Prime Minister John Key says government ministers will go to Christchurch to help the city council deal with the consequences of losing its accreditation to issue building consents.
That will happen on 8 June, because the council failed to convince International Accreditation New Zealand (IANZ) it was issuing consents according to the regulations laid out in the law.
However, the council will still be allowed to process applications with the help of the Ministry of Building Innovation and Employment.
John Key says central government has been working with the council. Photo: RNZ
In a letter, IANZ acknowledged the council's progress in speeding up consents, but said it is not convinced it can continue the high turnover and questioned whether the council is following regulations.
In May this year, IANZ gave the council a month to make improvements to its system, including speeding up the time it took to process consents, to comply with the statutory 20-day timeframe.
The council's regulation and democracy services manager, Peter Mitchell, said the council received IANZ's letter on Monday notifying it that the criteria had not been fulfilled.
Mr Mitchell said IANZ want to see proof that the new computer system and increased staffing levels would permanently resolve the problems.
But IANZ chief executive Llew Richards said time is a minor factor in the decision process and the key evidence the council needs to show is its technical competency.
The Prime Minister said on Monday that central government has been working with the council and Earthquake Recovery Minister Gerry Brownlee and Local Government Minister Chris Tremain will go to Christchurch on Wednesday to work out the best way forward.
Mr Key said the Government does have broader options, as it is able to call on expertise or personnel from around the country.
IANZ's letter to the Christchurch City Council has been forwarded to the Ministry of Building Innovation and Employment, which now has to decide if it thinks the council is fit to grant building consents. Several lawyers are discussing whether or not the ministry has the power to step in and revoke the council's consenting licence.
The council will reapply for its accreditation in about a month, once it has proven it is capable of meeting the criteria.
Christchurch mayor Bob Parker told Radio New Zealand's Checkpoint programme on Monday the council doesn't need accreditation to issue building consents and it will continue processing them.
"They're an accreditation authority. So they give you the tick and say you've done a number of tests and you meet those standards, and that's important for confidence. But they're not the same as a licensing authority - no licence has been taken away."
Mr Parker said all consents staff now have the correct training and the rules are being followed. He said the IANZ accreditation isn't necessary, but hoped to have it reinstated in a couple of months.
Planning committee chair Councillor Sue Wells said the council has cleared a backlog of 500 consents to date.
