Have your say on remote inspections!

The Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) is seeking feedback on a range of options to increase the uptake of remote inspections and improve efficiency and productivity in the building inspection process.

In September, Under Construction reported that MBIE was planning to run a public consultation on the Government’s plan to make it a requirement for Building Consent Authorities (BCAs) to use remote inspections as the default approach to cut costs and improve build times. That consultation is now under way.

“A constant frustration getting in the way of building is the cumbersome consenting system and building inspections, which are carried out to ensure a build is compliant with the Building Code,” said Minister for Building and Construction Chris Penk at the time it was announced.

However, Simon Thomas, MBIE Head of Building System Delivery and Assurance, stressed that the pace of change would be more sedate than Penk suggested.

“While the Government has indicated it is exploring a range of options to increase the uptake of remote inspections, onsite inspections remain standard practice for BCAs.”

As a result, MBIE is seeking feedback on options which include:

• Requiring BCAs to use remote inspections as the default approach.
• Requiring BCAs to have the systems and capability to conduct remote inspections.
• Non-regulatory initiatives to lift inspection productivity.
• Creating a new offence to deter deceptive behaviour during a remote inspection and give building consent authorities more confidence to inspect remotely.

The consultation also seeks feedback on increasing the use of Accredited Organisations (Building) to undertake inspections – private organisations, which can process consent applications on behalf of BCAs.

People who wish to make a submission can do so by completing an online survey, completing the submission form template found HERE and emailing it to building@mbie.govt.nz or by mailing it to:

Consultation: Remote inspections

Building System Performance

Building, Resources and Markets

Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment

PO Box 1473

Wellington 6140

Submissions will close on Friday, 29 November 2024 at 5pm.