11. Question No. 11—Building and ConstructionKIERAN McANULTY (Labour) to the Minister for Building and ConstructionQuestion No. 11—Building and Construction11. KIERAN McANULTY (Labour) to the Minister for Building and Construction: What recent announcements has she made on cutting red tape to get people building? Hon JENNY SALESA (Minister for Building and Construction): Malo le soifua Mr Speaker. This Government knows that homeowners builders and DIYers want to get on with low-risk projects around their homes and farms. That's why we've delivered a package of building works that will be exempt from requiring a building consent from council. By removing the need for consent more sleepouts sheds porches greenhouses carports awnings water-storage bladders for irrigation hay sheds outdoor fireplaces ovens and ground-mounted solar panels can be built without delays. Homeowners farmers and DIYers will save up to $18 million a year in consenting fees. Kieran McAnulty: How will these changes ensure building standards are continued? Hon JENNY SALESA: These exemptions allow for some low-risk building work to be done without a consent. However the need for compliance with the building code remains and many of these exemptions require the work to be undertaken or supervised by a licensed building practitioner or to be designed by a chartered professional engineer. These changes will remove the burden of consent for low-risk work while ensuring that building quality remains. This Government has a plan for the construction sector and we're getting on with cutting red tape from our building system while others in the House are lining up the Colliery Railways Vesting Act 1893 for their regulation bonfire. I know which is more important. Kieran McAnulty: What feedback has she received following this announcement? Hon JENNY SALESA: We've seen overwhelming support for these changes from across the country. Over the weekend I saw New Zealand's favourite builder Peter Wolfkamp from The Block say—and I quote—I think it's great if you want to build a shed for a hobby or an office. It does give us a little more freedom." I also received an email from Ross from Taranaki saying "I'm building a cabin at present and the council permit fees were nearly as much as the building cost. It was crazy for a small building. I can now use the savings to pay someone to help build." We're making the system better and we're helping to create jobs and it will not require a bill. It will be by Order in Council and it will be enacted soon. Fa'afetai tele lava Mr Speaker. Hon Tracey Martin: Can the Minister confirm that her coalition partner the Hon Shane Jones has worked with her and officials for over 18 months to make sure that this bill comes into the House? Hon JENNY SALESA: I'd like to acknowledge and thank our coalition partner New Zealand First for their advocacy on this issue. It also would be fair to say I received a lot of advice from my colleagues but I do want to especially thank the Hon Shane Jones for working with me on these exemptions. Tim van de Molen: Does she appreciate that her announcement caused thousands of projects across the country to be placed on hold until this promise is delivered which places further strain on builders and suppliers of these projects whose businesses are desperately trying to recover from COVID-19? Hon JENNY SALESA: I do not accept that this announcement actually puts a hold on work. What it does is it allows people to get on without delay without a consent. They can actually have licensed building practitioners help them build these projects and they also can reach out for professional engineers to design the work. This actually helps our rebuild after COVID-19. Hon Chris Hipkins: Has she seen anyone other than a National Party member of Parliament opposing the changes that she's just announced? Hon JENNY SALESA: I've had overwhelming support for this work from the public and from members of Parliament and from right around Aotearoa New Zealand. That is the first negative comment I've heard about this particular exemption. Hon Member: Supplementary. SPEAKER: No I think the Labour Party's used its quota of supplementary questions."