European builders are in demand in New Zealand as reconstruction continues following earthquakes in Christchurch earlier this year, reports Radio New Zealand News.

Jason Walker, managing director of multi-sector recruiter Hays in New Zealand, says that although issues with insurance have held back residential reconstruction, a number of building and demolition projects are requiring skilled tradespeople.

This demand will also be met by returning ex-pats, with both New Zealanders and British workers expected at events in London and Manchester next month organised by the Canterbury Employment and Skills Board (CESB), the region where Christchurch is the main city.

CESB deputy chairman Alex Bouma told news site stuff.co.nz: “There is going to be huge economic opportunity in Canterbury over the next three to 10 years and that’s the message we want to get out at these UK expos.”

Bouma said that the board was hoping to bring “hundreds” of workers to Canterbury, adding that aside from construction, demand would be strong in health, manufacturing and IT.

But immediate recruits may not necessarily be the order of the day. Last week Recruiter reported that while a number of sectors were set to recruit, in many cases this was most likely to happen after the Rugby World Cup, which has monopolised the nation’s attention, finishes on 23 October and the next general election takes place on 26 November.