Affordable Building Products Drive Growth
Just-passed legislation is expected to put up to 250,000 more building products on shelves this year alone – giving Kiwis building and renovating their homes more choice to fit their budgets, Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk says.
“Making it easier and more affordable to build in New Zealand is a central pillar in this Government’s Going for Growth plan to get the economy back on track.
“That’s why we have made changes to the Building Act to reduce barriers for using high-quality building products imported from overseas.
“The status quo is unacceptable. Construction costs have risen a staggering 40 percent since 2019, spurred on by a lack of competition in the building system. Bringing hundreds of thousands of new options into the market will put downward pressure on prices.
“Builders and designers have long called for this change, so they can get the best deals on goods and materials countries like Australia are already benefiting from.
“We expect that from July, more than 12,000 essential products – including plasterboard, cladding, and insulation – will be cleared for use through cited standards in the new Building Product Specifications pathway. Building Consent Authorities must accept them, so long as the products are used as intended.
“Increasing options on the market is critically important for improving supply chain resilience. Giving our tradespeople alternatives to turn to during product shortages will allow projects to continue without delays.
“Local manufacturers will also benefit from being able to test their products against internationally accepted standards, opening the door to valuable export markets.
“Work is already underway to establish robust regulations for recognising new products and standards, ensuring only top-quality materials enter the market. This includes targeted consultation with industry leaders and local government.”
Note to editors:
https://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/going-growth-more-affordable-building-products