10 September 2004
Urgent action to address building projects in limbo
This week’s decision by the Building Industry Association (BIA) to de-register a major building certifier for
incompetence and negligence leaves 905 projects in Auckland city in limbo.
Auckland City’s deputy mayor David Hay says the decision means Auckland City can’t rely on any of Approved Building
Certifiers Ltd’s (ABC) inspection work to date.
“The only people who can solve this issue for the hundreds of projects affected in the city is the government through
the BIA,” says Mr Hay.
The matter was discussed as an extraordinary addition to last night’s Auckland City Council meeting. A bi-partisan
working party has been formed to urgently address the issues this raises.
Mr Hay, who will chair the working party, says the council’s first priority is to request that the BIA, which has
ultimate responsibility for building standards, find a practical solution for those projects that local authorities
can’t progress any further.
The BIA has advised it is meeting with a representative from ABC on Monday to recover and collate all files. It has
estimated it will take a week for all files to be transferred to councils.
“Before we have the files Auckland City is unlikely to be able to assist any of ABC’s customers,” says Mr Hay. “The
council has to proceed with integrity and professionalism and we will be advising ABC’s customers to stop work in the
meantime, as proceeding could make the situation worse,” says Mr Hay.
Once Auckland City receives the files it will write to ABC customers and inform them of the process, which will involve
a review and site inspection of all 905 properties.
Auckland City’s working party is made up of the deputy mayor David Hay, Councillor Bruce Hucker and Councillor Douglas
Armstrong.
The chief executive has been authorised to write to the BIA once the working party has determined all of the issues and
resolves how best to go forward.
ENDS