Media release
12 January 2014
Man fined $1,875 for illegal plumbing
The recent conviction of a New Plymouth man has served as a timely reminder to plumbers, gasfitters and drainlayers to
ensure they relicense by 1 April 2015, or they will be unable to legally undertake work in New Zealand.
Darren Brown replaced a tempering valve on a hot water cylinder, and installed a new bath, vanity and shower at a home
in Inglewood but was not authorised at the time he carried out the work.
Plumbing, gasfitting, and drainlaying are regulated trades in New Zealand, and it is illegal for anyone to do this work
unless they are lawfully authorised.
Mr Brown pleaded guilty to carrying out sanitary plumbing unlawfully in the New Plymouth District Court on Friday 9
January, and was fined $1,875 plus court costs of $130 and solicitor’s fees of $113.
The role of the Plumbers, Gasfitters and Drainlayers Board is to help keep consumers safe by ensuring that this work
conducted across New Zealand is of a high quality.
There are serious health and safety risks associated with sanitary plumbing carried out by an unauthorised person. Any
defective plumbing work has the potential to cause disease and serious damage to the home.
The Board’s Chief Executive, Max Pedersen reminds tradespeople that the new licensing year is fast approaching and is
encouraging all plumbers, gasfitters and drainlayers to make sure they have a licence.
“They also need to ensure they have enough continuing professional development points in order to relicense”, said Mr
Pedersen.
In January 2015, the Board stepped up its public awareness drive with a three month national digital marketing campaign,
warning homeowners not to use unlicensed tradespeople for plumbing, gasfitting and drainlaying work over the summer
break.
Homeowners should not risk their family’s health and safety or their insurance by hiring unauthorised tradespeople.
Authorised tradespeople need to carry a current authorisation card. Consumers should always ask for this card before any
work commences to be assured that the work is being done by a competent tradesperson.
You can check to see if a person is authorised by searching our online public register at www.pgdb.co.nz or phone us on 0800 743 262.
Ends