Plumbers, Gasfitters and Drainlayers Board
Freephone 0800 743 262

How do I make a submission?

How long is the submission period?

What happens to my submission?

Who can make a submission?

Recent consultations (now closed)


Review on the Board's fees and levy

Consultation undertaken in AUGUST / OCTOBER 2012

The Board consulted on a review of its fees and levy. While the Board consulted on a particular proposal, a number of options and alternatives were outlined in the submission booklet that could be considered. The proposed fees were calculated using a sophisticated model. Details of how the model works, and how costs were allocated to individual fees are provided in the financial background information below. From 4 September to 3 October, the Board hosted a series of public meetings around New Zealand and encouraged tradespeople to come along and express their views on the review. Submissions closed on 9 October 2012.
 
Consultation documents
 
Submission booklet - Information on the Board's budget within this document is GST exclusive
Financial background information - Information on the Board's budget within this document is GST exclusive

Consideration of submissions and Board decisions
List of submitters

Update
 
Thanks to the 106 submitters who took the opportunity to tell us what they thought of the Board’s proposal. The Board will consider the submissions and make decisions relating to its proposals at its meeting on 13 November 2012.
 



Consultation on the discontinuance of the common examination 9194 as a minimum standard of registration as a certifying tradesperson

 
Consultation undertaken in JULY / AUGUST 2012
 
The Board proposed to discontinue the common examination 9194 as a minimum standard of registration as a certifying tradesperson. The Board proposed to include the competencies that were previously assessed by this examination in the trade specific certifying examinations 9195, 9196 and 9198. The submission period closed on 14 August 2012.
 
Consultation document
 
Submission booklet

Consideration of submissions and Board decisions
List of submitters

Update
 
Thanks to the 13 submitters who took the opportunity to tell us what they thought of the Board’s proposal. The Board will consider the submissions and make decisions relating to its proposals at its meeting on 25 September 2012.
 


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

 
Consultation undertaken in JULY / AUGUST 2012
 
The Board consulted on its proposal for new minimum standards for registration of overseas-trained tradespeople. The submisson period closed on 14 August 2012.

The Board’s proposed minimum standards will:

  • enable registration in either licensed or certifying registration classes (provided the necessary requirements are met)
  • streamline the Board’s registration process with Immigration New Zealand’s processes and allows people who are applying for the licensed class of registration to meet all of the requirements while still in their country of origin
  • not impose undue costs or unnecessary barriers to registration
  • require an overseas-trained tradesperson to demonstrate a level of competence that is neither materially higher nor lower than that required of a New Zealand-trained tradesperson.
Consultation document
Submission booklet
Section 32 considerations

Consideration of submissions and Board decisions
List of submitters

Update
 
Thanks to the 14 submitters who took the opportunity to tell us what they thought of the Board’s proposal. The Board will consider the submissions and make decisions relating to its proposals at its meeting on 25 September 2012.
 


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

Consultation undertaken in MARCH 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.

The proposed scheme contained greater flexibility than the existing scheme and would also be an effective aid to achieving competence improvement. The Board believed their modified proposal achieves an appropriate balance between upskilling, cost-effectiveness and convenience.
 
In summary, here is how the Board’s proposed scheme would work:
  • 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

Consideration of submissions and Board decisions
List of submitters
Summary of submissions
 
Decision
 
Thanks to the 148 submitters who took the opportunity to tell us what they thought of the Board’s revised CPD proposal. After considering all the submissions, the Board has now reached its decision and has prepared Gazette notices. As required under the Act, these notices have been provided to the Minister of Building and Construction. Once the Board has the Minister’s approval, Gazette notices will be published and the details communicated. Above is a summary of the submissions and a list of submitters.

In the meantime, remember, the Board granted an exemption so that people who did not meet their CPD requirements by March 2012 will not be prevented from relicensing in the 2012/13 year. Instead, they will need to have completed the 2011/12 point’s balance by 31 March 2013 (as this was the condition of the exemption) as well as the 2012/2013 point's requirement.
 

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

Consultation undertaken in MARCH 2012

The Board consulted on its proposal to include the competencies as the contents of Gazette notices. In doing so, it sought the views of people it considered represented the views of plumbers, gasfitters, or drainlayers, or of classes of these tradespeople, and with organisations that it considered were substantially affected by its proposal or whose members would be.
 
On 26 July 2011, the Board adopted the competencies, deciding to publish them by way of policy rather than in the Gazette. However, having furthered considered submissions received in June 2011, the Board has now reconsidered this decision and would prefer to publish the competencies, under section 30 of the Act, in Gazette notices.

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

Consideration of submissions and Board decisions
List of submitters
Summary of submissions
 
Decision
 
Thanks also to the 104 submitters who took the opportunity to tell us what they thought of the Board’s proposal to gazette the competencies for the plumbing, gasfitting and drainlaying trades. The majority of submitters (96%) supported the Board’s proposal to publish the competencies in Gazette notices.
 
After considering all the submissions, the Board has now reached its decision and has prepared Gazette notices. As required under the Act, these notices have been provided to the Minister of Building and Construction. Once the Board has the Minister’s approval, Gazette notices will be published and the details communicated. Above is a summary of the submissions and a list of submitters.
 


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

Consultation undertaken in MARCH 2012
 
The Board, in its accountability agreement with the Minister for Building and Construction, agreed to review how people who have gained qualifications in other countries (excluding Australia1), can become registered plumbers, gasfitters and drainlayers in New Zealand. An options paper on its review of the minimum standards for registration of overseas-trained tradespeople was made available online for public consultation. The Board invited submissions on its proposed options. The submission period closed on 5 April 2012.

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.

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

Consultation document
Submission booklet

Consideration of submissions and Board decisions
List of submitters
Summary of submissions
 
Decision
 
At its meeting on 15 May, the Board considered the 103 submissions received on the four options it proposed. The overwhelming majority of submitters supported the Board’s preferred option. Below is a summary of the submissions and a list of submitters.
The Board will now prepare a proposal for the contents of a Gazette notice which will be made available for public consultation in July 2012.
 
 

Review of Continuing Professional Development (CPD)

 
Consultation undertaken in OCTOBER 2011

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.

From 17 October to 3 November, the Board held a series of stakeholder meetings around NZ as part of their public consultation on CPD. The meetings provided a further opportunity for stakeholders to express their views to the Board about its preferred CPD scheme, and ideas about other options that stakeholders believed would work better. Meetings were held in Christchurch, Hokitika, Dunedin, Wellington, New Plymouth, Auckland (x2), Tauranga and Napier.

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.


Disciplinary levy and fees review

 
Consultation undertaken in OCTOBER 2011

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:

5 June 2010 Industry Advisory Groups (IAG) Draft competencies proposed
14 July 2010 Board meeting Draft competencies and consultation plan agreed
19 October -
17 December 2010		 Public consultation Draft competencies made publically available. A series of 20 nationwide meetings held.
21 December 2011 Board meeting Consultation feedback considered
8 March 2011 Industry Advisory Groups (IAG) IAG’s review and develop descriptors
29 March 2011 Board meeting IAG recommendations accepted
13 June -
11 July 2011		 Final consultation
 
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

Contact the Plumbers, Gasfitters and Drainlayers Board

Phone: 0800 743 262, Email: registrar@pgdb.co.nz, Post: PO Box 10655, The Terrace, Wellington 6143
View full contact details
Copyright © 2013 Plumbers, Gasfitters and Drainlayers Board - Sitemap - Admin Login - Pipeline Login - Website by Welman