FloorNZ Newsletter – December 2025

As we near the 2025 years end and look forward to a holiday break, our final newsletter provides a brief update of what FloorNZ looks forward to providing members in 2026.

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Regional Meetings

These were popular in 2025, so we will be running regional meetings again in 2026. There will be more information to come in the New Year on the guest speakers/topics, as well as the areas and timing for these.

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Advocacy Work

Key area — the government’s building reforms continue for the construction industry. While this has been a slow burn, we are making some headway with MBIE in working through this.
The government’s focus has been fast-tracking legislation to provide an easier building consenting process, proportional liability responsibilities, and licensing for internal membranes in bathrooms. This has resulted in the work on E3 AS/1 with MBIE taking a back seat. However, MBIE have recently contacted FloorNZ to start looking at E3 AS/1. As this document covers other construction areas as well as flooring, they anticipate this to be completed in 2027.
We have a FloorNZ working group currently developing a floating floor installation code of practice to standardise compliance with the relevant Building Code internal moisture and durability clauses. More on this work will follow in the New Year.

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Excellence in Flooring Awards – Get Involved!

We encourage members to:
✔ Nominate exceptional projects and individuals
✔ Sponsor by becoming a Gold, Silver, Bronze, or Table sponsor to promote your business.
✔ Attend the celebration evening to connect with  industry peers  

A celebration evening will be held on Thursday, 7 May 2026 in Auckland, where finalists will be showcased and the winners announced. It will be a fantastic opportunity to recognise excellence, network, and share pride in our industry.

Entries are now open and available on the FloorNZ website.

The cut-off date for nominations is mid-March, with early bird special if put through by end of February.

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Training

NZQA has accepted our request to transfer our PTE status from ATI to FloorNZ (The New Zealand Flooring Training Organisation Incorporated).  All our functions will now be undertaken under the FloorNZ banner, with the training centre in Christchurch referred to as FloorNZ’s Training Academy.

The vocational training space has undergone considerable change, with Te Pūkenga now disestablished.  The BCITO has been re-established, and FloorNZ will continue to contract block course training for apprentices in 2026.

A pilot programme with the BCITO is planned for the first half of 2026 to engage employers and schools in the Waikato region. If you are in the Waikato region and can offer onsite work experience for school students as part of the Gateway programme, please let us know. After the pilot is complete, it is intended to run throughout the country.

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Industry Support for Training

A big thank you to the following suppliers of materials, tools, and assistance for block course training in 2025. Without this support we sould not be able to provide the necessary training for the flooring industry.

• Ardex New Zealand
• DGL Bondlast
• Bremworth New Zealand
• Dunlop Flooring
• Gilt Edge
• Godfrey Hirst
• Harrisons Flooring
• Hills Commercial Floors Christchurch
• Inzide
• Jacobsen
• Carr – Leister Welding Equipment
• Look Floors
• Robert Malcolm
• Trade Floor Supplies
• Uzin

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