The building industry will have to think outside the tool box.

GIB is still desperately sought after across the country, with reports of it being stockpiled, stolen and sold on Trade Me for six times the retail price.

There's only one manufacturer of the plasterboard in New Zealand.

Combined Building Supplies Co-op Chair Carl Taylor told Andrew Dickens the industry has to look at alternative methods.

He says there are other materials such as plywood, which aren't ideal, but we have to stop relying on just one product.

Taylor says there are other products we can get from overseas such as the US, Malaysia and Australia.

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