RICHARD AITKEN, chairman of the Construction Industry Strategy Group (CSG), says in an interview with Progressive Building magazine that he hopes the newly formed group will be able to give the construction industry a voice that Government will listen to. Aitken, who is also chairman of Beca, heads up a group consisting of some industry heavyweights, including: Peter Gomm, chief executive of Mainzeal, Richard Harris, chairman of Jasmax, David McConnell, MD of McConnell Group and Mark Binns, chief executive of Fletcher Building Research.

Aitken says in the interview, “We are a pan-industry group, we are not trying to cut across what the rest of the industry is doing. There are some prominent names from construction involved and this will be a voice Government can listen to.” He cites the weathertight homes situation as an issue the group can advise on. “Weathertight homes is a good example because it is an issue and a mess that we need to get fixed. It is not a five minute fix and New Zealand Inc. needs to move on it, not one party winning at the expense of others. The industry also needs to make sure that the right people are doing the remedial work and the right people are signing it off. That is a problem that we can have a view on and present that to Government.”

For the full  interview read the next issue of Progressive Building, which is out on the  20th August.