New Zealand’s construction leaders say government rhetoric is undercutting their climate progress. They caution that rollbacks on environmental protections could stall momentum in sustainable building.
Industry Accuses Government of Dismissing Climate Efforts
Holcim New Zealand’s sustainability head Chris Johnstone said at the Green Property Summit that politicians and the media were undervaluing the industry’s environmental efforts. “There’s a lot of conscious effort in managing these impacts even though some politicians and media discussions play them down,” Johnstone said. “And that was not doing the sector a good service.”
Scrapping of Key Sustainability Projects Raises Concerns
Johnstone argued that reforms to the Resource Management Act and a push for oil and gas exploration dismissed the compliance work already done by construction firms. Labour’s energy spokesperson Megan Woods criticised the Government’s decision to abandon initiatives such as the NZ Battery Project and the industrial decarbonisation fund.
“If you don’t want to do pumped hydro, that’s fine. But it is a dereliction of duty of the Government to stop doing work on affordable solutions,” Woods said. “We need to start equating in the public mind that actually, sustainability saves money… The vast majority of people would say it costs more. It doesn’t have to be the case.”
Holcim Expands Low-Carbon Construction Solutions
Holcim has continued to roll out low-emissions projects despite the political climate. Its new concrete ranges, Ecolant and Ecopact, cut carbon emissions by 30% compared with standard mixes.
The company has also opened a low-carbon cement import facility in Auckland capable of producing up to 17 tonnes per hour of granulated blast furnace slag — a by-product that strengthens concrete while reducing emissions.
“Permeable concrete remains under-utilised in New Zealand, but it can reduce the need for stormwater infrastructure, replenish groundwater, and mitigate heat island effects,” Johnstone said.
Holcim has further partnered with the International Union for Conservation of Nature to monitor biodiversity across its quarries, making it one of just three companies globally to adopt the target.
NZ Steel Targets Emissions Cuts with Electric Arc Furnace
NZ Steel is advancing an electric arc furnace at Glenbrook in a bid to cut emissions. Once completed in 2026, the furnace will run on recycled scrap steel and is expected to lower national emissions by 1%.
“For standard builds you’re going to see that huge reduction just by continuing to use locally made products,” said sustainability manager Israel McDonald. “Based on steel reductions alone you can achieve up to 35% lower embodied carbon in a typical warehouse build, and again 35% in multi-storey offices.”
McDonald described the project as a “game changer.”
Business Commitment to Decarbonisation Despite Policy Shifts
The tension between shifting policy and industry investment continues to grow. Construction leaders argue they are already making major contributions to decarbonisation but fear political moves may stall progress.
“Abandoning projects… would make the transition harder and more expensive in the long run,” Woods stated.