The embattled construction firm took an almost R3 billion hit from its Probuild business in Australia in 2022, putting it into business rescue in February as it grappled with a tough operating environment.
Kiwi tradies are being lured with double pay, free travel to Melbourne and free rent for a year by Aussie builders venturing on to New Zealand building sites, a worker has claimed.
Residential construction costs have surged by 10 per cent in a year, almost double the 5.1 per cent inflation pace. Costs of timber and metal in particular are becoming much dearer.