Previous determinations

Determinations are made by MBIE on matters of doubt or dispute to do with building work. Rulings are legally binding, but only in relation to each case.

Previous determinations may provide some useful guidance for those faced with similar problems, but note that individual circumstances may vary.

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2025/031: The authority’s decision to refuse to grant a building consent for building work to a relocated dwelling.

This determination examines an authority’s decision to refuse to grant an application for a building consent for building work in relation to relocating and altering an existing dwelling under section 50.

The determination evaluates whether the authority’s reasons for refusing to grant the building consent were specific, clear and valid, particularly concerning the natural hazard provisions of the Act, and Clauses B1 Structure, E1 Surface Water and G13 Foul Water.

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2025/030: An authority’s decisions to issue notices to fix for building work carried out without a building consent

This determination considers two successive notices to fix alleging the owner has carried out building work in a sleepout without first obtaining a building consent in contravention of section 40 of the Building Act.

The determination discusses the form and content of the notices, including whether the details were correct and the timeframes were reasonable.

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2025/029: An authority’s decision to issue three notices to fix for building work done without a building consent.

This determination considers three notices to fix for building work that was carried out without building consent.  The determination considers whether the building work was exempt under Schedule 1 of the Act.

It also considers the form and content of the notices to fix, including the particulars of the contraventions and who the notices were issued to.

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2025/028: Regarding two certificates for public use and an application for a third in relation to a building providing accommodation.

This determination addresses three decisions, the first two being certificates for public use issued in 2014 and 2023. The third concerns an application for a certificate for public use refused in 2024. The determination turns on whether the public safety test was met with regard to each of the three decisions. 

It also discusses the specified systems raised during the process as well as the conditions listed on the 2014 and 2023 certificates.

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2025/027: The refusal to grant an amendment to a building consent to include external wall claddings terminating in channel drains.

This determination relates to the authority’s decision to refuse to grant an amendment to a building consent proposing to include parts of the wall claddings terminating within channel drains at the base of the external walls.

The determination considers Building Code compliance pathways and whether the plans and specifications included sufficient evidence to establish compliance with Building Code clauses B2 Durability and E2 External moisture.

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2025/026: An authority's decision to refuse to grant a waiver of the Building Code for multiple isolated steps on access routes

This determination considers an authority’s decision to refuse to grant a building consent subject to a waiver from Building Code clause D1.3.3(i) for the proposed construction of isolated steps between multiple bedrooms and prefabricated ‘pods’ containing sanitary fixtures at a multi-storey university student accommodation building.

The determination considers the intended use of the building and whether the steps are on access routes. 

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2025/025: An authority’s decision to grant a building consent under section 72 and whether the building work was major alterations

This determination considers an authority’s decision to grant a building consent under section 72 of the Building Act 2004, which meant that a natural hazard notice was entered on the property’s record of title.

The determination considers whether the building work was ‘major alterations’ for the purpose of the natural hazard provisions of the Act.

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2025/024: An authority's decision to issue a notice to fix in relation to a unit and wastewater disposal system

This determination considers a notice to fix issued for building work carried out without first obtaining a building consent, in contravention of section 40 of the Building Act.

The determination discusses the particulars required in a notice to fix for a section 40 contravention.

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2025/023: Regarding the issue of three code compliance certificates and compliance of items of building work

This determination considers the issue of three separate code compliance certificates, related to three different building consents, for building work to make various alterations and additions to an existing detached dwelling. All three building consents were issued under the Building Act 1991.

This determination considers if the building work complies with the Building Code that applied at the time the building consents were granted.

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2025/022: The decision to purportedly refuse to issue a code compliance certificate for a detached dwelling and garage

This determination considers the authority’s decision to refuse to issue a code compliance certificate for a detached dwelling and garage in relation to the compliance with clauses B2 and E2 of the cladding and timber framing, and the compliance of a channel drain with clause E2.

The determination considers whether the reasons for refusal were sufficiently detailed. 

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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: