Why the Department was established
The Department of Building and Housing (the Department) was established in November 2004. It brings together in one organisation building and housing sector policy and related regulatory functions and dispute resolution services from across a range of government agencies.
Consolidating the Government's building- and housing-related activities is designed to:
- ensure an effective regulatory system for the building and housing sector
- deliver good-quality advice to the Government
- improve and streamline services to the public.
The Department incorporates the Ministry of Housing, the Building Industry Authority, the Weathertight Homes Resolution Service from the Department of Internal Affairs, the building policy functions from the Ministry of Economic Development, and related functions from the Ministry of Social Development and Housing New Zealand Corporation.
The functions of the Electrical Workers Registration Board will be transferred to the Department in September 2006.
Our responsibilities
We have:
- sole responsibility for:
- ensuring an effective regulatory environment for the building and housing sector
- regulating the building sector and the rental housing sector
- delivering effective information, advice and dispute resolution services (including Tenancy Services and the Weathertight Homes Resolution Service)
- providing purchase and monitoring advice to the Government on Housing New Zealand Corporation
- administering the State Housing Appeals Authority
- lead responsibility for providing:
- policy advice to the Government on the building sector and residential tenancy market, including emerging trends and issues
- policy advice on housing and building regulation
- advice on regulating the residential rental market
- occupational licensing within the building sector
- joint responsibility or a common interest (with Housing New Zealand Corporation) in:
- defining housing outcomes for the sector
- analysing the housing environment including monitoring the supply, quality and affordability of housing
- influencing the wider government sector to ensure it meets the Government’s goals for housing
- working within the Social Services Cluster and economic, growth and innovation frameworks to influence and promote delivering the Government’s outcomes for the housing and building sector
- undertaking specific initiatives under the New Zealand Housing Strategy Programme of Action.
We administer the following legislation and regulations:
- Architects Act 1963
- Building Act 1991
- Building Act 2004
- Chartered Professional Engineers of New Zealand Act 2002
- Construction Contracts Act 2002
- Engineering Associates Act 1961
- Residential Tenancies Act 1986
- Retirement Villages Act 2003
- Weathertight Homes Resolution Services Act 2002
- Architects Regulations 2002
- Building Regulations 1992
- Building (Forms) Regulations 2004
- Chartered Professional Engineers of New Zealand Regulations 2004
- Chartered Professional Engineers of New Zealand Rules 2002
- Chartered Professional Engineers of New Zealand Regulations 2002 (No. 2)
- Chartered Professional Engineers of New Zealand (Appeals) Regulations 2002
- Construction Contracts Regulations 2003
- Engineering Associates Fees Regulations 2002
- Residential Tenancies (Fees) Regulations 1998
- Residential Tenancies Regulations 1998
- Residential Tenancies Rules 1998.
Structure
We are organised into groups by function (see the organisational chart).
As at 31 March 2006, we had 272 full-time employees and 38 part-time employees. There were also a number of people undertaking contracting roles to fill vacant positions, or providing specialist skills or additional capability for specific work.
Our employees are spread across:
- Wellington-based national office (164 employees)
- the Porirua-based Contact Centre (63 employees)
- 20 regional offices located throughout the country from Invercargill to Whangarei (83 employees).