Interesting points - how would you see this being funded?

But what is the value proposition for the suppliers?  Master Plumbers is funded through membership fees and business partners.  The plumbers journal is funded by subscriptions and advertising.  Suppliers want exposure - you are right - but what would they get back if they funded these "Boards".  Would they be manned by volunteers - or would people expect to get paid to serve on them.  If they were voted for each year or two or five there would need to be an administrative function costed in as well.  The government won't pay a cent - they don't give anything to the PGDB currently and they are charged with looking after the health and safety of the consumer who presumably are the tax paying public.  Not only that but since the 2006 Act came in - any fines given to unlicensed people doing plumbing, gasfitting or drainlaying who are prosecuted through the public court system are given back to the Crown.  So practitioners pay to have these people prosecuted through their disciplinary levy - and then the Government gets the fine paid into their coffers!  Figure that one out - at the very least this money should be returned to the PGDB and go into a pool specifically to offset disciplinary levies.  There is no reason why local plumbers can't get together and form a group to look at upskilling locally and to deal with local training providers - Master Plumbers has local associations that do this for their members, but I appreciate this is not for everyone.  Everywhere there is a group of practitioners there is an opportunity to do exactly what you say, someone just has to put their hand up and get the ball rolling.  At least now, more than ever before, practitioners are finally saying they want a change and a say in the way their industry is shaped. 

hi jax,you have some good points of view, have you applied/would you like a position on the new board,cheers.

hi guys,plumb,i haven`t seen that rule where does it say that, if that is true why do we need licences?cheers

hi guys, if he makes a stuff-up and floods the place the insurance will not cover him because he is not qualified to do the work,cheers

Not sure on the wording in the current act but the homeowner could do it under the old act, provided he was in an area gazetted as an area where homeowners could do this and as long as the local council approved. What section of the new act allows homeowners to do their own plumbing a1plumb?

Plumbers, Gasfitters, and Drainlayers Act 2006
Public Act   2006 No 74
Date of assent   4 December 2006

Subpart 2—Key provisions
Restrictions on doing or assisting with sanitary plumbing, gasfitting, and drainlaying
8 Restrictions on doing or assisting with sanitary plumbing

    (1) A person must not do any sanitary plumbing, or assist in doing any sanitary plumbing, unless that person is authorised to do so under this section.

    (2) The following persons may do sanitary plumbing, or assist in doing sanitary plumbing, within the limits prescribed in regulations (if any):

        (a) a registered person who is authorised to do, or assist in doing, the work under a current practising licence; or

        (b) a person who is authorised to do, or assist in doing, the work under a provisional licence.

    (3) A person does not do any sanitary plumbing, or assist in doing any sanitary plumbing, in breach of this section if that work is done in accordance with sections 12 to 27.

    (4) Subsection (1) is subject to subsection (3) and sections 11 to 27.

General exemptions
12 Board may exempt person or class of persons from sections 8 to 10

    (1) The Board may, if it thinks fit, by notice in the Gazette, exempt any person or class of persons from compliance with any of sections 8 to 10 generally or in relation to a particular type of sanitary plumbing, gasfitting, or drainlaying.

    (2) The Board may grant the exemption subject to any terms and conditions that it thinks fit.

    (3) A person may do any sanitary plumbing, gasfitting, or drainlaying, or assist in doing any sanitary plumbing, gasfitting, or drainlaying, under an exemption granted under subsection (1) if—

        (a) the work is within the limits specified in the exemption; and

        (b) the exemption applies to the person; and

        (c) the work is done in accordance with the terms and conditions of the exemption; and

        (d) the work is carried out in a competent and safe manner.

    (4) A notice published under this section is a regulation for the purposes of the Regulations (Disallowance) Act 1989 but is not a regulation for the purposes of the Acts and Regulations Publication Act 1989.


Specific sanitary plumbing exemptions
15 Exemption for householders

    (1) The owner of any premises situated in a place to which this subsection applies and occupied, or intended to be occupied, by that person as a residence for that person, or for that person and members of that person’s family, may do any sanitary plumbing in those premises.

    (2) The sanitary plumbing done under subsection (1) may be done—

        (a) with or without the assistance of any member of the person’s family living with the person; but

        (b) without the assistance of any other person.

    (3) For the purposes of subsection (1), owner, in relation to any premises, means the person who (whether alone or as a joint tenant or tenant in common) would for the time being be entitled to receive the rack rent of the premises on his or her own account if the premises were let to a tenant at a rack rent.

    (4) Subsection (1) applies in the places that the Minister, after consultation with the appropriate local authority, specifies by notice in the Gazette.

    (5) Subsection (1) applies despite any bylaw that requires sanitary plumbing to be done only by specified persons or classes of persons.

    (6) Neither subsection (1) nor section 17 prohibits any person from completing any sanitary plumbing that the person has lawfully commenced.

    Compare: 1976 No 69 s 54

Not sure on the wording in the current act but the homeowner could do it under the old act, provided he was in an area gazetted as an area where homeowners could do this and as long as the local council approved. What section of the new act allows homeowners to do their own plumbing a1plumb?

yes you are right

Specific sanitary plumbing exemptions
15 Exemption for householders

(1) The owner of any premises situated in a place to which this subsection applies and occupied, or intended to be occupied, by that person as a residence for that person, or for that person and members of that person’s family, may do any sanitary plumbing in those premises.



(4) Subsection (1) applies in the places that the Minister, after consultation with the appropriate local authority, specifies by notice in the Gazette.

    (5) Subsection (1) applies despite any bylaw that requires sanitary plumbing to be done only by specified persons or classes of persons.