Chief Executive's Overview

This is the Department's second Statement of Intent. It reflects our growth and development over the last 12 months into a more complex organisation with a broader mandate. It also reflects how our thinking has evolved in terms of the strategic issues facing the sector, how we see our role in the sector and how we add value. The Statement of Intent will continue to evolve over time as the Department comes together as one integrated organisation.

A lot has happened in the 18 months the Department of Building and Housing has been in existence - and we have learnt a lot. I am very fortunate to have a good team of people who are committed to doing an excellent job and achieving the outcomes the Government has for building and housing.

We, like many parts of the sector, are having to build capability and capacity to fulfil our new role. A key priority going forward and a key area of focus for me, and my Strategic Leadership Team, is on building a sustainable, adaptive organisation that delivers value to the Government and stakeholders - building and housing professionals, homeowners, landlords, tenants and consumers alike. Underpinning this is a culture of pride in professional excellence, a healthy dose of practicality and a willingness to work with others to build our knowledge and understanding to achieve results.

Building and housing matter. A well-performing building and housing sector makes a significant contribution to our economy, our wealth and our social wellbeing. A poorly performing sector has the opposite effect. The quality of our homes, our buildings, our built environment impacts on us all - it is part of the fabric of our society and who we are as a nation.

The Government has set out its expectations and broader goals around three themes - economic transformation, families and national identity. The Department will contribute to these goals through the outcome it has committed to working to achieve: the people of New Zealand have access to quality homes and buildings that meet their needs and reflect our New Zealand environment.

The four things we would expect to see if we were progressing towards this goal are:

• buildings and homes that perform well in the New Zealand environment and reflect who we are
• a vibrant, innovative building and housing sector with skilled building and housing professionals
• homes and buildings that meet the changing needs of New Zealanders
• home and building owners, tenants and users who are confident about the quality and performance of their homes and buildings.

These are what we are focused on as a Department.

Key priorities

The changing environment we live in requires a more integrated approach to building and housing issues than in the past. Building technology and design is changing rapidly. Buildings are more diverse, reflecting the changing needs and aspirations of New Zealanders. Housing needs are changing too. All this presents quite a challenge for the Department, and the sector and other agencies involved in the sector. Working together to identify the critical issues and best responses will be important to success for all of us.

A large and important part of the work of the Department remains focused on implementing the new Building Act. The Act is a significant regulatory reform and will take 3 to 5 years to fully implement. The next 3 years will see the rollout of key systems around licensed building practitioners, building consent authority accreditation and product certification.

The review of the Building Code that is under way provides an opportunity to take a fundamental look at how we build. To take a more holistic approach to the way we build and the way we want buildings to perform. To consider technical, environmental, economic and societal needs together.

The review will consider such issues as what does sustainability mean in terms of buildings and houses; how do we think smarter about energy, resource use and waste; how do we make our buildings moreenergy efficient; what are the implications of our changing population for the type of buildings and homes we need; and how do we balance short-term costs with long-term benefits.

The Department will, as a priority, continue to work closely with territorial authorities who administer the Act and industry stakeholders as we take this work forward.

We are also working on a range of other issues including:

• responding to changes in the way New Zealanders rent homes and live in apartments through a review of the legislation that governs these. The housing environment in New Zealand has changed markedly over the last decade. Thirty percent of New Zealanders now rent their homes. Apartment living is now an important part of the mix, and the current law passed in 1972 is out of date and doesn't reflect the realities of modern apartment dwelling.
• improving the services we deliver to landlords and tenants - more accessible, online access, and a broader range of services
• addressing weathertightness issues - it is important that leaky homes are properly repaired and that the risk of them being built in the first place is minimised. There are no quick fixes on this, but we are confident that the changes announced will be a significant step forward in addressing this difficult issue.

This is an exciting and challenging time for the Department as we work to build a new organisation and focus on delivering key reforms across the building and housing sector. We have made significant progress, but there is still much to be done.

Katrina Bach
Chief Executive