An operation to check safety practices at residential building sites has found so many failings that inspectors will continue their work for a further two months.
Since July, 215 sites have been shut down as part of a Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment clampdown intended to prevent falls.
Inspectors visited 760 building sites to check whether people working at height are safe. Of these, 400 were found to be failing to some degree.
The ministry says the industry has had plenty of time to adhere to safety guidelines and protect workers from dangerous situations.
Master Builders Association spokesperson Warwick Quinn says it supports any campaign to reduce the number of falls and injuries on building sites.
But he says a one-size-fits-all approach to safety standards will not work because each site has different hazards and challenges.
