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Sector and Regulatory Policy

Sector and Regulatory Policy
This output class involves the provision of policy advice in relation to the building and housing sector in New Zealand. It includes the provision of policy advice on the government's regulation of the building and housing sector, monitoring the building and housing sector, and the provision of the regulatory framework for the building industry.
Outputs Measures
Sector and Regulatory Policy Advice

Complete the review of the Residential Tenancies Act and develop an associated implementation strategy to give effect to any agreed outcomes by 30 June 2006.

Complete the review of the Unit Titles Act and develop an associated implementation strategy to give effect to any agreed outcomes by 30 June 2006.

Develop a sustainable approach to resolving building- and housing-related disputes by 30 June 2006.

Develop strategies to address the quality of existing building stock (including houses) by 30 June 2006.

Provide policy and regulatory advice in support of the Building Act 2004 Implementation.
Sector, Industry and Market Monitoring

Develop a strategy to build and apply knowledge of the building and housing sector to the government's policy, regulatory and other interests in the sector by 31 December 2005.

Develop a strategy to evaluate the effectiveness of the government's building and housing sector policies and regulatory interventions by 31 December 2005.

Develop a programme of work in consultation with HNZC to identify and address issues that may be affecting the ability of the sector to respond to housing demand by 30 June 2006.
Cost for Output Class (figures exclusive of GST)
Revenue: Crown
$000		 Revenue: Department
$000		 Revenue: Other
$000		 Total Expenses
$000		 Surplus/(Deficit)
$000
3,709 17 0 3,726 0

Building Act 2004 Implementation

Building Act 2004 Implementation
This output class involves implementing provisions of the Building Act 2004 with supporting regulations. It includes establishing regulatory schemes and operational frameworks such as the building consent authority accreditation and registration scheme, providing advice and guidance on the new regulatory systems, and reviewing the Building Code.
Outputs Measures
Advice and Guidance - provide advice and guidance for the building sector.

Develop guidance information on the new product certification scheme by 31 March 2006.

Develop guidance information on building consent authority scheme in conjunction with the scheme's establishment.
Building Officials Education - implement national qualifications for building officials.

National qualifications for building officials established by 31 December 2005.

Recognition of Current Competency (RCC) established and implemented by 31 March 2006.
Public Information and Education - inform general public on the new regulatory systems.

Deliver consumer and other stakeholder awareness campaign by 31 December 2005.

Number of site visits to www.building.govt.nz (demand driven).

Undertake a survey to monitor the effectiveness of the public information awareness campaign.
Regulatory Schemes - establish product certification regime, building consent authority (BCA) accreditation and registration schemes and dam safety regime.

Establish:

  • dam safety regime by 31 December 2005
  • product certification scheme by 31 March 2006
  • BCA accreditation and registration scheme by 31 May 2006.
Sector and Regulatory Policy Advice - provide policy advice in respect of the Building Act 2004 Implementation. Proposal for revised Building Code framework developed by 30 June 2006.
Cost for Output Class (figures exclusive of GST)
Revenue: Crown
$000		 Revenue: Department
$000		 Revenue: Other
$000		 Total Expenses
$000		 Surplus/(Deficit)
$000
71 24 0 4,919 (4,824)

Occupational Licensing

Occupational Licensing
This output class involves the design, establishment and maintenance of an occupational licensing regime for building practitioners under the Building Act 2004. It also involves advising on the efficient and effective regulation of trades and professions operating within the building and housing sector.
Outputs Measures
Building Practitioner Licensing Scheme

Report on education and training pathways that underpin the licensing classes and associated funding implications by 1 November 2005.

Develop rules and regulations (as prescribed in the Building Act 2004) for the Building Practitioners Board and ministerial approval by 30 June 2006.

Recommendations to the Building Practitioners Board on licence standards and assessment methodology for all licence classes by 31 May 2006.

Building Practitioners Board meets for a minimum of 8 days during the year.
Statutory Board Responsibilities

All Board appointments/reappointments conducted in accordance within Cabinet guidelines and within the agreed time-frames.

Output agreements are in place for all Boards/Councils.

Transfer of Electrical Workers Group to the Department completed by 1 March 2006.
Cost for Output Class (figures exclusive of GST)
Revenue: Crown$000 Revenue: Department$000 Revenue: Other$000 Total Expenses$000 Surplus/(Deficit)$000
187 26 0 4,125 (3,912)

Building Regulation and Control

Building Regulation and Control
This output class involves delivering a regulatory regime that ensures buildings are built right first time and meet the needs of New Zealanders. It includes specifying the regulatory environment, setting standards for buildings and building sector capability, and providing advice and guidance about the regulations and standards.
Outputs Measures
Technical Standards Review - set technical standards as appropriate including reviewing Building Code Clauses/Compliance Documents; issue warnings and bans as required.

Complete Building Code Clause/Compliance Document reviews in the areas of:

  • fire
  • structural
  • internal environment
  • building envelope and weathertightness.

Publish updated Compliance Document(s).

Advice and Guidance - provide guidance information and advice to sector and consumers.

Produce guidance documents as required.

Publish monthly editions of Codewords.

Publish editions of Building Controls Update as required.

Present at BRANZ seminar series, partnering as appropriate.

Number of site visits to Building Controls section of www.dbh.govt.nz (demand driven).
Building Officials Education - provide building officials education. Conduct building officials seminars.
Compliance - Compliance with Building Act.

Monitor and report on the performance of territorial authorities/building consent authorities.

Manage complaints and disciplinary processes against building consent authorities (demand driven).
Determinations - manage determinations. Complete determinations within the statutory time-frame (60 days).
Public Information and Education - provide education and information to building sector to enable them to make informed decisions. Number of site visits to www.consumerbuild.org.nz (demand driven).
Building Industry and Market Monitoring, Research and Evaluation - undertake industry performance monitoring and reporting and commission building-related research.

Publish an annual Building Industry Trends report, provide associated updates regularly.

Undertake at least three research projects by 30 June 2006.
Regulatory Schemes - administer product certification scheme, building consent authorities accreditation and registration schemes and dam safety regime.

Measure(s) will be developed as part of the scheme design during 2005/06.

Refer to Building Act 2004 Implementation (page 49).
Cost for Output Class (figures exclusive of GST)
Revenue: Crown
$000		 Revenue: Department
$000		 Revenue: Other
$000		 Total Expenses
$000		 Surplus/(Deficit)
$000
658 99 14,991 12,265 3,483