Substandard building work is on the rise, with complaints to the government run Licensed Building Practitioners scheme up 30 per cent this year.
The Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment which runs the scheme says the building boom particularly in Auckland and Christchurch is contributing to the problem. It says more and more builders and other trades people are coming into the industry, some of whom don't have the skills to meet the standards. It's introducing tougher skills requirements later this year, which building practitioners must attain to keep their license.
The Auckland Council is also noticing a rise in poor building practices, its general manager of building control Ian McCormick says its currently failing around a third of building inspections in the city.
He discusses the issues along with Paul Hobbs, the Registrar of Building Practitioner Licensing for the Ministry of Building, Innovation and Employment.
