Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk’s first year in the role was defined by a sustained focus on reform — and a willingness to take on systems and rules that the industry had long considered too entrenched to change. Here’s a summary of the key developments from his first 12 months.
The Consent System
Penk made reforming the consent system his primary focus. New Zealand has some of the least affordable housing in the developed world, and he identified the building consent system — which Stats NZ data shows takes an average of 569 days from consent to completion — as a significant contributing factor.
Key reforms introduced or announced in his first year included: removing barriers to the use of overseas building products that meet equivalent standards to NZ requirements; allowing minor variations to building plans to be processed more efficiently; publishing councils’ consent data so performance can be compared; and the opt-in self-certification scheme for trusted builders.
Insulation Standards
The H1 insulation changes — which came into force in 2023 and significantly increased insulation requirements for new homes — were reviewed during Penk’s first year. He adjusted the implementation timeframe and provided flexibility for builders to use equivalent performance approaches, responding to industry concerns that the rapid transition was creating practical difficulties.
Granny Flat Reform
One of the most tangible changes of Penk’s first year was legislation enabling consent-free construction of ancillary dwellings up to 60 square metres (later expanded to 70m²) on existing residential sections. This removed a significant barrier to adding secondary housing supply and was widely welcomed by the industry.
Industry Response
The general response from industry leaders to Penk’s first year has been cautiously positive. There is genuine appreciation for a minister who engages with the sector, responds to feedback, and demonstrates willingness to take on difficult reform. Some concern exists that moving too quickly on inspection and consent streamlining could compromise standards — but the broad view is that the direction of travel is right, even if the pace and detail of implementation need careful management.
The leaky buildings crisis remains a cautionary reference point for anyone advocating for reduced oversight. Penk’s challenge is to speed things up without creating the conditions for another round of expensive failures.