Councils brought up to standard on issuing building consents

All New Zealand territorial authorities are now registered as building consent authorities.

Nigel Bickle, the Department of Building and Housing's deputy chief executive of sector capability, said the process for councils to meet standards when inspecting buildings and issuing building consents had been completed.

The system of registering councils was the previous government's move to counter low standards being exhibited by councils in issuing building consents.

Slow processing times, excessive red tape and poorly trained staff - many with inadequate English language skills - came under fire three years ago when the new system was announced.

Critics said they believed councils were not suddenly capable of carrying out the process and that standards had been lowered so councils could at least be seen to be competent.

The demand for councils to be registered followed the collapse of the private certification sector whereby councils contracted private businesses to issue building consents.

To read the full NZ Herald story, click here

Posted: 4 Aug 2009

News articles