Plumbers, Gasfitters
and Drainlayers Board
Consultations
Current consultations
Self-certification: Proposal on endorsement requirements, conditions, fees, and audit levy
Between 15 June 2026 and 13 July 2026, the Board sought feedback on its proposal for the self-certification scheme for sanitary plumbing and drainlaying work.
The Board would like to thank all those who took the time to provide their feedback and respond to
the consultation. The Board received 170 consultation submissions.
The consultation was intended to inform the Board’s decisions on the endorsement requirements, conditions, fees, and audit levy to be set through a legal notice. After considering the consultation feedback, the Board finalised its decisions.
The requirements and costs have now been set through the Plumbers, Gasfitters, and Drainlayers (Self-certification by Plumbers and Drainlayers) Notice 2026.
The Notice has been published, and the scheme will commence on 7 September 2026.
Past consultations
Fees review 2025
We sought feedback on the Board’s proposed fees and disciplinary and prosecution levy for 1 April 2026 to 31 March 2029. The Board proposed no changes to the overall fees or levy amounts, other than an adjustment to how the total levy is split between the disciplinary and prosecution components.
Read the consultation document
Submissions closed on Friday, 7 November 2025.
Read the summary of feedback received.
Single registration and licensing notice consultation 2025
In 2025 the Board consulted on a proposal to make minor changes to the current registration and licensing requirements. The Board proposed to publish a single notice that would apply to plumbing, gasfitting, and drainlaying. Consultation closed on 21 March 2025.
The Board received three responses during the consultation period from individual practitioners. With the consultation revealing no significant opposition to the proposals, the Board proceeded with changing to a single registration and licensing notice.
The Board wrote to the Minister of Building and Construction in March 2025 recommending the change to the notices. The new notice came into effect 1 August 2025.
Fees review 2023
Thank you to those that made submissions on the proposed fees and levy, the Board has now decided the fees and levy as outlined in the summary document below. The fees and levy have been gazetted and will take effect from 1 April 2024.
Core competencies and registration classes 2023
The Board is responsible for setting the prescribed minimum standards for each class of registration in each of the trades. Those standards include setting the standards required to obtain registration. As a result of its review, the Board is proposing some minor changes to the registration competencies.
The Board has also reviewed the names of its registration classes, Journeyman, Tradesman, and Certifier. The Board has set out two options for changes to these names based on research of the names used for plumbers, gasfitters, and drainlayers overseas and the names used by practitioners in other construction occupations in New Zealand.
Consultations are now closed.
Fit and proper 2023
The Board received 368 written submissions from practitioners and organisations. These submissions were reviewed by all Board members prior to making its decision. More information about the outcome of the consultation can be found below.