11. MELISSA LEE (National) Link to this
to the Minister for Building and Construction
What progress has he made in terms of introducing a building licence system that will give New Zealanders confidence in the skills of the builders they employ?
Hon MAURICE WILLIAMSON (Minister for Building and Construction) Link to this
I have good news. From today the number of licence classes for builders and designers will reduce from six to two, making the licensing process much simpler. That means competent professionals will now find it easier to find the licence that is right for them. From today there will be just one licence for design and another for site practitioners. Reducing the number of licences cuts costs and makes licensing a whole lot easier. We listened to the industry, and we took its feedback on board. The message was clear: the system was too complex and cumbersome. Today we have fixed it.
Hon MAURICE WILLIAMSON Link to this
In February I launched a product called the Better Building Blueprint, which has a range of measures. We made it quicker and cheaper to get consents for designs being built across the country through what we call the National Multiple-use Approval Service.
Hon Simon PowerHon MAURICE WILLIAMSON Link to this
I know my colleague wants the House to carry on, so I will try to be brief. We introduced a streamlined approvals process for qualified tradespeople to become licensed builders. We launched a consultation paper on improving the Building Act by cutting red tape and bureaucracy without compromising quality. The list could go on for the rest of the afternoon. It is all good news.
Phil TwyfordWhat reports has he seen on the last time a National Government changed the building regulations and shut down apprenticeship, in the 1990s, and what impact did that have on the confidence of New Zealanders in the skills of the builders they employ?
Hon MAURICE WILLIAMSON Link to this
I am reminded by a colleague alongside me that the Hon George Hawkins has said that Labour’s work achieved all that had been done. But this Government is focused on the future and on getting some damn good product out there for the people without compromising quality. We are not looking backwards.
I raise a point of order, Mr Speaker. I asked the Minister what reports he had seen on the last time a National Government changed the building regulations.
Mr SPEAKER