Government taskforce on plasterboard

Plasterboard

The Minister for Building and Construction has set up a Ministerial taskforce with key construction and supply chain experts to look at the current plasterboard shortages facing Aotearoa New Zealand.

The taskforce of industry experts was set up by the Government on 21 June 2022 to give advice and troubleshoot plasterboard shortages.

The Minister for Building and Construction has set up a Ministerial taskforce with key construction and supply chain experts to look at what can be done to ease the current plasterboard shortages facing Aotearoa New Zealand. This including the potential for legislative or regulatory change.

The taskforce will aim to both increase sector productivity as quickly as possible, and to remove any unnecessary barriers, including around certification, to facilitate the use of different types of plasterboard.

The taskforce will oversee and advise on the cross sectoral and government response required to ease current plasterboard supply constraints. Specific responsibilities of the taskforce include:

  • advising on constraints and issues relating to the supply of plasterboard across businesses and industry
  • identifying opportunities to expedite plasterboard supply across industry
  • identifying opportunities to facilitate and support the use of alternative products and their approval within the building consenting system, including by the testing and certification of these alternatives
  • identifying other product constraints that should be explored to mitigate further supply chain constraints to builders and contractors in the next 3-6 months.

Members of the Taskforce

The current members of the plasterboard taskforce are:

  • Hon Dr Megan Woods (Chair) Minister for Building and Construction, Minister Housing and Urban Development
  • Rick Herd, CEO of Naylor Love
  • Dave Kelly CEO of Registered Master Builders Association of New Zealand
  • Shane Brealey, Simplicity Living, managing director
  • Sir Stephen Tindall, Founder and former chair of the Warehouse Ltd and Founder and Trustee of The Tindall Foundation
  • Tex Edwards, 2degrees founder
  • A representative from Local Government New Zealand.

Current guidance and information

Current guidance and information on plasterboard and product substitution.

Plasterboard substitution guidance

Product substitution guidance

Minor variations guidance

How BCAs should assess and process minor variations

This information is published by the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment’s Chief Executive. It is a general guide only and, if used, does not relieve any person of the obligation to consider any matter to which the information relates according to the circumstances of the particular case. Expert advice may be required in specific circumstances. Where this information relates to assisting people: