New Zealand is months out from its next general election, and as we gear up for campaign season, it’s time to reflect on what has been achieved for building and construction and what comes next.
In a bid to give New Zealand’s notoriously sluggish building productivity a hefty push, I approached the portfolio with the mantra of making it easier, faster and more affordable to build. This meant addressing practical barriers slowing down projects, creating uncertainty and making it hard to invest.
From the outset, two long-standing issues came up repeatedly in conversations with the industry: building liability and the earthquake-prone building system.
On liability, the current framework has encouraged a culture of risk aversion. Our council Building Consent Authorities often carry disproportionate risk for defective work, which slows consenting and adds cost. We are changing that by moving to a proportionate liability model, where each party is truly held responsible for the work they undertake. This fairer system will speed up approvals.
To provide protection, designers will need appropriate insurance, home warranties will apply to new builds and major renovations, and disciplinary settings for Licensed Building Practitioners will be strengthened.
Councils will also be empowered to merge their consent functions, which will reduce duplication in the system and improve the consistency of how the Building Code is applied across New Zealand.
The second major reform has been the earthquake-prone building system. While well-intentioned, it has sadly proven too broad and ineffective. In some cases, buildings have been left empty or abandoned because compliance costs were too high.
The focus will shift to higher-risk buildings, including certain concrete structures three storeys or higher and unreinforced masonry. Around half of the currently classified buildings will no longer be captured, while others will face more practical and affordable remediation requirements.
Strengthening will be based on factors like building type, height, location, and use. Lower risk regions will be removed from the system altogether. This approach aligns with international best practice and is expected to significantly reduce costs while keeping life safety at the heart.
Also working through Parliament right now is a scheme that will empower trusted tradies to sign off on their own work. Meanwhile, law changes that remove consents for granny flats up to 70 sqm and increase access to overseas building products are already in force.
Much of our policy to-date has centred on residential construction to address New Zealand’s housing supply issues.
Looking ahead, I want to turn more attention to the commercial construction sector and unlock the projects which shape the places where Kiwis work, learn and gather.
There is more to understand about the barriers in this part of the industry, and where the government can make a practical difference.
Overall, our goal is to support a system that delivers a high-quality built environment, efficiently. This term has laid a solid foundation, and the National Party looks forward to driving momentum and ensuring these changes are delivered well in practice.
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