District Court sentencing June 2024

A man was sentenced in the Porirua District Court in June 2024 for unauthorised plumbing, gasfitting and drainlaying work.

He was engaged to complete sanitary plumbing, gasfitting and drainlaying work at a new build dwelling in Upper Hutt. He had previously held authorisations as a trainee gasfitter and trainee plumber, but the authorisations were expired at the time of working on the property. The man had never held any form of authorisation to carry out drainlaying.

Various defects were found with the work including an inadequate filtration system for the incoming potable water supply pump, risking water being supplied that was unsafe for human consumption; unsafe gasfitting work that increased the likelihood of a gas leak and no access on the drainage system for maintenance and clearance of blockages.

He pleaded guilty, was fined $3,000 and ordered to pay costs.