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Not all builders meet the strict criteria to become a Registered Master Builder. To become a Registered Master Builder, building experience, trade or professional qualifications and practical management experience are assessed. This ensures those who make it are of the highest quality.
Registered master builders must also provide evidence of financial responsibility with written references from their bank, public accountant and building material suppliers. This ensures their work will progress without the risk of financial delays. Re-certification of members occurs regularly with checks on financial viability and more importantly their workmanship to maintain the quality of their work.
Engaging a Registered Master Builder provides a guarantee covering deposit, work completion, and material/workmanship defects for added peace of mind. It is not enough just to be Trade Qualified so making sure you engage with a qualified and experienced builder is of utmost importance.
"The BWC team built us a beautiful home, which we are very proud of. We are grateful for their expertise and experience, they helped make the building process easy. They offered a personalised service; we found them to be honest, approachable and easy to communicate with throughout the build. Blair’s team have an eye for detail and completed our project to a high standard.
We would happily recommend Blair Ward Construction to anyone looking at building or renovating."
- Rebecca & Mark Sweetman
"The BWC team built us a beautiful home, which we are very proud of. We are grateful for their expertise and experience, they helped make the building process easy. They offered a personalised service; we found them to be honest, approachable and easy to communicate with throughout the build. Blair’s team have an eye for detail and completed our project to a high standard.
We would happily recommend Blair Ward Construction to anyone looking at building or renovating."
- Rebecca & Mark Sweetman
Structural, weather tightness,and fire-safety work must be designed and carried out by Licensed Building Practitioners (LBPs).
You’ll need Records of Work from designers/builders and Producer Statements from engineers for council sign-off.
Most structural work,plumbing/drainage changes where there is no existing fixtures, decks over 1.5m, new windows/doors in bracing walls, etc. need a building consent.
In certain minor cases an exemption from consent can be applied for.
You’ll need a resource consent if your design breaches the Christchurch District Plan (e.g., setbacks,height in relation to boundary, site coverage) or is in a Character/Heritage area or Flood Management Area (FMA) or digging more than 20m3 outside of the building envelope.
They can restrict building locations and require specific clearances or approvals.
Verify easements on the title and locate services before design.
Many small jobs are exempt.
Common examples: decks up to 1.5 m high, same-size window/door replacements that don’t affect bracing, non-structural internal linings, and like-for-like bathrooms/kitchens (no new plumbing points).
Exempt does not mean DIY—Restricted Building Work still needs LBPs, and council may ask for evidence of compliance later.
At minimum: LIM, topographical site survey, geotechnical assessment (if TC2/TC3 or uncertain), and an asbestos survey for pre-2000 homes.
You can’t confirm asbestos by sight.
If your home or outbuildings were built or renovated before2000, assume risk in materials like textured ceilings, fibre-cement cladding/soffits and “Super Six”roofing, vinyl floor tiles/black adhesive, pipe lagging, backing boards, and some gaskets.
Pre demolition surveys by a licenced assessor can help in ascertaining if asbestos is present and help with planning.
Statutorily 20 working days for building consent once accepted, but Requests for Information (RFIs) pause the clock.
Your designer will submit complete drawings/specs, geotech and engineering and ideally respond to RFIs quickly to keep things moving. An allowance of 6 weeks in reasonable.
For new builds your building contractor should cover the Contract Works insurance which covers the works onsite and Public Liability insurance.
In a renovation it is common for the homeowner to organise the contract works insurance as there will already be an interested party insuring the property. You should notify your house insurer before work starts for any works.
Practical Completion = you can use the space (subject to contract terms) and move into the defects period.
CCC = council’s formal sign-off after final inspections, producer statements, as-builts, and documentation.
Aim to compile paperwork as you go to avoid CCC delays.
