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[27-05-2020] Yesterday in the Wellington District Court, Rodney Baker was convicted and fined $2,625 for carrying out unauthorised sanitary plumbing work, and fined a further $2,625 for employing another to do unauthorised sanitary plumbing. Mr Baker was also issued with a reparation order to be paid of $2,184. Operating under the business name of RB Property Maintenance Limited, Mr Baker completed a bathroom renovation, generally involving all plumbing work associated with the sanitary fixtures. The unfixing and fixing of two toilets, a basin, shower, bath, associated fittings, water supply pipes and waste pipes. Mr Baker and a labourer he employed to assist with the renovation were not registered or licensed to carry out this work.

[ 27 April 2020 ] While it isn’t hard to search the internet or use social media to find advice or potential tradespeople to call - knowing what is legal and who to trust is important. The Plumbers, Gasfitters and Drainlayers Board (PGDB) is reminding homeowners who are resuming home renovation projects under the Level 3 Alert environment that the repercussions of using the wrong people are costly.

[25 March 2020] Plumbers, glaziers and other tradespeople will still be available for urgent work during the level 4 lockdown, where there's an immediate threat to health and safety. The emphasis is on essential repairs, not those that can wait for another day and pose no immediate threat to health and safety. Ensure that you stay safe and don't fall into the trap of using unlicensed people: ask to [see] a NZ practising licence or search the public register of registered and licensed tradespeople.

[ 25 March 2020 ] The COVID-19 Alert Level will become Level 4 on Wednesday 25 March at 11:59pm. This means that all businesses will be closed except for essential services and lifeline utilities. Plumbing, gasfitting and drainlaying services will remain operational on an essential services basis. For our industry, essential services means work related to critical infrastructure, or services immediately needed to maintain human health and safety at home/work.

[ view video - World Plumbing Council ] Legionella & other waterborne diseases - How to engineer the problems out, plus a case for controlling the temperature in drinking water.

It seems unauthorised trade work remains a huge problem for homeowners, as proven by the Plumbers Gasfitters and Drainlayers Board (PGDB)’s latest reminder. The regulator has warned property owners to not fall into the trap of using unlicensed people to conduct plumbing or gasfitting work on renovation projects because of the high risk on health and safety.

[15-01-2020] In the Hastings District Court, a man was sentenced to a $2,000 fine for carrying out restricted plumbing and gasfitting work without authorisation . He carried out bedroom and bathroom alterations at a Hastings residence. He was not a registered and licensed plumber or gasfitter and the work was found to be substandard and dangerous. The health and safety risks are high - and you may be invalidating your insurance policy. Only authorised tradespeople who carry a current NZ Practising Licence can carry out this work.

[11-12-2019] In the Taupo District Court, a man has been sentenced to a $1,200 fine for carrying out restricted plumbing work. He told the property owner that he was a licensed plumber, but she did not ask him to show her his NZ Practising Licence. It is important for homeowners to stay safe and avoid risk. It takes one simple action – ask to sight a licence card. It states the credentials of a tradesperson and the type of work they are authorised to carry out.

How did anyone survive the Christchurch gas explosion? See an aerial video of the Northwood house destroyed in a gas explosion in 2019.

Gas experts say a suspended gas bottle seen on The Block NZ set in Kingsland, Auckland, is non-compliant for a number of reasons. The Plumbers, Gasfitters and Drainlayers Board says it has been made aware of this incorrect installation and will be following up the issue.

For the second time, property owners are being warned not to fall into the trap of using unlicensed people to conduct work on renovation projects, or they risk invalidating their insurance.

The 80-year-old pensioner was cleaning up raw sewage bubbling up through her shower pipes. It's the worst case of "cowboy" operators endangering homeowners Martin Sawyers can remember in his years as chief executive of the Plumbers, Gasfitters and Drainlayers Board (PGDB).

Jacinda Ardern has been an unwitting - but effective - publicist in the dangers of do-it-yourself renovations to homes. But the danger remains for many unknowing DIYers who may out themselves at risk financially or in a health and safety way.

Many of the nation's baby boomers are selling their baches in exchange for a motor home or caravan - but a sting in the tail has prompted a $50,000 consumer warning. The Plumbers, Gasfitters and Drainlayers Board (PGDB) has reported an upsurge in complaints about unauthorised gasfitting of motor homes, camper vans and caravans.

Water filters have become increasingly common in our houses and offices but it's not well known they need to be installed by a licensed plumber. Most water filter companies have websites in which a long list of potentially harmful substances presented as a reason to install filters. But installing the filters carries a sting in the tail - they have to be fitted by a licensed tradesman; failure to do so can result in a fine of up to $10,000.

There's a new class of tradesmen cropping up in Auckland - fix-it men. No, not handymen who do odd jobs around the house - tradesmen who fix mistakes by the "cowboys" originally hired to do a professional job.

Unsuspecting homeowners can lay themselves open to “major grief”. Here are the top 8 reasons why you should never hire an unlicensed "cowboy" operator and should always ask tradesmen to produce their licence card.