Chief Executive's Upfront
Industry's Brief to Incoming Ministers

With the recent change in Government Concrete NZ distributed a Briefing to Incoming Ministers (BIM) which outlined key policy matters that Ministers overseeing portfolios pertinent to the concrete industry should address promptly during their initial period in office.

Rob Gaimster, Chief Executive

The BIM was an introductory briefing, with more in-depth discussion sought via in-person meetings with Ministers and their officials.

Concrete NZ conveyed a desire for governmental backing to realize several objectives, which the BIM categorized into three overarching themes: reducing emissions, exploring innovative applications of concrete in road construction, and addressing regulatory obligations.

1: WORK WITH INDUSTRY TO IMPLEMENT NET ZERO CARBON 2050 ROADMAP
For low-carbon concrete to become widely adopted, Concrete NZ recommended that government create explicit requirements for the use of low-carbon concrete in government-procured infrastructure and buildings, and formally recognise related savings in CO2 emissions and whole-of-life cost through government guidance.

This would give certainty to industry that this is the correct pathway for cement manufacturers to take. It would also require amendments to building codes, standards, certifications, other incentives. A range of policies to help create and educate the market, and policies for information disclosure, and certification for quality would need to be drafted.

Under this theme, Concrete NZ also urged government to formalise the recognition of the ability of exposed concrete to capture atmospheric carbon dioxide (a natural process called carbon uptake), which has been formally recognised by the UN Intergovernmental Panel for Climate Change (IPCC).

The New Zealand Emissions Reduction Plan and related emissions budgets should take account of carbon uptake in concrete. This would help building and infrastructure owners to account for the CO2 that exposed concrete absorbs over time, e.g., as part of their asset management to achieve Green Star and/or other lower-carbon recognition schemes.

The concrete industry’s need for a clear regulatory framework for the use and recognition of carbon capture utilisation and storage (CCUS) was also articulated. The energy sector is leading work in this area, and Concrete NZ supports their efforts to create an environment where CCUS is part of a suite of measures to reduce New Zealand’s greenhouse gas emissions, effectively and affordably.

2: INNOVATIVE USE OF CONCRETE IN ROADING
The Concrete NZ BIM expressed industry wish to work with government to pilot concrete road pavements (i.e., the rigid surface layer of a road that is in direct contact with vehicle tyres) in New Zealand.

Currently the NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi prefers asphalt for road surface construction, and we presume this stems from a lack of expertise in the use of concrete.

Industry sees an opportunity for concrete as a more resilient and durable material that would not require anywhere near the same level of repairs and maintenance or cause as many potholes. This pilot could take the form of a section of a new Road of National Significance.

Approximately half of roading in the US is made of concrete, which by itself demonstrates a business case for concrete. Having two broad categories of pavement type also strengthens competition between roading contractors and providers.

At the same time concrete roads absorb atmospheric CO2, hence they are lower-carbon, cheaper and more resilient over whole of life, which extend far beyond Waka Kotahi’s modest aspirations for state highways.

Overseas modern examples of concrete roads, built in the right place, have proven to be resilient, strong, and reduce the cost of constant maintenance that other materials require.

Industry partners are primed to bring in global expertise for such a pilot and to leverage their experience from around the world.

Concrete NZ encourages officials to consider the resilience properties of concrete when procuring key infrastructure such as bridges, and take a materials-agnostic view for major transport projects.

3: FIT-FOR-PURPOSE BUILDING REGULATORY SYSTEM
The BIM emphasised the need for a Building Regulatory system that creates a level playing field for materials, so suppliers have certainty for future investments; that is, a Building Regulatory System that requires a full and equitable life-cycle analysis for all structural materials.

The minimum building design life should be increased from 50 years to 100 years in the New Zealand Building Code. This better recognises the capability of concrete and associated structures to be resilient and stand the test of time. It would also enable building owners to better account for the realistic costs of a building’s expected lifespan.

The Standards system for building and construction is broken because of significant under investment over recent decades. The Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment presides over significant capital in a memorandum account which should be diverted to fund the development and improvement of building and construction standards. This would require legislative change to redirect this funding.

Concrete NZ’s broad focus is to work towards optimising a resilient built environment that benefits all New Zealanders.

The concrete industry shares the new National-led Government's ambition to build a strong, resilient New Zealand that is fit for the future, and looks forward to working together to ensure New Zealand has quality infrastructure and housing, which will be key to economic success and enhanced wellbeing.