First licensed building practitioners ready to go

A major milestone in the introduction of the Licensed Building Practitioner Scheme is set to be reached in early March.

The first builders and designers to be officially registered as licensed building practitioners will be awarded their identification cards.

The Licensed Building Practitioner Scheme aims to raise building standards, boost consumer confidence in the industry and introduce accountability.

Their welcome pack will also include information on keeping their skills up to date and what their responsibilities are now they are licensed.

The first people being licensed is a giant step for the scheme, which was officially launched on 1 November last year, and comes on the back of a huge demand for application packs from throughout the industry.

This is the first time that New Zealand has had a licensing and registration scheme for builders and designers. The scheme aims to ensure that the people in the building industry who are responsible for the work done are competent and accountable, so that homes and buildings are designed and built right the first time.

Once people are licensed, the Department will start to promote the scheme among industry, and to the general public, using the Register of Licensed Practitioners. This register will be available from early March.

Nigel Bickle, the Departmental Deputy Chief Executive, Sector Capability, who has been overseeing the scheme, has encouraged members of the public to seek out licensed practitioners when thinking about getting work done.

'Hiring a licensed practitioner will give consumers the assurance that they are hiring someone who has shown they have the skills, knowledge and experience to do the job right. I would encourage everyone to start asking for licensed building practitioners to undertake any work they want done.'

Earlier this year, the Minister for Building and Construction, Shane Jones, said he was impressed by the level of interest in the scheme. He said, 'Such high interest in the Licensed Building Practitioner Scheme is very encouraging. It clearly shows that a real demand exists for an industry-recognised government-backed quality mark. The licensing scheme requires practitioners to show they have the skills and experience to do the job properly. It also gives good builders, who are not paper-qualified, a real opportunity to be recognised for the great work they do.'

Over the next few months the Department will also continue to promote and explain the scheme through a series of workshops around the country.