Latest News
President's Report
Welcome to another edition of the “News Flush”. We have just had our AGM where we saw Chris Sumich step down as President and become Past President. I (Bruce Trenwith) have now become the President with Rob Cunningham as the Junior Vice President. Also re-elected to the Auckland executive were Bruce... Read More »
On-site domestic wastewater management â" revised Standard published
Issue 36 – March 2012 Standards New Zealand has published AS/NZS 1547:2012 On-site domestic wastewater management. The purpose of AS/NZS 1547 is to provide the performance objectives, requirements, and criteria to achieve sustainable and effective on-site domestic wastewater management, and to protect public health and the environment. The... Read More »
Restricted Building Work launches 1 March
From 1 March 2012, Restricted Building Work comes into effect. This applies to most building or renovation work and only a Licensed Building Practitioner can undertake or supervise the work. Registered plumbers and gasfitters are automatically treated as LBPs in the roofing, external plastering and brick and blocklaying licence classes and... Read More »
PGDB consultation opportunities
The Plumbers, Gasfitters & Drainlayers Board is now inviting submissions on: the review of CPD as a requirement for licensing (ie, the modifications it has made to its CPD proposals as a result of feedback from the last consultation) the competencies for the plumbing, gasfitting and drainlaying trades the review of the minimum... Read More »
Unique opportunity to grow your business
If you're looking to take on an apprentice or labourer, Master Plumbers has an opportunity not to be missed. We have secured Government funding through our own unique contract to help Master Plumbers' members and Masterlink hosts who are looking to grow their team. Take on an apprentice through Masterlink and we will pay half the sign-up... Read More »
The importance of written terms of trade
Do you provide goods and services to customers without any written agreement about the terms on which the goods and services are supplied, including payment and when it is due? This can lead to misunderstandings and disputes that can be costly and time consuming to sort out. Although a contract for goods and services can be verbal and... Read More »
Auckland drainlayer struck off register and ordered to pay $20,000 in costs
An Auckland drainlayer has been struck off the register of drainlayers. The Plumbers, Gasfitters, and Drainlayers Board (PGDB) has found Vijendra Kumar Sharma obtained limited certificates for three men in return for cash payments totalling $5,300. In doing so, the Board found that Mr Sharma forged the signature of certifying plumber,... Read More »
Current consultation opportunities
Review of Continuing Professional Development (CPD) The Board in its 2010 accountability agreement with the Minister for Building and Construction, agreed to review its CPD scheme. The review, which has been on-going for some time, has involved the Board considering a wide range of possible CPD schemes through discussions with stakeholders,... Read More »
Policy on employer licences
Under the Act, a person (or organisation) may apply to the Board for an employer licence. An employer licence relates only to gasfitting and is different from other licences issued by the Board in that it is the employer rather than an individual that is licensed. Adopted on 28 June 2011, this policy outlines how a person (or organisation) can... Read More »
New interim standard is released
On 22 July, Standards New Zealand released a new interim standard on the safety of gas appliances (NZS 5266 (Int): 2011). It revises and supersedes NZS 5262:2003. This interim standard wil be in force for a year to allow for feedback and recommendations to be provided to Standards NZ from those people using it. The standard sets out the essential... Read More »
Prosecutions
The Board has recently concluded the following prosecutions: Graham Maber was convicted of an offence under section 122 of the Plumberes, Gasfitters, and Dranilayers Act 2006 ("the Act") for holding himself out to be a registered plumber when that was not the case. The matter was heard in the Waitakere District Court on 23 June 2011 and Mr... Read More »
Board examination results
Congratulations to all those who passed the Board’s examinations in June. Provided here is a summary of the interim pass rates for the Board’s June examiniations The overall average pass rate was 77%; meaning that 77% of all examinations sat were passed. 9192 Licensed Plumber 276 candidates sat the exam with an average pass rate of... Read More »
LPG Contamination has been an ongoing issue..
Contaminants in the supply of LPG could cost the supplier, installer and consumer thousands of dollars – are the New Zealand LPG supply standards so inadequate that we are bordering on systemic failure within the industry. ... Read More »
New gas appliance safety Standard
A new gas appliance safety standard was released on 22 July and supersedes NZS 5262: 2003 Gas appliance safety. NZS 5266 (Int): 2011 Safety of gas appliances is an interim Standard and sets out the essential safety requirements for all gas appliances in New Zealand that are not subject to a recognised certification regime. It covers small... Read More »
Changes proposed for workplace accident compensation
The Government wants to: extend the Accredited Employers Programme (AEP) and offer other risk-sharing options introduce choice in the ACC work account. AEP is a risk-sharing arrangement where employers who meet certain criteria take responsibility for managing claims for work-related injuries and related direct costs in return for... Read More »
Have you relicensed?
1 April marked the start of a new annual licensing period. By now, you should have applied for your 2011/2012 authorisation, exemption or limited certificate but if you haven’t, get in quick and get it done – it is illegal to work without one. Licence renewal can all be done online. All you need is your registration number and... Read More »
