Media release | 12 July 2016

Dunedin company and employees fined for lapsed licenses

EC Shaw Plumbers Ltd and two employees have been fined a total of $5,750 for carrying out restricted sanitary plumbing, gasfitting and drainlaying work without authorisation in the Dunedin District Court yesterday.

Plumbing, gasfitting and drainlaying are regulated industries in New Zealand and it is illegal for anyone to do this work unless they are authorised to do so by the Board.

In this case, EC Shaw Plumbers Ltd faced a charge of employing a person to carry out unlawful sanitary plumbing, and was fined $2,500 and ordered to pay $113 toward solicitors costs.

Kenneth Shaw, Managing Director of EC Shaw Plumbers Ltd, faced charges of undertaking unauthorised (unlicensed) sanitary plumbing, gasfitting and drainlaying work. Mr Shaw was fined $2,500 and ordered to pay $113 toward solicitors costs. Mr Shaw had failed to renew his licence for the 1 April 2015 to 31 March 2016 year.

Employee, Christopher Jenkins faced a charge of undertaking sanitary plumbing without authorisation, and was fined $750 and order to pay $113 toward solicitors costs. Mr Jenkins had not held a current license since 2013.

There are serious health and safety risks associated with sanitary plumbing carried out by an unauthorised person. Any defective plumbing work has the potential to cause disease and serious damage to the home.

The maximum penalty for undertaking restricted sanitary plumbing and drainlaying work is $10,000, and for restricted gasfitting work $50,000. These fines reflect both the scale of the offending and the significant damage that can be caused.

“It is important for homeowners to know that plumbing, gasfitting and drainlaying work undertaken by unlicensed tradespeople, not only carries high risk to health and safety – but may also invalidate your insurance policy,” said Martin Sawyers, Chief Executive for the Board.

“To stay safe and avoid any risk it takes on simple action–ask to sight a licence card. Legitimate tradespeople authorised by the Board are required to produce it. It states their credentials and the type of work they are licensed to carry out.”

You can check to see if a person is authorised by searching the online public register at www.pgdb.co.nz or by phoning 0800 743 262. If a homeowner believes that work has been done by someone who is not authorised, or has concerns about the competency of a tradesperson, they should notify the Board.

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