Department of Building and Housing


The Department of Building and Housing was a government agency within the New Zealand government. Established in 2004 out of the Ministry of Housing, it was disestablished in 2012 and its former functions are now incorporated within the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment.

History

In 2004, following its 2003 review of the housing sector, the Fifth Labour Government announced plans to reconfigure government services related to building and housing. The existing Ministry of Housing was disestablished and its functions transferred to the new Department of Building and Housing, along with other relevant functions from the Ministry of Economic Development, Department of Internal Affairs and Ministry of Social Development. The Building Industry Authority was also merged into this new department. The agency commenced operations in November 2004, following the passage of the Building Act 2004 that August. Its responsible ministers were the Minister of Housing and the Minister of Building Issues.
In March 2012, the Fifth National Government announced that the Department would be integrated into a new Ministry comprising the Ministry of Economic Development, the Department of Labour, Ministry of Science and Innovation and the Department of Building and Housing. The new Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment began operating on 1 July 2012.