Established in 1975, the Crane Association of New Zealand (CANZ) represents a significant portion of the crane sector within NZ. The association strives to be the voice of the industry to Government and Local Authorities on issues ranging from permits, road user charges, road design, training to health and safety codes of practice and new innovatives.
This year the organisation is holding its annual conference in Napier Bay on the east coast of the country. The event will cover a range of issues in the region including training, which has undergone some interesting developments recently as CANZ’s president Grant Moffat explains:
"The new Industry Training Organisation (ITO) has taken over the training material supply and standard setting duties for the crane industry. The Skills Organisation, which is one of the larger ITO’s in New Zealand now are able to offer better service and increased coverage for all crane training requirements in New Zealand. With their strength and the Associations drive, this is an exciting time for crane training in NZ."
Training is a clear proirity for the association, this is reflected through its subsidiary "Crane Training Limited", that provides training and health & safety written material to all crane operators. The members endorse training to improve professionalism within the industry and the CANZ brand represents this professionalism. The association has a strategic partnership with the Skills Organisation who deliver crane qualifications in accordance with the National Quality Framework.
Another important issue for the association is regulation, and one piece of legislation that has been particularly significant has been the Road User Charges, a New Zealand law that makes heavy vehicle owners pay a separate fee for the upkeep of the country’s roads, as Grant Moffat explains: "It’s a hotly contested issue since the very first council meeting of the association. However we do see improvement happening, with more progress being made in the last 12 months than has happened in the last few years."
Constantly moving with the times the association is developing new ways to delivers information to its members across a range of platforms: "the drive to give our members "Value for Money" has also seen the council build more resources for the members and create a new website: www.cranes.org.nz resources are available when it suits the members online. Other aspects of the website include the self management of the members profile including their fleets and services, providing another marketing tool for them."
CANZ has significant relationships and partnerships both nationally and internationally, which its relationship with the Contractors Federation reflects. The organisation believes that industry associations must connect internationally and nationally with like-minded organisations to achieve high levels of professionalism in enabling safe and productive operational environments.
On a sadder note, this years event will be the first without former CANZ CEO Ian Grooby who died suddenly this year, "Ian Grooby, was our CEO for the last 16 years, the Association would not have achieved half as much without his input."
The CANZ conference takes place from 17-19 July. Cranes Today is the event’s official international media partner.
