Moving the Department of Building and Housing's (DBH) building and construction policy unit into the new Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) will align it better with other infrastructure areas such as energy and communications, the government says.
The move would mean the development and operation of New Zealand's housing market would be considered in a better light.
Minister for Economic Development Steven Joyce confirmed today the government would go ahead with creating MBIE - dubbed the Super Ministry - from July 1 this year. DBH, the Department of Labour, the Ministry for Economic Development, and the Ministry of Science and Innovation will all merge to form the new entity.
DBH's building and construction policy, regulatory, and support functions were closely linked to the government's business growth agenda, Joyce said in a media release.
"Many of the policy decisions needed to make our economy more productive and competitive relate to the building and construction sector," he said.
"It also makes sense to align building control and regulation with other infrastructure areas to create a more integrated regulatory environment and to consider the development and operation of New Zealand’s housing market in the same light as other markets," said Joyce.
Speaking to media about the new Ministry, Joyce said those other infrastructure areas included energy and communications infrastructure.
The new Ministry would be responsible for market regulation, competition and consumer rights, Joyce said.
Ensuring access to housing, through functions such as assessment of need and provision of assistance, already rested with the Ministry of Social Development and the Housing New Zealand Corporation.
'We'll be better and faster'
Once the new Ministry had been successfully consolidated together, businesses would see the Government moving faster and in a more joined up way to address the issues that made a difference to them and their employees – including market access, innovative ideas, capital, skilled workers, resources and infrastructure, Joyce said.
Many of the business facing services would be cheaper, faster and simpler to use. The new Ministry would engage earlier to get business input and draw on businesses’ knowledge of what works, he said.
"Ministers will be getting a better picture of what decisions and actions they need to consider, as the new Ministry combines best-practice joined-up policy thinking with closer connections to business."
13 Comments
Another inept prognostication?
After listening on National Radio this morning to Rod Oram's description of the ineptitude of cabinet members over their final decision on the Crafar farms sale and how full of holes it still is, I have no hesitation in calling into question any decision from this Government. Their short term view of anything is paramount over any longer view.
http://www.radionz.co.nz/national/programmes/ninetonoon/audio/2516746/b…
Its a repeat of the Vesty business model
....and you actually believed anything that Rod Oram had to say? You realise what his credentials are and how blood stained-red his cloth is cut from?
Do you not find it hypocritical that he supported the Labour government who sold 300,000 hectares to overseas investors, and never once took them to task on it?
Minister Joyce, importing trains as you do or other infrastructure in the billions, needing manufacturing skill and innovation from overseas workforces, who in New Zealand can afford to buy petrol or the train tickets long term ? Where are the decent jobs for the wider NZpopulation ?
For years you are doing the talking, but in fact constantly underperforming.
By the way: A record number of people left for Australia last year with 53,200 heading across the Tasman, Statistics New Zealand says.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/business/industries/6798320/Record-numbers-move-…
I am struggling to see any value from combining these Ministies?
"Many of the policy decisions needed to make our economy more productive and competitive relate to the building and construction sector"... WTF?
So is the scope of the "Dept of Labour, Ministry for Economic Development, and the Ministry of Science and Innovation about to be narrowed to that of the Building and construction sector alone?
Somebody wake me when the "Brighter Future" arrives.
"Ministers will be getting a better picture of what decisions and actions they need to consider, as the new Ministry combines best-practice joined-up policy thinking with closer connections to business."
The man appears to be seriously deluded - something that perhaps spreads around cabinet tables.
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