Build Home Consultancy

12/03/2026

Granny flats may become easier to build in New Zealand. But responsibility doesn't disappear. Understanding rules matters.

26/02/2026

09/11/2025

📞 Need to phone a friend?

When you’re knee-deep in framing and you get thrown a curveball, don’t wing it. The BRANZ Helpline is free for anyone working in the construction industry.

Staffed by industry experts, with access to BRANZ's wealth of knowledge, it can be your lifeline for:

🔍 H1 energy efficiency headaches
💧 E2 weathertightness details
📐 NZS 3604 compliance questions

Save hours of guesswork, avoid costly rework and get the answers you need to keep your project on track by calling 0800 80 80 85.

27/08/2025

Why NZ Needs Mandatory Building Code Training for Construction Specialists

The Building Act and Building Code are the backbone of our industry. Yet most graduates leaving NZ universities, architects, designers, QSs, even project managers, finish their degrees with little to no real knowledge of either.

And here’s the brutal truth: that ignorance costs everyone money.

🔹 Design stage errors:
When architects or designers don’t know the Code, they make assumptions, promising clients things that simply can’t be built under NZ law, or worse, that are just plain wrong.

🔹 QS estimates gone wild:
Quantity surveyors base their numbers on these drawings. If the drawings propose non-compliant methods or materials, the costings are completely out of whack and budgets are flying out of the window.

🔹 RFIs through the roof:
Every mistake means a Request for Information (RFI) back and forth with council. Instead of one or two clarifications, you get twenty, thirty, forty. Each RFI costs time, money, and trust. And while councils get blamed for “red tape,” the reality is this: designers who actually understand the Building Code can get consents approved in a fraction of the time, sometimes at literally one-tenth of the cost compared to colleagues fumbling through compliance.

So why don’t NZ universities make Building Code training compulsory for construction specialists?
Right now, grads are expected to “learn on the job.” But that’s like teaching someone to drive by tossing them the keys to a truck on a motorway. And don't forget, sometimes they are learning from someone who has knowledge acquired in exactly the same way.

We don’t need endless RFIs, blown budgets, or frustrated clients.
We need graduates who hit the ground running, knowing both construction methods and the law that governs them.

It’s time to stop blaming councils and start fixing the real problem: compliance knowledge must be taught, not left to chance.

27/06/2025

Lets Talk Property File!

25/06/2025

NZ Builders, Designers, DIYer - Listen Up!
Local Business!
Local Knowledge!

19/06/2025

Stuck with Building Consent? Talk to Me Before You Waste Thousands.

Sick of going in circles with council?
Plans bouncing back?
Don’t know what paperwork they want this time?

Or maybe you're not even sure if you need a designer…
Worried yours is charging you a fortune but still getting multiple RFIs from council?

Here’s the truth:
A quick consult with me before you submit could save you thousands.
I review your documents, spot compliance issues, and advise what’s really required — before council has the chance to push back.

I speak fluent compliance
I know the Building Code inside out
I’ve helped builders, homeowners, and professionals get approvals fast and clean

Whether you're designing, building, or managing your own project — if you want to avoid delays and drama, I’m your person.

DM me before you press ‘submit’. Let’s get it right the first time.

You’ve got the vision. I’ve got the paperwork sorted.

14/10/2024

Another question we are asked on a daily basis - does my tiny house need a Building Consent? This question does not have a simple answer, but in general, this would be my reply: if your tiny house under 30 m2, have no drainage and is secondary (meaning there is another dwelling) on site - no, you do not need Building Consent.
However, if it is a primary home or your have drainage - you need building consent. And it does not matter, if it is on wheels or not. If your home is on wheels, the only time when you do not need Building consent is when you have road registration, WOF and this vehicle is legal for the road - can go under its own power or pulled behind a vehicle on its own wheels with a normal legal road speed.
Please read another MBIE guidance brochure for tiny homes.

05/10/2024

What does that mean if you have section 72 under NZ Building Act noted on your property title?

Section 72 refers to 5 natural hazards: erosion, falling debris, subsidance, inundation (flooding) and slippage.

If a property is affected by a natural hazard, and you wish to build on it (or renovate or put addition to more than 30% of the property - major works), this section ensures that while local councils still could grant a building consent, several requirements should be adhered to (such as floor height, for example). Also it requires the hazard to be noted on the property's title. This is done so that future portential buyers are informed of the risk.

While it allows construction in certian hazard-prone areas, it highlights the need for caution. The property owners will carry the responsibility for any damages caused by these natural hazards, and it may affect future insurance availability to cover property for these hazards occurance, future insurance claims and/or the value of the property.

Understanding the implications of Section 72 is crucial for any potential development plans, as it can limit the types of structures permited or require special design considerations.

If you would like to understand more, the following reading (called Determination) is very helpful:https://www.building.govt.nz/assets/Uploads/resolving-problems/determinations/2017/2017-048.pdf

If you want to discuss your particular case, please contact us for free initial (15 mins) consultation.

01/09/2024

https://www.greenbuildhome.com/blog/post/2309383/building-information-modeling-bim-1

01/09/2024

Planning a Build or Renovation? Want to save thousands of dollars on Building Consent appilcations? Want you consent process to be stress free and straightforward? Here's What You Need to Know Before Applying for Building Consent!

Are you gearing up for a new build, extension, or renovation? If so, you’ll likely be working with a designer, engineer, or other construction specialist. But how do you ensure that the person you hire is truly qualified and up to the task? Unfortunately, not all "professionals" are created equal, and a poor choice could cost you thousands in delays and costly corrections. Here’s how to navigate this process and protect your investment!

🔍 Do Your Research — It’s Worth It!
Before hiring any specialist, make sure you:

Ask for References: Talk to previous clients and find out about their experience.

Review Past Work: Ask to see previous projects similar to yours. Look for consistency, quality, and compliance with the New Zealand Building Code.

Check Their Track Record with RFIs (Requests for Further Information): RFIs are requests made by the council when a consent application is missing details or has errors. Ask your potential designer how many RFIs they’ve received on past projects and how many questions were in each.

🚩 Red Flags:
More than 2 RFIs per project could indicate poor-quality submissions.
More than 30 questions per RFI may mean the designer doesn’t have a solid grasp of the council's processes or the Building Code.

And remember: while small projects (like a garage or shed) should have minimal RFIs, larger, more complex builds may require more. However, excessive RFIs on any project is a signal to be cautious.

👷‍♂️ Be Cautious with Engineers – Not All Are Created Equal!

Did you know anyone can call themselves an "engineer"? But only a Chartered Professional Engineer (CPEng) is officially recognized in New Zealand to practice at a high level. Verify their credentials through the Engineering New Zealand website. And make sure their qualifications align with your project needs.
For Example: An engineer with a CPEng in mining is not necessarily suited for designing residential homes, even if they claim they can!

How We Can Help You Choose Wisely?
Feeling overwhelmed by all these considerations? We understand that navigating this process can be daunting, but that's where we come in!
While we cannot directly recommend specific professionals, we can help you assess their suitability.

We will:

Evaluate Examples of Their Work: We’ll look at past drawings for quality and consistency.

Guide You Through the Selection Process: We provide unbiased advice to help you make an informed decision.
Go through documents prepared for Building Consent, find missing or excessive information and optimize information prepared to reduce costs of your Building Consent, reduce time of processing, saving you thousands!

📞 Call or Email Us Today!
Don’t leave your building consent to chance. Give us a call today, and let us help you make the right choice from the start. The right professional with the right information in your building consent appilcation will make all the difference in achieving a smooth, efficient project that stays on budget and on time.
With our expert insights, you can feel confident in your decision and avoid the costly mistakes.

Reach out now for advice and support! We’re here to help you every step of the way!

21/08/2024

Building Consents and Responding to RFI (Request for Information).

When applying for Building Consent (here we are talking about New Zealand, however it will apply to most regulatory Building Consent/Permit Situation), it is very rare not to receive a request for additional information. In fact, more that 90% of consents (excluding minor, such as wood burners, for example), will have some questions regarding application provided. It could be simple request for consistency, as some pages could have mistakes or, to provide additional information, which is missing, or request for additional reports or clarifications.
The letter that usually arrives with RFI request will be asking to provide all responses in one letter. And here is why it is important!
When providing request for additional information response, your need to take into account the following:
• Processing your application and response is charged hourly,
• More admin work required to process the request – more you or your client will pay. If you do not provide all information in one lot, every time someone opens your response, you will be charged,
• People who process your consent are dealing with dozens and sometime hundreds of applications at the same time and do not remember every consent by heart, so when response arrives – they will be taking at least 15 mins to review what consent is about and what questions were asked,
• If you have 10 questions asked, and you reply 1 question at a time, your processor likely to spend over 2 hours (10 x 15 mins) just reviewing documentation, before even starting to assess your response,
• If your response does not have clarifications on where responses to questions are, but just one bulk amount of information, your assessor most likely will find answers, however it will take them considerably longer time to do so, and you, or your client will be paying for it.
So, in general, when responding to RFI requests, here are the rules that will save you time and money:
1. Respond to all questions in one go,
2. Provide list of questions with answers in a correct order with clear indication on what the answer is and where it could be found,
3. Do not send unnecessary documents with your response,
4. Do not send documents that were already sent before and did not require any changes,
5. If sending separate pages of documents that require changes, name them appropriately, making it easy to recognize where documents belong, for example “Arch Drawings, sheet 003”, or “bracing calculations”, or “Product Specifications”.
6. If your processor asked a question that you believe was provided with your application, just point them out that this answer could be found already in certain document, for example: “This is already provided on sheet 005 of architectural drawings, detail 3”.
And finally, please remember, RFIs are normal part of Building Consent application, however, to reduce time of the processing and money it will take to process the building consent, please provide application that is clear, consistent, accurate and comprehensive.
You can find MBIE guidance to building consent in the link below: