Certified Builders: Biggest Building Changes in 50 years

17 May 2012

Biggest Building Changes in 50 years, Hot Topic at Certified Builders Conference

Major changes to the building industry – by far the biggest changes in 50 years – have seen a record number of builders register for the Certified Builders Association of New Zealand annual conference.

Close to 400 trade qualified Certified Builders are set to attend the two-day “Good to Great!” conference at Te Papa in Wellington from Friday 18 May 2012. Minister of Housing and Construction, Hon Maurice Williamson, will officially open the conference.

“I am honoured to open the Certified Builders conference, at a time when the government is introducing legislative reforms designed to lift standards in the building and construction sector and give homeowners added peace of mind,” Mr Williamson says.

The Building Amendment Act 2012 and the Licensed Building Practitioner scheme (LBP) came into force on 13 March 2012. The Building Amendment Bill (No. 4) passed its first reading in Parliament on 2 May 2012.

“People wouldn’t want an unlicensed pilot or an electrician. It’s just as important that we have trades people who are assessed as competent to undertake the critical design, structure and weathertight elements of what is often a New Zealander’s largest investment – their family home,” Mr Williamson says.

The Building Amendment Bill (No. 4) includes a range of measures designed to help consumers hold building practitioners to account.

“The proposed changes set the scene for an efficient and effective building and construction sector that stands behind the quality of its work,” Mr Williamson says.

Certified Builders Chief Executive, Grant Florence, says Certified Builders supports the reforms and lobbied to get the Licensed Building Practitioner scheme introduced.

“Outside of Certified Builders, there has been a low barrier to entry in the industry and anyone could become a builder. So putting some standard minimum barriers in place is timely and necessary,” Mr Florence says.

“Our members certainly welcome the changes, and their desire to continue to improve the standards in the industry and the value being a Certified Builder brings them, is why we have so many builders attending the conference,” he says.

“All Certified Builders members are trade qualified. When you engage the services of a Certified Builder you are getting the confidence that comes with certainty – homeowners know that a Certified Builder is trade qualified and is not just a good builder, but a great builder,” Mr Florence says.

Established in 1998, Certified Builders was the result of concern amongst trade qualified, experienced builders that there was no organisation in New Zealand adequately promoting excellence in building standards and protecting customers from unqualified and unethical traders.

The Certified Builders conference also includes educational workshops, from changes to Building Contracts in keeping with the radically changed legal landscape, to the latest phone application that allows Certified Builders to take photos of the build in progress for the client.

Shaun Quincey, who became the second person to row solo across the Tasman Sea and the first to row from Australia to New Zealand in March 2010, will inspire delegates with the story of his epic 54-day voyage in the world’s most dangerous ocean. Shaun followed the success of his father, who in 1977 became the first man to successfully complete the grueling journey.

“Shaun’s amazing journey took two years of detailed planning and preparation – this precision took him from good to great,” Mr Florence says.

The winner of the third annual Industry Training Association Building (ITaB) Apprentice Challenge will also be announced at the conference. After battling each other in an eight hour practical test, the six finalists will face a panel interview and a public speaking exercise to determine who will take the title.

The finalists are: Ben Wilson from Eastern Institute of Technology, Aaron Kent from Bay of Plenty Polytechnic, Vine Collett from Unitec, Zac Wilkinson from Christchurch Polytechnic Institute of Technology, Michael Ferris from Northtec and Andrew Higgins from Nelson Marlborough Institute of Technology.

The conference will also see the official launch of a new Certified Builders marketing and advertising campaign, which includes television commercials, print and online adverts and other collateral. These tie in with the Certified Builders website that was redesigned in 2011.

About Certified Builders Association of New Zealand
Certified Builders Association of New Zealand is a nationwide network of qualified, trusted builders. Certified Builders members are the only builders in New Zealand who are guaranteed to have trade qualifications (equivalent to or better than National Trade Certificate in Carpentry Level 4).

Established in 1998, Certified Builders has more than 3,000 members – who are all Certified, trade qualified, trusted building professionals, offering integrity, a proven track record and experience, and the best independent building guarantee in the business.

Certified Builders is literally a “community of craftsmen” who pride themselves on the standards of excellence and professionalism they deliver – and set the standards of the building industry in New Zealand.

ENDS

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