ross Fickling says he’s already faced up to two hefty price increases and delays to key building materials needed to finish off residential jobs.Fickling, who’s run RGF Construction on Auckland’s North Shore for the past seven years, has three sites on the go but said the costing for each was a "moving feast".That presents problems for him as a builder and then, problems for the developer or owner.Colour steel and aluminium joinery prices have jumped between 10%-to-20% while some c...

More Infrastructure

Global coalition to stop building the same road twice
Infrastructure

Global coalition to stop building the same road twice

You get $4 in benefits for every $1 invested in infrastructure resilience, CDRI says.

Dileepa Fonseka 06 Oct 2025
Auckland’s Milldale housing project approved
Policy

Auckland’s Milldale housing project approved

The project is the third approved since applications opened in February.

Michael Neilson 03 Oct 2025
Northport expansion gets green light, updated conditions
Infrastructure

Northport expansion gets green light, updated conditions

Shares in Port of Tauranga, which owns 50% of Northport, rose 2% after the news.

John Anthony 03 Oct 2025
Industry backs government freight strategy moves
Infrastructure

Industry backs government freight strategy moves

The move will strengthen supply chain resilience.

Rebecca Howard 02 Oct 2025