A Word from the Chair

Kia ora koutou katoa, 

As we quickly approach the mid-year mark, I want to take a moment to highlight some key happenings within our Association and the building compliance industry.

Firstly, I am excited to remind you that our annual conference is just around the corner, taking place in July in Auckland.  This event promises to be an invaluable opportunity for networking, learning, and sharing insights.  We strongly encourage all members to participate and take advantage of the educational sessions available.  Be sure to visit our website for a full list of upcoming opportunities.  Your engagement is vital to the growth and success of our community.

In industry news, compliance schedule updates are continuing to be at the forefront of discussion.  A question I wonder is when will it end?  Many of you have expressed frustration over the current processes (which is quite varied), particularly regarding the role of Independent Qualified Persons (IQPs). If Councils have access to all relevant building consented information, the ideal situation is that IQPs are simply tasked with confirming the accuracy of this information?  Perhaps until Government steps in and demands BCA's update their schedules and/or allows IQPs and Owners Agents free access to property files, this issue will continue to drag on for many more years to come.  Let's hope not.

As we move forward, let's continue to advocate for a more balanced approach to compliance that recognises the important role IQPs and BWOF Agents play without burdening them with undue liability.  Your feedback and experiences are crucial in shaping our discussions and strategies, so please don't hesitate to share your thoughts.

Thank you for your ongoing commitment to our association and the vital work you do in building compliance.  Let's work together to advocate for fairness and clarity in our industry.

Ngā mihi nui

Laura Williams

Kia ora koutou,

It is great to see that so many of our members and non-members are engaging in training to maintain their skills or to learn new ones. It is important that we, as an industry, keep current and fresh. It is too often that complacency sets in and we walk past non-compliant situations without thinking. We must be more vigilant and on our game in the current climate as councils are now more risk adverse, there is more reliance from them on the skills and knowledge of IQP's. 

Our speaker line-up for this years conference is complete, and the conference brochure is now available to download here. We also have 3 workshops and a site visit on the second morning of the conference. So hopefully there is something for everyone. The site visit is to FireTS Lab where you will witness a live fire door test. 

We are in the final stages of our 2 new courses, Automatic Doors and Emergency Warning Systems. These are both introductory courses for those that have not trained in this area or a refresher course for those that want to refresh their skills and keep up-to-date with the latest changes in these fields. These courses are supported by 2 very experienced and competent trainers. Look out for these courses in the near future on our training page.

The ABC remains your technical guidance resource, and we are here to help whenever we can. I am constantly fielding questions from members, both IQP's and councils, on technical guidance and I encourage those members out there, if you are needing advice, please feel free to drop us an email as we are here to support you. 

Nga mihi ora mai,

Following on from the presentations from John Lucas (ICNZ) and Rene Hattingh (Howden Lawyers) at our 2024 conference, many members have asked for assistance in reducing their risk as an IQP. A big focus of the presentations concerned the wording of contracts between IQP’s and their clients and getting the right insurance.

Are IQP’s potentially putting themselves at risk by not having a comprehensive contract that limits their liability?

ABC is teaming up with the Insurance Council NZ, Watton and Kearney, and Howden and a few insurance firms to deliver a ¾ day seminar. The seminar will dive into liability issues for IQP’s and look at ways that IQP’s can reduce their exposure to risk and in turn lower premiums. They will also provide advice on writing better contracts to reduce risk and provide templates.

The seminar is in Auckland on 5 June at the Grand Millenium Hotel and we will also be providing a virtual platform for those that can't make it in person. To find out more please visit our website here.

Conference 2025 - Auckland "Updated"

We are pleased to announce that our speaker line up is complete and this year we are fortunate enough to have 2 keynote speakers, thank you to Metalcraft Industries for providing the sponsorship to make this happen.

Our first keynote speaker is James Groves, Director of Assurance and Risk Management, BB7 UK. James has a wealth of experience in fire engineering and particular fire risk assessment. James was part of the development of the new British Standard BS9980 for external wall cladding assessments and he is a chartered fire engineer. James works alongside Ben Bradford who previously spoke at our conference in 2023.

We are also excited to announce that we will be having Nat Andrews back as our second keynote speaker this year. He will be supported by an exciting list of speakers, representing almost the whole of the compliance sector. 

Check out our full speaker list here or download the full conference brochure here.

Association of Building Compliance 2025 Conference: "Unified Compliance - Strengthening Standards across the BWOF industry"

We are excited to announce the Association of Building Compliance's flagship event next year, our 2025 Conference: "Unified Compliance - Strengthening Standards across the BWOF industry". Next year’s conference is dedicated to Uniting all IQP’s and Councils with a common goal of building compliance and building a cohesive framework for compliance through collaboration and standardised laws.

One direction, one team – He waka eke noa.

This event will bring together Independently Qualified Persons (IQPs), Council representatives and others with a shared vision of enhancing building compliance through collaboration and standardised laws. Together, we can build a cohesive framework for compliance that ensures the safety and reliability of buildings across our communities.

Conference Key Highlights:

• Expert-Led Sessions: Learn from leading experts who will share their insights on the latest trends, technologies, and methodologies in building compliance.
• Networking Opportunities: Connect with peers, industry leaders, and innovators in the building compliance field.
• Interactive Workshops: Participate in engaging workshops designed to equip you with knowledge and new skills to apply in your role.

Registration Now Open! We are pleased to inform you that our registration portal is now open. Secure your spot to be part of this pivotal event that promises to shape the future of Building Compliance in New Zealand. 

To register, please visit our website and to the conference section here. Early bird registrations are available until 1 July, offering special rates to our members, affiliates, and partner association members.

In relation to accommodation options, we have secured a Delegate rate for you at the Grand Millennium Hotel with a special price. View your accommodation options here.

Do not miss out on this opportunity to be at the forefront of building compliance, innovation, and excellence. Join us in setting new standards and contributing to a safer, more compliant future. We look forward to welcoming you to what promises to be an insightful and transformative event.

Conference Sponsorship and Exhibitors

We have a few sponsorship opportunities still available; however, all of our exhibitor stands are gone. Our exhibitor and sponsorship brochure can be downloaded here. You can also view all the conference details on our conference website. Check out our site for the list of exhibitors and sponsors.

Conference 2024 Presentations and Videos now online

The conference presentations and videos are now available to view for all paid conference delegates. You should see a Tab on the top our webpage - "Conference 2024". This Tab is only available to conference delegates.

Upcoming Training Workshops – REGISTER NOW TO SECURE YOUR PLACE!

We are excited to announce our upcoming scheduled online workshops over the next couple of months to provide greater flexibility and convenience. These workshops are designed to enhance your skills, update your industry knowledge, and help with your IQP registration. Whether you're aiming to upskill or update your qualifications, our sessions offer valuable insights and networking opportunities to keep you leading in building compliance.

Don't miss this opportunity to advance your professional development. Register now!

CHRISTCHURCH

Wednesday 30 April 2025 - Fire & Smoke Separations 1. Introduction to Passive Fire Protection - Half-day workshop

Wednesday 30 April 2025 - SS15/3 and SS15/5 Fire and Smoke Separations 2. Inspect, Maintain, and Report - Half-day workshop

Wednesday 30 April 2025 - Fire and Smoke Separations - Passive Fire Protection - Full-day workshop 

Thursday 8 May & Friday 9 May 2025 - IQP Backflow Prevention Workshop - 2x Full-Day workshops

Friday 9 May 2025 - SS7 Automatic Backflow Preventers - Refresher Theory and Practical - Full-day workshop 

AUCKLAND

Friday 23 May - BWOF Fundamentals and Owners Compliance Checks - 2x Half-day workshops

Friday 23 May - BWOF Fundamentals - Half-day workshop

Friday 23 May - Owners Compliance Checks - Half-day workshop

WELLINGTON

Tuesday 3 June - BWOF Fundamentals and Owners Compliance Checks - 2x Half-day workshops - also available on this date as an Online option

Tuesday 3 June - BWOF Fundamentals - Half-day workshop - also available on this date as an Online option

Tuesday 3 June - Owners Compliance Checks - Half-day workshop - also available on this date as an Online option

ONLINE

Thursday 8th May - HVAC and Smoke Control SS5, SS9, SS11, and SS13 - Full-day workshop

Wednesday 30 May - Means of Escape to a Final Exit and Emergency Lighting SS4 - 2x Half-day workshops

Wednesday 30 May - Means of Escape to a Final Exit - Half-day workshop

Wednesday 30 May - Emergency Lighting SS4 - Half-day workshop

Tuesday 3 June - BWOF Fundamentals and Owners Compliance Checks - 2x Half-day workshops - also available in-person in Wellington

Tuesday 3 June - BWOF Fundamentals - Half-day workshop - also available in-person in Wellington

Tuesday 3 June - Owners Compliance Checks - Half-day workshop - also available in-person in Wellington

To find out cost and times for our courses, as well as others taking place later in the year, click here:  Workshops/Seminars » Association of Building Compliance (abciqp.org.nz)

 If you have any queries regarding the above workshops or require further assistance please email us - admin@abciqp.org.nz 

We are delighted to welcome our new members to the Association. Your addition to our community is exciting, and we look forward to both sharing our expertise and learning from your experiences. We are committed to continuous improvement and development, and we believe that together, we can achieve great strides in building compliance excellence.