BCITO welcomes Government plans to lift building sector performance

The scheme, which will be restricted to low-risk, basic residential homes, is set to streamline the building process, meaning trusted, accredited and qualified construction professionals will be able to spend more time building quality and affordable homes, and less time waiting for inspections to occur.

BCITO Director, Greg Durkin, said the announcement highlights the value of being a qualified trade professional, and the opportunities that exist for those who get qualified and continue to engage in training throughout their careers.

“Self-certification rewards trusted, accredited and reputable builders, such as those who have trained with BCITO to get on and build,” Mr Durkin said.

“The current consenting system can be overly cumbersome, and often leads to delays in the build process, even when it is a very straightforward build, by an experienced builder. Ultimately this often results in cost inflation for homeowners. By making the consenting process more efficient through a reduction in the number of inspections required throughout a project’s lifecycle, the Government is trying to help get kiwis into homes.”

“This approach is about rewarding high performing builders. It will help encourage more people in the sector to continue to train. That is a very important message for the sector. Training should not stop when you get your apprenticeship – there are a range of ongoing courses and qualifications that can help the sector to continue to lift performance. We welcome steps that encourage this approach.”

“It’s also worth reflecting that self-certification has been available to qualified electricians and gasfitters for some time, so this move feels like a logical step forward.”

“We understand the Minister will be consulting on the policy settings over the remainder of this year, with a plan to implement the streamlined process in early 2025. We look forward to engaging in this process,” Mr Durkin said.

Read Government announcement: Trusted building professionals able to self-certify