The Government has gone ahead with their new scheme to allow trusted builders to sign off on their own work. Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk announced that, in turn, the government would also set a mandatory target to tackle building inspection wait times.
Inspection targets will come into force later this year, and legislation to enable the opt-in self-certification scheme will come into force by the end of the year.
“Making it easier and more affordable to build opens the door to homeownership for more Kiwis, gives families choice about where they live, and supports growth and job creation in the construction sector,” Penk says.
“We can’t achieve this vision while the building consent system remains slow and overloaded. Even simple, single-storey homes must go through around 12 inspections before they’re finished, with costly delays when demand is high. At a time when many Kiwis are locked out of the housing market, that’s simply not good enough.”
“New Zealand’s overreliance on councils in consenting and certification results in bottlenecks and delays,” says ACT Party Building and Construction spokesperson Cameron Luxton, who is also a Licensed Building Practitioner.
“Expert builders should be allowed to shoulder the liability for their work, protected by insurance. That would free them to innovate and build faster, while giving clients the security of knowing that if something goes wrong, they’re protected,” he says.
“Crucially, to secure a good deal on the insurance market, builders would need to demonstrate a strong reputation for quality workmanship. Those with proven track records would be rewarded with better terms, while those unable to show consistent quality would face stricter requirements from insurers before being allowed to proceed.”
The Labour Party says the consenting changes open the door for cowboy builders. The opposition party supports building more homes at pace, but tradespeople shouldn’t carry all the risk, and public safety shouldn’t be compromised.
“We have lived through the cost of building failures before. We must not repeat the mistakes of the leaky homes era by lowering standards in the name of speed,” Labour Local Government spokesperson Tangi Utikere says.
“Without transparency, enforceable accountability, and a clear process for redress, the public cannot have confidence in a self-certifying model.
“Labour’s focus is on getting more homes built that last, delivered under a system people can trust.
“The Government is talking about a high threshold for builders to be deemed trusted, including insurance and quality assurance requirements. But we have not yet seen how that will work in practice.
“Trust in the building system depends on strong independent checks, which are the reason families can feel confident their homes are safe and durable.
“The Government’s decision to advance legislation that allows plumbers, gasfitters, and drainlayers to self-certify is worth spending time to get right. We need to ensure construction cowboys don’t slip through the cracks.”
Chris Penk says the Government is committed to making the building system more efficient and Cabinet has now agreed to an opt-in self-certification scheme, which will allow approved building firms, plumbers, and drainlayers to sign off their own work.
“Reputable building companies delivering large numbers of near-identical houses each year will be able to proceed without the need for Building Consent Authorities (BCAs) to approve a building consent and carry out inspections.
“Giving qualified plumbers and drainlayers the ability to self-certify their work puts them on equal footing with electricians and gasfitters, who’ve had that flexibility for years. It’s a common-sense change backed by Master Plumbers and delivers on a National Party campaign promise.
“Kiwis should have confidence that their homes are built to a high standard. That’s why only proven professionals who meet strict criteria will be eligible for the scheme – and only for simple residential dwellings.
“Initially, these changes are expected to see around 3,000 homes built each year without delays from approvals or inspections. BCAs will be freed up to focus on high-risk, complex builds instead of being bogged down by simple homes.
“In addition, the Government will require BCAs to complete 80% of building inspections within three working days.
“Master Builders have welcomed this announcement as a meaningful step toward reducing inspection delays. We regularly hear from builders frustrated by the disruption to project timelines and the uncertainty it creates for homeowners.
“Wait times sometimes stretch up to a week, having a knock-on effect which can add about $400 for every day a project is held up.
“Updated guidance will be issued to BCAs, outlining practical strategies to boost efficiency, reduce bottlenecks, and help authorities better prioritise their workloads.”
“BCAs success in meeting the target will be shown in quarterly performance data – giving the public greater transparency and encouraging improved performance.
“By backing skilled professionals and focusing council resources, we can cut building costs without sacrificing quality – delivering more affordable homes for Kiwi families.”
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