Fletcher Building is being asked not to enforce its GIB plasterboard trademarks for at least a year to help ease the supply crisis.
Fletcher controls about 95 percent of the plasterboard market and holds several trademarks protecting certain colour shades exclusively for its GIB products.
The Construction Minister's written to the company asking it to publicly state it will not take action against anyone breaching its trademarks, opening the way for more plasterboard imports.
Megan Woods also announced a taskforce of industry representatives to trouble shoot supply problems.
In a statement, Fletchers said it has issued non-exclusive royalty-free licences to 10 parties to use the colour system to help them bring in plasterboard.
And there is nothing stopping other plasterboard manufacturers from using a different shade of blue, mauve or green should they chose to do so.
