Role of the Department
Our Role
The Department of Building and Housing was established in November 2004 to bring together in one organisation building and housing sector policy and related regulatory functions and dispute resolution services from across a range of government agencies.
This consolidation of the Government's building- and housing-related activities was to:
- ensure an effective regulatory system for the building and housing sector
- deliver good-quality advice to the Government
- improve and streamline services to the public.
The Department incorporates the Ministry of Housing, the Building Industry Authority, the Weathertight Homes Resolution Service from the Department of Internal Affairs, the building policy functions from the Ministry of Economic Development, and related functions from the Ministry of Social Development and Housing New Zealand Corporation. The Electrical Workers Licensing Group transferred to the Department from the Ministry of Economic Development on 1 September 2006.
Our responsibilities
We have responsibility for:
- ensuring an effective regulatory environment for the building and housing sector
- regulating the building sector and the rental housing sector
- delivering effective information, advice and dispute resolution services (including Tenancy Services and the Weathertight Homes Resolution Service)
- providing purchase and monitoring advice to the Government on Housing New Zealand Corporation
- administering the State Housing Appeals Authority
- providing policy advice to the Government on the building sector and residential tenancy market, including emerging trends and issues
- providing policy advice on housing and building regulation
- providing advice on regulating the residential rental market
- managing occupational licensing within the building sector.
We have joint responsibility or a common interest (with Housing New Zealand Corporation) in:
- defining housing outcomes for the sector
- analysing the housing environment, including monitoring the supply, quality and affordability of housing
- influencing the wider government sector to ensure it meets the Government's goals for housing
- working with other agencies to influence and promote delivering the Government's outcomes for the building and housing sector
- undertaking specific initiatives under the New Zealand Housing Strategy Programme of Action.
We administer the following acts and regulations.
- Building Act 1991
- Building Act 2004
- Chartered Professional Engineers of New Zealand Act 2002
- Construction Contracts Act 2002
- Engineering Associates Act 1961
- Registered Architects Act 2005
- Residential Tenancies Act 1986
- Retirement Villages Act 2003
- Weathertight Homes Resolution Services Act 2002
- Building Regulations 1992
- Building (Forms) Regulations 2004
- Chartered Professional Engineers of New Zealand Regulations 2004
- Chartered Professional Engineers of New Zealand Rules 2002
- Chartered Professional Engineers of New Zealand Regulations 2002 (No. 2)
- Chartered Professional Engineers of New Zealand (Appeals) Regulations 2002
- Construction Contracts Regulations 2003
- Engineering Associates Fees Regulations 2002
- Registered Architects Rules 2006
- Residential Tenancies (Fees) Regulations 1998
- Residential Tenancies Regulations 1998
- Residential Tenancies Rules 1998