Two builders, from Tauranga and Auckland, disciplined by Building Practitioners Board

The Building Practitioners Board (BPB) has disciplined two builders with carpentry licences and ordered them to pay thousands of dollars in fines and costs. Photo / File

A Tauranga builder has been disciplined for carrying out work in a negligent or incompetent manner and for failing to comply with building consent and providing a record of work.

The Building Practitioners Board (BPB) ordered Licensed Building Practitioner (LBP) Andrew Etchells to pay a fine of $4000 and costs of $2500, according to a Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment media release.

The BPB said Etchells was supposed to be supervising unlicensed workers while they were constructing a prefabricated house in Hamilton, but instead only visited the site on weekends.

"Mr Etchells acknowledged he was meant to supervise this restricted building work but admitted that he didn't know who was doing the work, and he signed a record of work before checking it. These breaches are all far below the high calibre of responsibility and professionalism expected of an LBP," LBP Registrar Paul Hobbs said.

"Providing adequate supervision, ensuring plans align with consents, and providing correct records are some of the basic responsibilities that come with being an LBP," he said.

Hobbs said consumers could be assured that where the Board has evidence of LBPs not upholding their responsibilities for the overall health, safety, and wellbeing of New Zealanders, it will take action.

The Board has also disciplined Auckland-based builder Andrew Musson for the second time for carrying out work in a negligent or incompetent manner and failing to provide a record of work.

"Mr Musson was making alterations to an existing house and allowed changes to be made that were not on the consented plans. He did raise this with the designer, however did not make a formal variation to the plans," Hobbs said.

Musson was ordered to pay $3000 and costs of $2000.

Hobbs said supervision is a fundamental aspect of the scheme and Musson did not provide adequate support to the unlicensed builder he was responsible for supervising, "so much so that the builder had to seek assistance from a previous colleague".

"Furthermore, a contractual dispute meant Mr Musson did not issue a record of work, which is a statutory obligation and must be provided."