[ CE Update ] Back in a Level 4 lockdown, and this will be my last Info Brief as Chair. My nine years with the Board comes to an end in September.

During my tenure, I have seen enormous growth. The Board moved from a regulator under scrutiny for underperforming - to one recognised as a true example of an effective modern regulator. This is something we all should be proud of.

The Board’s administration team has been integral to the significant advances we have made, particularly in their efforts to make everyone’s life easier, not harder. Public awareness is at an all-time high, and that’s to the benefit of all practitioners. New Zealand homeowners are well informed to engage a licensed tradesperson to carry out restricted work.

I also fully appreciate that not everyone agrees with what the Board does - or doesn’t do. Ultimately, we are restricted by what the Act allows us, and this can be more than frustrating at times. Hopefully, the review of the Act is completed and implemented sooner rather than later.

One of my observations over the past few years on constructions sites and in disciplinary hearings is the lack of quality and assurance (Q&A) in practice. Without proper Q&A and installation evidence, the chance of being held liable if something goes wrong down the track increases. This is especially the case if you are unable to provide evidence to counter. I encourage all practitioners to spend time implementing good Q&A practices for their businesses.

Although out of our remit, the other observation I’d like to mention is the seemingly downward spiral in the standard of apprenticeship training. Apprentices are the future of our industry. We can only hope the new super polytechnic can up the game in off-the-job training. It is hard for employers to cover all aspects of the industry, domestic, commercial and industrial.

There is a large amount to learn in our industry and this needs to be reflected in a modern training programme. One that can provide a staircase of complexity and knowledge while the apprentice progresses. And, more importantly, understands the why, and using the why in conjunction with the how-to link it all together during their day-to-day work.

As my term expires, I am now looking forward to valuable free time to spend with family and my five-month-old grandson. I look forward to seeing some of you on-site as part of my regular day job.