Overseas products to make it cheaper to build
From tomorrow, thousands of additional building products including plasterboard, cladding systems, external doors, and windows will all be easier to use in construction sites across New Zealand, Mr Penk says Our government is laser focused on economic growth, which drives more jobs and increasing wages. We want to see a construction boom, and this is […]
Building Code pause brings certainty to construction
The Government is providing more certainty for the building sector by pausing any new major changes to the Building Code system, Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk has announced. “The building sector has faced significant disruption over the past few years in dealing with the pandemic, supply chain challenges and a boom-and-bust cycle that has […]
Commonsense changes to insulation rules
Overly rigid insulation rules are being removed to ease costs for designers, builders and homeowners, Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk has announced. “I’ve heard clearly from the industry that the current one-size-fits-all approach to insulation requirements is needlessly driving-up costs. “The most prescriptive compliance pathway currently available for insulation – known as the Schedule […]
Supercharging residential solar power generation
Common sense changes in the energy and building consent systems will drive greater residential solar uptake in New Zealand, Energy Minister Simon Watts and Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk say. “New Zealand’s residential uptake of rooftop solar is lower than many other countries. This Government wants to change that so more Kiwis can generate, […]
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 […]
