Curran ClareCLARE CURRAN (Labour—Dunedin South): In the Committee stage of the Regulatory Systems (Building and Housing) Amendment Bill which is one of the three bills that we are discussing in the Committee of the whole House this afternoon—the commentary on the bill says that it specifically aims to improve effectiveness and efficiency in the areas of building and housing." Certainly Part 1 of this bill is very short and essentially addresses some technical changes—some very technical amendments.If you turn to the departmental report on this though with regard to the submissions on this part of the bill—and I think my colleague Phil Twyford referred to some submissions by an individual called Iain—there were also two specific submissions from Transpower. I have a question for the Minister in the chair specifically on this and I hope that he will be able to answer it. Both of Transpower's submissions were reasonably similar. It requested that this part of the bill have an insertion of a new requirement into either the Building Act or the building code for building consent applicants to state whether or not NZECP 34 applies to the building work concerned. It also asked for a new requirement again in either the Building Act or the building code requiring building consent applicants who have provided a certification that the building meets the requirements of NZECP 34 to provide certification by a suitably qualified person that the completed building does comply with that particular NZECP 34. Officials disagreed on both counts. They said it was not within the scope of the bill.What is NZECP 34? It is the New Zealand Electrical Code of Practice for electrical safe distances which sounds like a pretty important document. [Interruption] Because I looked it up Mr Twyford. It covers safety issues in so far as they relate to safe distances to overhead electric lines telecommunication lines lines equipment and fittings and personnel working on or near to such lines equipment. The code sets out the minimum requirements. I am not going to go through all of the minimum requirements—Hon Michael Woodhouse: Thank goodness!CLARE CURRAN: Well—Hon Member: Maybe she will.CLARE CURRAN: Perhaps I will then Mr Woodhouse because actually—and I hope that members in the Committee particularly the Minister in the chair will take this quite seriously. My question is: why was this not taken seriously? Why is it out of scope? If this code NZECP 34 is out of scope then where does it apply if it is not in the Building Act or in this particular piece of legislation? It sets out the minimum requirements for excavation or construction near overhead electric line supports limits for construction near conductors limits for the installation of conductors near existing buildings and similar structures—I could go on.The question is: why is it out of scope? Does it apply in the Building Act or elsewhere in legislation where we know that there has to be some kind of certification by building consent applicants—that they are actually getting a suitably qualified person so that new buildings are complying with electrical work and the work that needs to be done around them? That is while they get their building consents and then once the work has actually been completed.I think this is quite critical. I know this is a brief part—this part of the bill—but I think it is a pretty critical question. Is this something that has been left out? Has it been left out for a reason? What further analysis and consultation with stakeholders is required as the officials said? Is that further consultation and analysis actually being done or has it been done?"