218.764 CONSTRUCTION CONTRACTS AND ADMINISTRATION

Semester 2, 2025

ASSIGNMENT 1 – Comparative construction contracts

Total maximum marks for assignment: 100 marks.

Assignment weighting to the whole course: 20%

1        Background

1.1       Modern drafting practice expects contracts including construction contracts to be written in plain language. There has been progress towards promoting plain language. For example:

1.1.1    The New Zealand Plain Language Act 2022 has been in force since 2023. The Act defines plain language in s5 as follows:

5   What is plain language

In this Act, plain language means language that is—

(a)  appropriate to the intended audience; and

(b)  clear, concise, and well organised.

1.1.2    The ISO 24495-1 Plain language — Part 1: Governing principles and guidelines was launched on 21 June 2023 defining plain language as follows:

A communication is in plain language if its wording, structure, and design are so clear that the intended readers can easily find what they need, understand what they find, and use that information.

The four governing principles in the standards are as follows:

• — Principle 1: Readers get what they need (relevant)

• — Principle 2: Readers can easily find what they need (findable)

• — Principle 3: Readers can easily understand what they find (understandable)

• — Principle 4: Readers can easily use the information (usable)

1.1.3    Numerous legislative drafting guidelines such as those in New Zealand, New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland, Western Australia, Hong Kong, and most recently, Singapore.

1.1.4    The plain language drafting guidelines for the construction industry dated 20 June 2025 (attached). This is a

slightly revised version of a similarly titled document that was considered by Standards New Zealand’s drafting committee in developing the NZS 3910:2023.

2          Assignment brief

Part A: Review of 3 contracts against plain language guidelines

2.1       Read and review the new NZS 3910:2023 contract (downloadable from the Massey University library), the STCC-RSP

2015 (the first standard form. of construction contract to attain the Clear English Standard accreditation from the Plain Language Commission UK downloadable here: http://hdl.handle.net/10179/20237 click under files on the left), and a third standard form. of construction contract or sub-contract of your choice. For this third contract, do make sure you include extracts from the contract in referring to clauses as these contracts may not be available in the public domain or from the library) 

2.2       Read the 18 plain language drafting guidelines for the construction industry dated 20 June 2025 (attached). Against each of the guidelines, evaluate the three contracts to establish the extent to which each of the 3 contracts complies with each guideline.

Part B: Plain language and ESG outcomes in construction contracts

2.3       Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) is a framework for evaluating how organisations operate beyond purely financial performance. Plain language is increasingly recognised as having an important role in supporting ESG objectives.

2.4       Explain in under 500 of your own words why plain language is vital to achieving ESG outcomes in construction contracts and related legislation, with brief reference to what ESG is.

2.5       It has been said that generative artificial intelligence (AI) will not replace all people and jobs but may replace those doing mundane tasks. It has also been said that those who embrace AI will replace those who do not.

2.6       For this part of the assignment (part B) you are strongly encouraged to use any AI tool (for example ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, or Perplexity) as a research and learning tool or 'second brain' to bounce off from your ideas and 'prompts'.

However this is not mandatory. If you prefer, you may use only conventional research tools.

2.7       The final answers must be in your own words (maximum 500 words). Do not copy AI-generated text directly into your submission.

2.8       If you use AI, you must provide a shareable link or export of your AI conversation so your prompting process can be reviewed.

3          Assignment approach, format, and submission

3.1       As expected under a postgraduate course, you are expected to think and review critically and provide sound judgement.

3.2       Present your findings in the form of a report. Include an executive summary, the contents (parts A and B), and the conclusion and recommendations.

3.3       For some basic guidance on reports generally see: https://owll.massey.ac.nz/assignment-types/report.php Specifically for business reports see: https://owll.massey.ac.nz/assignment-types/business-report.php  You will also see a sample of a  structure of a business report here: https://owll.massey.ac.nz/assignment-types/business-report-structure.php

These are just general samples not actual samples to be mandatorily used in preparing this report.

3.4       Indicative report word count guide: about 3,000 words. This is just a guide, not mandated word count. However Part B has an absolute mandatory maximum word count of 500 words.

3.5      Cover page

Your assignment must have the following information on a cover page:

3.6      Format

You must submit your assignment complying with the following format:

File format:             MS Word or PDF 

Font type and size:    Arial, 11 point (you can use different fonts sizes for the title, headings, and sub-headings).

Spacing:                1.5

Justification:               Block-justified (justified left and right) or only left-justified

Page number:            Insert page numbering in the report using the format page 1 of x where x is the total number of pages

3.7      File name

The assignment must be submitted on the Stream portal as a single document with the file name: 218.764-A1-2025-[student’s ID number]. There is no need to submit any hard copy.

3.8      Deadline

Submit by 11.59 pm, Wednesday 24 September 2025

4          Plagiarism, cheating, and generative artificial intelligence statement

4.1       Don’t plagiarise and don’t copy or cheat. They are very serious offences. Read the plagiarism rules here:

https://owll.massey.ac.nz/referencing/plagiarism.phpHaving said that, as you may be quoting standard clauses from contracts, don’t be overly concerned if your plagiarism score is high because of similarity on contract clauses.

4.2       Generative AI statement: You may use Gen AI as a learning tool during your studies for this course but not as a

cheating tool. You are not allowed to use Gen AI as a cheating tool when doing the assignment. Follow the University instructions on the use of Generative AI and include the mandatory statement requirements in the assignment as an appendix attached as part of the assignment document submitted. See attached document titled Generative AI use statement for the statements.

https://stream.massey.ac.nz/mod/book/view.php?id=5430644&chapterid=1354035

https://stream.massey.ac.nz/mod/book/view.php?id=5430644&chapterid=1354036

4.3       Part B: Please do note that for only part B you are strongly encouraged to use any AI tool (for example ChatGPT,

Claude, Gemini, or Perplexity) as a research and learning tool or ‘second brain’ to bounce off from your ideas and ‘prompts’. However this is not mandatory. If you prefer, you may use only conventional research tools. The final answer to this part B must be in your own words (maximum 500 words). Do not copy AI-generated text directly into your submission. If you do use AI, you must provide a shareable link or export of your AI conversation so your prompting process can be reviewed.

5        Breakdown of marks

Here is a breakdown of marks for the assignment.

5.1           Executive summary, introduction, conclusion and recommendations               10            marks

5.2           Part A: Review of 3 contracts against plain language guidelines                     50         marks

5.3           Part B: Plain language and ESG outcomes in construction contracts               30         marks

5.4           Report presentation and formatting                                                          10            marks

Total                                                                                                100 marks