key components of New Zealand’s building environment laws and regulations

In New Zealand, building environment laws and regulations are structured in a hierarchical manner, with overarching legislation at the top, followed by regulations, codes, standards, and guidance documents. Below is a hierarchy  that outlines the key components of New Zealand’s building environment laws and regulations:

  1. Primary Legislation (Acts of Parliament)
  • Building Act 2004
  • Resource Management Act 1991
  • Health and Safety at Work Act 2015
  • Local Government Act 2002
  1. Regulations (Secondary Legislation)
  • Building (Building Code) Regulations 1992
  • Building (Accreditation of Building Consent Authorities) Regulations 2006
  • Building (Infringement Offences, Fees, and Forms) Regulations 2007
  • Resource Management (National Environmental Standards) Regulations
  1. New Zealand Building Code (NZBC)
  • Clause A: General Provisions
  • Clause B: Durability
  • Clause C: Fire Safety
  • Clause D: Access and Mobility
  • Clause E: Services and Facilities
  • Clause F: Safety
  • Clause G: Energy Efficiency
  • Clause H: Hazardous Agents
  1. Standards and Acceptable Solutions
  • New Zealand Standards (NZS)
  • Acceptable Solutions and Verification Methods
  1. Local Government Rules and Policies
  • District Plans
  • Regional Plans
  • Building Consent Authority (BCA) Requirements
  1. Guidance Documents and Best Practices
  • MBIE Guidance
  • Industry Best Practices
  • Technical Bulletins
  1. Case Law and Legal Precedents
  • Court Decisions