Transfer of IQP register to Auckland Council proposed
A proposal to transfer the administration of the Independent Qualified Person (IQP) Register to Auckland Council is now open for community feedback.
IQPs are responsible for making sure safety systems in commercial buildings are working properly by carrying out building warrants of fitness checks. The register lists the IPQs available to undertake checks within Northland.
For the past 20 years, Whangārei District Council (WDC) has managed the IQP register for all three of Northland’s district councils. WDC recently transferred the management of its IQP register to Auckland and is no longer able to offer this service for Far North District Council (FNDC).
Transferring administration of the Far North IQP register to Auckland Council will offer several advantages including reduced compliance costs and access to a more efficient, web-based portal system. With a dedicated team working on IQP administration, Auckland Council is better placed to manage the register. Alternatively, FNDC could take back responsibility of assessing and maintaining its own IQP register, but this would come with additional staffing and system costs.
Other councils nationwide are collaborating on IQP registration. The South Island operates under a single register administered by Timaru District Council, and a joint group administers the register for several councils in the Waikato region.
Under the proposed transfer, Auckland Council would undertake the following responsibilities for Far North District Council:
- Approval of IQPs
- Maintenance of the IQP register
- Setting of fees for approval and ongoing registration.
The responsibility and auditing of building warrants of fitness will remain with FNDC staff.
The council is obligated to inform the public about this proposal and gather feedback before reaching a decision. Submissions are open from Tuesday 2 April to Tuesday 30 April 2024.
To make a submission, go to the council’s Have Your Say webpage. Alternatively, submissions can be emailed to submissions@fndc.govt.nz or delivered to any Far North District Council Service Centre. Verbal submissions will be organised at the end of the submission period.