News Release 21 November 2006
Richard Toner Appointed to the Board of Building Research
Building Research has appointed Richard Toner to their Board, effective immediately. Richard has been invited to join
the board as a co-opted member.
Mr Toner has held a variety of management roles in the Wellington City Council’s Building Consents Department over the
past 15 years, and for the last two years has held the position of Building Group Manager. As Building Group Manager,
Richard is a member of the Building Consents and Licensing Services Management Team, and manages a staff of more than 45
people.
Steve Gentry, the Building Research Board Chairman said, “Richard has significant experience in the industry, both in
building controls, and more practically, in the area of plumbing and drainage. We believe Richard will be of huge
benefit to Building Research, in particular, helping to identify potential issues as we prioritise the Building Research
Levy investment.”
Educated in Lower Hutt, Richard obtained his Trade Certificate in plumbing in 1969. He went on to complete the advanced
certificate in plumbing before becoming a registered drain layer in 1976. By 1980, Richard was a plumbing and drainage
inspector for the Wellington City Council, who he has worked for ever since.
Richard’s current role as Building Group Manager is varied. His responsibilities include building consent approval and
inspections, managing complaints about buildings, and inspecting the fencing of swimming pools.
Over the last 3 years Richard has represented the Building Officials Institute of New Zealand (BOINZ) and the Wellington
City Council on a variety of working parties in relation to the implementation of the Building Act, including his
current role as a member of the Department of Building and Housing Local Government Governance Group on Building Act
Implementation.
“The Board were of the view that, given the changes taking place in the current regulatory regime, that it would be
appropriate to nominate a member of the BOINZ as a co-opted member of the Board. Richard seemed like an obvious choice,”
said Steve Gentry.
In his spare time, Richard likes to play golf, and enjoys watching rugby and rugby league. Married with three adult
children and four grandchildren, he lives in Wainuiomata.
Richard is Immediate Past-President of the Building Officials Institute of New Zealand, having served on its National
Executive since 1998 and as President from 2003-2006 and prior to its amalgamation with the Building Officials Institute
of New Zealand in 1998 was for seven years a member of the management committee of the Institute of New Zealand Plumbing
and Drainage Inspectors.
Building Research is an independent entity with a primary role of investment in research, technology transfer and
scholarship activities. The Building Research Board is drawn widely from the building and construction sector,
comprising nominees of the Registered Master Builders’ Federation, Property Council of New Zealand, Building Industry
Federation, Institution of Professional Engineers New Zealand, New Zealand Contractors’ Federation, Local Government New
Zealand, Business New Zealand, New Zealand Institute of Architects, Housing New Zealand Corporation and New Zealand
Building Subcontractors’ Federation. The Board is responsible for determining how the Building Industry Research Levy
funds are invested.
ENDS