Malcolm Fleming: NZ Certified Builders CEO says the issues in the building industry are due to a skill issue in entry-level builders

There’s a belief the problems in the building industry are due to an insufficient number of pre-requisites. 

The Government's looking at changes to registration and licensing regimes, with a focus on lifting competence and accountability requirements. 

Larger fines could also be on the cards for individuals and companies for hiding non-compliant work during inspections. 

New Zealand Certified Builders chief executive Malcolm Fleming told Mike Hosking it's more of a skills issue. 

He says the bar for entry-level builders is far too low, and needs to be tightened up. 

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
Government looking at the cowboys in the building sector. Current
maximum fine for individual builders if you're a bit shonky
is ten thousand dollars. The plan is to bump that
to fifty. For companies is going to be one hundred
and fifty thousand dollars. Certified build a CEO. Malcolm Fleming
with us on this Malcolm.

Speaker 2 (00:14):
Morning, Good morning, Mike.

Speaker 1 (00:16):
Is this a very obvious problem that needs solving with
a big fine?

Speaker 2 (00:20):
I think it's. Look, it's important to note that kereless
workmanship by trade qualified builders is rare, and the trade
qualification for building for builders is important. It's been a
requirement of ended CB membership since we started in ninety
ninety eight. It's a prerequisite. It's a unique to us,
and we're pleased at the Government of Signaling that is

(00:40):
looking to follow our lead with occupational licensing.

Speaker 1 (00:42):
Okay, how does it time with the master builders? I
hire a master builder, I'm supposed to be hiring somebody
who knows what they're doing, never going to cause me
any problems. Why do we need all of this?

Speaker 2 (00:51):
So? The trade qualification is something that we believe in,
is INTENCB. It's a prerequisite to our membership is a
unique to us. You're talking about another trade of social
As a VERG trader association, we're just still to stand
behind trade qualification because we believe that that is the
best quality assurance for the homeowner.

Speaker 1 (01:09):
All the issues you see, how many of them are
the individual who's a bit shonky versus the company who
has systemic problems.

Speaker 2 (01:18):
It's really a skills issue and that's what we should
be focusing on solving, because the bar to entry for
a builder is an out of view, far too low,
and that's where it needs to be tightened up. And
so to answer your question, it really comes down to
the individual on site. You need to get the skills
on site, and often the skills aren't on site, and

(01:38):
sometimes they aren't with the owner of the business either.
You need both.

Speaker 1 (01:42):
Is it worth chasing people for money or finding them
when your house isn't built properly and you're upset about that,
and do you really care that Bob's going to get
a fine down the road?

Speaker 2 (01:52):
Well give some sort of confidence to home owners that
there is some punitive penalty there. But again, I think
the problem that needs to be solved is the skills
and raising the bar for entry to trade qualification for
builders will solve a lot of.

Speaker 1 (02:08):
That, all right, Malcolm, appreciate your insight. Malcolm Fleming, who
is with the Cudipune Builders Association.

Speaker 2 (02:13):
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Speaker 1 (02:17):
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