The Government has now introduced the Building Amendment Bill to Parliament and completed its First Reading, marking the start of what could be one of the most significant overhauls of New Zealand's building system in a generation. The Bill proposes major changes to liability settings, consumer protections, insurance requirements and consenting processes, with implications for builders, designers, councils, insurers and homeowners alike.
Much of the public discussion has focused on the proposed move from joint and several liability to a proportionate liability regime. The Bill also introduces proposals relating to home warranty schemes, professional indemnity insurance and clearer allocation of responsibilities across the building process. These changes have the potential to reshape how risk, accountability and consumer protection are managed throughout the sector.
BRANZ opposes the proposed repeal of the Building Research Levy Act
Alongside these reforms, the Bill proposes repealing the Building Research Levy Act and transferring all building research funding decisions to MBIE.
BRANZ does not support this proposal. We believe it would remove an important safeguard that has allowed New Zealand to maintain an independent, industry-backed building research capability for almost 60 years. The current levy model ensures research priorities are informed by both industry needs and government priorities. Centralising all funding decisions within government risks weakening that independence and reducing the sector's influence over the research that underpins better building outcomes.
While this proposal has attracted less attention than the liability reforms, its implications for the future of New Zealand's building research system could be profound.
Our accompanying articles explore what's at stake, including growing concerns about concentrating research funding decisions within government, the role the Levy plays in supporting independent research, and why these issues matter to the future performance of New Zealand's building system.
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Together, these articles provide important context as debate about the future of New Zealand's building system intensifies. The Bill has now been introduced to Parliament and will proceed through the Select Committee process, where the sector and the public will have an opportunity to have their say.