"Anybody that is building a new house, or altering a house, or starting a new business or anything, building consents are all a part of the cost and if that cost can be reduced through efficiencies, then that's great and that's what people are looking for."
The first stage of GoShift is the introduction of simplified and standardised building consent application forms across all participating councils in the next few months. Other parts of the consent process will be standardised over the next six to 12 months.
The programme is led by Wellington City Council, with the support of the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment. MBIE general manager building system performance Derek Baxter said councils have taken a solid leadership position on something they have the ability and mandate to change for the better.
"GoShift councils have committed to making it easier for their building customers to do business with them, by reducing the complexity of their processes and sharing them with other councils," he said.
"Customers will have consistent building consent experiences, no matter which council they are dealing with. One participating council has had, up to now, 26 different kinds of consent application forms. GoShift will reduce that to just two."