A WORD FROM OUR ACTING CHAIR

Hello All,

This newsletter comes with hope that some normality will return following the peace agreement - and that those businesses struggling from the resultant inflated costs that have arisen from importing fuel can hang on a bit longer and that the peace deal will be long lasting.  

As mentioned in our last newsletter, The Association has been working on many things for the betterment of its members and the industry as a whole, and I'm pleased to confirm that the Association has sent DRAFT documents to the Right Honourable Minister Penk that were prepared regarding the setup of a National IQP register and seeking his support to move this forward.   It must be noted, that whilst its taken some time to get to this stage, that more time will pass before implementation is likely to occur, but the ABC and others are working extremely hard to bring a National IQP register to reality.

From a housekeeping perspective, I wish to thank those members who have settled overdue accounts (and apologies for having to chase you).  We appreciate that for various reasons sometimes things just get missed or overlooked, but for the Association to continue providing Forums and other events and services at no additional cost, we are reliant on prompt payment of accounts - so ask that your accounts are paid promptly. 

Our conference sub-committee is working extremely hard, juggling dozens of balls to make sure Conference 2026 “Building Confidence through Competency” is another success.

So if you haven't booked yet, book now and remember there is a $150 prize for best dressed Male/Female - with the theme being "Boots 'N' All Bash" (aka country and western)

See you at the conference 🙂

Ngā mihi nui,

Lyall Senior

Vice-Chair, Association of Building Compliance

AN UPDATE FROM OUR CEO

Kia ora koutou katoa, 

This past month has been a very busy month for us with our round of forums and training. I was extremely happy with the big numbers of people coming to the forums in the main centres, it was great to see. These forums are there for our members and those interested in the industry to let people know about what is happening and if there are any updates like legislation changes or council processes. It is also about Continued Professional Development, and we try to provide relevant presentations from industry experts. We were fortunate to have a new presenter this time, Louis Deverell from LDEV Tech. Lifts are not my specialty but after that presentation my knowledge has certainly increased. We sometimes struggle to get speakers and presentations, so I would like to encourage you to come forward and share your knowledge with others about your specialty or recommend someone who has knowledge that they want to share too. You are the experts in the field and have the knowledge that needs to be passed on, so please contact me if you are interested.

We are on the final countdown now to conference and our conference brochure is now like. Our speaker line up is great and I am looking forward to our keynote speaker, Elizabeth Sieverts, speaking on her experience in dealing with managing compliance at Sydney Airport while it is undergoing alterations. Not an easy task on a simple building let alone a major transport hub. This is a timely topic especially after our own airport fire in Wellington this weekend. Fires at airports create many issues including evacuation issues with moving planes, emergency vehicles and customs/passport control issues. I am sure we will hear more about our own fire too in coming months. 

Training has been up and down with numbers; I think with the fuel crisis some companies are tightening their belt. That's understandable however we do encourage you to keep up with your CPD. We are running our last few training sessions this month before we stop for our conference. We will be restarting training in late August/September. Please let us know if you have any training needs, we are here to support you.

I look forward to catching up with as many of you as possible at the conference. 

Noho ora mai,

Trent Fearnley

29–30 July, Christchurch Town Hall

Join us in Christchurch for ABC Conference 2026, a two-day event bringing together industry leaders, regulators, educators, and practitioners to explore how competency builds confidence, strengthens compliance, and earns trust.

With public safety and accountability under increasing scrutiny, this conference focuses on expertise that matters, where compliance is a culture, not a checkbox, and confidence is built through credible, consistent practice. Guided by the theme He waka eke noa – one direction, one team, we’ll look ahead to a safer, stronger, and smarter built environment.

We're excited to bring together an outstanding Speaker lineup of industry experts and thought leaders for this year's conference.

VIEW OUR SPEAKERS HERE

Be part of the conversation shaping the future of the BWoF industry and register now!

REGISTER HERE

Day 2 Workshops are now live for registrations - click here to register

REGISTER HERE FOR WORKSHOPS

Upcoming Training Workshops - Register NOW!

Don’t miss this opportunity to boost your professional development - so register today!  

More workshops to be added - including in our Fire and Smoke Separations workshops with learnings from our Code of Practice: Passive Fire Protection - WATCH THIS SPACE!

ONLINE

     Friday 3 July - SS5, SS9, SS11 and SS13 HVAC and Smoke Control - Full-day workshop

     Friday 6 November - Understanding a Fire Engineering Design Report - Full-day workshop

To view the full list of our courses (including cost and times) 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 

Certificate in Building Compliance

The new NZQA approved course is live. Be the first to get on the course and qualified with the new qualification.  Please contact Helen at Future Skills at helen.hegley@futureskills.co.nz or call 0800 550 410. For more information about the courses, enrolment options and fees please click here. 

Thank you to everyone who attended this practical webinar on the ABC Members IQP Draft Contract, developed in collaboration with Chloe Wilson at Steindle Williams Legal.

The session explored the risks of confirming work without a formal contract, walked through key contract clauses and their purpose, and highlighted how a well-structured contract can help manage liability and protect your business. We appreciated the strong engagement and valuable discussion from attendees.  

This document is now available to view on our website through our Members Only page - IQP Contract presentation video and draft document

Registrations for our 2026 Regional Forums are open year-round—don’t forget to register your attendance for the next round of sessions. These sessions are designed to encourage open discussion, strengthen connections between IQPs, councils, and industry stakeholders, and promote greater consistency and understanding across regions. 

All Forums are free to attend (CPD points and certificates for ABC members)

 Click here  to secure your spot and stay connected throughout the year! 

If there is a particular topic you’d like us to cover in future sessions—or if you would like to speak at a forum—please let us know!

If you have an outstanding invoice, we encourage you to make payment as soon as possible.  As a non-profit organisation, timely payment is important and helps us to continue delivering services and support to members. 

Invoices and payment options are available by logging in and accessing the invoice through your organisation.  If you require support, access, or wish to discuss a payment arrangement, please contact our team at accounts@abciqp.org.nz

Please note, membership and training certificates cannot be issued until payment has been received.

We are delighted to welcome our new members to the Association.  Additions to our community are 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.

We are pleased to confirm that we have rolled out an ABC member specific Professional Indemnity, Public Liability and Statutory Liability scheme.

The policy cover and wordings have been designed and drafted specifically for ABC members to address the specific risks that IQP’s have. 

CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFORMATION

Thank you to everyone who has attended over the month one of our Roadshows on the new Code of Practice for Passive Fire Protection Inspections. We have enjoyed discussing the practical applications, sharing guidance, and hearing your questions and insights. Your participation has been invaluable, and we look forward to supporting you as the Code is implemented in the future.

A video presentation of the Roadshow is now available to view on our website

Click here to view presentation  COP Passive Fire Roadshow

GAIN AN NZQA ACCREDITED QUALIFICATION THAT IS UNIQUE, RELEVANT, AND INDUSTRY-SPECIFIC.

The first of its kind, this 20-week programme allows you to study while working in the field. Gain the core expertise you need to operate effectively in the building compliance environment, as an Independent Qualified Person (IQP) or Building Compliance Officer.

*** Are you an ABC member? Get 10% discount on course fees ***

Got more than one staff member wanting to do the course? Pay for 3 registration and get the 4Th free - use code ABCMEM43. they can be on different courses, just contact Helen to get more information helen.hegley@futureskills.co.nz

See the Future Skills website for more information Certificate in Building Compliance (Level 4) - Future Skills 

Fire Engineering with Future Skills

Future Skills will be delivering new qualifications in fire engineering. They will be starting in early in the New Year with the first being the Diploma in Fire Engineering. They will also be delivering Micro-credentials in Fire Engineering, starting with Building Means of Escape (Level 6). 

Micro-credentials are small, stand-alone awards that recognize specific skills and knowledge. They are designed to meet the needs of learners, employers, and industries, and are part of the New Zealand Qualifications and Credentials Framework (NZQCF).

Want to more of what's happening in this space, read our new article here.