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A Bill to revamp the Building Act 1991 has been tabled in Parliament.
This marks an important milestone in the development of a balanced regulatory framework for the building industry that both industry and consumers have been seeking.
While the weathertightness (or leaky buildings) issue was a catalyst for this work, scrutiny of the industry has allowed us to look at wider issues relating to building regulation.
The changes in the Building Bill focus on:
- Better building controls and a more proactive regulator, which will provide better articulation of the Building Code, coupled with better guidance and information on how to meet the requirements of the Building Code.
- Better administration of building controls, with more reliable inspection and code compliance requirements.
- More competent and better-informed building practitioners, who will certify their work.
- Better-informed and protected consumers.
The Bill follows a comprehensive review of current building regulation, including consideration of the Hunn report, the Select Committee Inquiry into Weathertightness and the discussion paper Better Regulation of the Building Industry in New Zealand.
Once the Building Bill has its first reading it will be referred to the Government Administration Select Committee.
A pamphlet outlining the proposed changes is available online at www.med.govt.nz or by contacting the Ministry of Economic Development, PO Box 1473, Wellington, (04) 472 0030, or email buildingreview@med.govt.nz.
With the amount of building currently going on in Wairarapa, I'm sure there will be a lot if interest in this Bill.
Wairarapa young people are gaining from boosts to three different work-training schemes.
In secondary schools the number of Gateway schools is to double from next year, giving students a head start into work.
This will see Dannevirke High School and Makoura College join Kuranui College, plus more than 200 other schools nationwide, in the Gateway programme.
Gateway puts students from years 10-13 (or forms 4-7) into work environments such as restaurants, factories or farms. The skills they learn can count for credit in later training or apprenticeships.
Gateway is part of the Government's plan for every 15-19 year-old to be in school, work or training by 2007.
The Modern Apprenticeship scheme is also going from strength to strength.
It's pleasing to see the latest figures to June 30 show 98 Modern Apprentices in the areas covered by Carterton District, Masterton District, South Wairarapa District, and Tararua District councils. That's up from September last year, when there were 69. There are now 5739 in the country as a whole.
The Government is also actively encouraging people to enter schemes run by industry training organisations.
In the wider Wellington region there were 8045 industry trainees at the end of June, including 873 in Masterton council's area, Tararua (634), South Wairarapa (92), and Carterton (45).
The most popular training categories in the region were engineering, food & manufacturing (1,207), electrotechnology (986), forestry, sport, fitness & rec, and building.
Across New Zealand there were 86,337 industry trainees at 30 June 2003, up 10 percent on the 78,240 at 30 June 2002, and substantially more than the 49,577 in industry training at June 1999.
Workplace training sets people up for sustainable job opportunities because employers everywhere need trained people ready and able to do the job.
For more information see:
www.modern-apprenticeships.govt.nz
www.skillnz.govt.nz/new/gateway.htm
www.skillnz.govt.nz/programmes/industry/industry_training.htm
While on the subject of education, today is the start of Adult Learning Week - as well as World Literacy Day - and I was pleased to be able to present certificates to adult learners through IHC and to open the week in Wairarapa by speaking at the Wairarapa Women's Centre.
Education is not something that finishes when we leave school or training and is definitely not just for the young.
The aims of the week are to celebrate the efforts, achievements and contributions of adult learners, educators and providers; foster co-operative networks and pathways among those who share an interest in adult learning; promote the importance of adult learning to the wider community; and encourage more adults to access learning opportunities.
It was great to see so many Wairarapa people achieve their goals today.
Finally my thanks to all those who attended the public meetings in Dannevirke and Martinborough over the weekend on the foreshore and seabeds.
It is an emotive issue and you can rest assured that I will pass on all the points raised when I return to Parliament tomorrow.
The final meeting is tonight in Masterton Town Hall, starting at 7.30pm, and all are welcome to attend.
Feedback must be received by Friday, October 3. Written submissions can be sent to Foreshore and Seabed Submissions, Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet, PO Box 55, Wellington, or made online at http://www.beehive.govt.nz/foreshore.
Any feedback on any matters raised in this column or other issues you might feel strongly about can be sent to me through email gbeyer@wise.net.nz or post to PO Box 913, Masterton.
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