Tuesday, 4 January 2005

Certifiers’ collapse no surprise to Smith

News that more and more private building certifiers are likely to collapse this year because of tougher requirements under the new Building Act have come as no surprise to United Future MP, Murray Smith.

Mr Smith, who was a member of the select committee that reviewed the Act, said today “It gives me no pleasure to point out that I warned at the time the Bill was being passed by Parliament that the stiffer requirements for certifiers and the need for robust insurance arrangements would inevitably mean many private firms would go under.

“The collapses have already begun and what we will see this year will be ever-greater burdens placed on local authorities to recruit new certifiers, train them up and get them out in the field, all at the cost of the ratepayer.

“Meanwhile, many thousands of Kiwis will face lengthy delays getting their building projects approved, leading to greater levels of frustration and reduced economic activity.”

Mr Smith said it was too late to fix the damage now, but at the least the Government should come clean and tell New Zealanders that it had made an error in putting the legislation through without giving local authorities adequate time to conduct an orderly transition.

ENDS

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