if someone has a better more accurate title please let me know - this is the best i got :(

Here's the press release, which is basically what Stuff published without any additional information:

 

Homeowners, builders and DIYers will soon have an easier time making basic home improvements as the Government scraps the need for consents for low-risk building work such as sleep-outs, sheds and carports – allowing the construction sector to fire back up quicker on larger projects to provide jobs and assist the country’s recovery from Covid-19.

 

The Government is introducing new exemptions to the Building Act in a move save homeowners $18 million in consenting costs each year, though building work must still meet the Building Code, Minister for Building and Construction Jenny Salesa announced today.

 

“These changes will save New Zealanders time and money and mean councils can focus on higher-risk building work, boosting the building and construction sector in the COVID-19 recovery,” Jenny Salesa said.

 

“Single-storey detached buildings up to 30 square metres – such as sleep-outs, sheds and greenhouses; carports; awnings; water storage bladders and others will now not require a Council-approved building consent, which will result in 9000 fewer consents to process a year.

 

“Some of the new exemptions will utilise the Licensed Builder Practitioners scheme, which recognises the competence of these building practitioners and allows them to join chartered professional engineers and certifying plumbers in having their own suite of exemptions.

 

“Every New Zealander deserves a warm, dry, safe home, and this Government is finding ways to help build more houses by unclogging the building consent process, making it quicker and more affordable.

 

“These exemptions are just one part of my broader building system reform programme, which includes Construction Sector Accord Transformation Plan, the Construction Skills Action Plan, and Building Law reforms,” Jenny Salesa said.

 

Most of the new exemptions are expected to commence at the end of August, after the necessary changes to the Building Act have been made.

 

Also, @Batman, it would be good when posting a topic to actually expand on it, instead of just posting a link.

The bureaucracy around building has gotten a bit insane I reckon, while this is definitely a good start on tearing that down there is still plenty more to do. 

I was genuinely shocked to find out that even under the owner build exemption you still can't self build a house without having to follow the building code and pay thousands of dollars in consents. I get the need for those things with commercial/for sale buildings, but if you want to build yourself a house out of pallets and chewing gum and live in it I don't see it's any of their concern.

Lias:

 

I was genuinely shocked to find out that even under the owner build exemption you still can't self build a house without having to follow the building code and pay thousands of dollars in consents. I get the need for those things with commercial/for sale buildings, but if you want to build yourself a house out of pallets and chewing gum and live in it I don't see it's any of their concern.

 

the concern is when you go to sell it, is it safe/habitable or not.

30sqm is a good size, although I wonder what will happen around following the district plan, boundary rules etc.

Some of the new exemptions will utilise the Licensed Builder Practitioners scheme, which recognises the competence of these building practitioners and allows them to join chartered professional engineers and certifying plumbers in having their own suite of exemptions.

freitasm:

 

Also, Batman, it would be good when posting a topic to actually expand on it, instead of just posting a link.

 

My apologies

I will probably re visit the idea of putting a "carport" beside the pool since previously to put a covered area in was going to be a council thing. I could have done a non covered pergola thing, but to me that borders on pointless.

Wonder if it will change veranda and awening type things. I want to also remove my covered area and rebuild it higher, with less slope and much larger. That again would have been a council involved thing in the past which I want to avoid.

Lias:

... but if you want to build yourself a house out of pallets and chewing gum and live in it I don't see it's any of their concern.