“acceptable solution means an acceptable solution issued under section 22(1)”.

“verification method means a verification method issued under section 22(1)”.

“classifiable dam has the meaning given to it by regulations made under this Act

“crest, in relation to a dam, means the uppermost surface of a dam, not taking into account any camber allowed for settlement, or any curbs, parapets, guard rails, or other structures that are not part of the water-retaining structure; and for the avoidance of doubt, any freeboard is part of the water-retaining structure for the purposes of this definition

“high potential impact dam means a dam that has been classified under section 134B as having high potential impact

“low potential impact dam means a dam that has been classified under section 134B as having low potential impact

“medium potential impact dam means a dam that has been classified under section 134B as having medium potential impact

“outbuilding has the same meaning as in the building code

“referable dam has the meaning given to it by regulations made under this Act”.

“large dam means a dam that has a height of 4 or more metres, or holds 20 000 or more cubic metres volume of water or other fluid”.

• “(ii) in cases where 1 or more territorial authorities are unwilling or unable to take enforcement action; or

• “(iii) to enforce duties or obligations under Part 4A; and”.

• “(pa) issues infringement notices under section 372 and under section 371B authorises persons to issue infringement notices; and”.

“14G Responsibilities of product manufacturer

• “(1) In subsection (2), product manufacturer or supplier means a person who manufactures or supplies a building product and who states that the product will, if installed in accordance with the technical data, plans, specifications, and advice prescribed by the manufacturer, comply with the relevant provisions of the building code.

  “(2) A product manufacturer or supplier is responsible for ensuring that the product will, if installed in accordance with the technical data, plans, specifications, and advice prescribed by the manufacturer, comply with the relevant provisions of the building code.”

• “(b) compliance with an acceptable solution:

• “(ba) compliance with a verification method:”.

“Acceptable solution or verification method”.

“22 Acceptable solution or verification method for use in establishing compliance with building code

• “(1) The chief executive may, by notice in the Gazette, issue an acceptable solution or a verification method for use in establishing compliance with the building code.

  “(2) A person who complies with an acceptable solution or a verification method must, for the purposes of this Act, be treated as having complied with the provisions of the building code to which that acceptable solution or verification method relates.

  “(3) Subsection (2) is subject to any regulations referred to in section 20.

“23 Effect of acceptable solution or verification method

• A person may comply with an acceptable solution or a verification method in order to comply with the provisions of the building code to which that acceptable solution or verification method relates, but doing so is not the only means of complying with those provisions.

“24 Chief executive may amend or revoke acceptable solution or verification method

• “(1) The chief executive may, by notice in the Gazette, amend or revoke an acceptable solution or a verification method at any time.

  “(2) An amendment or a revocation under subsection (1) does not have retrospective effect.

“25 Content of acceptable solution or verification method

• “(1) An acceptable solution or a verification method must state—

  • “(a) the date on which it comes into force; and

  • “(b) whether the acceptable solution or verification method, or parts of it, applies to building work for which a building consent has been issued before the date on which the acceptable solution or verification method comes into force.

  “(2) An acceptable solution or a verification method must not contain a provision that—

  • “(a) relates to contractual or commercial requirements; or

  • “(b) relates to regulatory approvals, dispensations, or waivers; or

  • “(c) is inconsistent with this Act or the regulations.

  “(3) Material may be incorporated by reference in an acceptable solution or a verification method in accordance with sections 405 to 413.

“25A Acceptable solutions and verification methods to be available on Ministry's Internet site

• The chief executive must ensure that—

  • “(a) promptly after a new acceptable solution or verification method is issued, a digital copy is publicly available on the Ministry's Internet site:

  • “(b) even after an acceptable solution or a verification method has been amended or revoked, a digital copy of it in its original form continues to be publicly available on the Ministry's Internet site:

  • “(c) promptly after an acceptable solution or a verification method is amended, there are publicly available on the Ministry's Internet site—

    • “(i) a digital copy of the amendment; and

    • “(ii) a digital copy of the acceptable solution or verification method in its up-to-date form.”

“Procedural requirements for acceptable solutions, verification methods, warnings, and bans”.

• “(1) This section applies if an application for a national multiple-use approval is accompanied by plans and specifications that contain design work (relating to building work) that is restricted building work.”

• “(b) any building work described in Schedule 1 for which a building consent is not required under Schedule 1 (see section 42A); or”.

• “(2) The Governor-General may, by Order in Council, amend Schedule 1 by—

  • “(a) adding any building work or class of building work to Schedule 1 as being building work for which a building consent is not required:

  • “(b) extending or clarifying the scope of any building work or class of building work listed in Schedule 1 as building work for which a building consent is not required:

  • “(c) restating, for the purpose of clarity, any building work or class of building work listed in Schedule 1.”

“42A Building work for which building consent is not required under Schedule 1

• “(1) Despite section 40, and subject to the conditions set out in subsection (2) and whether or not a building consent would otherwise have been required, a building consent is not required for building work in the following categories, whether or not a building consent would otherwise have been required:

  • “(a) building work described in Part 1 of Schedule 1; or

  • “(b) building work described in Part 2 of Schedule 1 that is carried out in accordance with the Plumbers, Gasfitters, and Drainlayers Act 2006 by an authorised person (see subsection (3)); or

  • “(c) building work described in Part 3 of Schedule 1 if the design of the building work has been carried out or reviewed by a chartered professional engineer and the building work has been carried out in accordance with that design.

  “(2) Subsection (1) is subject to the following conditions:

  • “(a) the building work complies with the building code to the extent required by this Act:

  • “(b) after the building work is completed, the building,—

    • “(i) if it complied with the building code immediately before the building work began, continues to comply with the building code; or

    • “(ii) if it did not comply with the building code immediately before the building work began, continues to comply at least to the same extent as it did then comply:

  • “(c) the building work does not breach any other enactment:

  • “(d) the building to which the building work relates is not a building that is required to be licensed under the Hazardous Substances and New Organisms Act 1996.

  “(3) In subsection (1)(b), authorised person means a person who is authorised under the Plumbers, Gasfitters, and Drainlayers Act 2006 to do the work, except for a person who is authorised under section 15, 16, 19, or 25 of that Act.”

• “(3A) A certificate of work provided under subsection (3) does not, of itself,—

  • “(a) create any liability in relation to any matter to which the certificate of work relates; or

  • “(b) give rise to any civil liability to the owner that would not otherwise exist if the licensed building practitioner were not required to provide the certificate of work.”

• “(2A) If applicable, the owner must include with the application any records of work provided by licensed building practitioners under section 88(1).”

• “(1) A building consent authority must not grant a building consent for the alteration of an existing building, or part of an existing building, unless the building consent authority is satisfied that, after the alteration,—

  • “(a) the building will comply, as nearly as is reasonably practicable, with the provisions of the building code that relate to—

    • “(i) means of escape from fire; and

    • “(ii) access and facilities for persons with disabilities (if this is a requirement in terms of section 118); and

  • “(b) the building will,—

    • “(i) if it complied with the other provisions of the building code immediately before the building work began, continue to comply with those provisions; or

    • “(ii) if it did not comply with the other provisions of the building code immediately before the building work began, continue to comply at least to the same extent as it did then comply.”

• “(b) in any other case, unless the territorial authority gives the owner written notice that the territorial authority is satisfied, on reasonable grounds, that the building, in its new use,—

  • “(i) will comply, as nearly as is reasonably practicable, with every provision of the building code that relates to the following:

    • “(A) means of escape from fire, protection of other property, sanitary facilities, structural performance, and fire-rating performance:

    • “(B) access and facilities for people with disabilities (if this is a requirement under section 118); and

  • “(ii) will,—

    • “(A) if it complied with the other provisions of the building code immediately before the change of use, continue to comply with those provisions; or

    • “(B) if it did not comply with the other provisions of the building code immediately before the change of use, continue to comply at least to the same extent as it did then comply.”

• “(b) will,—

  • “(i) if it complied with the other provisions of the building code immediately before the application for a subdivision was made, continue to comply with those provisions; or

  • “(ii) if it did not comply with the other provisions of the building code immediately before the application for a subdivision was made, continue to comply at least to the same extent as it did then comply.”

“121A Meaning of affected building

• A building is an affected building for the purposes of this Act if it is adjacent to, adjoining, or nearby a dangerous building as defined in section 121—

  • “(a) a dangerous building as defined in section 121; or

  • “(b) a dangerous dam within the meaning of section 153.”

“124 Dangerous, affected, earthquake-prone, or insanitary buildings: powers of territorial authority

• “(1) This section applies if a territorial authority is satisfied that a building in its district is a dangerous, affected, earthquake-prone, or insanitary building.

  “(2) In a case to which this section applies, the territorial authority may do any or all of the following:

  • “(a) put up a hoarding or fence to prevent people from approaching the building nearer than is safe:

  • “(b) attach in a prominent place on, or adjacent to, the building a notice that warns people not to approach the building:

  • “(c) except in the case of an affected building, issue a notice that complies with section 125(1) requiring work to be carried out on the building to—

    • “(i) reduce or remove the danger; or

    • “(ii) prevent the building from remaining insanitary:

  • “(d) issue a notice that complies with section 125(1A) restricting entry to the building for particular purposes or restricting entry to particular persons or groups of persons.

  “(3) This section does not limit the powers of a territorial authority.”

“125 Requirements for notice requiring building work or restricting entry

• “(1) A notice issued under section 124(2)(c) must—

  • “(a) be in writing; and

  • “(b) be fixed to the building in question; and

  • “(c) be given in the form of a copy to the persons listed in subsection (2); and

  • “(d) state the time within which the building work must be carried out, which must not be less than a period of 10 days after the notice is given or a period reasonably sufficient to obtain a building consent if one is required, whichever period is longer; and

  • “(e) state whether the owner of the building must obtain a building consent in order to carry out the work required by the notice.

  “(1A) A notice issued under section 124(2)(d)—

  • “(a) must be in writing; and

  • “(b) must be fixed to the building in question; and

  • “(c) must be given in the form of a copy to the persons listed in subsection (2); and

  • “(d) may be issued for a maximum period of 30 days; and

  • “(e) may be reissued once only for a further maximum period of 30 days.”

“128 Prohibition on using dangerous, affected, earthquake-prone, or insanitary building

• “(1) This section applies if a territorial authority has done any of the following:

  • “(a) put up a hoarding or fence in relation to a building under section 124(2)(a):

  • “(b) attached a notice warning people not to approach a building under section 124(2)(b):

  • “(c) issued a notice restricting entry to a building under section 124(2)(d).

  “(2) In any case to which this section applies, and except as permitted by section 124(2)(d), no person may—

  • “(a) use or occupy the building; or

  • “(b) permit another person to use or occupy the building.”

“128A Offences in relation to dangerous, affected, earthquake-prone, or insanitary buildings

• “(1) A person who fails to comply with a notice issued under section 124(2)(c) that is given to that person under section 125(2)—

  • “(a) commits an offence; and

  • “(b) is liable to a fine not exceeding $200,000.

  “(2) A person who fails to comply with section 128(2)—

  • “(a) commits an offence; and

  • “(b) is liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $200,000 and, in the case of a continuing offence, to a further fine not exceeding $20,000 for every day or part of a day during which the offence has continued.”

“132A Policy must take into account affected buildings

• “(1) A policy under section 131 must take into account affected buildings.

  “(2) A territorial authority must amend an existing policy to take into account affected buildings at the latest within a reasonable period following the next review of its policy required under section 132(4).

  “(3) In subsection (2), existing policy means a policy existing at the date of this section coming into force.”

• “(1) Sections 133B and 157 to 159 apply to all dams.”

“133B Measurement of dams

• For the purposes of this Act and any regulations made under it, the height of a dam is the vertical distance from the top crest of the dam and must be measured,—

  • “(a) in the case of a dam across a stream, from the natural bed of the stream at the lowest downstream outside limit of the dam; and

  • “(b) in the case of a dam not across a stream, from the lowest elevation at the outside limit of the dam; and

  • “(c) in the case of a canal, from the invert of the canal.

“Notification of large dam

“133C Obligation to notify regional authority of large dam and change of ownership

• “(1) The owner of a large dam must notify the regional authority in whose region the dam is situated of the size and location of the dam.

  “(2) The owner must notify the regional authority,—

  • “(a) in the case of a dam commissioned before the commencement of the regulations referred to in section 135(2)(a), within 3 months after the commencement of those regulations; or

  • “(b) in the case of a dam commissioned after the commencement of the regulations referred to in section 135(2)(a), within 3 months after the dam is commissioned.

  “(3) If the ownership of a large dam that must be notified under subsection (1) changes, the transferring owner must notify the regional authority of the change of ownership within 3 months of the change.”

“134 When owner must classify dam

• The owner of a dam must classify the dam in accordance with section 134B if—

  • “(a) the dam is a classifiable dam; or

  • “(b) the dam is a referable dam and the regional authority in whose region the dam is situated has required the owner to classify it.

“134A Regional authority may require owner to classify referable dam

• “(1) A regional authority may by written notice require the owner of a referable dam to classify it in accordance with section 134B if the regional authority has reasonable grounds for believing that the dam should be classified as a high or medium potential impact damdam is located within a designated area.

  “(2) In subsection (1), reasonable grounds has the meaning given to itdesignated area means an area, or a proximity to an area or feature, designated or described by regulations made under this Act.

“134B Method of classification

• “(1) The owner of a dam to whom section 134 applies must classify the dam according to the potential impact of a failure of the dam on persons, property, and the environment.

  “(2) In classifying a dam, the owner must—

  • “(a) apply the prescribed criteria and standards for dam safety; and

  • “(b) give the dam 1 of the following classifications:

    • “(i) low potential impact; or

    • “(ii) medium potential impact; or

    • “(iii) high potential impact; and

  • “(c) submit the classification of the dam to a recognised engineer for audit.

  “(3) For the purposes of this section, the prescribed criteria and standards for dam safety may incorporate, in accordance with sections 405 to 413, the standards, requirements, or recommended practices of national or international organisations that are concerned with the operation and safety of dams.

“134BA Classification of dams that are canals

• A dam that is a canal that must be classified under section 134B may have different classifications for different sections of the canal and in that case each of those sections must be treated as a separate dam for the purposes of sections 134 to 139.

“134C Offence of failing to classify dam

• A person to whom section 134 applies who fails to classify the dam in accordance with section 134B commits an offence and is liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $20,000.”

“135A Certifying engineer must notify regional authority and owner if dam dangerous

• “(1) An engineer engaged to provide a certificate for the purposes of section 135(1)(b), 142(1)(b), or 150(2)(f) must notify the regional authority and the owner of the dam if he or she believes on reasonable grounds that the dam is dangerous.

  “(2) The notice must be—

  • “(a) in writing; and

  • “(b) given within 5 working days after the engineer forms the belief in question.

  “(3) Nothing in subsection (1) requires an engineer to act outside the terms of his or her engagement by investigating whether the dam is dangerous or not and a breach of the duty in subsection (1) does not give rise to any civil liability in damages.”

• “(ia) states that the dam safety assurance programme contains a full list of the dam's appurtenant structures as determined by the engineer; and”.

“148A Dam safety assurance programme for dams that are canals

• “(1) This section applies to a dam that is a canal and has different classifications for different sections of the canal in accordance with section 134B.

  “(2) If the whole canal is owned by a single owner, then for the purposes of sections 140 to 145, 147, 148, 150, and 150A a single dam safety assurance programme suffices for the whole canal.

  “(3) If the whole canal is not owned by a single owner, then for the purposes of sections 140 to 145, 147, 148, 150, and 150A a single dam safety assurance programme suffices for the sections of the canal in the separate ownership of each owner.

  “(4) For the purposes of section 146, the potential impact classification that applies to the owner's canal or section of the canal is the highest potential impact classification that applies to any section of the canal.

“148B Dam safety assurance programme for 2 or more dams forming single reservoir

• “(1) This section applies if 2 or more dams owned by the same owner form a single reservoir.

  “(2) For the purposes of sections 140 to 145, 147, 148, 150, and 150A a single dam safety assurance programme suffices for all the dams.

  “(3) For the purposes of section 146, the potential impact classification that applies is the highest potential impact classification that applies to any of the dams.”

• “(b) entitlement to a fee for undertaking an audit; or

• “(c) employment or engagement as an engineer by the owner of the dam concerned.”

• “(b) state that, except for the identified, minor items of non-compliance, all procedures in the dam safety assurance programme have been fully complied with during the previous 12 months; and”.

• “(B) except for the identified, minor items of non-compliance, all procedures in the dam safety assurance programme have been complied with during the previous 12 months; and”.

“153AB Owner must notify regional authority of dangerous dam

• The owner of a dam who has reasonable grounds for believing that the dam is, or has become, dangerous must immediately notify the regional authority in whose region the dam is situated.”

• “(2A) The chief executive, in considering whether to accept or decline a complaint under subsection (2)(b), is not required to seek any information or submission from the building consent authority, and the building consent authority is not entitled to proffer any information or submission at that stage.”

• “(3) For the avoidance of doubt, a building consent authority's failure to make written submissions after being given a reasonable opportunity to do so does not limit the chief executive in investigating the complaint or determining it.”

• “(ba) if paragraph (b) applies, require the building consent authority to monitor and report to the chief executive on the progress of the remedial action:”.

• “(aa) decide whether to accept or decline a complaint received under section 200(1); and

• “(ab) investigate a complaint under section 200 or investigate a matter on his or her own initiative under section 201; and”.

• “(b) may require any territorial authority, building consent authority, or regional authority to do any of the following within a reasonable time specified by the chief executive in writing:

  • “(i) supply any relevant information:

  • “(ii) answer any question that relates to the performance of functions under this Act:

  • “(iii) answer any question that relates to a complaint received under section 200(1) or to a complaint investigated under section 200 or to a matter investigated under section 201:

• “(c) may, by written notice, require any person having possession or control of any relevant information to supply to the chief executive, in a manner and within a reasonable time specified in the notice, all or any of the information:

• “(d) may enter and re-enter any land or building, with any appliances, machinery, and equipment that are reasonably necessary, to—

  • “(i) carry out any surveys, inspections, investigations, reviews, tests, and measurements that are reasonably necessary for the purposes of this section; and

  • “(ii) generally do any other things that are reasonably necessary to enable the surveys, inspections, investigations, reviews, tests, and measurements to be carried out.”

• “(4) In this section, relevant information—

  • “(a) means any information of any description that relates to—

    • “(i) the performance by a territorial authority, building consent authority, or regional authority of its functions under this Act; or

    • “(ii) a complaint received under section 200(1); or

    • “(iii) a complaint investigated under section 200 or a matter investigated under section 201; and

  • “(b) includes information that is kept in any form, including electronic form.”

“207A Chief executive may require person to provide information or produce documents

• “(1) If the chief executive considers it necessary or desirable for the purposes of taking enforcement action under this Act, the chief executive may, by written notice served on any person, require that person—

  • “(a) to provide to the chief executive, within the time and in the manner specified in the notice, any information or class of information specified in the notice; or

  • “(b) to produce to the chief executive, or to a person specified in the notice who is acting on behalf of the chief executive in accordance with the notice, any document or class of documents specified in the notice (within the time and in the manner specified in the notice); or

  • “(c) if necessary, to reproduce, or assist in reproducing, in usable form, information recorded or stored in any documents or classes of documents specified in the notice (within the time and in the manner specified in the notice).

  “(2) Information provided in response to a notice under subsection (1)(a) must be provided in the manner specified in the notice.

  “(3) If a document is produced in response to a notice under subsection (1), the chief executive, or the person to whom the document is produced, may—

  • “(a) inspect and make records of that document; and

  • “(b) take copies of the document or of extracts from the document.

“207B Offence of failing to comply with chief executive's notice for provision of information

• A person who fails to comply with a notice served on that person under section 207A commits an offence and is liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $5,000.”

• “(a) is subject to the power of a territorial authority to withhold information under the provisions of the Local Government Official Information and Meetings Act 1987; and”.

“Part 4A
“Consumer rights and remedies in relation to residential building work

“Preliminary provisions

“362A Outline of this Part

• This Part protects consumers (referred to in this Part as clients) in relation to residential building work by—

  • “(a) requiring certain information to be provided before a residential building contract is entered into; and

  • “(b) prescribing minimum requirements for residential building contracts over a certain value; and

  • “(c) implying warranties into residential building contracts; and

  • “(d) providing remedies for breach of the implied warranties; and

  • “(e) requiring defective building work under a residential building contract to be remedied if notified within 1 year of completion; and

  • “(f) requiring certain information and documentation to be provided on completion of building work under a residential building contract.

“362B Meaning of building work and residential building contract

• “(1) In this Part, unless the context otherwise requires, residential building contract means a contract under which one person (the building contractor) agrees with another person (the client) to do building work for the client in relation to a household unit.

  “(1) In this Part, unless the context otherwise requires,—

  “building work does not include design work, and paragraph (c) of the definition of building work in section 7 does not apply to this Part

  “residential building contract—

  • “(a) means a contract under which one person (the building contractor) agrees with another person (the client) to do building work for the client in relation to a household unit; but

  • “(b) does not include a subcontracting agreement between a building contractor and a building subcontractor.

  “(2) On section 6(8) of the Building Amendment Act 2012 coming into force, and in the following order,—

  • “(a) first, the definition of building work in subsection (1) is repealed and the following definition substituted:

    “‘building work does not include design work, and paragraphs (c) and (e) of the definition of building work in section 7 do not apply to this Part’; and

  • “(b) second, this subsection is repealed.

“362C Consumer rights under Fair Trading Act 1986 or Consumer Guarantees Act 1993 not affected by this Part

• Nothing in this Part limits or derogates from the provisions of the Fair Trading Act 1986 or the Consumer Guarantees Act 1993.

“Pre-contract information

“362D Building contractor must provide information before residential building contract entered into

• “(1AA) This section applies to a residential building contract if—

  • “(a) the price for the building work is not less than the prescribed minimum price (if any); or

  • “(b) the client has requested the prescribed disclosure information (if any) and prescribed checklist (if any).

  “(1) A building contractor must not enter into a residential building contract to which this section applies unless the building contractor has first provided to the client (or each client if there is more than 1)—

  • “(a) the prescribed disclosure information (if any); and

  • “(b) a prescribed checklist (if any).

  “(1A) The disclosure information and the checklist must each be in the form prescribed by regulations (if any).

  “(2) A person who contravenes subsection (1)(a) or (b) commits an infringement offence and is liable to a fine not exceeding $2,000.

  “(3) A person commits an offence who, in any communication or document required to be made or given under subsection (1)(a), knowingly makes a statement that is false or misleading in a material particular or knowingly makes a material omission.

  “(4) A person who commits an offence under subsection (3) is liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $20,000.

“362DA Purpose of regulations under section 362D

• “(1) The purpose of regulations prescribing disclosure information under section 362D(1)(a) is to give a client information about a building contractor, and the prescribed disclosure information may include (but is not limited to) information relating to the following:

  • “(a) the legal status of the building contractor, for example, whether the building contractor is an individual, a partnership, or a limited liability company:

  • “(b) the dispute history of the building contractor:

  • “(c) the skills, qualifications, and licensing status of the building practitioners who will be doing the building work:

  • “(d) if the building contractor is a limited liability company, the role of each director and the business history of each director.

  “(2) The purpose of regulations prescribing a checklist under section 362D(1)(b) is to provide guidance to a client on the matters that a client should take into consideration when entering into a residential building contract, and the prescribed checklist may include (but is not limited to) the following:

  • “(a) an explanation of the legal obligations of both the client and the building contractor in relation to the building work:

  • “(b) an outline of the risks associated with payment in advance of completion of the building work:

  • “(c) a summary of dispute resolution options:

  • “(d) a list of sources for further advice and information.

“Minimum requirements for residential building contract

“362E Minimum requirements for residential building contract over certain value

• “(1) This section applies to a residential building contract if the price for the building work is not less than the prescribed minimum price calculated in accordance with the prescribed methodology (if any).

  “(2) A residential building contract to which this section applies must—

  • “(a) be in writing; and

  • “(ab) be dated; and

  • “(b) contain as a minimum the prescribed information, content, terms, and conditions comply with regulations (if any) made under section 362F.

  “(3) A building contractor must not enter into a residential building contract to which this section applies unless the requirements of subsection (2) have been complied with.

  “(4) A person who contravenes subsection (3) by entering into an unwritten contract commits an infringement offence and is liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $2,000.

“362F Status of non-complying residential building contract

• “(1) A residential building contract to which section 362E applies but which does not comply with section 362E(2) is taken to include the prescribed information, content, terms, and conditions referred to in section 362E(2)(b) (if any).

  “(2) Subsection (1) applies despite any provision to the contrary in any agreement or contract.

“362F Regulations may prescribe content, etc of residential building contract

• “(1) Regulations may be made requiring, as a minimum that must be contained in a residential building contract, all or any of the following matters:

  • “(a) the content of the contract:

  • “(b) categories or types of information:

  • “(c) specified information:

  • “(d) categories or types of clauses or terms:

  • “(e) specified clauses or terms.

  “(2) For the purposes of subsection (1) and without limitation to the matters set out in the following paragraphs, the regulations may require, as matters that must be contained in a residential building contract, matters relating to—

  • “(a) the parties:

  • “(b) dispute resolution:

  • “(c) the process for varying the contract:

  • “(d) the timeframe for performing the contract:

  • “(e) the payment process.

  “(3) The regulations may,—

  • “(a) if there is no written contract as required by section 362E(2)(a), stipulate that 1 or more prescribed specified clauses (if any) are taken to be included in the contract; and

  • “(b) if there is a written contract but it does not include a matter specified by the regulations, stipulate that 1 or more prescribed specified clauses (if any) are taken to be included in the contract.

  “(4) Subsection (3) applies despite any provision to the contrary in any agreement or contract.

“Implied warranties

“362G When provisions relating to implied warranties apply

• “(1) Sections 362H to 362J apply—

  • “(a) to any of the following contracts entered into on or after the date on which this section comes into force:

    • “(i) a residential building contract, whether written or oral; or

    • “(ii) a contract for the sale of 1 or more household units by, or on behalf of, an on-seller; and

  • “(b) despite any provision to the contrary in any agreement or contract.

  “(2) For the purposes of sections 362H to 362J, a contract by or on behalf of an on-seller for the sale of 1 or more household units—

  • “(a) is taken to be a contract for the building work already carried out or still to be carried out in building the household unit or units; and

  • “(b) is taken to incorporate as the obligations of the on-seller the obligations of the building contractor under a residential building contract for the building work referred to in paragraph (a).

  “(3) In subsection (1)(a)(i), contract—

  • “(a) includes a written or an oral contract:

  • “(b) does not include a subcontracting agreement between a building contractor and a building subcontractor.

  “(4) In subsection (1)(a)(ii), on-seller means a person who does any of the following things in relation to a household unit for the purpose of on-selling the household unit:

  • “(a) builds the household unit by himself or herself or with the assistance of others:

  • “(b) in trade arranges for the household unit to be built or acquires the household unit from a person who built it or arranged for it to be built:

  • “(c) acquires the household unit from a person who built it or arranged for it to be built:

  • “(d) acquires the household unit in a transaction that is intended to defeat the purpose and effect of subsection (2).

“362H Implied warranties for building work in relation to household units

• “(1) In every contract to which this section applies, the following warranties about building work to be carried out under the contract are implied and are taken to form part of the contract:

  • “(a) that the building work will be carried out—

    • “(i) in a proper and competent manner; and

    • “(ii) in accordance with the plans and specifications set out in the contract; and

    • “(iii) in accordance with the relevant building consent:

  • “(b) that all materials to be supplied for use in the building work—

    • “(i) will be suitable for the purpose for which they will be used; and

    • “(ii) unless otherwise stated in the contract, will be new:

  • “(c) that the building work will be carried out in accordance with, and will comply with, all laws and legal requirements, including, without limitation, this Act and the regulations:

  • “(d) that the building work will—

    • “(i) be carried out with reasonable care and skill; and

    • “(ii) be completed by the date (or within the period) specified in the contract or, if no date or period is specified, within a reasonable time:

  • “(e) that the household unit, if it is to be occupied on completion of building work, will be suitable for occupation on completion of that building work:

  • “(f) if the contract states the particular purpose for which the building work is required, or the result that the owner wishes the building work to achieve, so as to show that the owner relies on the skill and judgement of the other party to the contract, that the building work and any materials used in carrying out the building work will—

    • “(i) be reasonably fit for that purpose; or

    • “(ii) be of such a nature and quality that they might reasonably be expected to achieve that result.

  “(2) Subsection (1) has effect despite any provision to the contrary in any contract or agreement, and despite any provision of any other enactment or rule of law.

“362I Proceedings for breach of warranties may be taken by non-party to contract

• “(1) An owner of the building or land in respect of which building work was carried out under a contract to which this section applies may take proceedings for a breach of any of the warranties set out in section 362H whether or not that person was a party to the contract.

  “(2) In this section, proceedings includes—

  • “(a) adjudication under the Construction Contracts Act 2002; and

  • “(b) a claim under the Weathertight Homes Resolution Services Act 2006; and

  • “(c) arbitration under the Arbitration Act 1996.

“362J Person may not give away benefit of warranties

• A provision of an agreement or instrument that purports to restrict or remove the right of a person to take proceedings for a breach of any of the warranties set out in section 362H is of no effect in so far as the provision relates to a breach other than a breach that was known, or ought reasonably to have been known, by the person to exist at the time the agreement or instrument was executed.

“Remedies for breach of implied warranty

“362K Remedies for breach of implied warranty

• “(1) A person who has the benefit of an implied warranty set out in section 362H has the remedies set out in sections 362L to 362O for breach of that warranty.

  “(2) In sections 362L to 362O, the person who has the benefit of an implied warranty—

  • “(a) is called the client; and

  • “(b) except for the purposes of section 362L(3)(b) or 362M(2)(b), includes the owner of the building or land in respect of which building work was carried out under a contract to which the implied warranty applies, whether or not that person was a party to the contract.

  “(3) In sections 362L to 362O, the person who is liable to remedy the breach is called the building contractor.

  “(4) Nothing in this section limits or derogates from any remedy for defective building work expressly provided for in a residential building contract, and nothing in any residential building contract limits or derogates from any of the remedies set out in sections 362L to 362O.

“362L Remedies if breach of warranty can be remedied

• “(1) This section applies in any case where the breach of warranty can be remedied.

  “(2) If this section applies, the client may—

  • “(a) require the building contractor to remedy the breach (including repairing or replacing defective materials supplied by the building contractor) within a reasonable time; or

  • “(b) cancel the contract in accordance with section 362O.

  “(3) If the building contractor, after being required to remedy the breach, refuses or neglects to do so, or does not succeed in doing so within a reasonable time, the client may have the breach remedied by someone else and recover from the building contractor all reasonable costs incurred in having the breach remedied.

  “(2) If this section applies, the client may require the building contractor to remedy the breach (including repairing or replacing defective materials supplied by the building contractor or the building contractor's subcontractor).

  “(3) If the building contractor, after being required to remedy the breach, refuses or neglects to do so, or does not succeed in doing so within a reasonable time, the client may—

  • “(a) have the breach remedied by someone else and recover from the building contractor all reasonable costs incurred in having the breach remedied; or

  • “(b) cancel the contract in accordance with section 362O.

  “(4) In addition to the remedies in subsections (2) and (3), the client may obtain from the building contractor damages for any loss or damage to the client resulting from the breach (other than loss or damage through reduction in the value of the product of the building work) that was reasonably foreseeable as liable to result from the breach.

“362M Remedies if breach of warranty cannot be remedied or breach is substantial

• “(1) This section applies in any case where the breach of warranty cannot be remedied or the breach is substantial.

  “(2) If this section applies, the client may—

  • “(a) obtain from the building contractor damages in compensation for any reduction in value of the product of the building work below the price paid or payable by the client for that work; or

  • “(b) cancel the contract in accordance with section 362O.

  “(3) In addition to the remedy in subsection (2), the client may obtain from the building contractor damages for any loss or damage to the client resulting from the breach (other than loss or damage through reduction in the value of the product of the building work) that was reasonably foreseeable as liable to result from the breach.

“362N Meaning of substantial breach

• For the purposes of section 362M, a breach of warranty is substantial if—

  • “(a) a reasonable client fully acquainted with the nature and extent of the breach would not have entered into the residential building contract; or

  • “(b) in any case to which section 362H(1)(f) applies, the building work—

    • “(i) is unfit for the particular purpose stated in the residential building contract; or

    • “(ii) is of such a nature and quality that it cannot be expected to produce the desired result stated in the residential building contract; or

  • “(c) the building work is unsafe.

“362O Rules applying to cancellation

• “(1) The cancellation of a contract under section 362L(2)(3)(b) or 362M(2)(b) does not take effect—

  • “(a) before the time at which the cancellation is made known to the building contractor; or

  • “(b) where it is not reasonably practicable to communicate with the building contractor, before the time at which the client indicates, by means that are reasonable in the circumstances, the client's intention to cancel the contract.

  “(2) Subject to subsection (3), the cancellation may be made known by words, or by conduct indicating an intention to cancel, or both, and it is not necessary to use any particular form of words, so long as the intention to cancel is made known.

  “(3) Where it is reasonably practicable to communicate with the building contractor, subsection (2) takes effect subject to any provision in the contract requiring notice of cancellation in writing.

  “(4) Where the building work service supplied under the contract is merely incidental to the supply of goods, the client cannot cancel the contract under this Act if the client has or had the right to reject the goods under section 18 of the Consumer Guarantees Act 1993.

  “(5) Sections 8(3) and (4) and 9 of the Contractual Remedies Act 1979 apply, with all necessary modifications, to the cancellation of a contract under section 362L(3)(b) or 362M(2)(b).

“Remedy of defect notified within 1 year of completion

“362P Building contractor or on-seller must remedy defect notified within 1 year of completion

• “(1) This section applies if—

  • “(a) building work is carried out by a building contractor (the building contractor) in relation to a household unit; and

  • “(b) the building work is defective; and

  • “(c) the defect is able to be remedied; and

  • “(d) the client has notified the building contractor in writing of the defect within 1 year of the completion of the building work.

  • “(d) the building work is carried out by or on behalf of a building contractor or the household unit is purchased from an on-seller (as defined in section 362G(4)).

  “(1A) In any case to which this section applies, the client may give notice, within 12 months from completion of the building work, to either the building contractor or the on-seller (if there is one) requiring that person to remedy the defect.

  “(2) In any case to which this section applies, the building contractor or the on-seller, as the case may be, to whom notice has been given in accordance with subsection (1A) must remedy the defect (including repairing or replacing defective materials supplied by the building contractorused in the building work) within a reasonable time of notification in writing of the defect.

  “(3) In any case in which it is asserted against a building contractor or an on-seller that this section applies, the matters referred to in subsection (1) are presumed unless the contrary is proven.

  “(4) In this section, client—

  • “(a) means any of the following:

    • “(i) the person or persons with whom the building contractor contracted to do the building work in question:

    • “(ii) the owner of the building or land in respect of which the building work was carried out, whether or not that person was a party to the building contract; but

  • “(b) does not include a building contractor in that capacity contracting with another building contractor (for example, a contractor and subcontractor).

  “(5) In addition to the remedy in subsection (2), the client may obtain from the building contractor or the on-seller damages for any loss or damage to the client resulting from the defect (other than loss or damage through reduction in value of the product of the building work) that was reasonably foreseeable as liable to result from the defect.

  “(6) Nothing in this section affects the warranties set out in section 362H or limits the time for enforcing any of those warranties.

  “(7) This section does not apply to building work carried out—

  • “(a) before this section comes into force; or

  • “(b) under a contract entered into before this section comes into force.

“362PA Definitions for purposes of section 362P

• “(1) In section 362P, client—

  • “(a) means any of the following:

    • “(i) the person or persons with whom the building contractor contracted to do the building work in question:

    • “(ii) the person or persons who purchased the household unit from the on-seller:

    • “(iii) the owner of the building or land in respect of which the building work was carried out, whether or not that person was a party to the building contract or contract of sale; but

  • “(b) does not include a building contractor in that capacity contracting with another building contractor (for example, a contractor and subcontractor).

  “(2) In section 362P, on-seller has the same meaning as in section 362G(4).

  “(3) In section 362P(1)(d), building work carried out on behalf of a building contractor includes building work carried out on behalf of the building contractor by any of the following persons:

  • “(a) an employee of the building contractor:

  • “(b) another contractor:

  • “(c) a subcontractor:

  • “(d) any other person for whom the building contractor is responsible in law.

“Exclusion of defects liability for event not attributable to fault of building contractor or on-seller

“362Q Exclusion of defects liability for event not attributable to fault of building contractor or on-seller

• “(1) Nothing in sections 362G to 362P applies toA building contractor is not liable under sections 362G to 362PA for any defect in a building or breach of warranty to the extent that the defect or breach is caused by any of the following that occurs during or after completion of the building work in question:

  • “(aa) a cause independent of human control:

  • “(a) any act or omission, including accidental damage, by a person who is not the building contractor or a person for whom the building contractor is responsible in law: none of the following:

    • “(i) the building contractor:

    • “(ii) a subcontractor to the building contractor:

    • “(iii) a person for whom the building contractor is responsible in law:

  • “(b) failure to carry out normal maintenance:

  • “(c) failure to carry out, or cause to be carried out, repairs as soon as practicable after the defect becomes apparent.

  “(2) In any proceeding against a building contractor to enforce a warranty or remedy contained in sections 362G to 362P, the onus is on the building contractor to prove that the cause of the defect or breach was 1 or more of the causes set out in subsection (1).

  “(3) In this section, building contractor includes, with all necessary modifications, an on-seller as defined in section 362G(4).

“Information and documentation to be provided on completion of residential building contract

“362R Building contractor must provide prescribed information and documentation on completion of residential building work

• “(1) This section applies where a building contractor has carried out building work under a residential building contract.

  “(2) As soon as practicable after completion of the building work, the building contractor must provide in writing the information and documentation prescribed by regulations made under this Act to the following persons:

  • “(a) the client; and

  • “(b) the relevant territorial authority.

  “(3) The regulations referred to in subsection (2) may prescribe different information and documentation to be provided to the client and the relevant territorial authority.

  “(4) A person who contravenes subsection (2) commits an infringement offence and is liable to a fine not exceeding $2,000.

“362RA Purpose of regulations under section 362R(2)

• The purpose of regulations prescribing information and documentation under section 362R(2) is to ensure that the owner and future owners of the building have knowledge of who carried out the building work and access to information or knowledge about the ongoing maintenance requirements of the building, and the prescribed information and documentation may include (but is not limited to) information and documentation relating to the following:

  • “(a) the identity of the building contractor:

  • “(b) any guarantee or insurance obtained by the building contractor in relation to the building work:

  • “(c) maintenance requirements for any products incorporated in the building.

“Offence by commercial on-seller

“362S Offence for commercial on-seller to transfer household unit without consent completion code compliance certificate

• “(1) A commercial on-seller commits an offence if the commercial on-seller does either or both of the following things before a consent completion code compliance certificate is issued in relation to a household unit:

  • “(a) completes a sale of the household unit:

  • “(b) allows a purchaser of the household unit to enter into possession of the household unit.

  “(2) Subsection (1) does not apply if the commercial on-seller and the purchaser of the household unit enter into a written agreement, in the form (if any) prescribed by regulations made under this Act, that the commercial on-seller may do either or both of the things referred to in that subsection before a consent completioncode compliance certificate is issued in relation to the household unit concerned.

  “(3) A person who commits an offence under this section is liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $200,000.

  “(4) Subsection (1) does not apply if the contract for the sale and purchase of the household unit was entered into before 30 November 2004.

  “(5) In this section, commercial on-seller means a person who, in trade, does any of the following things in relation to a household unit for the purpose of selling the household unit:

  • “(a) builds the household unit; or

  • “(b) arranges for the household unit to be built; or

  • “(c) acquires the household unit from a person who built it or arranged for it to be built; or

  • “(d) acquires the household unit in a transaction that is intended to defeat the purpose and effect of subsection (1).

  “(6) On section 6(3) of the Building Amendment Act 2012 coming into force, and in the following order,—

  • “(a) first,—

    • “(i) the heading to this section is amended by omitting ‘code compliance certificate’ and substituting ‘consent completion certificate’; and

    • “(ii) subsections (1) and (2) are amended by omitting ‘code compliance certificate’ and substituting ‘consent completion certificate’; and

  • “(b) second, this subsection is repealed.”

“enforcement officer means a person who, under section 371A, may issue an infringement notice”.

“infringement offence means—

• “(a) an offence that is declared, by regulations made under section 402, to be an infringement offence for the purposes of this Act; or

• “(b) an offence that is stated by a provision of this Act to be an infringement offence.”

“371A Who may issue infringement notices

• “(1) The following persons may issue infringement notices:

  • “(a) any person who has been authorised by the chief executive under section 371B(1):

  • “(b) any officer of a territorial authority who has been authorised by the territorial authority under section 371B(2).

  “(2) In this section and in sections 371B and 371D, person means a natural person.

“371B Authorisation to issue infringement notice

• “(1) The chief executive may authorise any person to issue infringement notices under section 372.

  “(2) A territorial authority may authorise any of its officers to issue infringement notices under section 372.

  “(3) The chief executive or territorial authority, as the case may be, must issue the person authorised (the enforcement officer) with a warrant that clearly states the functions and powers that the enforcement officer has been authorised to perform or exercise under this Act.

“371C Conditions of authorisation

• “(1) An enforcement officer authorised under section 371B who exercises or purports to exercise the power to issue an infringement notice under section 372 must—

  • “(a) carry on him or her—

    • “(i) the warrant issued under section 371B(3); and

    • “(ii) evidence of his or her identity; and

  • “(b) if required to do so, produce the warrant and evidence referred to in paragraph (a).

  “(2) An enforcement officer who holds a warrant issued under section 371B(3) must, on the termination of his or her appointment as an enforcement officer, surrender the warrant to the chief executive or the territorial authority, as the case may be.

“371D Offence to impersonate enforcement officer

• “(1) A person commits an offence if the person impersonates or falsely pretends to be an enforcement officer named in a warrant issued under section 371B(3).

  “(2) A person who commits an offence under this section is liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $5,000.”

“374 Payment of infringement fees

• The infringement fee paid in respect of an infringement offence must be paid,—

  • “(a) in the case of an infringement notice issued by a person authorised by a territorial authority, to that territorial authority:

  • “(b) in the case of an infringement notice issued by the chief executive or by a person authorised by the chief executive, to the chief executive.”

• “(a) an acceptable solution or a verification method:”.

• “(wa) defining the meaning of classifiable dam:

• “(wb) defining the meaning of referable dam:

• “(wc) defining the meaning of reasonable groundsdesignating or describing an area or proximity to an area or feature for the purposes of section 134A:”.

• “(xa) prescribing disclosure information for the purposes of section 362D(1)(a) and the form of that disclosure information:

• “(xb) prescribing a checklist for the purposes of section 362D(1)(b) and the form of that checklist:

• “(xba) prescribing the minimum price for building work for the purposes of section 362D(1AA)(a) or prescribing the methodology for calculating that minimum price, or both:

• “(xc) prescribing the minimum price for building work for the purposes of section 362E(1) or prescribing the methodology for calculating that minimum price, or both:

• “(xd) prescribing any or all of the information, content, terms, and conditionsthe content of, or information or clauses or terms that must be contained in, a residential building contract for the purposes of section 362E(2)(b):

• “(xe) prescribing any or all of the information and documentation for the purposes of section 362R(2):”.

• “(b) any acceptable solution or verification method; and”.

• “(b) any building work described in Schedule 1 for which a building consent is not required (see section 42A ):”.

“42A Building work for which building consent is not required under Schedule 1

• “(1) Despite section 40 and subject to the conditions set out in subsection (2), a building consent is not required for building work in the following categories, whether or not a building consent would otherwise have been required:

  • “(a) building work described in Part 1 of Schedule 1; or

  • “(b) building work described in Part 2 of Schedule 1 that is carried out by an authorised person (see subsection (3)); or

  • “(c) building work described in Part 3 of Schedule 1 if the design of the building work has been carried out or reviewed by a chartered professional engineer and the building work has been carried out in accordance with that design.

  “(2) Subsection (1) is subject to the following conditions:

  • “(a) the building work complies with the building code to the extent required by this Act:

  • “(b) after the building work is completed, the building,—

    • “(i) if it complied with the building code immediately before the building work began, continues to comply with the building code; or

    • “(ii) if it did not comply with the building code immediately before the building work began, continues to comply at least to the same extent as it did then comply:

  • “(c) the building work does not breach any other enactment:

  • “(d) the building to which the building work relates is not a building that is required to be licensed under the Hazardous Substances and New Organisms Act 1996.

  “(3) In subsection (1)(b), authorised person means a person who is authorised under the Plumbers, Gasfitters, and Drainlayers Act 2006 to do the work, except for a person who is authorised under section 15, 16, 19, or 25 of that Act.”

• “(2) Where an application for a building consent must be accompanied by a certificate of work, the certificate of work does not of itself—

  • “(a) create any liability in relation to any matter to which the certificate of work relates; or

  • “(b) give rise to any civil liability to the owner of the building in question that would not otherwise exist if the licensed building practitioner were not required to provide the certificate of work.”

• “(ii) any relevant acceptable solution or verification method issued under section 22 of the Act:”.

• “(da) the information required to be provided to a territorial authority under section 362R(2) of the Building Act 2004:”.