On Thursday 7 September, Ewan Brown from Tennent Brown Architects, James McLean and Max Christian from LT McGuinness, and Te Herenga Waka staff Rikipotiki, Rhonda, Lincoln, Rawinia, Linda, and Mike, hosted an induction for over 100 subcontractors and labourers working to build the Living Pā.

We shared parakuihi (breakfast) before diving into sessions on Te Herenga Waka Marae and the Living Building Challenge (LBC) values and philosophies, the vision for the Living Pā, LBC precedents and what its stringent requirements mean for each person on site. This group included our façade installers, plumbers, scaffolders, electricians, lift installers, security and data solutions folk, carpenters, roofers, height safety, drainage, landscaping workers, and more. We also ticked off VUW’s Health & Safety induction, thanks to Ronnie Cowley.

While an admittedly dense session, feedback was resoundingly positive. After the last induction, participants told the LT’s crew that they now understood why they have been asked ‘funny’ questions about recycling plans, the chemical make-up of glue, where galvanised bolts come from, and whether anyone wants to take home timber offcuts and other waste materials.

Ngā mihi ki a koutou katoa i tautoko mai i tēnei kaupapa—thanks to all involved: Argus Fire Protection, Stylecraft Stairs, Millars Electrical, NME Mechanical, Wights Aluminium, Viridian Glass, Kone Lifts, Turfreys roofing, Online Communications, Optic Security, Projex Electrical & Mechanical, Samson Building Services, Tana Scaffolding, NZ Ceilings, LTM Kaihangahanga Matua carpentry, Mana Builders, Personnel Touch Carpentry, Elegroup carpentry, Paul Reddish Decorators, PBI height safety, JFC civil drainage, and Bark landscaping.