Department outlines achievements in 2006/07 year
The Department of Building and Housing has published its Annual Report 2006/07, describing the year as a significant one for the Department.
The report says substantial progress was made in the implementation of Building Act reforms. The Department also worked with the sector on a wide range of other initiatives.
Key achievements included:
- putting in place requirements for the Licensed Building Practitioner Scheme that began on 1 November 2007
- reviewing the Building Code to ensure it stands the test of time in terms of what people want of buildings
- overseeing implementation of the Building Consent Authority Accreditation and Registration Scheme
- developing a suite of energy efficiency initiatives for homes and buildings
- improving the effectiveness of the Weathertight Homes Resolution Service and assistance to those affected
- working with the Ministry of Justice in establishing the new Weathertight Homes Tribunal on 1 April 2007
- providing comprehensive consumer guidance and information on weathertightness
- extending and enhancing the services the Department provides to landlords and tenants.
The Department also:
- completed reviews of the Residential Tenancies Act 1986 and the 35-year-old Unit Titles Act
- continued its involvement in the steering group overseeing the New Zealand Housing Strategy
- continued to update and improve the Building Code and Compliance Documents
- provided technical standards and guidance to the sector.
Underpinning all this work, particularly the Building Act reforms, the Department worked with sector stakeholders, clients and consumers to help identify critical issues, plan and develop workable solutions, test thinking and get feedback on proposals so that it can provide well-informed advice to the Government.
The report says the Department's ambitious work programme during 2006/07 is continuing in 2007/08. In some areas, timeframes have been revised to accommodate work priorities or in light of further work required.
Over the next two years the Department's focus will move from design and development of new systems to implementation. Key parts of the Building Act 2004 come into effect and the laws covering the rental housing market and apartment dwellings will be updated. Significant work is under way to address sustainability issues and to improve the energy efficiency of homes and buildings.
The full Annual Report is available at www.dbh.govt.nz/annual-report-2006-07-1
Statistics
Key statistics from the Department of Building and Housing's Annual Report 06/07.
| 135 determinations issued on questions or disputes about the rules applying to buildings |
| 3000+ responses to technical enquiries |
| 32 Building Code priority review projects completed |
| 12,213 responses to Building Act 2004 queries |
| 1932 responses to queries about the Licensed Building Practitioner Scheme |
| 6 technical reviews of territorial authority building control departments undertaken and published |
| 16,414 electrical worker practising licences issued |
| 237,744 telephone enquiries received for tenancy advice |
| 217,329 tenancy bonds received |
| 211,049 bond refund requests processed |
| 213,150 calls received for bond advice |
| 24,297 Tenancy Tribunal hearings scheduled |
| 752 new Weathertight Homes Resolution Service claims received |
| 933 weathertight claim assessments undertaken |
| 155 weathertight claims resolved |