NZ Manufacturer, November issue

 

Stephanie Adding, NZ Business Manager, Brickworks New Zealand

 *Tell readers about Brickworks?

Brickworks Building Products is one of the world’s largest and most diverse building material manufacturers. Our company has built an enduring reputation with our customers, we are loved for our innovation, professionalism and ever-dependable products and services.

Brickworks began in 1930 in Australia and now has 2,500 staff worldwide, 45 manufacturing plants, 54 Design Studios, Display & Masonry Supply Centres, 2,000+ products and 17 brands.

Brickworks has a strong presence in New Zealand and we have showrooms in Auckland, Hamilton and Christchurch.

Our Austral Bricks brand has been available in New Zealand since 1997 and our products feature prominently across many residential and commercial buildings in New Zealand including The Greenhouse by Ockham Residential in Auckland, and the Northern Quarter, a 5,500m² office and hospitality building in Tauranga CBD.

*Where is the Brickworks headquarters?

Sydney, Australia

*What does your company produce? 

We manufacture and supply clay bricks and pavers, masonry and stone, roofing, building systems and cement.

All our stocked 70mm bricks sold in New Zealand are curated by our local team here in New Zealand and are all manufactured to exposure grade.

We offer bespoke designs and products and work closely with our clients to meet their specific building needs and vision.

For example, for The Greenhouse project, we procured and manufactured custom green glazed bricks in 25 different shapes for Ockham Residential.

In terms of new products for the New Zealand market, we’ve recently just launched a CodeMark-certified brick facings panel system called Thin Tech Plus®.

This system is designed to speed up the construction process without the weight and space restrictions associated with traditional full brick veneers.

Measuring in at just 43mm thin (a traditional brick has a thickness of 120mm) and weighing only 49 kg/m² (a full brick veneer weighs 140–200 kg/m²), this medium-weight system has the added benefits of superior drainage and ventilation with its cavity-based design.

With Thin Tech Plus®, we’re excited to offer businesses and consumers in New Zealand more choices and design versatility in how they want to create and build their homes and spaces.

*Market expansion – where next? 

 For the New Zealand market, we’re investing more to expand our product range with a focus on more energy-efficient building solutions and introducing more advanced cladding systems such as Thin Tech Plus®.

*Where do you source raw materials? 

The majority of our raw materials are sourced from local quarries near our sites.

*How do you see current business conditions? 

The NZ building and development sector has faced significant headwinds over the last two to three years.

Challenges such as low building consent volumes, subdued net migration, high interest rates, and an oversupply of existing housing stock have created a difficult operating environment for builders and developers alike.

However, recent months have brought a noticeable shift in market sentiment. A drop in the Official Cash Rate (OCR) and subsequent easing of interest rates have sparked renewed confidence, leading to a measurable uptick in enquiries and commitments from Kiwis looking to build new homes – we’re optimistic about what’s ahead and the opportunities in the coming year.

Brickworks NZ will be moving to a new showroom in Kingsland (opening in late 2025) and we’re looking forward to introducing more new products to the New Zealand market.

*Staff retention – how are you finding the right staff? 

Brickworks NZ is committed to building and maintaining a strong, values-driven team.

We believe that a positive and enjoyable workplace culture is essential, not only for bringing out the best in our people, but for delivering the high standard of service our customers expect and every business aspires to.

A recent internal survey confirmed that Brickworks NZ is a place where people feel valued, supported, and proud to work.

Our workplace is regularly described by staff as rewarding, collaborative, and fulfilling, with an overwhelmingly high recommendation rate as an employer.

With staff retention at an all-time high, we’re proud of the culture we’ve built and remain committed to celebrating both personal and professional milestones within our team.

*Are U.S  tariffs affecting how you operate? 

Currently we are not directly affected.

 *We are curious – How would you define Productivity?

At Brickworks, we believe true productivity is more than just output numbers – it’s also about creating a meaningful and sustainable impact through our products and designs.

From manufacturing quality products and innovative systems to employee engagement and customer satisfaction, we measure our productivity in both quantitative and qualitative approaches to ensure long-term business success.