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2: Commencement
or “This explains when different parts of the law start to work.”
You could also call this:

“This law explains why we have rules for building things, to keep people safe and healthy when using buildings.”

This Act has two main purposes. The first purpose is to set up rules for building work, create a system for licensing people who work in building, and set standards for how buildings should perform. These rules and standards are made to make sure:

You can use buildings safely without putting your health at risk.

Buildings have features that help keep you healthy, allow you to be independent, and support your well-being when you use them.

You can escape from a building if there’s a fire.

Buildings are designed, built, and used in ways that are good for the environment and don’t waste resources.

The second purpose of this Act is to make sure that people who own buildings, design them, build them, or give permission for them to be built are responsible for making sure the building work follows the building code.

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Next up: 4: Principles to be applied in performing functions or duties, or exercising powers, under this Act

or “This section explains the rules people must follow when making decisions about buildings to keep everyone safe and happy.”
Next

Part 1 Preliminary provisions
General: Purpose and principles

3Purposes

  1. This Act has the following purposes:

  2. to provide for the regulation of building work, the establishment of a licensing regime for building practitioners, and the setting of performance standards for buildings to ensure that—
    1. people who use buildings can do so safely and without endangering their health; and
      1. buildings have attributes that contribute appropriately to the health, physical independence, and well-being of the people who use them; and
        1. people who use a building can escape from the building if it is on fire; and
          1. buildings are designed, constructed, and able to be used in ways that promote sustainable development:
          2. to promote the accountability of owners, designers, builders, and building consent authorities who have responsibilities for ensuring that building work complies with the building code.

            Notes
            • Section 3: replaced, on , by section 4 of the Building Amendment Act 2012 (2012 No 23).