Hurunui Council’s Building team delivers strong results

An impressive 100% of all building consents were issued on time by Hurunui Council’s Building team in May, capping a successful year where 99% of all building consents were processed within required timeframes.

Council’s Building and Property Manager Kerry Walsh said the past financial year has been busy and productive.

“A total of 439 building consents were issued over the past financial year ending 30 June 2025, with 99% processed on time. In May alone, 55 building consents were issued, all 100% on time, with an average processing time of 10 days.”

A report presented to June’s Operations Committee revealed the positive statistics kept stacking.

When it comes to Code of Compliance Certificates, the team issued more than one a day, on average, over the past financial year, with a total of 457 issued, with 99% delivered on time. In May, 52 Code of Compliance Certificates were issued, all 100% on time, with an average processing time of 10 days.

Hurunui District Mayor Marie Black said it was encouraging to hear Council’s Building team was effectively supporting building and development in the district. “It’s a privilege to see our team helping to build not just structures, but the future of our district.”

The team carried out 3,995 standard building inspections over the past financial year, received 371 building applications, and issued 37 Certificate of Acceptance applications, for work carried out that does not require building consent, and all within the statutory timeframe of 20 working days.

Walsh said there was no room for complacency, with a 24-hour dwelling consenting trial currently underway with three Licensed Building Practitioner designers, aiming to speed up processing times even further for dwelling consents.

The Building team has also led a Council submission to Government on the Building and Construction (Small Stand-alone Dwellings) Amendment Bill.

Walsh said while Council supports the aim of the bill to increase the supply of affordable small dwellings by streamlining the process, it had raised a number of concerns in its submission.

These include concerns to ensure that the removal of building consent requirements is matched by adequate safeguards to avoid poor-quality buildings, shifting the burden onto councils and ratepayers.

“We’ve put forward a number of practical solutions to increase clarity, consistency and enforceability that we feel are reflective of the industry country-wide,” Walsh said.

To view Council’s submission, please go to https://www.hurunui.govt.nz/council/council-submis...