*ARCHIVE* - BIA Update 37 - Building Bill passed 13 Aug 2004

Hon John Tamihere, Minister for Youth Affairs, Small Business,

Land Information and Statistics

Associate Minister of Maori Affairs and Commerce

Media statement

12 August 2004

Parliament today endorsed the changes set out in the Building Bill, with the majority voting to pass the Bill into law.

Associate Commerce Minister, and Minister responsible for the soon to be established Department of Building and Housing, John Tamihere, welcomed the legislation's passage.

 This act is about all New Zealanders feeling safe about the houses and buildings they live and work in, Mr Tamihere said.

For many of us, the biggest investment we make in our lives is the house we purchase, and we must ensure that Kiwi home-owners' investment is protected.

This legislation introduces a range of measures to make sure our buildings are built right from the start, and puts in place better checks and balances on the building industry.

Mr Tamihere said that although the legislation first arose because of the weathertightness issue, the review of building industry regulation quickly discovered the problems were much broader.

 The new Act was part of a wider set of measures the government has brought in over the last few years to improve accountability and certainty in the construction industry, Mr Tamihere said.

 The expansion of the Ministry of Housing to the Department of Building and Housing is a key element of making sure this wider view continues and will help bring all these measures together.