To build a house, we may have to look foreign.

Gib plasterboard is still in very short supply, with reports of it being stockpiled and stolen.

Builder Simplicity Living isn't waiting around, bringing in its own certified plasterboard from Thailand, saying it will save 20 percent on the cost of the product made here.

Wall and Ceiling Industries National President Daniel Pepperell told Tim Dower the idea of buying overseas has been around for some time.

“There are some great products from overseas that we can use. There are issues with them, not all of them are cheaper, a lot of the board that we have been looking at from Australia and from other sources are significantly more expensive.”

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