Although the Building Act covers building work, there are other laws that could affect your project. These include council bylaws, the Resource Management Act, and the laws specifying that certain plumbing, gas and electrical work must be done by qualified professionals.
You can find out more about the Building Act by going to the Department of Building and Housing, Building Act page.
The New Zealand Building Code
Under the Building Act, the Building Code defines the minimum performance standards that buildings must meet e.g. how strong an earthquake they must be able to withstand or how much natural light there must be in a bedroom.
The Building Code sets minimum standards and specifies how a building and its components must perform. You may decide to exceed those standards, but you cannot do less than the Building Code requires. To ensure your project goes smoothly, it is important the person who draws your project plans understands the Building Code requirements and how to meet them, and that the builder builds the building outlined in the approved plans. All building work in New Zealand must comply with the Building Code.