MBIE is consulting on proposed changes to occupational regulation regimes

The Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) would like to hear from you on its proposed changes to improve occupational regulation in the building and construction industry.

MBIE is consulting on these changes to ensure that the standards practitioners must meet are fit for purpose and so New Zealanders feel confident that practitioners are working with the right skills and care.

Consultation

A consultation document has been released for public feedback that covers both proposals for change and potential issues for improvement. These include:

• Licensed Building Practitioners, including proposals for change regarding supervision and licensing, as well as seeking feedback on issues with competencies.
• Plumbers, Gasfitters and Drainlayers, and Electrical Workers, including consulting on the scope of codes of ethics to help lift the quality of the work and promote public confidence.
• Registered Architects, including seeking feedback on a range of issues to determine if the regime is still fit for purpose.

You feedback will help MBIE ensure that occupational regulation continues to provide practitioners with the right skills, knowledge and experience to do quality work and increase consumer confidence in the professions.

Find out more about the proposed changes and make a submission – mbie.govt.nz

Submissions close at 5pm on Thursday 6 April 2023.

Your feedback is important

MBIE would like to hear from building and construction professionals and those who work alongside and interact with those in the sector. They also want to hear from those who have used building and construction services eg homeowners.

You can make a submission by clicking the link above.

Following public consultation, MBIE will analyse the submissions that will help to inform the next stage of reforms of occupational regulation regimes. MBIE intends to release a report of the findings from the consultation and a summary of submissions on its website later in 2023.

Background to the reforms

MBIE is progressing a series of changes to the building regulatory system, under a programme called the Building System Reforms. These changes include a review of the building consent system, improving consumer protection measures, and making changes to the regulation of occupations within the sector.

Occupational regulation aims to protect the public from harm by ensuring services are performed with reasonable care and skill. It supports the other building control system elements and protects New Zealanders from potential harm caused by negligent, reckless or dishonest practise.

Statutory reviews and previous consultations have identified some areas for improvement under the current regimes. An important aim of MBIE’s reforms is to make sure occupational regulation is fit for purpose and is moving towards a consistent approach across the sector where appropriate.