Bricks and bricklayers in short supply

People in Western Bay of Plenty are waiting up to four months for work to start on their houses because of a shortage of bricks and bricklayers.

The construction of more than 100 homes has stalled as the region's building boom fuels demand for bricklayers and exterior plasterers.

Bricklayers say the demand is the highest in a decade and some are turning down up to three jobs a day. All said they could not start any new jobs until next year.

This demand has also meant the cost of getting a bricklayer on the job had risen by up to a third in the past six months - the first major price increase in 10 years.

The pressure on bricklayers has also compounded a critical shortage in other trade services such as builders and electricians.

The Bay's building boom is being partly driven by the number of home-building consents in Tauranga, which have reached their third-highest peak since 1993.

Brick and Block Construction owner Russell Haslam said he advertised for workers for a month with no replies. He has 14 bricklayers working for him but he needs nearly double that. He hired one new worker from Britain and is thinking of employing more.

The Bay's building boom has also depleted brick supplies.

Brick supplier Trevor Stewart said all the bricks in his yard - enough for about 100 houses - were already sold.

He had sent for another one million bricks from Australia - about 200 house lots - and half had already been ordered.

"There is more demand for bricks than ever and I have been in the industry for more than 23 years," Mr Stewart said.

Many of New Zealand's bricks came from Australia and problems were compounded by a similar boom in Brisbane and Perth.

"We're waiting up to six weeks for Australian suppliers to fill orders when a year ago it would take two weeks," he said.

Reaction to the leaky homes syndrome had also put bricklayers' skills at a higher premium.

Bay of Plenty Master Builders Federation president George Francis said publicity about rotting houses had scared the public into building more brick-clad homes.

"People are definitely more cautious about wooden homes, " Mr Francis said.

- NZPA