Repeat offender fined for illegal drainlaying

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Industry's governing body threatens illegal tradespeople with trip through the courts

An Auckland man has been convicted and fined $1500 for carrying out drainlaying work without an authorisation for a second time.

Aaron L'Estrange Corbet carried out drainlaying work at a home in Glen Eden without authorisation. When the work was found to be defective by a certifying drainlayer who was engaged by the homeowners to inspect the work, a complaint was lodged with the Board.

Plumbing, gasfitting and drainlaying are regulated industries in New Zealand and it is illegal to do this work unless authorised by the Plumbers, Gasfitters and Drainlayers Board.

As with the previous prosecution Mr L'Estrange Corbet carried out work on a foul water drainage system. He was not authorised in any way to do drainlaying at the time of the relevant work, and he has never been registered under the Plumbers, Gasfitters and Drainlayers Act as a drainlayer.

The Board advises all consumers to take every precaution when engaging with plumbing, gasfitting and drainlaying service providers, and recommends asking to see an authorisation card before any work commences. This way they can be assured the work is being done lawfully and by a competent tradesperson.

The Board's Chief Executive, Max Pedersen warns consumers; "Don't risk your family's health and safety or your insurance by hiring unauthorised people. There are serious health and safety risks associated with drainlaying carried out by an unauthorised person. Any defective work has the potential to cause disease and serious damage to the property."

If a homeowner 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.

Aaron L'Estrange Corbet was sentenced in the Waitakere District Court on 31 March 2014. He was convicted and fined $1500 and ordered to pay $130 court costs and a $113 solicitors fee.