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Building and Construction Minister Maurice Williamson today announced more than two-thirds of the structures part of a review into buildings with non-ductile columns have been cleared or excluded.

The Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment led review seeks to establish if there are any buildings with similar design flaws to the Canterbury Television Building, which collapsed in the February 2011 earthquake and killed 115 people.

Building and Construction Minister Maurice Williamson and Disability Issues Minister Tariana Turia today announced terms of reference and timeframes have been set for a review into building access for disabled people.

The review will look at how the Building Act and Building Code’s provisions relating to access for people with disabilities are being implemented when buildings are first constructed or altered.

Building and Construction Minister Maurice Williamson today announced changes will be made to pool safety laws to save more lives.

“Amendments to the Fencing of Swimming Pools Act 1987 are expected to prevent a further six children drowning in home swimming pools every 10 years.  It will build on the success of the 1987 Act, which reduced the number of drownings in home pools from about 100 every decade to about 30 now.

Building and Construction Minister Maurice Williamson says the passing of the Building Amendment Act 2013 today will lead to a more productive, efficient and effective building industry.

The Act has been amended to introduce several new measures to protect consumers and encourage the building and construction sector to ‘build right first time’, delivering good quality, affordable homes.

The Construction Sector Report launched today highlights the huge wave of work in the years ahead for the construction sector.

Speaking at the launch of the report today Building and Construction Minister Maurice Williamson says the sector needs to be ready to ride this wave and make sure it has the skilled workforce it needs.

Building and Construction Minister Maurice Williamson today announced Catherine Taylor has been appointed an acting member of the Building Practitioners Board.

Ms Taylor’s appointment, which follows the death of board member Bill Smith in September, is for a term of one year and 10 months.

“Catherine Taylor has held senior management positions in both the private and public sector, including five years as Maritime New Zealand’s chief executive. Her governance experience will be invaluable to the Board,” Mr Williamson says.

Building and Construction Minister Maurice Williamson tonight announced a partnership involving a Christchurch building company and Italian architects and engineers has won the Breathe – New Urban Village design competition. 

The winner, a consortium consisting of Riccarton-based Holloway Builders in partnership with architects Anselmi Attiani Architettura and engineers Cresco, was named at an event at Christchurch’s Cardboard Cathedral.

Building and Construction Minister Maurice Williamson and Disability Issues Minister Tariana Turia today announced a review has begun into building access for disabled people.

The review will look into how New Zealand Standard 4121, which outlines how people with disabilities can access buildings, aligns with the Building Code and how the Code more generally represents the needs of disabled people.

Building and Construction Minister Maurice Williamson today announced that owners of retirement village units are now entitled to a better minimum payout following situations such as an earthquake.

Previously, a retirement village operator could deduct maintenance charges for future work on uninhabitable or destroyed homes from the owner’s original capital payment on the property. Under changes to the Retirement Villages Code of Practice 2008, which take effect today, this is no longer possible.

Building and Construction Minister Maurice Williamson today announced the appointment of Debra Hall to the Electrical Workers Registration Board for a term of two years.

“Ms Hall has extensive governance experience and has a record of success in business and management.  She has undertaken many research projects, with one of the main areas being how markets respond to deregulation.

“I’d like to thank outgoing member Penelope Mudford for her contribution to the board over the past six years,” Mr Williamson says.

Building and Construction Minister Maurice Williamson today announced that 111 buildings have been cleared and a further 62 excluded in the review into buildings with non-ductile columns.

The review being led by the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment seeks to establish if there are any buildings with similar design flaws to the Canterbury Television Building, which collapsed in the February 22nd 2011 earthquake and killed 115 people.

The Government has today agreed to a new Order in Council, under the Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Act 2011, to ensure people continue to be protected from earthquake related hazards in Christchurch’s Port Hills.

Building and Construction Minister Maurice Williamson says the latest geotechnical information confirms a level of risk from hazards, such as rock roll, still exists in the Port Hills.

Building and Construction Minister Maurice Williamson today announced two reappointments to the Plumbers, Gasfitters and Drainlayers Board.

Peter Jackson and William Irvine have been reappointed for three year terms.

“Mr Jackson, who is registered as a certifying plumber, gasfitter and drainlayer, is the current deputy chair of the Board and its appointed representative to the World Plumbing Council.

Building and Construction Minister Maurice Williamson has welcomed the passing of the Plumbers, Gasfitters and Drainlayers Amendment Bill today.

The Amendment Bill validates a disciplinary levy and an offences fee charged by the Plumbers, Gasfitters and Drainlayers Board, and clarifies its authority to impose a disciplinary and prosecution levy.

Building and Construction Minister Maurice Williamson today expressed his sorrow at the death of leading building industry figure, Bill Smith.

“The building and construction sector has lost one of its great visionaries and innovators.

“Following his early retirement as general manager of Tasman Insulation in 2008, a company he was involved with for more than 30 years, Bill became an advocate on industry matters to Government,” Mr Williamson says.

Building and Construction Minister Maurice Williamson today announced two appointments to the Chartered Professional Engineers Council.

Anthony Wilson and Ross Tanner have been appointed for three years.

“Mr Wilson, who will replace Arthur O’Leary in October, will broaden the skills base of the Council from a local government and local regulatory perspective.

Building and Construction Minister Maurice Williamson today announced the appointment of Euan Mac Kellar to the Registered Architects Board.

Mr Mac Kellar is a registered architect and partner with Jasmax Architects in Auckland, and is also an adjunct professor of design at the Unitec School of Architecture. He will replace Marshall Cook in December and has been appointed for a two year term.

Building and Construction Minister Maurice Williamson today announced appointments to the Building Practitioners Board.

“Christopher Preston has been appointed member and Deputy Chair, and Melbourne Orange has been appointed as a member. Both terms are for three years.

“Brian Nightingale and William Smith have been reappointed for two year terms,” Mr Williamson says.

The Government has released an initial action plan from Doug Martin, the Crown Manager for Christchurch City Council’s building consenting functions.

“The Crown Manager’s terms of reference tasked him with providing an action plan within one month. The plan we have now received provides a comprehensive set of actions which will address issues ranging from systems and processes, to staff culture,” says Local Government Minister Chris Tremain.

Building and Construction Minister Maurice Williamson today announced 50 buildings have been cleared and another 24 excluded in the review into buildings with non-ductile columns.

The review began in 2012 to establish if there were any buildings with similar design flaws to the Canterbury Television Building, which collapsed in the February 22nd 2011 earthquake, killing 115 people.

Building and Construction Minister Maurice Williamson today announced the Government’s policy to deal with earthquake-prone buildings.

“Under a nationally consistent system, an estimated 15,000 to 25,000 earthquake-prone buildings will be identified through assessments within five years of legislation taking effect.  Those building owners will then have another 15 years to carry out strengthening work or have buildings demolished.  The timeframe is five years longer than initially proposed.

Building and Construction Minister Maurice Williamson today announced no safety problems have been found with a sample of building consents issued by Christchurch City Council this year.

International Accreditation New Zealand revoked the Council’s building consent accreditation a week ago following its inability to bring its processes up to the required standard.

Building and Construction Minister Maurice Williamson says an audit of potentially non-compliant consents identified during International Accreditation New Zealand’s building consent assessment of Christchurch City Council has been completed.

In September 2012, IANZ identified 17 consents where full compliance with the requirements of the Building Code or Act had not been demonstrated.

Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment officials have reviewed the consents in question.

Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Minister Gerry Brownlee says the Christchurch City Council can and, must, under section 212 of the Building Act 2004, continue issuing building consents, despite losing its accreditation.

International Accreditation New Zealand revoked the council’s building consent accreditation today following its inability to bring its processes up to the required standard.