Why Study / Key Benefits

The Construction Contracts Act 2002 (CCA) is an important part of New Zealand's construction industry. It establishes rules for construction payments, retention money, payment disputes and adjudication.

This NZIHT course is designed to help participants understand the Act and how it affects their responsibilities in construction contracts.

Key benefits include:

• Understand the main provisions and practical application of the Construction Contracts Act 2002.

• Learn how the Act applies to construction contracts in New Zealand, including written, oral and partly written agreements.

• Understand the protection of retention money withheld under commercial construction contracts.

• Develop knowledge of fair and appropriate construction payment procedures.

• Understand how to submit payment claims under the Act.

• Learn about the adjudication process for resolving construction payment disputes.

• Understand the enforcement mechanisms available to recover unpaid amounts.

• Use the course notes as a reference when dealing with construction-contract payment matters.

Programme Structure and Subjects / Topics

The course is a three-hour session covering the practical application of the Construction Contracts Act 2002.

The latest official brochure identifies the following topics:

• Key content and provisions of the Construction Contracts Act 2002.

• What the Act means in real construction-project situations.

• How to submit payment claims under the Act.

• The adjudication process.

The course also addresses four key objectives of the legislation:

1. Protecting retention money withheld under commercial construction contracts.

2. Supporting a fair, balanced and appropriate payment regime.

3. Providing a fast and cost-effective adjudication process for people involved in disputes.

4. Providing enforcement mechanisms to recover payments that have not been made.

 

Learning outcomes

On completion, participants are expected to:

• Use the course notes as an up-to-date reference on the CCA.

• Become familiar with the key provisions of the Act.

• Understand how to use the Act to pursue payment for construction work.

• Understand the payment-claim process.

• Develop familiarity with the adjudication procedure.

• Better understand how the Act applies to clients, consultants and contractors.

Relevant legislation

The Construction Contracts Act 2002 covers several important areas, including:

• Progress payments and payment provisions.

• Payment claims and payment schedules.

• Retention money protections.

• Suspension of construction work in certain circumstances.

• Adjudication of construction disputes.

• Enforcement of adjudicators' determinations.

Disciplines / Specialisations

The course is relevant to the following professional areas:

• Construction management.

• Project management.

• Contract administration.

• Civil engineering.

• Infrastructure and road construction.

• Commercial construction.

• Construction consultancy.

• Construction procurement and payment management.

• Construction dispute resolution.

• Contractual risk management.

Programme Highlights

• Three-hour live online Zoom training.

• Two published sessions: December 2026 and March 2027.

• Presenter: Fiona Knight.

• Designed for construction clients, consultants and contractors.

• Covers the Construction Contracts Act 2002 and its practical application.

• Explains retention-money protection.

• Covers construction payment claims.

• Introduces adjudication as a mechanism for resolving construction disputes.

• Explains the enforcement mechanisms available to recover unpaid construction payments.

• Provides course notes for future reference.

• No physical campus attendance is required.

Career Outcomes

This course is intended to improve the contractual and payment-management knowledge of people already working in construction and infrastructure.

Relevant professional roles include:

• Construction contract administrator.

• Contract manager.

• Project manager.

• Construction supervisor.

• Civil engineering project coordinator.

• Contractor's representative.

• Engineer's representative.

• Construction consultant.

• Commercial construction manager.

• Infrastructure project coordinator.

• Construction payment and claims administrator.

Latest Updates / Special Requirements

The latest official brochure was updated on 28 September 2026.

Current course information:

• Course duration: 3 hours.

• Delivery: Live online Zoom.

• Presenter: Fiona Knight.

• December 2026 session: 16 December, 9:00 am–12:00 pm.

• March 2027 session: 1 March, 9:00 am–12:00 pm.

• International fee: NZD 345 plus GST for the 2026 session.

• International fee: NZD 395 plus GST for the 2027 session.

Special requirements:

• Each participant must have a computer or laptop.

• A camera and internet connection are compulsory.

• Participants must be able to join the live Zoom session.

• Overseas participants should confirm the time zone and session joining instructions.

• The course focuses on New Zealand's Construction Contracts Act 2002, so its legal content is specific to construction contracts covered by New Zealand law.

International Student Visa Requirements

This course is delivered entirely online through Zoom. International participants who attend from their home country do not need a New Zealand student visa or visitor visa solely to participate in the online training.

If attending from outside New Zealand

• No New Zealand visa is required solely for remote participation.

• Participants need internet access, a suitable device and the Zoom joining details.

• Participants should confirm the session time in their own time zone.

If travelling to New Zealand to attend

Immigration New Zealand allows people holding an appropriate Visitor Visa to study for up to three months in any 12-month period. Eligible visa-waiver visitors can also study short courses for up to three months, subject to their travel and visa conditions.

Relevant conditions include:

• Visitors must meet the requirements of their visa.

• Visitor Visa applicants must have plans to leave New Zealand at the end of their stay.

• They must have sufficient funds for living expenses or an acceptable sponsor.

• A Visitor Visa does not provide general employment rights in New Zealand.

• Study must remain within the permitted short-course period.

• Study lasting more than three months generally requires an appropriate student visa.

For applicants travelling on an Indian passport

• India is not included in New Zealand's visa-waiver country list.

• Indian passport holders generally need to obtain a Visitor Visa before travelling to New Zealand.

• Applicants should provide evidence of the purpose of their visit, sufficient funds or acceptable sponsorship, and plans to leave New Zealand.

• The current Visitor Visa page lists a starting application cost of NZD 441 and states that 80% of applications are processed within two weeks. These figures can change and are not guaranteed processing times for an individual application