Recent consultations (now closed)

• March/April 2012 - Review of Continuing Professional Development (CPD)
• March/April 2012 - draft competencies for registration and licensing
• March/April 2012 - Consultation on the review of the minimum requirements for the registration of overseas-trained tradespeople
• October / November 2011 - Review of Continuing Professional Development (CPD)
• October 2011 - Disciplinary levy and fees review
• June 2011 - draft competencies for registration and licensing
• April 2011 - proposed strategic plan
• November 2010 - draft competencies for registration and licensing
• May 2010 - fees review

Consultation on the review of Continuing Professional Development (CPD) as a requirement for licensing

Consultation undertaken in MARCH/APRIL 2012

The Board modified its proposal following consideration of submissions received in October and November 2011. During March and April 2012, the Board invited submissions on its modified proposal. The submission period closed at 5pm on 5 April 2012.

• Undertaking CPD will be a term and condition of licensing.
• The new scheme would require tradespeople to have obtained a minimum of 12 CPD points every year for the holder of a single licence, 20 CPD points for two trades and 24 CPD points for three trades.
• At least 75% of points that a tradesperson obtains must be from structured programmes that are accredited by the Board.
• A maximum of 25% of a tradesperson’s CPD points may be from self-directed learning. Self-directed learning could include researching and reviewing published material, attending seminars or industry conferences or other non-accredited programmes. One hour of self-directed learning will be worth one CPD point.
• All points must be from accredited programmes or self-directed learning that are relevant to one or more of the Board-prescribed competencies.
• Tradespeople would be required to record any self-directed learning on their annual relicensing application forms.
• The Board may require specific Board-directed CPD be undertaken by groups of tradespeople from time to time. These programmes would form part of the overall CPD points requirement.
• The current CPD scheme would be discontinued.

The following transitional issues were identified and would be addressed as follows under the proposed scheme:

• Tradespeople who have not met their CPD requirements for the current year by March 2012 will not be prevented from relicensing at that time. However, they will need to have completed the current year’s points requirement plus the requirement for next year (2012/13) by 31 March 2013.
• Points already obtained by a drainlayer or plumber under the current CPD scheme for the two year period beginning 1 April 2010, or by a gasfitter under the current CPD scheme for the year beginning 1 April 2011 would count towards the new scheme.

Consultation document
Submission booklet
Additional information - section 32

Consultation on the competencies for the plumbing, gasfitting and drainlaying trades

Consultation undertaken in MARCH/APRIL 2012

Before it makes a final decision as to whether or not to publish the competencies in Gazette notices, the Board consulted on its proposed Gazette notice (as set out in the appendix of the consultation document).

The Board invited submissions on its proposal. The submission period closed on 5 April 2012.

Consultation document
Submission booklet

Consultation on the review of the minimum requirements for the registration of overseas-trained tradespeople

The Board endeavoured to develop a registration process for these people that:

• Was streamlined with existing immigration processes;
• Did not impose undue costs or time; and
• Allowed the applicant to be registered in any tier of registration (provided that their qualification and experience is equivalent to what is required of a New Zealand-trained tradesperson).

In its review, the Board looked at how people were able to be registered under provisions set out in the Plumbers, Gasfitters, and Drainlayers Act 2006 (the Act) as well as looking at Immigration New Zealand’s requirements for residence.

At this stage of the review, the Board proposed four options, these were:

• Status quo; or
• Current process modified; or
• New overseas registration process (Board’s preferred option); or
• Industry Training Organisation skills recognition process.

¹ Australian qualified tradespeople are able to apply for registration in New Zealand under the Trans-Tasman Mutual Recognition Act 1997.

Consultation document
Submission booklet

Review of Continuing Professional Development (CPD)

The Board, in its 2010 accountability agreement with the Minister for Building and Construction, agreed to review its CPD scheme. The review, which has been on-going for some time, has involved the Board considering a wide range of possible CPD schemes through discussions with stakeholders, through convening an industry consultation forum and through an analysis of CPD schemes for a range of regulated trades and professions in New Zealand and overseas.

The submission booklet below outlined the Board's preferred CPD scheme and the Board invited public submissions on its review. The submission period closed on 11 November 2011.

Consultation document
Submission booklet
draft Plumbers, Gasfitters, and Drainlayers Board (Gasfitting Registration and Licensing) Amendment Notice 2012
draft Plumbers, Gasfitters, and Drainlayers Board (Plumbing Registration and Licensing) Amendment Notice 2012

Consideration of submissions and Board decisions
List of submitters
Consideration of submissions

Decision The Board received 444 submissions in relation to the reviewed CPD scheme proposed for plumbers, gasfitters and drainlayers. Thanks to all those who took the opportunity to make a submission. At its meeting on 6 December 2011, the Board considered all submissions received. The majority of the submissions did not support the proposal. Many submitters expressed the view that a proposal that did not contain a requirement for any ‘structured’ learning to be undertaken would not achieve the competence outcomes the industry needed. Accordingly, the Board has decided not to proceed with its proposed scheme. The Board will now modify the scheme to incorporate many of the suggestions contained in the submissions received. A new round of consultation will then be undertaken. In the meantime, the current CPD scheme remains in force. However, people who have not met their CPD requirements by March 2012 will not be prevented from relicensing at that time. Instead, they will need to have completed the current year’s point’s balance in addition to the requirement for next year by 31 March 2013.

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Disciplinary levy and fees review

The purpose of this consultation was to seek submissions about the proposed amendments and new fees. The Board proposed to amend the disciplinary levy, and the fees charged for the practical test of workmanship and employer licences (for gasfitting only). The levy and fees are set out in the Plumbers, Gasfitters and Drainlayers Board (Fees) Notice 2010. It also proposed to set new fees for prosecutions, exemptions for fixing water heaters by gasfitters, and exemptions from registration and licence requirements.

The submission period closed on 28 October 2011. The submission booklet below contained more information about the Board's proposal.

Consultation document
Submission booklet
Background information

Consideration of submissions and Board decisions
List of submitters
Consideration of submissions

Decision The Board received 114 submissions on its proposal to amend the fees and disciplinary levy. Thanks to all those who took the opportunity to make a submission. At its meeting on 6 December 2011, the Board considered all submissions received. As a result the Board decided to amend the fees and disciplinary levy as outlined below. Please note that while these changes have been published in a Gazette notice on 15 December, they will not take effect until 12 January (28 days after the publication date of the amended Gazette notice). the disciplinary levy has been reset from $271.91 to $175. This is a lower fee than indicated in the consultation document as the Board has made changes to its financial model following its consideration of submissions. The disciplinary levy will now only cover the cost of discipline and a new offences fee ($90) has been introduced to fund the cost of prosecuting people working illegally in the industry. These changes address the issue of non-compliance that was the subject of a complaint to the Regulations Review Committee the fee for the practical test of workmanship for overseas-trained people has been reduced from $3,271.11 to $1,410. This follows decreases in costs due to changes in the way practical tests are carried out the fee for an exemption for gasfitters working on hot water cylinders has been set at $102 the fee for an employer licence or renewal of an employer licence has increased from $511.11 to $2,820. The previous fee level was determined by the Ministry of Economic Development when it was responsible for administering this licence class. It has been proven insufficient to cover the costs of administering this licence. The increase reflects the true cost a new fee of $102 has been introduced for an application for an exemption from registration and licence requirements and conditions made under section 52 of the Act. While the fees and levy review undertaken by the Board in October 2011 was of a limited scope, the Board is scheduled to undertake a comprehensive review of its entire fee structure in 2012. This comprehensive review will be accompanied by full industry consultation.

Draft competencies for registration and licensing

Consultation undertaken in JUNE 2011

In November 2010, the Board carried out public consultation on a number of registration and licensing matters. The review of the competencies formed a significant part of that consultation. Whilst most felt that the subject matter was appropriate, feedback did indicate that the draft competencies should have more information in them in the form of descriptors. Accordingly, to address these issues the Board convened industry advisory groups (IAG) for the three trades. Industry representatives developed descriptors as well as made significant recommendations to the Board for each competency. The Board considered the IAG recommendations and finalised its preferred option for the competencies and descriptors.

The competencies will be used to underpin the Board’s registration and licensing requirements, CPD requirements, examination and National Certificate content.

Below is a timeline of the consultation process undertaken by the Board on the draft competencies for registration and licensing:

The Board consulted on the draft competencies required for registration and licensing. Submissions closed on 11 July 2011. The Board received 100 submissions and thanks submitters for taking the time to give their views.

The Board considered submissions at its meeting on Tuesday 26 July 2011.

Consultation document
Submission booklet on draft competencies for registration and licensing

Consideration of submissions and Board decisions
Copy of all submissions
Consideration of submissions and Board decisions

New adopted competencies

Draft competencies for registration and licensing

Consultation undertaken in NOVEMBER 2010

The Board consulted on a set of draft competencies that were developed for each class of registration administered by the Board. The initial draft competencies were developed by industry advisory groups. The Board also took the opportunity to consult on some additional matters at the time. Twenty public meetings were held around the country during from 8 November to 17 December to provide an opportunity for attendees to discuss and familiarise themselves with the content of the consultation documents. Text messages informing tradespeople of the meetings were sent in advance of each meeting, as well as on the day. Meetings were open to anyone to attend. Submissions were to be made separately to the public information meetings. The Board invited submitters to complete a submission cover sheet and two submission booklets. Submissions closed on 22 December 2010.

The Board is still considering feedback received in submissions on the following matters:

• registration of persons qualified in other countries
• examinations
• eligibility criteria
• method of assessment
• content of assessment
• special conditions
• alternative assessments
• licensing – producing a licence on demand

Consultation documents
Purpose of the consultation
Industry update (November 2010)
Information about the consultation process and the submission booklets
Submission booklet on draft competencies for registration and licensing
Submission booklet on registration and licensing provisions and competency assessment

Fees review

Consultation undertaken in MAY 2010

The Board consulted on proposed changes to the ways fees are set by the Board, and to inform you about the implications of the review on the fees to be charged from 1 July 2010. The changes were the result of a review of fee setting mechanisms by the Board.The focus of the fees review was to assess and allocate all costs incurred by the Board in carrying out all of the functions required by the Act and to ensure the Board operates as a prudent organisation. All costs are to be allocated against the core functions of the Board and fairly attributed to the revenue generating activities of the Board. Submissions closed on 28 May 2010.

Consultation document
Review of fees charged