Please read the following and see if you can pick up what they have missed in this story? 


Media release | 18 June 2012

West Coast man fined $2,750 for unauthorised plumbing

A West Coast man has been fined $2,750 for illegally carrying out sanitary plumbing which caused flooding at a property in Punakaiki.

John Playter, of Barrytown, was not authorised by the Plumbers, Gasfitters and Drainlayers Board (‘the Board’) to replace a hot water cylinder with an instantaneous gas water heater at the home in Owen Street in 2009, as required under the Plumbers, Gasfitters, and Drainlayers Act 2006.

It was found that the water pipes Mr Playter installed were under strain and he also failed to put the appropriate joints in the pipes. As a result, the pipes burst and flooded the property. In addition, the gas water heater did not function properly and the owner did not have hot water running at her premises for a prolonged period of time.

The owner of the home had to ask a licensed plumber and gasfitter to repair Mr Playter’s work.

Mr Playter failed to attend the hearing, however the Judge was satisfied that a conviction be entered along with a fine of $2,750. In addition to that, Court Costs of $140 and solicitor’s fees of $226 were imposed.

Plumbing, gasfitting and drainlaying are regulated industries in New Zealand and it is illegal for anyone to do this work unless they are authorised to do so by the Board.

The Board’s Deputy Registrar, Kern U'ren, said: “There are serious health and safety risks associated with sanitary plumbing carried out by an unauthorised person. Any defective plumbing work has the potential to cause disease and serious damage to the home and in this case, the poor workmanship led to flooding.

“All authorised tradespeople are required to carry their current authorisation card. We urge consumers to ask tradespeople for this card before any work commences so that they can be assured that the work is being done by an authorised and competent tradesperson.”

If a homeowner or building inspector believes that work has been done by someone who is not authorised, or has concerns about the competency of tradespeople, they can make a complaint to the Board.

Mr Playter was sentenced in the Greymouth District Court on 5 June 2012.


Linkback: https://www.plumbers.nz/rant-or-rave/5/pgdb-board-news-release/1151/

There is something seriously wrong when it takes nearly 3 years to get a prosecution for something so cut and dried.  I wonder if he paid for the damage he casued or returned the payment to the homeowner (that he wasn;t entitled to or if he paid the real tradesman fee for the repair?

I wonder how much was spent to prosecute this guy?

people like this make me sick, if I paid $7000 to do my job why can just anyone do it?

Yeah exactly roberto it pisses me off too,but wait it gets worse, as of earlier this year make that $10,580 for your plumb/gas apprenticeship + all your books, codes, AS/NZS standards which are apparently no longer free or never were (+$650)   Buy all your own tools over the course of your time. ( Say + $5k easy ), Exams, x2 ($306x2) , First time registration fee if you pass both exams ($357x2)  license fees ($102x2)  Disciplinary and offences levy ($175+$90)


$17,925


Wow....I doubt there will be any NEW apprentices starting...maybe 5 per year lol. Training has also hit an all time low....

This is the funny bit..."Court Costs of $140 and solicitor’s fees of $226 were imposed"...not even the licence fee for one year for one plumber/gasfitter holding two licenses...you would think that the fine would be actually to pay back all the legal fees for the prosecution so then this sector of the pgdb can be paid by the public as it is only used for the public!...shit we pay our displinary fees so the pgdb can f**k us and under this code the public should pay for any displinary action taken on them by the pgdb why are we made to pay for something that has absoutley NOTHING to do with us!.

Hi Jax, that is true thanks for that!! Forgot about energy safety for the gas as our voice to be heard if required. I recognise in the gas (safety and management) regs 2010 it is an offence to do nothing if coming across an unsafe installation/appliance.
Why cant the board take a similar stance I wonder in regard to plumbing and drainlaying? I have seen plumbing and drainlaying done by random members of the public that is poorly done and un-compliant as we all may have at times. I cannot believe it. I guess like thunder says all we can do is get an associate or friend to make a complaint??

I feel its a two edged sword, if we remedy the work, or at a minimum see them doing it, and say nothing, on an official level they get away with it and we are breaking the law if we see it,  its unsafe and we dont do anything about it. If we report it and an investigation follows our fees are more likely to balloon in the coming years...Great, seems like a no win to me?? Something has to change!!. I can really see the fees increasing due to the PGDB prosecuting more people or are figures down on there forecasted projections to their actual??. I dont like it but I dont really have a problem with the cowboys getting worked over by the board if neccessary and funded by us, but the public is just too many people for so few to carry the burden for. Its as if it is tax payer funded but there is no govt to pull them up in regard to the increasing spending. Its left up to us. The harder economic times get, the more people are likely to give things a go themselves is my opinion, which means investigations will be on the rise over the coming years as will the boards expenditure. I feel it is only a matter of time before the next fees increase. How much of their BS are we suppose to swallow until enough is enough.

I will start sending Maurice Williamson a letter a week as of next week outlining my concerns and that they are subsequently losing many excellent plumbers and gasfitters through the cracks to places like Australia based on the PGDB's ever rising costs of investigating and prosecuting of the PUBLIC, not licensed or certifying plumber/gasfitters/drainlayers. This really annoys the F*ck out of me. If license fees wind up being $550 per single annual license in 5 years time, it would not suprise me at all. Things have to change. If a cost or fee for a service you get in return rises every year or two quicker than inflation eventually it becomes un-sustainable. Like rates rises in some districts.

Back in 2006 I think it was I uplifted a limited license as it was back then for exemption as a drainlayer and it cost $75, before I got my drainlaying apprenticeship thus making it free as I was a trainee. Haha and I thought I was getting ripped then. If the 2006 rodza1 talked to the 2012 rodza1 I would probably not be in this country anymore. I was not hit with the full cost as a registered person untill May 2008. Can anybody provide accurate details on what license costs were back in say 2003 for a registered or craftsman person per license? Or perhaps 04, 05, 06 etc. At a minimum I want to piss off his parliamentary staff with a continuous stream of letters that change every few weeks to repeat the same facts over and over. Think of it as a propaganda war.

If there is anyone else in industry that would make a good target let me know. Perhaps a few of us could do this and really bog them down with mail and at a minimum get a thought churning in our ministers head??

I will be doing my bit to fund the prosecution of all the random losers who are not trades people and are caught doing dodgy plumbing gas fitting or drainlaying this year thats for sure..Three exams $306 x3, first time regisration $357 x3, certificates $51 x3, license fee $102x3, other levies $265.....=$2713.... sigh......If anyone prospers from my hardwork this year it definitely will not be me nor my family.It will be someone on the board on $100-200k a year and their children, who are at their fully paid for private school paid for with my money.........