Feedback is being sought on potential options to improve the current building consent system, as part of the second stage in the government’s review of the consent system.
The review aims to modernise the system to provide assurance to building owners and users that building work will be done right first time.
Stakeholder feedback on last year’s issues discussion document showed there are significant opportunities to improve the performance of the system.
Key desirable building consent system options
The MBIE has developed potential options that could improve the building consent system. The options paper seeks feedback in the following areas, and identifies preferred options in areas where policy work is sufficiently advanced:
• Strengthening roles and responsibilities
• New assurance pathways
• Better delivery of building consent services
• Better performance monitoring and system stewardship
• Better responding to the needs and aspirations of Maori.
The options paper also includes options to address the following recommendations from the Commerce Commission’s market study into residential building supplies:
• Promoting competition in the building regulatory system
• Removing impediments to product substitution and variations.
Minister for Building and Construction Dr Megan Woods says any improvements to the building consent system that increase efficiency and provide greater certainty as to what can be built will help housing affordability.
“It’s really important that those in the sector and the wider public provide feedback on what’s proposed.
“Ensuring we enable timely processing of consents will help speed up the delivery of housing and other buildings. It is a critical part of the work we are doing to improve the efficiency of the sector,” Dr Woods says.
Make a submission
The MBIE welcomes feedback to test these potential options and understand how they could improve the building consent system to help builders, businesses and the building profession.
You can choose to respond to any sections in the consultation — you do not have to complete all the sections. You can also suggest other options if you consider they will help achieve the outcomes sought.
This consultation will inform advice to Ministers on what options should be progressed as a priority — and the detailed design of options the Government chooses to progress — as well as what options require further consideration and consultation.
Submissions for the consultation close at 5pm on Monday, August 7, 2023.
You can read the Building Consent System Review Options Paper on the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employments web site:
https://www.mbie.govt.nz/have-your-say/building-consent-system-review-options-paper-consultation
