The latest news from Licensed Building Practitioners scheme.
No images? Click here
Kia ora
As we head into the final quarter of the year, it’s a good time to reflect on the importance of maintaining high standards in our building practices and staying current with industry developments. This month’s newsletter includes key updates to support your professional growth and responsibilities as an LBP.
This month’s skills maintenance articles focus on 2 critical areas:
Being Prepared for Building Inspections. Many LBPs are failing inspections. This is often because they don’t follow the rules, don’t provide all the paperwork, or do work they’re not qualified to do. This article gives you some good information to make sure you’re prepared for building inspections.
Building Consent Requirements. Starting work without a building consent is still an issue in complaints. LBPs must make sure that consents are issued before any restricted building work begins. This is a legal requirement and a key part of maintaining public trust in the profession.
These articles are part of your compulsory skills maintenance activities. Don’t forget to log your learning in your online portal.
We have also included summaries of recent complaint decisions made by the Board. These decisions are a reminder that you must follow the Building Act and the Code of Ethics.
There are 2 new eLearning modules on seismic resilience that are now available through the Building Performance Learning Centre. Each module earns one elective skills maintenance point.
Thank you for reading this edition of the LBP newsletter.
Ngā mihi nui,
Duncan Connor
Registrar of Licensed Building Practitioners
LBP skills maintenance
The inspector is not your safety net: LBPs must own their work
A recurring theme in complaints to the Building Practitioners Board is LBPs relying on Building Consent Authority BCA inspectors to identify mistakes during construction.
Understanding clause B1 of the NZ Building Code
Clause B1 of the New Zealand Building Code sets out the structural performance requirements that all building work must meet.
LBPs need to read the LBP skills maintenance (Codewords) articles relevant to their licence class, and complete a short quiz for each one.
Complete your skills maintenance requirements on the LBP Portal
Building news for LBPs
Earthquake-Prone Building System Review Announcement
The Government has announced significant reforms to the earthquake-prone building (EPB) system, which will directly impact how LBPs engage with seismic remediation projects.
Seismic Resilience Modules Now Live
Two new modules on seismic resilience requirements are now available on the Building Performance learning centre, covering new builds and retrofitting older homes
Building requirements and conditions for granny flats
The new building consent exemption for granny flats is on track to commence in early 2026. The exemption includes specific requirements that LBPs need to be aware of.
New building consent exemptions
These changes to building consent exemptions make it easier to install solar panels and construct small, detached buildings.
Recent determinations
Determinations are legally binding decisions made by MBIE. They are for matters of doubt or dispute to do with building work outlined in the Building Act and the Building Code. Each newsletter, we take a look at determinations of interest to LBPs.
Disciplinary decisions
The Building Practitioners Board have published a number of complaints covering failures to provide records of work, as well as cases of poor workmanship, careless design, misleading consent documents, and unprofessional behaviour
