General Manager, Building Controls appointment

Welcome to the fifth release of Codewords. This issue marks a return to a strong operational focus for the magazine: we intend Codewords to serve as the 'publication of record' for Building Controls, a monthly collection of announcements, publishing updates, and work-inprogress notifications.

 You will already have read of the Department staff sent to Matata in the aftermath of the recent floods. The area endured remarkable devastation, and has become the focus of a coordinated local and central government cleanup effort. My thanks to Ian Butler and Peter Sparrow for their assistance to the region.

Our series of brief Advisory Panel profiles finishes this month with the Building Envelope Advisory Panel, whose brief is to consider the strategic implications of building envelope issues and how they might relate to the Department and the Building Code.

As required by the Building Act 2004, the Department continues to develop an accreditation and registration system for building control in New Zealand. Here we provide an update on progress in the various workstreams for the project.

I'd like to use this remaining space to introduce myself as the new General Manager, Building Controls. From a background in environmental research, I shifted across to the then Land Transport Safety Authority in 2000, taking on the role as General Manager, Operations for Land Transport Safety Authority (now Land Transport NZ) in 2002. I come to Building Controls with a particular interest in translating policy into practical results, and look forward to growing our capability while working towards further integration of the various functions of the Department.

As a final note, I would like to thank Warwick Tuck for the contribution he has made as Acting General Manager. He leaves a well-helmed ship, and I know that building controls staff welcomed his knowledge, expertise and assistance during the transition.

John Kay
General Manager
Building Controls