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Engineers say innovation is being stifled and major construction and infrastructure projects hampered by a standards system that's not fit for purpose.
Many builds can utilise off the shelf standards for building products and design - these standards are funded through building levies and there's no charge for a builder to obtain.
However, standards for larger or bespoke designs are not funded, and must be fully paid for by the client.
Standards NZ is a unit within MBIE and is entirely funded through user-pays revenue, with its fees set to increase at the end of the month.
Engineering NZ says it is underfunded, and the current user pays model isn't working.
Richard Templer is the chief executive of Engineering NZ.
