Ankit Sharma: Master Builders CEO on major reform of building consent process

The Government has announced a reform of the current Building Consent Authority structure.

The proposed reforms aim to streamline and standardise consenting processes, reducing inefficiencies.

Master Builders CEO Ankit Sharma tells Heather du Plessis-Allan that there have been reports of different inspectors from within the same consenting authority having different interpretations of a code.

80% of Master Builders report significant delays and costs caused by inconsistencies between neighbouring consenting authorities.

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
So the government's considering major reform first up of building consents.
Consents are currently handled by sixty seven councils around the country.
Now the government's considering either allowing these councils to work together,
or forcing them to work together, or setting up one
national body to handle the work. Master Builders CEO a
kor charmas with us. Now, Hey Ankert, Hey Heather, Why
is it that you actually get different interpretations of the

(00:22):
building rules from different councils? Why is that happening?

Speaker 2 (00:26):
I think it's primarily one court, different councils. Every council's
using their own systems and processes, which just ends up
creating much more complexity and different interpretations.

Speaker 1 (00:38):
Do we have examples of one builder who perhaps has
to get consents from various councils actually getting different interpretations
of the rules on one piece of work?

Speaker 2 (00:47):
Multiple examples? So or eighty percent of master builders report
dealing with multiple btas, and many reports significant delays and
costs caused by inconsistencies between negvering consenting authorities. We've even
heard stories that within a consenting authority sometimes different inspectors
can have different interpretations and average time for a quot

(01:08):
of compliance to be issued after regional consent in New
Zealand is nearly one and a half years and we
need to find a way to do better than this.

Speaker 1 (01:16):
So is the problem actually then the fact that people
are being asked to interpret and they're interpreting it, interpreting
it different, or is the way that the legislation has
written the problem?

Speaker 2 (01:26):
I think it's how it's been interpreted there and when
you have multiple people applying different systems and processes to
you know, work out how to apply the cord dactors
and inconsistencies anything. You know, you get ten people to
look at something, you'll get ten slightly different versions of it.
So if anything we can do to improve consistency, it

(01:48):
gives sectum maturity, build speed up projects and ultimately reduced
costs of building new homes.

Speaker 1 (01:53):
So what's your preference of the three options? Do you
do you let them voluntarily amalgamate, do you force them
to do it, or do you just set up a
completely new body.

Speaker 2 (02:00):
I think we need to have more conversations around, especially
how we address the joint and civil liability, which is
a key challenge for the local councils and ultimately the
right payers, and we probably need to have more conversation
with various stakeholders, including councils. In my view, I think
the options as they're laid out today are likely to

(02:20):
involve as we start doing deeper consultation with the industry
and stakeholders, probably too early to pick up preferred option.
My view would be in fact that we are acknowledging
and looking to address this issue, which I think will
have quite a significant impact and ultimately building houses better,
faster and cheaper. Any change is a positive change from

(02:41):
where we are today and.

Speaker 1 (02:42):
It good to talk to you. Thank you an Kit Sharma,
Master Builder CEO.

Speaker 2 (02:46):
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