Technical Reviews of Territorial Authorities and Private Building Certifiers: Summary of Findings 2003-2004

 Until the end of 2004, technical reviews of territorial authorities (TAs) and private building certifiers were carried out by the Building Industry Authority (BIA) under the Building Act 1991. In late 2004, this function was transferred to the Department of Building and Housing.

 Between June 2003 and December 2004, the BIA conducted technical reviews of 11 TAs and six private building certifiers. The aim of these technical reviews was to work collaboratively with organisations to identify performance issues and any improvements required to address such issues. The reviewed organisations represented the range of small, medium and large, rural and urban TAs and private building certifiers providing regulatory building control services in 2003 and 2004.

The Summary of Findings report is a snapshot of the key findings of the 2003 and 2004 technical reviews of TAs and private building certifiers. The report is based on comprehensive individual technical review documents on the building control services in each reviewed organisation.

The Summary of Findings report reveals some improvement in a number of areas and several best practice initiatives have been developed and implemented.

For example, several TAs have improved scheduling for building inspections, enabling more time to be spent on-site and better assessment of potential weathertightness compliance issues.

Overall, the Technical Review team found room for continued improvement in three main areas: technical skill levels, technical systems and processes, and administrative issues. There is a need to address issues relating to the overall skills of those involved in regulatory building control. For example, organisations need to ensure staff have the technical competence to operate in a rapidly changing regulatory environment.

Another area where the potential for improvement was found relates to technical regulatory building control processes. For example, organisations must ensure adequate assessment and documentation of alternative solutions is undertaken.

Finally, a small number of administrative issues were identified, in the Summary of Findings report.

The building consent authority (BCA) accreditation and registration regime will bring about significant changes to regulatory building control in New Zealand; however, many of the findings outlined in the Summary of Findings report remain relevant and these issues may need to be addressed before achieving accreditation as a BCA. Prospective BCAs may wish to consider the issues identified in this report and use this information in their preparations for the BCA accreditation regime.

Hard copies of the Summary of Findings report are also available and can be requested from the Department by phoning 0800 242 243.