City with most cranes

Auckland’s construction sector remains resilient amid the lockdowns, with the number of cranes in the city increasing.

Quantity surveying firm Rider Levett Bucknall’s half-yearly Crane Index shows there are 144 long-term cranes in the country, up from 136.

Auckland has the bulk of the cranes with 96, a significant net increase of 18 from six months ago.

Wellington has the secondhighest number with 16, then Christchurch on 14.

RLB director Chris Haines said the lockdown would be a bit of a blip for the sector.

“We’re hopeful that the construction will recommence in Auckland hopefully later next week, as it has in the rest of the country,” Haines said.

“It’s been difficult for contractors, subcontractors and clients in the industry. But it’s something the industry is used to and dealt with before. And as long as construction can get back next week, I’m sure we’ll be dealing with it again and the cranes will get moving again.”

The index has also again reaffirmed Auckland as the engine room of the country.

“Interestingly, this is the second-highest total number of cranes sighted in Auckland after 16 editions of the RLB Crane Index over the last eight years.

“Construction in the city has certainly bounced back strongly from a combination of a buoyant residential sector and a strong civil infrastructure sector.

“That includes some ‘shovel ready’ projects now on site, together with projects such as the City Rail Link and Watercare’s Central Interceptor which are now very active across multiple sites.”

Haines said the issues the sector experienced before lockdown were mainly around material supply and people supply.

“The material supply issue, in particular, will continue and possibly it will be exacerbated by the fact that manufactures, in particular, have been restricted or shut down,” he said.