Chief Executive's overview

The Department of Building and Housing is at an important stage of delivering key reforms across the building sector as new systems are rolled out and brought into effect.

Established three years ago, the Department was set up to ensure an effective regulatory system for building and housing that delivers quality buildings and homes, lifts the performance of the sector and restores consumer confidence in the sector. A key part of this is delivery of improved and streamlined services to the public and the sector.

The Statement of Intent sets out our areas of focus for the next three years. This includes a continuing focus on lifting skills and professionalism within the building and housing sector, and, improving the quality and performance of our buildings and homes so they perform well in our New Zealand environment, contribute to sustainability and provide warm, safe, healthy homes. Good progress is being made in these areas with the implementation of the Licensed Building Practitioner Scheme, accreditation of Building Consent Authorities and completion of the Building Code review. Work on Product Certification is also well advanced.

As well we are working with local government and the sector to streamline the building consenting process and improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the building controls regime. There are opportunities to use technology to enhance and improve service delivery at the local government level and provide for a more integrated, consistent and flexible system of building controls throughout New Zealand. The accreditation of Building Consent Authorities provides a good platform for this going forward.

Looking for ways to support affordable housing and remove barriers to scale and volume in building residential housing will be a key part of our work over the next three years, as will consideration of broader options around housing going forward. Starter homes and those in the 'intermediate' housing market will be key priorities. The next three years are likely to see significant developments in unit titles legislation to bring this into the modern context of apartment living and higher density housing.

Service delivery and dispute resolution continues to be an important part of our work in relation to residential tenancies, weathertightness, and retirement villages. Our frontline staff throughout the country and those in our central services centre are committed to delivering quality services to our clients. We take a 'no wrong door' approach to assisting people to access advice and government services, and work closely with other government agencies to do this.

The Department will continue to build its people capability and develop its business systems and processes. Our forward focus is on driving delivery and performance across the organisation off a base of sound organisational systems and structures.

Underpinning all our work is our commitment to working with the sector, with local government and with consumers. The insights and practical advice generously given by a wide range of stakeholders through a broad range of engagement is greatly valued. It contributes to the work we do and assists in resolving some difficult and complex issues. It also helps us do things better or differently in ways that add more value.

We will continue to have a strong focus on consumer information and technical guidance to assist good decision making and learning across the sector. This will be complemented by a stronger emphasis on forward-focused research around building science, design and systems. We will work with the sector to develop a long-term research agenda.

Katrina Bach
Chief Executive