This Government omnibus bill amends the Building Act 2004 and the Plumbers, Gasfitters, and Drainlayers Act 2006 to create an opt-in scheme letting qualified plumbers and drainlayers self-certify that their work complies with a building consent, removing the need for a building consent authority inspection. Its stated purpose is to speed up consenting and house building by reducing inspections. The Plumbers, Gasfitters and Drainlayers Board would endorse self-certifiers and set entry criteria, with new auditing, monitoring and disciplinary powers. It has since passed into law.
This bill amends building and plumbing law to let qualified, approved plumbers and drainlayers "self-certify" their own work — signing off that routine, low-risk, non-complex jobs meet the Building Code — instead of that work being separately inspected by a building consent authority (the council body that checks building work). Endorsed tradespeople who meet competency, insurance and business requirements would lodge a certificate of compliance, with test results, photos and as-built plans, shortly after finishing, and their work would not be routinely inspected. It affects plumbers, drainlayers, councils and building owners, and is backed by audits and a public register.
A Government bill aimed at cutting red tape and inspection delays in construction. Supporters argue it speeds up building, reduces costs, and lets councils focus scarce inspectors on higher-risk work while accountability stays with the certifier. Opponents worry that removing independent inspection could let defects slip through, weaken consumer protection if work is faulty, and rely too heavily on self-policing by the trade.
See the Parliament.nz ↗ site for the full bill.