Catch up on the key updates from Property Council’s advocacy team, including:
- Building (Overseas Building Products, Standards, and Certification Schemes) Amendment Bill
- Streamlining the building consent system with remote inspections
- Auckland Council’s Proposed Development Contributions Policy 2025
- FREE Member Webinar | Development Contributions: Lessons Learned
- Submission on proposals for regulations for natural hazard information in LIMs
- Results of Fire & Emergency NZ Levy Consultation
- Recent submissions.
Building (Overseas Building Products, Standards, and Certification Schemes) Amendment Bill
The Government released the Building (Overseas Building Products, Standards, and Certification Schemes) Amendment Bill which responds to competition issues in the sector by amending the Building Act 2004 to remove barriers to overseas building products entering New Zealand’s building product market and being used in New Zealand buildings.
Submission closes 14 November. Please contact Sandamali Ambepitiya should you wish to provide input into Property Council’s submission.
Streamlining the building consent system with remote inspections
MBIE is seeking feedback on a range of options to increase the uptake of remote inspections and improve efficiency and productivity in the inspection process. This aims to help deliver the Government’s objectives to increase housing supply by lifting efficiency and competition in the building system, removing regulatory barriers and driving down costs.
If you are interested in providing feedback on these submissions, please contact Sandamali Ambepitiya.
Auckland Council’s Proposed Development Contributions Policy 2025
The consultation on Auckland Council’s Proposed Development Contributions (DC) Policy 2025 has been released. The consultation runs from Monday 30 September and closes on Midday on Friday 15 November 2024. This policy sets out the Council’s plans to deliver infrastructure to investment priority areas (IPAs) over 30 years, and the contribution developers are expected to pay.
The Council’s full consultation documents can be downloaded here:
https://akhaveyoursay.aucklandcouncil.govt.nz/development-contributions-review-2024
Survey on Auckland Development Contribution Fees:
We are working on a range of advocacy actions. A key part of this is a survey that will help evidence our written and oral submission on Auckland Council’s proposed DC Policy. We strongly encourage you to complete this survey.
The survey will close on Thursday 24 October 5 pm.
If you have any questions or want to share additional information to help shape our submission, please contact Terry Jones. Thank you for your input into this important issue.
FREE Member Webinar | Development Contributions: Lessons Learned
On Wednesday 23 October 2024 (12:00 pm – 1:00 pm) we are hosting a webinar on Auckland Council’s approach to Development Contributions and what this means to developers across New Zealand.
David Schwartfeger, Head of Development at Kiwi Property and Luke Hinchey, Partner at Chapman Tripp will share their in-depth knowledge on this important topical issue.
Submission on proposals for regulations for natural hazard information in LIMs
PCNZ are responding to a consultation on proposals for regulations for natural hazard information in land information memoranda (“LIMs”). The response deadline is 28 October 2024. If any members would like to get involved in shaping our submission, please contact Terry Jones.
Results of Fire & Emergency NZ Levy Consultation
While we wait (and advocate!) for the FENZ funding system to be re-designed given its deeply unfair burden on non-residential property, PCNZ submitted on the latest funding round (2026-2029). We asked for nine policy changes and achieved three wins:
- Overall levy increase reduced from proposed 5.5% to 2.2% (currently 12.8%)
- Levy rates on motor vehicles increased from $9.53 to $25
- Levy on non-residential property reduced from 11.95 cents per $100 insured, to $7.76 cents
We were disappointed that increased crown contributions, (and an increased cap on residential/personal property insurance) wasn’t entertained, and that further exemptions were given out in some instances. It would have been nice to see some ideas for other supplementary income sources too!
Worthy of a mention on the good side of things, is the Minister asking FENZ to find $60 million of savings during the three year levy period (2026 – 2029).
Recent submissions
Submission on Queenstown Lakes District Council Long Term Plan 2024-34
Submission on Overseas Investment (Build-to-Rent and Similar Rental Developments) Amendment Bill
Submission to MBIE on removing barriers to using overseas building products
Submission on Draft Auckland Regional Transport Plan 2024-2034