A Word from our Acting Chair

Hello ABC members,

Well the year has well and truly started, with a lot of chatter over coffee cups (used to be the water cooler) over how busy everyone is without any real slowdown over the holiday period, and the horizon doesn't look like changing anytime soon, with the exception of fallout from the cost of oil related dependent products and services - so pretty much everything. 

Despite a lot of depressing headlines in the press (1100 cancelled AirNZ flights, the increased cost of petrol etc) we need to stay positive, and at ABC we are striving to ensure we continue to provide quality interactions and trainings for members, from our Forums, lunchtime webinars, Code of Practices roadshows, seminars, and fit for purpose IQP tailored contract agreements and insurance cover from partner organisations. 

Trent, Rachael and Kim have all been working extremely hard to make sure all of the organisation/facilitation/content/links are in place for the Forums and courses already underway - so it’s a big thank you to them and our speakers and trainers, and those who attend.

Conference 2026 - Building Confidence Through Competency planning is well underway, but it won't be successful without you - so please register now and lock in the dates 29–30 July, Christchurch. We really hope that we can complete the two full days this time, as last time we were in Christchurch we had to disperse after day 1 following the first national Covid lockdown.

Update - after a lot of chewing fingernails, I have my results from stage 1 of the Level 4 Certificate in Building Compliance course with FutureSkills, and I passed (phew!). So it’s off to sign up for stage 2, this being a 10-week course - so no more fingernails for a few more months it seems. What I can say, is that the content from stage 1 was put to immediate use in my day-to-day life, especially around improved knowledge and comprehension of the Building Act and how easy it was to access and reference. If you are thinking of signing up - do it now, I really would endorse it.

Ngā mihi nui,

Lyall Senior

Vice-Chair, Association of Building Compliance

Kia ora koutou katoa, 

February was a very busy month for us with our round of Forums and Code of Practice Roadshow. It was great to see so many people attending both events. We also start our first training workshops for the year.

Members should have received their 2026 renewal invoice. As you will see we have not increased the fees for this year. We are trying to keep costs to minimum so that we can continue to give you great value for money membership and benefits without any added cost. We hope you see value in being a member of ABC and please let us know if there is anything more that we can improve on. 

Our Code of Practice Passive Fire Protection Inspections has had huge support from both IQP's and councils. As we have stated it is a tool for the toolbox, you don't have to use it. However, it does provide a documented process for doing risk-based inspections for larger buildings. Many of you have stated at the workshops that you are doing this already; using your knowledge and experience but not documenting it. Under the Building Act 2004, the requirement is for inspecting the 100% of the building. This risk-based approach does do 100% of the building over a period of time based on the risk with priority areas. Risk-based inspections are not new, and guidance has been provided by NZSHB4525:2006, Worksafe and Diploma of Fire Engineering course, Fire Risk Assessment and Hazard Analysis. The purpose of the roadshows was to make people aware of the tool that is available. We will be incorporating how to implement it into our revamped Passive Fire Inspection training. For those wanting to know more, please keep a look out for further workshops and the training in April.

From these workshops and recent events such as Grenfell Tower, we know there are issues in NZ around fire doors. Standards NZ has formed a committee to begin work on revising the current but outdated Standard NZS4520. ABC is represented on the committee. ABC is working with our industry members to identify issues - see the Industry Updates article below. We have also been asked to develop a Code of Practice for Fire Door Inspections. It will also look at damage done to doors and if there are possible tested repair methods that can be used for minor defects. If you are interested in being part of the working group, please send in your expression of interest here.

We now have finalised for our members, an IQP tailored contract for IQP services. This contract will help you minimise your liability and risk. It is available on our website in our members only section to download and customise for your company or sole trading business. We will be conducting a webinar on the contract to explain it in detail and how it will benefit you. This will be delivered by ABC and Steindle Williams Legal. 

Our speaker slots for our conference are almost full. If you have a topic or a speaker that you would like to hear at our conference, please get in touch with Rachael. We are looking forward to another great conference this year with our return to Christchurch. We hope to see you there.

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.

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

EARLYBIRD FINISHING 31 May 2026

EARLYBIRD REGISTRATIONS

Call for Papers - yes, we still have a few spots left for speakers. Please forward the link on to people who are interested in speaking at our conference. We love to have a variety of speaker from all IQP disciplines. Here is the link

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 (coming April/May) - WATCH THIS SPACE!

ONLINE

Thursday 16 April - Understanding a Fire Engineering Design Report - Full-day workshop

Friday 1 May - Signage for Compliance SS14.2 & SS15.4 - Half-day workshop

Friday 1 May - Compliance Schedule Best Practice - Half-day workshop

Complete both Half-day workshops and save 15%!

AUCKLAND

Thursday 26 March - IQP Backflow Prevention Course with Unit Standards - 2x Full-day workshops

Friday 27 March - SS7 Automatic Backflow Preventers - Refresher Theory and Practical - Full-day workshop

WELLINGTON

Friday 24 April - HVAC and Smoke Control - requirements for SS5, SS9, SS11 and SS13 - 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 now 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. 

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.

Do you confirm new work with just an email reply? Without a formal contract in place, you may be exposing yourself and your business to unnecessary risk.

Join this practical seminar introducing the ABC Members IQP Contract, developed in collaboration with Steindle Williams Legal. We’ll walk through the key clauses, explain their purpose, and show how a well-structured contract can help manage liability and protect your business.

Presenters:
Trent Fearnley – ABC
Chloe Wilson – Steindle Williams Legal

Please note: Tickets are available to ABC members only.

REGISTER HERE

BMTech Limited

Regional Forums are back in the swing for 2026, offering a valuable opportunity for professionals across the building compliance sector to come together, share insights, and stay informed on current industry developments. 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!

We are pleased to confirm that we have rolled out an ABC member specific Professional Indemnity, Public Liability and Statutory Liability scheme which commenced in September 2025.

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

 For more information view HERE

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.

REMAINING ROADSHOW DATE - Online only

Live Virtual Webinar - 25 March 2026      *FULLY BOOKED*   

A video presentation of the Roadshow will be uploaded to our website soon after the final Online Roadshow for all those unable to attend.

For all enquiries, please reach out by email to admin@abciqp.org.nz

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.