Government opens door for quality overseas building products

The changes passed yesterday aim to improve competition in the construction sector and lower building costs by giving New Zealanders confidence in using quality overseas building products.

From July, a new building product specifications pathway will be introduced to streamline the process of citing international product standards that can be used with acceptable solutions or verification methods to establish compliance with the building code.

Once regulations are developed later this year, the Minister for Building and Construction will be able to issue a notice that recognises groups of overseas product standards and certification schemes for use in New Zealand. Regulations are expected to be developed by October to ensure only the best quality building products enter the market through this pathway.

Building Consent Authorities will be required to accept building products and methods that have been certified by an overseas product certification scheme and recognised by MBIE, provided products are used as intended.

Read the Government’s announcement on the Beehive website.

Going for Growth: More affordable building products(external link) — Beehive.govt.nz

Read more information on the Building Performance website.

Using overseas building products set to be easier(external link) — Building Performance