Queenstown and Christchurch will next week host quarry industry leaders from around the world.
The first-ever meeting in New Zealand of the Global Aggregates Information Network (GAIN) will be attended by representatives of those who produce rock, aggregates and stone, the foundations of all construction, everywhere.
Hosting the meeting is NZ’s Aggregate & Quarry Association of NZ. AQA CEO Wayne Scott says the two-day GAIN meeting (July 4-5) provides an opportunity for members from Europe, North, Central and South America and Asia to discuss how each deal with the challenges of accessing and supplying quarrying materials.
“They face the same issues as New Zealand quarries – getting quarries consented, dealing with neighbours, meeting increasing sustainability requirements – and achieving recognition when many exceed those requirements.
“We all also face the realities of climate change. One consequence of more frequent, more savage floods and rising sea levels is that people need ready access to quarry materials to rebuild and make their homes and roads more resilient.”
“You can’t get those materials if you face years of delay to get a new quarry consented or an existing one approved.”
The issues discussed at the Queenstown GAIN meeting will flow on into the annual QuarryNZ conference at Christchurch’s Te Pae venue from July 5-7. This will be the biggest-ever annual gathering of the NZ quarry industry with around 600 people due to attend including some GAIN representatives. It is the first QuarryNZ conference in Christchurch since the 2010/11 earthquakes and marks the industry’s contribution to the city’s rebuild.
Editor’s note: The GAIN meeting is not open to media but a group photo session of the attendees is being held at Rydges QT on Monday July 3 at 12:45pm. Wayne Scott and some international attendees are also available for interviews. See below.
The QuarryNZ conference is open to media on July 6 and July 7 including a visit to a Canterbury quarry on Thursday afternoon. Media interested in a GAIN or QuarryNZ event or interview – contact AQA Communications Adviser, Brendon Burns – 0274 305501 brendon.burns1@gmail.com. He will also have photos of all events.