Horomia Parekura: Building Bill — Second Reading 
Horomia Parekura: Building Bill — Second Reading 
[Volume:619;Page:14532] 
Hon PAREKURA HOROMIA (Minister of Maori Affairs) 
 on behalf of the 
 Associate Minister of Commerce (Hon John Tamihere) 
: I move  
That the Building Bill be now read a second time 
. I acknowledge the thorough consideration given by the Government Administration Committee to the bill in light of the complex nature of the issues involved. I also thank those who took the time to make submissions to the committee. The bill is a culmination of an extensive review and a thorough consultation process and represents a complementary and an integrated package for the regulation of building work in New Zealand. While weathertightness issues acted as a catalyst for that work the Hunn report showed a much wider examination of building controls was needed in order to make sure that we had a regulatory framework that met the needs of both industry and consumers. The bill addresses issues raised in the select committee inquiry and establishes a balanced regulatory framework for the building industry which consumers and the industry have been seeking. I am greatly indebted to the former Minister Lianne Dalziel who introduced the bill to the House and to the Hon. Margaret Wilson. Lianne Dalziel previously outlined the initiatives contained in the bill. I highlight the fact that the bill does strengthen the regulatory framework and has a strong focus on consumer protection. 
The select committee has reported back the bill. It supports the key principles behind it and recommends a number of amendments to reflect better the underlying policy intent and ensure the workability of the proposals. The main changes from the committee include the following: promoting the efficient and sustainable use of materials in buildings establishing an advisory panel to the chief executive clarifying the chief executive’s role in the accreditation of building consent authorities new consultation processes on mandatory requirements mechanisms to enhance coordination with other legislation—including the Historic Places Act and the Resource Management Act—in the granting of building consents revised provisions for the licensing of building practitioners revised provisions to enhance the workability of the dam safety regime and revised provisions to clarify the status of code compliance certificates. Code compliance certificates will now be assessed against the relevant building consent rather than against the building code. That is aimed at preventing people from being caught out by changes to the building code since the relevant consent was issued. 
The select committee has also recommended including new provisions set out on Supplementary Order Paper 178 to increase protection for consumers when buying household units from developers. They include a requirement for property developers to obtain a code compliance certificate before completing the sale of a household unit or allowing the purchaser of a household unit to enter into possession of that unit and extending the scope of the consumer protection provisions currently in the bill to cover sales of household units by property developers. 
I note with interest that the National Party has indicated that it will not be supporting the bill. That is particularly disappointing when we have such immediate evidence of the distress that occurs when people’s homes are not built properly. I commend this bill as reported back from the Government Administration Committee to the House.