Registration approved for New Zealand’s first standalone private sector building consent authority

The Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment has approved the registration of Christchurch-based Building Consent Approvals Limited (BCAL) as New Zealand’s first standalone building consent authority (BCA).

To be registered as a standalone BCA, an organisation must gain accreditation from International Accreditation New Zealand (IANZ), and be able to demonstrate to MBIE that it:

• meets a 'fit and proper person' test (including requirements for impartiality and independence), and

• has adequate means to cover civil liabilities that may arise from their operation as a BCA.

MBIE is satisfied BCAL meets the ‘fit and proper person’ criteria to be registered and has adequate means to meet potential civil liabilities arising from its role as a standalone BCA to ensure effective consumer protection.

The Building Act does not provide for MBIE or other BCAs to assume liability from a standalone BCA that cannot meet the liabilities itself. However, the adequate means test reduces the risk of this situation arising, and requires ongoing monitoring of whether a BCA continues to meet the criteria for registration.

The addition of BCAL means there are now 68 building consent authorities on the BCA register. 66 of these are territorial or regional authorities, with the only previous exception being Consentium, which is a division of Kāinga Ora.