Accelerating building projects with self-certification and inspection targets
The Government has agreed on a new scheme allowing trusted builders to sign off their own work and will set a mandatory target to tackle building inspection wait times, Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk has announced. “Making it easier and more affordable to build opens the door to homeownership for more Kiwis, gives families […]
Government delivers breakthrough week for building
Significant action by the Government this week will make building in New Zealand easier by unclogging the consenting system, reducing construction costs, and giving tradies the support they need to get on with the job, Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk says. “Tradies are bogged down in paperwork instead of doing what they do best. […]
Super-sized granny flats coming to backyards
The Coalition Government will go even further than it earlier proposed to make it easier to build granny flats by increasing the maximum size allowed to be built without consents, say RMA Reform and Housing Minister Chris Bishop, Associate Finance Minister Shane Jones and Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk. “It’s currently far too hard […]
Going for Growth: More affordable building products
Just-passed legislation is expected to put up to 250,000 more building products on shelves this year alone – giving Kiwis building and renovating their homes more choice to fit their budgets, Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk says. “Making it easier and more affordable to build in New Zealand is a central pillar in this […]
Government Slashes Building Determination Wait Times by 80%, Accelerating Housing Progress
Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk has announced a dramatic 80% reduction in processing times for critical building determinations, cutting delays from an average of 516 days in September 2023 to just 111 days by November 2024. The improvement marks a major milestone in the Government’s push to resolve New Zealand’s housing shortage and boost […]
Government Streamlines Survey and Title Processing to Accelerate Housing Developments
Land Information Minister Chris Penk has announced significant reductions in processing times for survey and title applications, enabling housing projects to advance more swiftly amid New Zealand’s ongoing housing crisis. Processing Times Slashed by 20%Land Information New Zealand (LINZ) has cut average processing times for survey applications by 20% compared to 2023, with title applications […]
Government Transparency Initiative Accelerates Building Consent Processing Times
Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk has announced significant improvements in building consent processing times, attributing progress to enhanced transparency measures introduced earlier this year. Since April 2024, when the Government mandated quarterly reporting by councils, 92% of building consent applications are now processed within the statutory 20-day timeframe—up from 88% in the first quarter. […]
Government Granny Flat Proposal Draws Unprecedented Public Response
A record-breaking 1,970 submissions have been received on the Government’s proposal to simplify the construction of granny flats, announced RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop and Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk. The initiative, part of the National-NZ First Coalition Agreement, seeks to exempt granny flats up to 60 square metres from resource and building consent […]
New Report Unveils Construction Sector’s Productivity Stagnation
A recent report by the New Zealand Chinese Building Industry Association, highlighted by Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk, reveals significant productivity challenges in New Zealand’s construction sector. Despite technological advancements since 1985, productivity levels have not improved. The report underscores the sector’s importance, contributing $99 billion in sales in 2023 and indirectly supporting 20% […]
New Zealand’s Building Materials Sector: A Glimpse into the Future
The building materials industry in New Zealand is undergoing a significant transformation, with recent government initiatives aimed at reducing costs…..
