Building Code Review 2007 Discussion document: Foreword
The Government is in the middle of a series of major reforms designed to transform the building and construction sector and to re-establish our world-class reputation. Open and frank communication between the Government and the sector, and building users, is as crucial now as it was years ago, and this discussion document is a key part of this process.
The changes we are making in the sector are the most profound in our history and are about lifting standards, confidence and skills. This year and next will see significant milestones achieved in the building and construction sector. The Building Code is being reviewed from top to bottom; building consent authorities are improving their performance; measures to improve the energy efficiency of our homes and workplaces will be implemented; and the new system to speed up the resolution of non-weathertight homes disputes will be fully under way. Work will continue on developing a home warranty scheme and a product certification scheme, and the licensing of building practitioners.
These reforms are about responding to the market. Homeowners are more aware than ever of issues surrounding the quality of their homes. They rightly expect good, solidly built homes, and the entire suite of sector reforms is targeted at delivering precisely that - from the design stage to the final inspection.
Looking forward, the picture for the building and construction sector is very encouraging. According to last year's Census, New Zealand's resident population stands at just over 4 million people. And the projection is that by 2051 the total population will be just over 5 million. All of these additional people will need somewhere to live. And those of us already here will want housing that better suits our changing lifestyles.
Beyond the sheer numbers, demographic changes mean that the population is aging and family structures are changing. It is projected that by 2051, over half the population will be aged 46 years or older, including one person in four aged over 65 years. Smaller households of single people and couple-only households are also becoming more common and this trend is likely to continue.
The full review of the Building Code is due to be reported back to me in November of this year - a crucial development, and one reason 2007 will go down as a pivotal year in the history of building and construction in this country.
The review will change what we build and the way we build, because we expect a lot more from our buildings than we did even 16 years ago, when the Code was introduced. There have been significant advances in construction technologies and in our knowledge of building products and performance. A modern Code must reflect that. We also need to balance building quality and affordability, and short-term cost with long-term benefits to sustain family, community and good urban design. And the Code must work for the people who are 'at the coalface' in building design, construction and inspection around the country.
The Government has already held one public discussion round which has yielded valuable feedback. Thank you to everyone who took the time to make a submission or participate in a focus group. The feedback was invaluable in ensuring the review is on the right track. Your submissions are helping to shape the direction the Code should take and have been crucial in the development of this second discussion document.
We now need your feedback on a vision of the future performance requirements, or standards, for new building work in New Zealand.
Our Building Code is performance-based, and stresses objectives rather than prescriptive requirements. With a new structure and in making changes, the Code should be clearer and easier to use without sacrificing the innovation or flexibility of that performance basis.
Sustainability must be at the centre of what we do. It means that buildings in New Zealand must meet the needs of New Zealanders now and into the future. This is about continued social and economic wellbeing - ensuring people's health, safety, wellbeing and communities are enhanced, not diminished, by the buildings they use. Factors such as climate change and rising energy costs must influence how we design our buildings and the materials we use on our building sites. We are living in a world where environmental sustainability and energy efficiency will increasingly be at the forefront of our decision-making.
In May, I announced a group of proposals around energy efficiency as part of the Government's programme to reduce the amount of energy required to heat new homes, to heat water in new and existing homes, and to light, heat, ventilate and air condition commercial buildings. This discussion document offers a new vision for resource efficiency (including energy efficiency) over the lifetime of our buildings. It is a bold vision at an early stage of consideration, and we need the best thinking from the sector to move it forward.
This discussion document is a key milestone in the review. Whether you are involved with the building sector or urban design, or as a building user, your feedback and views will be important in shaping the recommendations that are put forward for the future of our buildings.
The changes the Government is making in the sector are profound and they are bold. The results will be substantial and lasting. We are reshaping the sector; we are transforming it. The reforms are challenging, but they are necessary to reach our goal of rebuilding our world-class building and construction sector.
Hon Clayton Cosgrove
Minister for Building and Construction