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Home > Our Publications > New Zealand Outlook > 2007 > December

New era for building industry

NEW Zealanders will know they have engaged a quality building professional when they choose one licensed under the Licensed Building Practitioners Scheme launched last month.
"From November 2007 designers, builders, site supervisors, construction managers and carpenters can apply to become licensed under the scheme. Next year, the opportunity to become licensed will be extended to external plasterers, roofers, bricklayers and blocklayers, and specialists in concrete structure, steel structure and building services," the Minister of Building and Construction Clayton Cosgrove said.
The first stage of the scheme will be voluntary but from November 2010 specific restricted work will have to be done or supervised by a Licensed Building Practitioner (LBP). People without licences will still be able to work in the building industry, but will require supervision when doing restricted work.
Speaking at the official launch of the scheme in Wellington, Mr Cosgrove said it signalled a new era for the building sector.
"This is the first time there has been a national building competency scheme that has a disciplinary framework that holds practitioners accountable for their work," he said.
"It aims to ensure that buildings and homes are designed and built right the first time, and to raise consumer confidence in the quality of that work.
In order to be licensed, building practitioners will need to demonstrate that they have the required experience, skills and knowledge within a series of occupational classes and that they are competent to do the job.
"In essence this is about reinforcing good, skilled building professionals and getting the cowboys out of the industry," said Mr Cosgrove.
Mr Cosgrove said the scheme takes the guesswork out of knowing who is - and who isn't - a good building professional.
"There will be a public online register of licensed practitioners so the public know they are hiring a competent professional. Cowboy builders who have left us with problems such as leaky buildings will have no place in this new environment."
Mr Cosgrove said for the first time consumers will have an independent investigative body to complain to should an LBP do work they feel is deficient.
"Licensing means increased accountability. The Building Practitioners Board will have the power to investigate complaints and can take action against an LBP, including making the practitioner undergo more training, imposing a fine or cancelling the licence.
"The online register will also include details of any disciplinary action taken against an LBP."
Mr Cosgrove congratulated three practitioners at the launch - a carpenter, a site manager and a designer - for being among the first to apply to become licensed.
"Hundreds of requests for application packs have already been received for the LBP scheme which formally recognises - often for the first time - our skilled, competent building professionals," he said.
"I expect all licensed builders and designers will rightly use this mark of quality to promote themselves in the marketplace."
Mr Cosgrove said he wished to thank the men and women of the building industry for their direct involvement in helping design the LBP scheme to ensure that it would work where it counts - on the building site.
"The licensing scheme has come about with the strong support of the building industry because it is totally committed to ensuring its reputation is enhanced and the quality of New Zealand's homes and buildings are improved."
Mr Cosgrove said he wanted again to reassure home-handy men or women that the Kiwi Do-It-Yourself (DIY) tradition would be protected under the licensing scheme, and they would still be able to do DIY work, including building a standard, straight-forward house from scratch or adding on a room.
Options to ensure future house buyers know if a house was built by an LBP or a DIY'er are being looked at.
"They can then make an informed choice of which home to buy - a DIY built house or a home built by an LBP, with all the protections and accountability that comes with that."
Occupational licensing is part of the government's suite of reforms to transform the building sector.
Other reforms include the current Building Code review, the accreditation of Building Consent Authorities to ensure that building consents and inspections work is carried out efficiently to a high standard, the revamped Weathertight Homes Resolution Service and new Weathertight Homes Tribunal, new measures to make homes and workplaces more energy efficient, and investigation of a home warranty insurance scheme.