Second private building consent authority approved

A second private Building Consent Authority (BCA) has been approved by the Government, marking another step in the gradual expansion of private sector involvement in New Zealand’s building consent system

Wellington-based Farsight NZ Limited Partnership has been registered as a standalone BCA by the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE). The organisation will carry out building control work for retirement village developer Summerset.

The approval means Farsight can process and grant building consents, inspect buildings during construction, issue Code Compliance Certificates, and carry out enforcement functions such as notices to fix.

Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk said the new authority would increase capacity in the consenting system.

“The launch of New Zealand’s second private Building Consent Authority will add competition and capacity to the building consent system,” he said.

“Easing the paperwork burden and cutting red tape out of our famously unproductive building consent system is a key part of this Government’s efforts to make it easier, faster and more affordable to build the homes and infrastructure Kiwis need.”

Dedicated consenting for retirement villages

Farsight will carry out building control functions exclusively for Summerset, one of New Zealand’s largest residential developers specialising in retirement villages.

According to the Minister, the arrangement is expected to improve consistency in the application of the Building Code across Summerset’s projects nationwide.

“Summerset is one of New Zealand’s largest residential builders, and having its own BCA will bring greater consistency and certainty in how the Building Code is applied across its developments nationwide,” Penk said.

He added that the arrangement could also ease pressure on council consenting teams.

“By covering a substantial number of building projects, Farsight will also take pressure off council BCAs that would otherwise have undertaken the work, allowing them to focus on other projects.”

Summerset currently operates dozens of retirement villages across the country and has an ongoing development pipeline, meaning the private BCA could be responsible for a significant number of projects.

Private BCAs begin to emerge

Farsight is the second standalone private BCA approved in New Zealand, following Building Consent Approvals Limited (BCAL), which received approval in 2025. Under Construction reported extensively on BCAL’s approval – which you can read here.

Additionally, Under Construction reported on Christchurch City Council (CCC)’s memorandum of understanding with MBIE allowing supermarkets and large grocery developments anywhere in New Zealand that meet eligibility criteria to apply directly to CCC for their building consent

Private BCAs remain rare in New Zealand’s regulatory system, where building consent work has historically been carried out by local councils.

When BCAL was approved last year, it was presented as a test case for whether private providers could help address long-standing industry concerns about consent delays and inconsistent decision-making.

BCAL said at the time it aimed to deliver faster approvals for builders by operating with dedicated consenting teams and streamlined processes.

MBIE said there are now more than 70 building consent authorities nationwide. The vast majority are territorial or regional authorities, alongside the two private BCAs and Consentium – the consenting arm of Kāinga Ora.

To operate as a BCA, organisations must first obtain accreditation from International Accreditation New Zealand. They must also demonstrate to MBIE that they meet a “fit and proper person” test and have adequate arrangements to manage civil liabilities associated with building control work.

MBIE said it was satisfied that Farsight met those requirements and had the capability to undertake building control functions.

Liability questions remain

The emergence of private BCAs has prompted questions within the construction sector about how liability will operate when consenting functions are carried out by private organisations rather than councils.

In previous guidance, MBIE clarified that private BCAs operate under the same statutory framework as council BCAs and are subject to the same legal responsibilities when performing building control functions.

They must also demonstrate that they have adequate means to cover potential civil liabilities arising from their work as a consenting authority.

The Government has argued that expanding the number of accredited BCAs – including private providers – will improve performance in a system that has faced long-standing criticism from builders over delays and inconsistent consenting practices.

Penk said the move forms part of wider reforms aimed at improving productivity in the construction sector.

“These reforms are about fixing the basics and building the future,” he said.

“Approving providers like Farsight strengthens the building consent system, giving New Zealanders more choice, better service, and faster, more efficient results.”