Annual Report 2005/2006

Chief Executive's overview

The 2005/06 year has been one of significant highlights. As a young Department we have achieved a number of milestones while continuing to build the organisation.

The Department's vision is:

The people of New Zealand have access to quality homes and buildings that meet their needs and reflect our New Zealand environment.

For this to be achieved, buildings and homes need to perform well in the New Zealand environment and there needs to be a vibrant building, construction and housing sector with skilled professionals. Owners, tenants and building users need to have confidence in the quality of buildings, the competence of building professionals and the quality of their tenure arrangements.

Critical to our success is working well with others - with the sector and the broad range of interests it encompasses, and with local government, non-government organisations and government agencies, and consumers. This enables us to draw on the knowledge and skills of others to help us develop better solutions and practical, workable approaches. The input from others has deepened our understanding of the sector and the critical issues it faces. This has helped us grapple with the complex issues involved in leading such comprehensive reforms. Working with others has enabled us to provide well-informed advice to the Government, deliver high-quality services and implement new systems that provide value to our stakeholders.

The enhancements to the response to weathertightness, the development of the building practitioners licensing scheme, the Building Code review and improvements to tenancy services are all major projects where outcomes have been more successful because of the input and support received from those who have worked with us.

The major areas of focus for the Department are: regulatory issues and standards for building and housing; policy development and operational implementation; and service delivery - dispute resolution, and industry and consumer information and advice.

Over the past year, achievements within these broad workstreams have included:

• implementing the Building Act 2004 including development of schemes for the licensing of building practitioners, an accreditation regime for territorial authorities to become building consent authorities, and progressing the development of an education programme for building officials
• an enhanced response to weathertightness issues in New Zealand homes, resulting in a review of the Weathertight Homes Resolution Service, a new model for dispute resolution (including the proposed establishment of a new tribunal), and strengthening assessment and case management. Work was also begun on developing information for consumers to ensure they are better informed. Other ongoing work is focused on ensuring people receive better technical advice, ensuring homes are fixed and looking at what types of home and professional indemnity warrantees might be appropriate for the future.
• energy efficiency initiatives for buildings
• the review of the Building Code, particularly focused on sustainable development and the quality of our built environment
• progressing reviews of the Residential Tenancies Act and Unit Titles Act and regulations governing retirement villages
• developing new policies for the management of dangerous and insanitary buildings and new regulations for managing large dams
• redesigning the Department's service-delivery system to deliver high-quality, connected and accessible services for landlords and tenants.

During the year we have worked to bring the Department together in a more integrated way from the component parts that came from different government agencies. By the end of 2005/06 we had joined together what were formerly the Ministry of Housing, the Building Industry Authority, the Ministry of Economic Development's building policy team and the Weathertight Homes Resolution Service. The Electrical Workers Licensing Group joined the Department in September 2006.

Whole-of-organisation policies and procedures and cross-organisation working groups are in place and working well. The move to one national office for Wellington staff has been an important part of this. It has brought people together on one site and greatly enhanced the opportunities for them to work together.

There is still much to be done. Organisational development will continue to be a key focus for the coming year to ensure we have capability to deliver on a very significant work programme and to position the Department for the future.

The past year has been a challenging time and testing of the Department. We have delivered on a substantial work programme and provided improved services to our stakeholders and clients. I would like to acknowledge the work, dedication and support of the Strategic Leadership Team and all the staff in the Department in achieving these results.

I am pleased to present the Annual Report of the Department of Building and Housing for the year ended 30 June 2006.

Katrina Bach
Chief Executive

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