Well, we are fast approaching the end of 2011 and what has changed in the industry since the beginning.  Add to the thread and let's see what has and hasn't been achieved - give Wal some ideas for his next newsletter...

The watchword for the year has been "consultation".  If anyone complains about anything, we'll consult on it, we'll invite you to attend a meeting, and then give you pages to fill out - if that doesn't shut you up and you actually have an opinion, then you will undoubtedly be in the minority and when the decision doesn't go the way we want it, then we'll throw some numbers around, make some statistics look good and do what we really wanted to do in the first place.

Notification that gas certificates will cease as they are now and change into a Record of Installation (April 2013 I think) - poorly notified consultation meetings and a consultation document hidden on the MED pages where very few practitioners were likely to see them.  This will be a sad day for gasfitters who will need to watch their back more than ever before.  One thing the average practitioner and the PGDB agree on is that the system that we have is better than the proposed system, which will come under MED.  If the govt ever wanted to save some money they could eliminate Energy Safety Service and no one would notice. 

The Paul Gee debacle.  Cost the industry a fortune, cost Paul Gee his business, family life and undoubtedly a lot of sleep.  It's not over yet, but it certainly shone a light in some cobwebbed corners.  The optimist in me hopes that the PGDB learned something about their auditing and investigation processes for this, the pessimist in me thinks not.  Either way any one of us could be in the position Mr Gee has found himself - and that is a dangerous place to be.

 

Linkback: http://www.plumbers.co.nz/forum/rant-or-rave/5/the-year-that-was-2011/910/

Guess what Jax....... there were no investigations pre 2003, what changed in 2003???

hi guys, the diss Levy started in 2004 and was $15, look where it is now where will it finish? cheers

If only we could have increased OUR prices by that much - but then we would probably be in front of the Commerce Commission.   Some thieves come wearing a ski mask and carrying a base ball bat, and some come in a suit and tie.  What more can I say.

Good idea about increasing the hourly rate by the same percentage.  That would make my hourly rate about $1,470.44.  I can live with that. LOL 

hi guys, this is on trade-me,  has the Board invented another category of plumber without consultation,cheers

 Chartered Plumber
Listing #: 426523144
Company:  GMC Consultanc­y 
Location:  Rodney, Auckland 
Type:  Part time, Contract/T­emp 
Listed:  Thu, 24 Nov 
Pay and benefits:  $60.00 an hr 

Chartered plumber with experience in plumbing new houses. Must be able to sign off work.

 

hi guys, good jobs to be had on the Auckland Councill if you know the right people.
How did this guy get the job of inspector?

An Auckland drainlayer has been struck off the register of drainlayers. Read the article on the pgdb website.
At the time of the offending, Mr Sharma was drainage inspector for the former North Shore City Council
cheers