Licensed Work in Plumbing and Gas
Plumbing and gasfitting in New Zealand are licensed trades — carrying out regulated work without a current licence is illegal and carries significant penalties. The Plumbers, Gasfitters and Drainlayers Act governs licensing in these trades, and the Plumbers, Gasfitters and Drainlayers Board administers the licence register and handles complaints and disciplinary matters.
For construction businesses, this means ensuring that plumbing and gasfitting work on your projects is carried out by licensed practitioners — and understanding what work requires a licence versus what can be carried out by unlicensed persons in specific circumstances.
The Licence Classes
The main licence classes for plumbing and gas work are:
- Craftsman Plumber — qualified to carry out all sanitary plumbing and drainlaying work independently
- Journeyman Plumber — can carry out work under the supervision of a Craftsman Plumber
- Craftsman Drainlayer — qualified to carry out drainlaying work independently
- Craftsman Gasfitter — qualified to carry out all gasfitting work independently
- Journeyman Gasfitter — can carry out gasfitting work under supervision
Practitioners can hold multiple licence classes. The licence must be current (renewed annually) and visible to clients on request.
Supervision Requirements
Journeyman licence holders can carry out regulated work under the supervision of the relevant Craftsman — supervision has specific requirements about proximity and availability that need to be met. Unlicensed persons (including apprentices) can carry out regulated work only under immediate supervision (the Craftsman is present) within defined parameters. Understanding these supervision requirements is important for construction businesses managing plumbing and gas subcontractors.