At Navig8, we believe that a thriving construction sector is built on strong, capable people. Training & Upskilling is our way of working alongside you to grow the skills and confidence of individuals and teams – helping everyone play their part in delivering better project outcomes and a more resilient industry.
We offer practical, engaging training developed by practitioners, for practitioners – bringing real-world experience and commercial insight to every session. Whether you’re new to construction contracts or an experienced professional, our courses are designed to make complex topics relatable, memorable, and immediately useful on your projects.
A practitioners’ perspective on the 2023 updates, their practical impact, and how they drive industry progress.
This session offers a clear, practical guide to the changes in NZS 3910:2023, helping you understand what’s new and why it matters. You’ll learn how these updates promote better collaboration and clarity among contract participants, and how to use them to address issues earlier and elevate your current projects. Ideal for anyone wanting to stay ahead in New Zealand’s evolving construction landscape.
2 hour webinar format
Using commercial awareness to introduce developing practitioners to construction contracts and 3910:2023.
Designed for those new or adjacent to construction contracts and wanting to understand more, this course demystifies the often-complex world of standard contracts. You’ll gain a solid understanding of why contracts matter, the structure of NZS 3910, and the roles and responsibilities of everyone involved. By the end, you’ll have the core skills to use contracts confidently and create successful outcomes on any project.
Full day in-house or online workshop
Diving into the practical application of processes within 3910 for anyone involved in contract administration.
This course brings NZ’s most commonly used construction contract to life through real-world scenarios and anecdotes. You’ll explore the duties of all contract participants, learn how to get underway, understand the importance of the programme and completion dates, and master the processes for payment and managing change. Whatever your role in the construction ecosystem is, you’ll build confidence and familiarity with NZS 3910 and contract delivery best practices.
Full day in-house or online format
Preparing experienced construction professionals to excel as Independent Certifiers under NZS 3910.
For those aiming to become trusted Independent Certifiers, this advanced programme focuses on the nuances of the NZS 3910 contractual framework. Through interactive sessions, case studies, and hands-on exercises, you’ll refine your ability to act independently and impartially, assess complex claims, and make decisions that support successful project outcomes. This course is ideal for experienced practitioners ready to take on greater responsibility in contract administration.
1.5 day scenario based learning session
Bespoke training arrangements are available on request to meet your team’s specific needs.
Who this is for / Pre-requisite
Practitioners who already know NZS 3910 (2013); must be familiar enough that you do not need an introduction to the previous version.
Graduates, new entrants and those new to NZ contracts and contract administration; no prerequisites.
Current contract administrators, QS, client reps, contractor/principal reps; should have some practical experience with NZS 3910.
Senior/advanced construction professionals seeking to act as, or work with, Independent Certifiers; substantial contract admin experience required.
Focus
Key differences between 2013 & 2023 versions, with emphasis on practical industry impact and improved day-to-day practice.
Foundations of NZS 3910, roles, responsibilities, and the basics of how standard contracts shape project success.
Real-world contract administration: applying NZS 3910 processes, payments, change management, and collaboration on live projects.
High-level, impartial certifier role – advanced contract analysis, decision-making, dispute resolution, and managing complex projects.
Key learning outcomes
Master what’s changed and why, clarify roles under the new standard, and leverage 2023 improvements for better outcomes.
Understand contract essentials, why standard forms matter, and the basics necessary for practitioner success.
Build confidence with contract roles, core clauses, and best industry practices for practical contract management.
Deepen certifier expertise: knowing your role, acting impartially, making decisions, mechanisms to resolve matters early and avoid disputes, and balancing contract components to enable project success.
Delivery format
Interactive 2-hour webinar
Full-day workshop (in-house or online)
Full-day workshop (in-house or online)
1.5-day workshop (in-house only)
Who this is for / Pre-requisite
Practitioners who already know NZS 3910 (2013); must be familiar enough that you do not need an introduction to the previous version.
Focus
Key differences between 2013 & 2023 versions, with emphasis on practical industry impact and improved day-to-day practice.
Key learning outcomes
Master what’s changed and why, clarify roles under the new standard, and leverage 2023 improvements for better outcomes.
Delivery format
Interactive 2-hour webinar
Who this is for / Pre-requisite
Graduates, new entrants and those new to NZ contracts and contract administration; no prerequisites.
Focus
Foundations of NZS 3910, roles, responsibilities, and the basics of how standard contracts shape project success.
Key learning outcomes
Understand contract essentials, why standard forms matter, and the basics necessary for practitioner success.
Delivery format
Full-day workshop (in-house or online)
Who this is for / Pre-requisite
Current contract administrators, QS, client reps, contractor/principal reps; should have some practical experience with NZS 3910.
Focus
Real-world contract administration: applying NZS 3910 processes, payments, change management, and collaboration on live projects.
Key learning outcomes
Build confidence with contract roles, core clauses, and best industry practices for practical contract management.
Delivery format
Full-day workshop (in-house or online)
Who this is for / Pre-requisite
Senior/advanced construction professionals seeking to act as, or work with, Independent Certifiers; substantial contract admin experience required.
Focus
High-level, impartial certifier role – advanced contract analysis, decision-making, dispute resolution, and managing complex projects.
Key learning outcomes
Deepen certifier expertise: knowing your role, acting impartially, making decisions, mechanisms to resolve matters early and avoid disputes, and balancing contract components to enable project success.
Delivery format
1.5-day workshop (in-house only)
“Best contracts related training I have ever had. Well done.”
“Gavin made the course. Its not an easy content to teach and bring engagement from the trainees.”
“The course was well-structured, highly informative, and engaging. I would highly recommend it. Thanks!”
“Gavin presents brilliantly – highly personable and with humility. There were many laughs and the day flew by with so much value. This course exceeded my expectations.”
“Gavin did an amazing job translating the contract into a way I understood. I think people that have lived it for years could still take advantage of this course. Great full contract overview.”
“Trainer spoke in everyday speak. He used practical examples and explained each part of the contract process really well.”
“Very enjoyable course on a dry subject made interesting by the very personable presenter.”
“Gavin read the room, didn’t rush but also made the info applicable to everyone. In that way I learnt a lot for myself, but I could also put myself in other shoes and see things from their perspective.”
“Awesome facilitator, cool to see him reference specific clauses off the top of his head and see he has an incredible understanding of NZ3910. Super engaging and was a comfortable environment to ask questions and discuss issues or queries.”
“It was an excellent course and Gavin was great at delivering the content in an engaging way. Thanks heaps!”
“A great session thanks Gavin – you pitched it just right for our audience and I really like the handouts and the flowcharts and graphics”
“The fact that the session did not run on a set script itself gave Gavin and the attendees the opportunity to actually interact and discuss the different topics that came up for discussion. Gavin is highly knowledgeable and very happy to clarify all the questions shot at him. Moreover, the slides and flowcharts were put together thoughtfully and carefully that it can even be applied at a practical level.”
“I found the whole experience excellent. I think that Gavin Shaw is definitely the right person to be teaching this topic.”
“It was a great course, Gavin was very engaging and it was very informative, took a practical approach to the learning”
“Gavin Shaw was great! He is very knowledgeable and passionate”
“The course made a complex topic easy to understand and the presenter (Gavin Shaw) had a great style and was knowledgeable from his experience in the industry.”
“Really good course. I really enjoyed Gavin’s approach to the training. Very knowledgeable and the training was well structured.”
“Trainer was excellent made a dry subject super engaging”
“I really enjoyed the course. Gav was excellent. I think many folks would get a lot from this course. As an industry I think we could benefit greatly from a high level of understanding. I also believe this would remove poor behaviour”
“Gavin was a great presenter – he was engaging, tailored the course to meet our needs and explained the content in simple context.”
“Great range of content. Good language selection. Personable presenter and was delivered in a consistently engaging way.”
“Excellent format, but most of all, excellent presenter who was extremely knowledgeable about the content and ensured sufficient engagement throughout the day.”
“Provider of this information had a great attitude and delivery of all subjects without harping on and having us referring to this page and that as if at school. No forced direct questions. Well presented in good time frames. Great course.”
“Really enjoyable and well presented, the facilitator could read the room and understand the level of detail required by the participants”
“Great explanation of the contract theory and role of the contract administrator and independent certifier.”
“Great course. Gavin made the content relatable and easy to understand the information. I’ve done a 3910 course in the past with a different provider and this one was miles ahead. Couldn’t recommend more”
“Very well prepared and presented… I thought it will be boring but ended up very interesting and with Gavins knowledge he is the best presenter for this course”
Gavin Shaw, founder of Navig8, is the subject matter expert for Engineering New Zealand, delivering this same suite of NZS 3910 training directly to EngNZ members. Through this partnership, we are united in our focus on upskilling professionals, building confidence, and strengthening capability across the construction sector.
All these courses are also available through Engineering New Zealand:
Gavin is an engineer, a practitioner, and a pragmatist – not a lawyer or a traditional educator. Delivering high-quality, practical training like this requires genuine commitment and a desire to make a real difference in the industry.
These courses are the result of strong partnerships.
We collaborated with TSARiley – specifically David Wilkie and Andrew Ward – to ensure the content is relevant, accurate, and grounded in real-world experience.
For expert learning design, we worked with Horrobin Learning, whose guidance we highly recommend.
By working together with like-minded industry leaders, we bring you training that is practical, engaging, and immediately valuable for your projects and career.
If you’re looking to build confidence, competence, and capability in your people, get in touch to discuss how Navig8’s Training & Upskilling can support your journey.