Building Amendment Bill
The bill would overhaul responsibility and consumer protection for defective building work, including proportionate liability, compulsory insurance for design professionals and mandatory warranties for residential projects worth at least $100,000.
- Closing date
- 15 November 2026
- Added to Civics
- 24 July 2026
- Source category
- Parliamentary
- Source body
- Transport and Infrastructure Committee
- Last checked
- 24 July 2026
Closes in 114 days
Plain-English summary
The Building Amendment Bill proposes significant changes to the allocation of risk and consumer protection in the building system. It would replace joint and several liability for defective building work with proportionate liability, require professional indemnity insurance for design professionals, and introduce mandatory warranties for residential work worth $100,000 or more.
The bill also includes measures intended to reduce consenting delays, including a fast-track building consent pathway for qualifying homes designed for solar energy. The committee is seeking evidence about whether the package would reduce cost and delay while preserving effective remedies when building work fails.
Why it matters
The bill could materially change who pays when defective building work causes loss.
New insurance and warranty requirements could affect consumer remedies, professional costs and access to building services.
Who may care
- Homeowners, buyers, developers and consumer advocates
- Building professionals, insurers, councils and construction-sector bodies
How to make a submission
- Read the bill and explanatory material linked from Parliament's submission page.
- Make an online submission to the Transport and Infrastructure Committee before 11:59pm on the closing date.
Disclaimer
Civics.nz is an independent plain-English guide and is not an official government website. Always check the official source before making a submission.