Articles tagged with Building Act
Kiwi Tradies Gain Easier Access to Thousands of Australian Plumbing Products
1 week ago | 113 viewsNew Zealand’s Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) has expanded recognition of thousands of Australian WaterMark-certified plumbing and drainage products, simplifying their use by Kiwi tradies and homeowners. This change, enabled by the Overseas Building Products Amendment Bill, reduces red tape by allowing Building Consent Authorities to accept these products as compliant without individual assessments, improving supply chain resilience and lowering costs. MBIE plans to continue reviewing overseas products, enhancing access to essential building materials like plasterboard, cladding, windows, and doors to support housing affordability and construction efficiency.
Tags: Chris Penk Ministry of Business Innovation and Employment MBIE WaterMark Building Act Overseas Building Products Amendment Bill Building Consent Authorities New Zealand Australia tradiesNew Zealand Allows Granny Flats Without Building or Resource Consents for Affordable Housing
1 month ago | 233 viewsNew Zealand has removed the need for building and resource consents for granny flats up to 70 square metres, simplifying the process and reducing costs by up to $5,650 and 14 weeks. This change, part of the Coalition Government’s housing reforms, aims to increase affordable and diverse housing options while boosting construction jobs and easing council workloads. Homeowners must ensure their granny flats meet Building Code standards and local council rules, with guidance and templates available from government websites.
Tags: Chris Bishop Shane Jones Chris Penk New Zealand Coalition Government RMA Reform Building Act National Direction Ministry of Business Innovation and Employment Ministry for the EnvironmentGovernment Introduces New Building Consent Reforms to Protect Owners and Boost Productivity
2 months ago | 302 viewsThe Government is reforming the building consent system by replacing joint and several liability with proportionate liability, ensuring each party is only responsible for their own work to speed up consents and protect ratepayers. New safeguards include mandatory professional indemnity insurance for designers, compulsory home warranties for most new residential builds and significant renovations, and strengthened disciplinary penalties for Licensed Building Practitioners. These measures aim to enhance accountability, protect building owners, and make the building process faster, easier, and more affordable, with legislative changes expected by 2026.
Tags: Chris Penk Licensed Building Practitioners Ministry of Business Innovation and Employment Building Amendment Bill New Zealand Government Building and Construction Minister Building Act Home warranty Professional indemnity insurance Building consent systemGovernment Reforms Building Research Funding to Boost Innovation and Cut Costs in NZ
3 months ago | 308 viewsThe Government is reforming building research funding by repealing the outdated Building Research Levy Act 1969 and consolidating research funding into the existing building levy under the Building Act 2024 to improve transparency, efficiency, and innovation. The new system will centrally manage funds with sector input, ring-fence research funding for long-term projects, and make funding contestable to broaden access for universities and industry organizations, while reducing costs for consent applicants. These changes aim to enhance accountability, support a more resilient building sector, and contribute to making building easier, more affordable, and supportive of economic growth in New Zealand.
Tags: Chris Penk Building Research Levy Act Building Research Association of New Zealand BRANZ Ministry of Business Innovation and Employment MBIE Building Act 2024 Building Amendment Bill Building Consent Authorities New Zealand GovernmentNew Legislation Allows Kiwis to Build Granny Flats Without Consent, Boosting Housing Choices
4 months ago | 512 viewsNew legislation will allow Kiwis to build granny flats up to 70 square metres without a building consent, aiming to increase housing options and reduce costs. The exemption is part of a government initiative to simplify the building process and boost housing availability. The change is expected to result in more granny flats being built over the next decade, benefiting families, workers, and communities.
Tags: legislation Kiwis granny flats housing Coalition Government RMA Reform Chris Bishop Building Act National Direction Shane JonesNew Zealand Government Expands Solar Panel Exemptions for Sustainable Construction
4 months ago | 447 viewsThe New Zealand Government is implementing reforms to promote sustainable construction, including a new building consent exemption for rooftop solar panels to create healthier homes and reduce energy bills. The exemption, effective immediately, simplifies the process and is expected to save homeowners around $1,200 per consent. Additionally, the Government plans to introduce a fast-track consent process for sustainable buildings with performance criteria such as energy efficiency and climate resiliency, aiming to provide more choice and affordability for Kiwis while promoting renewable energy adoption.
Tags: Government reforms sustainable construction New Zealand rooftop solar panels Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk Building Act solar panel consents KiwisNew Zealand Approves WaterMark Certification for Over 90,000 Building Products
4 months ago | 559 viewsNew Zealand has expanded access to over 90,000 overseas building products following a law change, with the WaterMark certification scheme now recognized as an endorsed standard. This change aims to make it easier for Kiwi tradies and homeowners to choose from a wide range of plumbing products, boosting competition and lowering costs. By amending the Building Act, the Government has streamlined the approval process for quality overseas building products, ensuring compliance with the Building Code and providing greater choice for building owners and designers.
Tags: Chris Penk WaterMark New Zealand Building Act Ministry of Business Innovation and Employment Building Code MBIE Building Consent Authorities Building Product Specifications overseas building products