yes the master plumbers are a special interest group who will go along with any initiative that will see them increase their member numbers, that means not rocking the boat to idea`s that they know are not helpfull to tradesmen as long as they will do allright out of it, that means more money making for them by way of courses for their members to get points,to get licenced,to be able to go to work which will not be cheap and even more expensive for non members,check the courses out on the master plumbers web site. i don`t know of any other trades that have to pay so much to be able to go to work.
perhaps someone could enlighten me on what has happened between master plumbers and minister as the file on this site is damaged according to my computer and is not readable, can somebody copy and paste it to this forum,cheers.

Hi guys this is the letter i was looking for, now we can all rest easy, YEAH RIGHT.
 Office of Hon Maurice Williamson
MP for Pakuranga
Minister for Building and Construction Minister of Customs Minister for Land Information
Minister of Statistics Minister for Small Business
1 8 NOV 2009
Mr Allan Day allan-dav@xtra.co.nz
Dear Mr Day
Thank you for your emails of 12 and 21 October 2009^ requesting a meeting to discuss the recommendations of the Plumbers, Gasfitters and Drainlayers Board (the Board) on the implementation of the Plumbers, Gasfitters and Drainlayers Act 2006.
I have made a decision in respect of the Board's recommendations and chose to accept the Board's recommendations in full. This decision has been formally communicated to the Board and I expect the Board will notify practitioners as they see fit.
You state in your letter that the Board's recommendations "will cost each plumber, each gasfitter and each drainlayer in excess of $2,500 per year". While I have made my decision, I would be interested in being provided with the evidence you have to attest to this figure.
Thank you for taking the time to write.
Yours sincerely
Hon Maurice Williamson
Minister for Building and Construction

Hi guys look at this, our minister of building and construction saying that the decision to have or, not have the `H` in Wanganui was the hardest decision he has had to make in 23 yrs in politics. You can judge by that statement just how much time he spent considering the problems facing our industry in allowing the pgd.board to do exactly what they want to do.
   
Wanganui Mayor Michael Laws has reacted furiously to a decision to spell the city's name with an "h".
Land and Information Minister Maurice Williamson said yesterday that both spellings would be official and residents could choose to use the controversial "h".
Mr Williamson announced the decision saying it was the hardest decision he had to make in 23 years in politics.
Mr Williamson said yesterday's announcement was the end of the matter as far as the Government was concerned.

Haven't been on here for a little while - but I have to disagree with other posters.  I think Master Plumber's is doing a fantastic job in lobbying for the industry.  They ran a road show around the country regarding the 2006 Act and without their input I think we would have seen a far different outcome which would have been a lot worse for us than what we have ended up with.  In addition I'm not against the upskilling scenario either.  Costs aside - it does not hurt anyone in this industry to keep up to date with changes - changes to appliances, acts, regulations, new ways of doing things, new materials etc.  The Master Plumber's didn't make the rules about upskilling - the PGDB did - and I believe Master Plumbers are simply trying to facilitate a way forward for their members by organising courses for them.  It isn't going to go away - and no amount of moaning into your weetbix will make it so.  Plumbing and drainlaying are on their way too - so now we just have to ensure that we get good quality courses and make the most of it. 

I also believe any organisation like Master Plumbers that espouses higher standards in our industries is to be congratulated.  Networking is a great thing - and Master Plumbers provides this to its members.  Maybe some of you who are not so keen should re-look at this opportunity and think about joining!!

well its good to see a few of us talking about this subject but

I feel that the master plumbers are not interested in trainee plumbers or registered plumbers because it would disadvantage there members who make there money from these hard working trainee plumbers who have not passed there craftsman exams yet and probably wouldn't get get help passing them because it would cut into there profits, most craftsman plumbers have a few trainees that they cant possibly keep an eye on  I have seen this personally as I worked from 2 businesses  one that had 1 craftsman to 8 trainee plumbers perhaps this practice is why we see so many flooded houses in taupo and the second business also 1 craftsman of questionable knowledge to 7 trainees.I must say whilst running my business of 20years i never had a leak let a lone a flood

Maurice Williamson is just ignorant to the plumbers concerns because maybe he enjoys his credit card to much  and thinks trainee plumbers can afford his excuses  and if he cant look into this then he shouldn't have anything to do with the plumbers

hi jaxcat
well it sounds like you are a good employer, and my experience in taupo is of bad craftsmen plumbers,so i have every right to be pissed with this unfair system. whilst running my businesses in the UK i employed trainees and also plumbers  and we had over 3000 customers one of my trainees went through his apprenticeship with me and when i came here he took over the business

whilst being here i have received so many complaints from other plumbers some trainees and some qualified  but not  yet craftsman that they have no say about the training and lack of help they receive from there craftsman  that i know that I'm right when i say that the master plumbers are not interested in trainees unless it helps them or there members

the pgdb don't take notice of my experience and city and guilds qualifications and just want to charge me a fortune to tell me to start all over again as a trainee which is an insult,whilst working here i have never received 1 minute of training or supervision  but i have been training other people

This up skilling senarino every year is a joke..i mean water in water out...there aint too many ways you can do this ...water comes in through a pipe and exists through the waste system and once you have learned G12..G13 and asnzs 3500 what else do you need...my boss has been plumbing for 30 odd years and during that time he has never had to undertake this stupid up skilling so far!.

changes to appliances(well as companys reserve the right to change the installation details with out any notice then one always reads the installation manual...hense no up skilling needed there!)
, acts(it should be up to the PDGB to inform us of changes to the act as they have every plumbers/gasfitters/and drainlayers address/e-mail they should provide this service to us)
, regulations(same as before its up to the PGDB as they have the ability to address everyone!)
, new ways of doing things(water comes in under head pressure or pumped...and then it leaves through gravity/pumped systems
, new materials how many new materials are introduced each year into this already flooded market,we use dux/copper and rehau aint this enough so they want me to learn fuiso when i will never use it?, what a waste of my brain space...

when i come up on a problem its my ability to source information that is of most help to me not some stupid upskilling course...
i learn things when i need to learn them...its like learning pie at school and never using it untill now some 20 odd years later...
there are only so many courses one can do before you get information over load...i mean thats why we have written codes so we dont have to memorise every little word in there and as a refernce point...up skilling is NOT needed!...well thats my view anyways