With New Zealand’s Construction Contracts Act now 20 years old, Tony Simonsen has a reminder of the ongoing issues within the sector around payments and trust. Working with construction lawyers such as Nick Gillies, Partner at Hesketh Henry, it becomes very clear that despite the fact we’ve hit a milestone with the Construction Contracts Act, there’s still a surprising lack of understanding about what the Act requires, as well as the tangible benefits and potential detriment of it. Ultimately, the Act is designed to benefit the entire industry right through the supply chain and support better cashflow. It aims to stop the traditional habit of withholding payment without a valid reason, and encourage better, more transparent practices between parties. It