A Word from our Acting Chair

Another few words from the Vice-Chair / Acting-Chair - Tēnā koutou katoa and greetings to you all.

Another month has flown by, and Christmas is nearly upon us - with all the pressures and pleasures it brings.

The Association has had an exceptionally busy period, delivering numerous Forums and training sessions across the country. It’s been fantastic to see such strong attendance - thank you. The more people who participate, and the more requests we receive, the better we can tailor and schedule future sessions to meet your needs.

I sincerely thank our 2025 Forum speakers. For many this was their first time presenting to a group, and we greatly appreciate their willingness to step forward and share their knowledge.

The end of the year is a time for reflection. Over the past 12 months we’ve seen increased building audits by councils; we’ve adjusted to operating under the revised s108A -where fines for false or misleading documentation are now an option, with some councils signalling that the grace period is over.  We delivered an outstanding 2025 Conference in Auckland and planning is underway for an equally high-calibre 2026 Conference in Christchurch. Book early before the end of the year to secure the Extra Early-Bird rate, as costs will increase after 31 December 2025.

We remain grateful for the support of our Partners, event sponsors, conference sponsors and exhibitors - past, present, and new. Their contribution enables us to deliver the services and training our sector relies on. As industry leaders please remember them when you’re looking for advice or assistance.

On a personal note, I promised an update on my studies toward the Level 4 Certificate in Building Compliance with Future Skills. It’s true what they say: you don’t know what you don’t know. It has been both exciting and challenging, and I’m now far more aware of the requirements of the Building Act. My apologies in advance for any future declines I make of Form 12A’s for non-compliant work - the risk is simply too great, and safeguarding public safety remains a priority.

I wish to pass on Laura’s also best wishes to everyone. She is doing well and hopes to be back in action early next year.

To our Association staff - a heartfelt thank you for everything you do in keeping our members informed, supported, and trained.

Wishing you all the very best. Stay safe, stay well, and remember to breathe when things feel stressful - after all, “stressed” is just “desserts” spelled backwards. 😊

Ngā mihi nui,

Lyall Senior

Vice-Chair, Association of Building Compliance

Kia ora koutou katoa, 

As we wrap up the year, I would like to take a moment to reflect on what we have achieved together for our members and the wider industry.

Training - This year we delivered just under 60 workshops nationwide and developed four new workshops, continuing our commitment to practical, relevant, and high-quality training.

Seminars - We delivered two exceptional seminars: Navigating Liability in a Risk-Averse Era and Protecting Buildings from EV Fires in Carparks. Both events featured an outstanding line-up of speakers and provided critical, timely information for our industry.

Conference - Once again, our annual conference was a standout event. We were privileged to host an impressive group of speakers, and the content was extremely well received. With over 200 attendees in the room and up to 40 joining us online, engagement remained strong throughout. Notably, the room was still three-quarters full for the final session on Day Two, a time when attendance typically drops off at conferences. This is a true testament to the quality of the programme, and excellent context of the presentations.

Code of Practice - Passive Fire Protection Inspections - This initiative began as an idea at our 2024 Nelson Conference and became a reality this year thanks to the hard work of the Code of Practice Working Group and the valuable input of our members who participated in a conference workshop and gave feedback on the draft document. We are now completing the final edits and look forward to presenting the 1st Edition of the Code of Practice at dedicated sessions following our Regional Forums in February (see dates below).

Compliance Schedule Handbook - While this project is not yet complete, we will be reviewing the final draft over the Christmas period, with publication planned in the New Year.

Qualifications - We have worked with Future Skills to develop our first NZQA-approved qualification for the industry - the Level 4 Certificate in Building Compliance. This is a major milestone and a true game-changer, particularly as the industry moves further into demonstrating competency. We have also been actively involved in the development of the new Industry Skills Boards, which will help reshape vocational education in New Zealand and ensure graduates are genuinely work-ready on completion of their courses.

Membership - Our membership continues to grow strongly. We are now approaching 300 individual companies and are only a few members away from reaching the incredible milestone of 1,000 members.

Looking Ahead - The first quarter of next year is already packed with training opportunities. We are also planning at least two further seminars, including one on Commercial PV Installations, again in association with the Insurance Council of New Zealand. As mentioned earlier, our February Forums will be expanded to include workshops on the new Code of Practice, followed by another series of lunchtime webinars hosted by Nat Andrews and myself on key industry topics.

Thank You - Finally, I would like to sincerely thank the people who helped make 2025 such a successful year for our Association.

To our trainers - Prashant Patel, Glen Burr, Ron Green, Terry Dartnall, and Jarrod Ward, thank you for sharing your expertise and experience with the industry. You have made a genuine difference.

To our Committee, who generously volunteer their time each month, thank you for your guidance, insight, and commitment to ensuring the Association continues to move in the right direction.

A very special thank you to Rachael and Kim, who work tirelessly to deliver the services, advice, and support our members rely on. You are truly the backbone of the Association, and I could not do this without you.

And to our Partner Companies - Ampco, Argest, Argus, Commercial Door Services, Advantage Door Services, Ryanfire, Assetcare, and Nelligan Consulting Engineers a sincere thank you for your continued support. Without your contribution, we would not have been able to achieve all that we have this year.

I wish you all a Meri Kirihimete me te Hari Huri Tau Hou, Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. I look forward to the year ahead and to seeing many of you around the country as we continue to work together to achieve even more for the industry.

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!

EXTRA EARLYBIRD FINISHING 31 DEC 2025

EXTRA EARLYBIRD REGISTRATIONS

We are proud to announce the release of our new Code of Practice Passive Fire Protection Inspections. This is the result of significant effort by our Working Group, supported by the valuable feedback provided by our members. We hope that this document can feed into the Compliance Schedule Handbook to help guide IQP’s and BWOF Auditors through the challenges they face doing Passive Fire Protection Inspections. We understand the challenges with both the size of some buildings, time taken to undertake inspections and the cost associated with it. We believe that this document is a workable solution for the industry.

This seminar is an opportunity to introduce the COP and to walk IQP’s BWOF Auditors and others through the various chapters and fully explain the process of using the COP. It will be a hands on workshop where we will go through the COP and also work through an example.

Presented by Rob Nelligan (Director, Nelligan) and Trent Fearnley (CEO, Association of Building Compliance)

To view the full list of Roadshows taking place around the country - click here

All members and non-members are welcome to attend at no cost - CPD available to ABC members only.

ROADSHOW DATES - In-person only

Canterbury - 11 February 2026   Canterbury - follow this link to register

Nelson/Marlborough/Tasman - 12 February 2026   Nelson/Marlborough/Tasman - follow this link to register

Auckland - 17 February 2026   Auckland - follow this link to register

Wellington - 19 February 2026   Wellington - follow this link to register

Rotorua - 20 February 2026   Rotorua - follow this link to register

ROADSHOW DATE - Online only

Live Virtual Webinar - 4 March 2026    Online Roadshow - follow this link to register

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

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

A big thank-you to everyone who joined our quarterly forums this year.  Your participation, insights, and continued support are what make these sessions so valuable.

We’re pleased to announce that the dates for next year’s forums have now been released.  Register here  to secure your spot and stay connected throughout the year!

We look forward to seeing you in the new year 😊

Our November Wellington Forum took place off-site with a visit to the BRANZ testing and research facilities located in the rolling hills of Judgeford, Porirua.  For a snapshot of our visit follow this link to view our NEWS UPDATES

Upcoming Training Workshops - 2026 DATES RELEASED - Registrations open!

As we approach the end of the year, we want to extend our heartfelt thanks to every one of you for your support, enthusiasm, and ongoing participation.  Your attendance and engagement throughout the year have made our workshops successful and impactful.

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

More dates and courses to be added - WATCH THIS SPACE!

ONLINE

Thursday 19 March - Automatic Doors for Compliance SS3.1 - Half-day workshop

Thursday 19 March - Egress Control SS3.2 - Half-day workshop

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

AUCKLAND

Friday 20 February - IQP Backflow Prevention Course with Unit Standards - 2x Full-day workshops

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

Friday 27 February - Automatic Doors for Compliance SS3.1 - Half-day workshop

Friday 27 February - Egress Control SS3.2 - Half-day workshop

Friday 6 March - 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.

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.