Govt orders action on Building Code protectionism

Govt orders action on Building Code protectionism
New ways of building should be encouraged. (Image: Getty)
Pattrick Smellie
The government says building regulations are stifling competition and is ordering a review of the protectionism local manufacturers get under New Zealand’s Building Code. That is the most potentially consequential response contained in the government’s low-key release ahead of the budget of its response to the Commerce Commission building products market study. The study found competition in the sector was “not working as well as it could be”.The official response from building minister Megan Woods and commerce mini...

More Infrastructure

EPA head quits with fast-track changes
Policy

EPA head quits with fast-track changes

The latest fast-track reforms go far beyond supermarket resource consenting.

Could your KiwiSaver soon own your local water system?
Finance

Could your KiwiSaver soon own your local water system?

Founder Sam Stubbs says 90% of Kiwis back the idea of owning local utilities.

Garth Bray 03 Nov 2025
Big names for Wellington Water board
Finance

Big names for Wellington Water board

Credit rating agency warns that water reforms are no council debt panacea.

Pattrick Smellie 31 Oct 2025
US$411b on the table: will NZ claim a slice?
Primary Sector

US$411b on the table: will NZ claim a slice?

Infrastructure will be a major focus of the NZ EU Summit, but Ukraine might be too.

Dileepa Fonseka 24 Oct 2025