The Plumbers, Gasfitters and Drainlayers Board (“the Board”) is a statutory body established under the Plumbers, Gasfitters, and Drainlayers Act 2006 (“the Act”) to promote the health and safety of all New Zealanders through an efficient and effective regulatory system. The Act is administered by the Department of Building and Housing (DBH).
Services performed by plumbers, gasfitters and drainlayers have a direct effect on the quality of drinking water, the sanitary disposal of waste and the safe supply of gas. In regulating the trade and registering people, the Board seeks to promote and safeguard the health and safety of people, their property and the environment.
The Board is responsible for administering the registration and licensing systems of plumbers, gasfitters and drainlayers and in doing so, is responsible for setting the minimum standards for registration and ensuring those persons carrying out regulated work are competent to do so. Broadly speaking, the Board’s powers and functions can be categorised into registration, licensing, competence, discipline and prosecution.
The Board receives complaints and, as a result, may investigate and discipline registered persons (including provisional licence holders) or instigate a prosecution in the District Court against those working illegally in the industry, most commonly unregistered or unlicensed persons.
The Board is a not for profit body whose operational revenue is derived from fees (such as registrations, licences, examination) and levies on the tradespeople who are registered and licensed. There is no general tax payer contribution to any of its operations.
It is important to understand that the Board does not operate under the 2006 Act in isolation, but instead operates within the building industry framework, including but not limited to the Gas Act 1992, Gas (Safety and Measurement) Regulations 2010, the Building Act 2004 and the Building Code.
