‘Cowboys’ the reason for building consent delays, industry body says

More skilled operators like these Certified Builders apprentices are what’s needed to lift standards, building inspectors say. (Image: Connull Lang)

Maria Slade

Thu, 03 Apr 2025

The body representing building inspectors says too many cowboys in the sector are the reason most building consent applications are sent back for ‘please explain’.The Government now requires building consent authorities to provide quarterly data on consent processing times, following ongoing complaints that tradespeople are waiting far longer than the statutory 20 working days for a green light.The first annual report shows that over two-thirds of building consent applications to councils triggered a request for information (RFI) in...

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