Major Breakthrough! Overseas Building Materials Fully Opened From Today! No Re-Certification Needed, Large Quantities of Foreign Building Materials Can Be Used Directly!

The New Zealand National Party government announced that starting today (July 28), thousands of overseas building material products can be directly used in New Zealand construction without the need for lengthy and costly re-certification.

This means that whether it is plasterboard, exterior wall systems, or doors and windows, as long as they meet the standards of Australia, the UK, the US, or the EU, they can legally enter construction sites in New Zealand!

Prime Minister Christopher Luxon, Minister of Building and Construction Chris Penk, Mt Roskill electorate Member of Parliament Carlos Cheung (image sourced from the internet)

This reform is a breakthrough in policy and an update in ideology—from "conservative and closed" to "open and efficient," and from "building high walls" to "reducing costs." The government hopes to enable construction companies to purchase more overseas materials to lower construction prices.

Ankit Sharma, CEO of the Registered Master Builders Association, stated that this official announcement signifies the government is advancing a timely and pragmatic reform, which will help reduce construction costs and improve the availability of building products across the industry.

Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Minister for Building and Construction Chris Penk

This reform is led by the National Party. At the policy launch, Minister for Building Chris Penk stated bluntly: "The cost of building a standalone house in New Zealand is 50% higher than in Australia—this is completely unreasonable."

He listed the real and astonishing price differences:

The first batch of products that have passed the BPS (Building Product Specification) to enter the compliance directory include gypsum boards, exterior wall systems, doors and windows, etc. By the end of the year, more than 200,000 Watermark-certified plumbing products will also enter the market.

Prime Minister Christopher Luxon stated:

Cameron Luxton, spokesperson for the ACT Party's Construction Department

As a coalition partner of the National Party, the Action Party feels it is "only natural" for this reform to pass.

ACT spokesperson for building affairs and former builder Cameron Luxton recalled: "In 2022, I personally experienced the GIB crisis. If we had been able to use overseas plasterboard at that time, many projects would not have come to a halt at all."

He pointed out that the Action Party had advocated for the establishment of an international certification list as early as the campaign stage. Now, the National Party has adopted this logic, almost "with the same grammar": "We finally see a government that no longer uses old methods to solve new problems."

Labour Party Building Affairs Spokesperson Arena Williams

Even the opposition parties—the Labour Party and the Green Party—have acknowledged the direction of this reform.

Labour's spokesperson for building affairs, Arena Williams, said: "This is an important step towards diversifying the market, helping to reduce building material prices and improve construction efficiency."

But she shifted her tone: "The government is canceling hundreds of public construction projects on one hand, while relying on a single building materials policy to save the industry on the other. This is unrealistic."

In the complete industrial chain of the construction industry in New Zealand, Chinese teams play an irreplaceable role. According to the "2024 New Zealand Construction Industry Report" released by NZCBIA, the number of Chinese practitioners has more than doubled in the past decade, actively participating in various aspects from design and development to construction and interior decoration. The report states that over 40% of small and medium-sized developers are Chinese background enterprises. They have been striving for many years in cities like Auckland, Hamilton, and Christchurch, accumulating experience and resources, but in recent years they have been struggling with high material costs, approval delays, and project shrinkage. In the current context of loosened building material policies, this long-accumulated professional force is expected to unleash greater momentum.

This time, they finally welcomed the opportunity for a “breakthrough.”

For Chinese construction teams with access to building material procurement resources and familiarity with international certification systems, this policy is undoubtedly a significant benefit. Opening international building material certification channels helps them respond to market demands more quickly and flexibly, further leveraging the advantages of cross-border supply chains.

Of course, challenges also exist, such as understanding international standards, controlling material compliance, and clarifying insurance liabilities. However, based on industry experience, Chinese enterprises often adapt to and implement new rules the fastest.

This is a genuine opportunity to "seize the policy dividends with real strength."

After the announcement of this significant reform, the New Zealand Chinese community instantly sparked heated discussions, becoming the focal point of attention in the construction industry. Chinese MP Carlos Cheung was present to witness Prime Minister Christopher Luxon's entire speech, demonstrating the high level of importance that the Chinese political community places on industry reform.

Another Chinese-American congresswoman, Nancy Lu, also promptly published a detailed interpretation of the policy through social media, actively conveying positive information to the Chinese community. The swift responses from both legislators further ignited the industry’s expectations for fair competition and institutional transparency.

Congresswoman Nancy Lu

Meanwhile, Tom Jr., a Chinese construction practitioner, expressed his feelings in his Moments as follows:

On the same day the building materials reform was announced, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon also, for the first time, directly addressed the issue of the potential "reshaping" of foreign home-buying restrictions in a radio program this morning.

Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Foreign Minister Winston Peters

He revealed that he is in deep consultation with Foreign Minister Winston Peters on this matter, with the focus not on the buyer's nationality, skills, or source of funds, but on: "the value of the house they are willing to buy."

Luxon said, "Winston has some very substantial points: if someone is willing to invest real money in New Zealand, they should be eligible to buy a house. We are very close to reaching an agreement."

Peters, on the other hand, is more radical. In an interview, he warned: "Liberal immigration policies overseas are changing the structure of cities and even threatening the social foundations that have been built over centuries."

He proposed the idea that "certain basic commitments must be signed to come to New Zealand," and explicitly stated: "If you are not willing to accept these commitments, then do not come."

The conversation indicates that the government is brewing a "threshold" new housing policy, which may open the real estate channel for high-net-worth individuals to balance attracting investment and safeguarding public opinion.