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PLUMBING CONNECTION
WINTER 2016
ACROSS THE DITCH
THE ROLE OF THE NZ PLUMBERS
BOARD
The services performed by plumbers,
gasfitters and drainlayers have a direct
effect on the health and safety of all
New Zealanders, their property and the
environment.
These services help ensure that
drinking water is high quality, that
waste water is disposed of in a sanitary
manner and that gas installations in
homes and other places are safe.
The Plumbers, Gasfitters and
Drainlayers Board is the statutory
body established under the Plumbers,
Gasfitters, and Drainlayers Act 2006
(“the Act”) to regulate these trades
and promote the health and safety
outcomes that New Zealand wants and
needs.
The Board is responsible for
administering the registration and
licensing systems of plumbers,
gasfitters and drainlayers and in
doing so, is responsible for setting the
minimum standards for registration
and ensuring those persons carrying
out regulated work are competent.
Broadly speaking, the Board’s
powers and functions can be
categorised into registration,
licensing, competence, discipline
and prosecution. The Board receives
complaints and, as a result, may
investigate and discipline registered
persons (including provisional licence
holders) or instigate a prosecution
in the District Court against those
working illegally in the industry, most
commonly unregistered or unlicensed
persons.
The Board is a not-for-profit body
whose operational revenue is derived
from fees (such as registrations,
licences, examination) and levies on the
tradespeople who are registered and
licensed. There is no general tax payer
contribution to any of its operations.
The Board operates within the
building industry framework, including
the Gas Act 1992 and the Building Act
2004.
Collaboration with other agencies
with interests in building, health and
safety, water, gas reticulation, sewage
and waste water disposal is crucial to
the Board’s effectiveness in achieving
its goals.
The Board ensures it works
proactively with other agencies within
the industry to develop effective
regulation, share information, achieve
efficiency gains and to design and
implement strategies that reflect
shared goals and responsibilities.
INDUSTRY PRACTITIONER STATISTICS
The final licensing figures for the
licensing year just passed (2014/15)
show there were 3226 certifying
plumbers, 1654 licensed plumbers
and 1397 apprentice plumbers, 1389
certifying gasfitters, 698 licensed
gasfitters, 995 apprentice gasfitters,
2892 certifying drainlayers, 243
licensed drainlayers and 1460 people
working under exemption in New
Zealand.
WE ASKED
PETER JACKSON,
CHAIR OF THE NEW ZEALAND PLUMBERS, GASFITTERS AND DRAINLAYER’S BOARD,
TO PAINT A DETAILED PICTURE OF THE NZ PLUMBERS BOARD AND THE INDUSTRY AS A WHOLE.
DESIGN TIME
PETER JACKSON