Local Kiwi tradesman say they are being squeezed out of the building market by immigrant workers who put in longer hours and offer cheaper services.
Plasterer Don Hitchens, who has worked in the industry for 50 years, said his company cannot compete with the prices immigrant workers are offering.
"[They undercut us] by anything between 25% and 35%.
"I'm angry and sour to see such a decimation of the building industry."
Hitchens said the company would not survive if it was to lower its prices to compete with other workers.
Master builder Colin Bertram voiced similar concerns, saying the cheap labour would impact on workers' livelihoods as well as building standards.
"I do see a downgrading of the trades in New Zealand if we continue down this path."
Critics of the immigrant work crews assert that many have entered the country on 90 day working visas and are then replaced by another intake.
Engineering, Manufacturing and Printing spokesperson Ron Angel said employers should not need to bring workers to New Zealand when there are enough skilled workers already here.
"We would find it hard to believe that employers would need to bring in migrant workers to build New Zealand residences."
But Flat Bush resident Barry Best, who recently had his Auckland house built by immigrant workers, said he was more than happy with the quality of his home.
"I don't think the [local] workers want to work seven days a week and the long hours. That's all I can put it down to."
Bertram said the New Zealand building industry should be using local labour.
"I think we are being undermined by an environment that is acceptable in other parts of the world, but definitely not acceptable here."