A Milestone in the Project

“Certified Builders Association of New Zealand (CBANZ) welcomes the start of the Licensed Building Practioner scheme, but cautions that it is only part of a package.” – Says Derek Baxter Chief Executive.

“Builder Licensing is one component of a range of reforms introduced as part of the Building Act 2004”. These reforms were a response to quite major shortcomings across the industry in design, products, construction, inspection and training.

“In the long term this package of reforms should result in a sector that the public has more confidence in.” He says

He continued “The introduction of licensing is one milestone in the reform process but unless the other pieces of the jigsaw come together we will still have an incomplete package.”

“There are some aspects of the jigsaw incomplete, and unfortunately some delays in other parts of the process”.

“The decision by the Select Committee earlier this week to water down the definition of Restricted Building Work (the work that must be carried out or supervised by a licensed builder) and leave it to be defined later in regulation, is like telling the All Blacks to play a game where the referee hasn’t yet decided if forward passes are allowed or not – small detail but vital to the outcome of the game.”

“Until this definition is clearly stated CBANZ is concerned that builders will adopt a wait and see approach to licensing.’ He says

“The biggest risk to the scheme is that a number of experienced builders may choose not to be licensed and continue to work just below whatever line is drawn” He says. ‘NZ cannot that skill loss”.

CBANZ understands why it was not possible to make a trade qualification a requirement for a licensing to start with, and would like to see Government send a clear message to new entrants to the industry that if they want to get a licence in the future they must learn their craft properly.

Until then the public should still ask “Is my licensed builder trade qualified?” He says.

“Certified Builders is committed to working with Government and Department of Building and Housing to achieve the aims of the sector reforms and looks forward to more milestones in the project” he says.

Background

CBANZ is an association of over 2000 trade qualified carpenters operating predominately in the residential construction sector. It has been estimated that the members undertake over $2billion dollars worth of construction work per annum.

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