Engineers to the Contract (EtC) are a crucial element in the successful delivery of many key infrastructure projects, especially those in the construction sector. They ensure contracts between clients and suppliers are managed fairly, impartially and efficiently. Finding the right person to fill this role, however, can be a source of frustration, particularly with ongoing skills shortages and the increasing demand and complexity of New Zealand’s construction sector infrastructure industry.

Recently, the Construction Sector Accord supported Engineering New Zealand to develop an independent EtC Panel for NZS 3910 (the standard form used for the majority of contracts in the construction and infrastructure sector).

Only 40 engineers from across New Zealand were chosen to sit on the panel. Three of them  – Steve Griffith, Martin Leak and Peter Bailey, are from Resolve Group.

Members of the new panel are qualified and trusted EtCs, with the expertise and independence needed for decision-making across a range of different projects. The new panel identifies industry professionals that have the requisite skills and experience. The panel’s work will help raise the bar for others in the sector through developing resources and guidance for new EtCs, procurers of EtCs and the wider construction industry.

Panel members were evaluated by a cross-industry Steering Group via a comprehensive review process, including a written application, interview and referee check. The steering group also developed a Code of Ethics to clarify and set expectations for the professional attitude and behaviours of panel members. All parties –contractors, principals, EtCs and others – will benefit from knowing who has been recognised as capable of fulfilling the duties of the role. Panel members have been appointed for a three-year term.

“We are very pleased to have three members of our staff selected; this will provide some internal resilience and training opportunities for us and for the panel,” says Steve Griffith (Service Line Leader – Delivery).

The panel’s work will help ‘raise the bar’ for others in the sector through developing resources and guidance for new EtCs, procurers of EtCs and the wider construction industry.

We’re excited to share that Resolve Group is now certified Net Carbon Zero.

With the help of Toitū Envirocare (which provides gold standard accreditation with internationally recognised carbon and environmental programmes), we measured emissions resulting from operational activities, purchased energy, and selected impacts from value chain activities, including business travel, freight, and waste sent to landfill.

We invested in carbon credit projects to compensate for the Toitū mandatory emissions resulting from our operations this year, and have chosen to include more than the mandatory minimum. Since we made that choice, though, there have been signals that the minimum will be expanded in future; it is good to know we are well placed to meet more stringent requirements when they arrive.

We are currently focused on the following goals:

1. Reducing emissions from company vehicles
2. Reducing usage of electricity in the office
3. Reducing emissions from staff commuting

Our business manager, Dawn Collyns, says, “We found the process to be very rigorous and I was surprised when the auditor wanted to look at our office fire extinguishers – it had not occurred to me that the gases in those contribute to our greenhouse gas emissions.” She is particularly grateful to our resident economist, Nik Vorster, who was tasked with some serious data crunching, which he luckily excels at; and to Stuart McDougall, who is leading the process of developing a Travel Plan for employees in order to meet our third reduction target, helped by several staff members with expertise in this area.

Resolve Group is committed to doing no harm while continuing to work on reducing emissions, and we want you to know that we understand you have challenging climate change targets of your own. We are pleased that we are now able to also support our clients’ climate change goals as we work together to be good ancestors and achieve meaningful outcomes for New Zealand.