Builders doubt skills scheme

LAWRENCE GULLERY
Hawke's Bay builders are being encouraged to join the building licensing scheme - a new initiative launched by the Government to help provide more security for new homeowners.
But some local builders say hefty compliance costs will make the scheme unviable in the long term.
The scheme has been endorsed by the Registered Master Builders' Federation and will be phased in over the next five years. It will require builders to sign up to be licensed building practitioners, to ensure only skilled and competent people work in the building industry.
Optional design, site and carpentry licences will be available from November 2007 with all building-related licences becoming compulsory from November 2011.
The scheme has been backed by the Certified Builders' Association of New Zealand, which will be encouraging its members to adopt voluntary licensing when it is introduced in 2007.
Hastings District Council building department team leader, Tim Nichols, said he welcomed the scheme and it would make the council's job of inspecting buildings easier.
"We will have a better idea about who is working on a building job before the building consent is issued.
"In the end our responsibility is making sure building work is done properly, so I think a government requirement for the proper skills before someone can call themselves a builder makes a lot of sense," Mr Nichols said.
Hawke's Bay Building Certificates and Consultants director, Ian Le Page, said while the idea of the scheme did have "some merits" he was sceptical of its long-term viability.
"In order for it to operate it's going to need these licensees to carry professional indemnity insurance.
"I think this will be a major setback to the scheme, not only because of the costs (of insurance) but there aren't many companies that are likely to give insurance (policies to builders)," Mr Le Page said.
"I think everyone will sign up but in a couple of years when they find out what the on-going costs are, they will drop out," he said.
Mr Le Page has been in the building business for 40 years - the last four as a consultant - and said most builders he knew were "sitting back" and waiting to see how the scheme worked.
"It's (the scheme) about putting it on to the tradespeople and for them to stand behind their work," he said.
Alexander Construction managing director, Mark Hamilton, said the building industry had been waiting a long time for the scheme.
"It's definitely good for the industry. It's going to give security to a lot of people ... they will know that the people doing their building work know what they're doing.
"There are people out there who call themselves builders but aren't up to date with what is required," Mr Hamilton said.
Mackersey Construction general manager, Gary French, also said the building practitioner licensing scheme was a good idea.
"We think it's good for the industry and look forward to it being put in place," he said.