Plumbers NZ is New Zealand's largest online plumbing, gas and drainage resource. Plumbing exam help, plumbing news, directory and free quotes.
-
Williamson is trying to sneak a validation bill through Parliament that would amend the Act and change the offences fee to an offences Levy and thereby justify the legalised theft by the PGDB. He has entered in on Parliment's business under urgency. We understand if this passes the recommendation of the Ombudsman to repay industry the $600k that they took illegally would be invalid.
You MUST get hold of your MP and get them to put pressure on to refer this to Select Committee so that we can all have our say. These bastards are as sneaky as a vatful of snakes - they cannot be trusted and democracy must win on the day. Please contact Williamson's office, contact Key's office and contact all the MP's you know and ask them to get this matter referred to Select Committee.
Williamson is again bailing out the PGDB who make cock up after cock up. It's like running to mummy so that she can make it all better. Watch out for a special edition of the Federation newsletter - but in the meantime don't wait to make contact with your local MP some way some how.
-
This is discusting.
The government is legalising the Board ignoring treasury and office of the Auditor General guidelines by placing an illegal tax on us.
Fees have gone from $25.00 to $270 in 6 years. That's over 1000% increase.
How about we don't pay our fees and then change the government getting them to make what happended in the past legal. It's the same thing.
Corruption in its most discusting form.
-
hi guys, yes this is Williamson trying to cover his arse because he knows that he is the one who has allowed all this illegal stuff that the board dream up to take place. Ultimately he is the one who will get the blame, even the board would say that `the minister o.k.ed it` cheers
-
Yep Robbo I agree. This just proves the need for the Federation as theses pricks on the Board, Building and Housing Group and Minister can't be trusted. I believe they have no credibility or integrity.
It also proves the need for the industry to speak up for its self.
-
Amen to that Watchdog. I can just imagine the PGDB members rubbing their hands together as they plot to get themselves out of the crap, and out of having to front up with $600k back to industry due to their cock ups of the past. I am apalled that Williamson is again looking to bail them out of the shit by sweeping it all under the carpet and making it right. Too bad that tradesmen don't get this luxury when appearing before the Board. Double standards of the worse kind.
You know karma is a great thing and you can only flip the bird to the RRC, the Ombudsman, Parliament and industry so many times - it has to come and bite you in the bum. If I was a builder I would be concerned - our chair in common is probably lining them up next.
-
It looks like there gonna try every dodgy trick to screw us over.
If you read 4 section 143 Ammended in this bill it states,
The board may, by notice in the Gazette, impose on every registered person a disciplinary and prosecution levy of ANY AMOUNT it thinks fit for the purpose of funding the costs arising out of investigations, proceedings and prosecutions.
We need to let everyone know about this and all stand together so we can get rid of these corrupt thieves.
-
Just wait until they have to charge for the lost revenue of the gas certs....totally corrupt....all the way to the top.
We need public scrutiny ASAP.....
-
from the parliament website below......
Legislation
Bills
Content provider
Information
Date:
11 March 2013
Related links
Text of bill and related SOPs on New Zealand Legislation website
Plumbers, Gasfitters, and Drainlayers Amendment Bill
This Bill amends the Plumbers, Gasfitters, and Drainlayers Act 2006 and validates a disciplinary levy and an offences fee prescribed by the Plumbers, Gasfitters, and Drainlayers Board and extends the Board's power to impose levies so that the Board has funding for all of the functions I is required to carry out under the Act, including the prosecution of non-registered person..
Member in charge: Hon Maurice Williamson
Type of bill: Government
Parliament: 50
Bill no: 101-1
Introduction: 11/3/13
-
Contact your local MP and ask them to do everything they can to have this moved to Select Committee stage so we can all have our say. If you have ever sat on the fence and wondered if you should do something, or wished afterwards that you had done something - then let this be your moment, the moment when you decide to take action. Pick up the phone, get on the computer - but don't let this chance pass you by or you will regret it.
Williamson thinks he is smarter than the guys with the utes, the cell phones and the dogs - is he?
-
hi guys,no good trying to convince National M.Ps they will just agree with Williamson, they can`t be seen `rocking the boat`or it might cost them perk rights, what a scam this is you scratch my back and i will scratch yours. M.P.s are nothing more than a bunch of `control freaks`cheers
-
Hi, guys, yes Jax we need to do something, i believe that we should `ALL` bombard Minister Joyce with reasons that he should look into the plumbing setup and boards outrageous charges and conditions of being in our trades. He`s championing the incentives to become a trades person so he will have the most interest in sorting problems ‘hopefully` i will be drafting a message to him right away,cheers
…
Employment Minister Steven Joyce brought the scheme's start date forward to last Wednesday, as many employers were holding back until April 1 to get the bonus. Another 60 have registered to receive a $1,000.00 bonus for trades such as plumbing, roofing and scaffolding.
-
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10871137
Just the latest in a long line of crap from the Govt.
-
The effect of this is that the Board cannot be required by registered persons to refund the monies collected by the Board unlawfully.
from parliament in their own words......democracy at work.....
-
this whole regime and setup is utterly disgusting and immoral .....how to make illegal doings become legal, money and power, and we fund it.
what a disgrace.
plumbing and related trades just get more complicated each and every day, whats the saying?? keep it simple stupid .
well i cant wait to get out of this crap and bullshit .
-
Can anyone post an email or link here for users to quickly comment?? I looked at http://inthehouse.co.nz/node/17530 but you cant comment. Any Ideas??
-
http://www.parliament.nz/en-NZ/MPP/MPs/MPs/Default.htm?pf=Electorate&sf=&lgc=0
Get emailing :-X
-
MP in my electorate is National :'(
-
Found this from 2009 by Robbo.....(mate we are not too far away from this, f*#king love this story, gold.)
BEWARE OF THE PLUMBING POLICE.
The plumbing police was an initiative some years ago by the plumbing board of New Zealand. It was introduced to combat `COWBOYS` who were untrained tradesmen who carried out plumbing work that was generally faulty and caused all sorts of Health and Safety problems, so the board introduced a `LEVI` that was imposed on all qualified plumbers, this `LEVI` was to prosecute `COWBOYS` and rid the trade of faulty workmanship! Great. Well apart from this `LEVI` increasing along with the normal licence fee every year, the net has been extended to include all tradesmen in the trade who may have made a mistake, has not renewed their licence, or has been deemed by the plumbing police that they have not carried out a rule or regulation perfect job. This has become a cash cow for the board with money flowing their way by the $1000s, tradesmen are leaving the trade/country in droves, does this faze the board? Not at all, the board is a well oiled, well paid group who will not give up their easy soft jobs; in fact they are probably looking for new initiatives. Imagine this Scenario:-
The New Zealand Government has allowed extensions to be built onto every police station across the land to house the Plumbing Police, they will have their own uniforms and Plumbing Police cars and will be able to stop any plumber’s vehicle to check for any out of date licences, instant fines will be issued to non licence holders, also they will check for Health and Safety equipment, safety shoes/hard hats, goggles,
Etc, again instant fines apply for non-compliance. They will call into any place where building work is taking place to check out plumbing compliance, fault finding will take place and again instant fines for minor inadequacies. The plan works wonderfully well and the money rolls in, is this the Goldmine discovery that will get the country out of the red? Yes they agree. Onward and upward the board comes up with another brainwave, the board will patent the Plumbing Police and sell system and software across the world, it works a treat and countries financial problems are quickly solved, the board of New Zealand has solved the world financial crisis and makes a fortune in the process.
Back in New Zealand a problem has come to the notice of the board, plumbers phones are ringing but are not being answered, plumbers are afraid to go to work while the Plumbing Police are about so hide during daylight hours, working only at night to earn just enough to survive and to feed their families. The money stops rolling in! the board cannot understand what is going on (but then they never could) so set up an emergency meeting with the Plumbing Police. It is decided that the Plumbing Police will now operate a 24hr system to stop this illegal work; they employ a lot more staff, staffing is not a problem with their new found wealth. The plan is very successful with a silver lining, the Plumbing Police have discovered that home owners and businesses are carrying out their own plumbing because they can’t get plumbers to do it, the money rolls in again but more problems are just around the corner. Plumbing problems are developing across the land, leaking pipes, no hot water, blocked drains, overflowing toilets and nobody brave enough to risk being found working by the Plumbing Police. The board must act quickly, the Health and Safety of all New Zealand is in grave danger, another emergency meeting of the great minds is called, with the outcome quickly arrived at. We will set an advertising campaign in place to recruit as many people as possible to be trained as plumbers with crash courses and huge rewards for the successful candidates who will then proceed to clean up the mess left by the previous work force. Sadly the campaign failed with nobody wanting to be tricked into joining an organization that charges so much to go to work and then take a large chunk of the eventual earnings by way of instant fines and disciplinary matters. Confidence of the people was at an all time low with failing Health and Safety sweeping the country, disease will soon spread because of sanitation issues. The board’s great minds must meet again to solve this impasse. The meeting lasted hours with much tea drinking, wringing of hands, twiddling of thumbs but no solution was arrived at other than to “pass the parcel” and send an urgent request to the minister of building and construction to come up with a solution. Tradesmen are still waiting, the whole country is hoping that the Plumbing Police will be discontinued and the Health and Safety of the people can be restored. THE END.
-
Attached is a letter sent to every Member of Parliament today.
The manner in which they choose to vote will determine if we become "an industry lost".
-
very well said and very well appointed letter Wal.
you make me proud to be a member of PGDF and not any other tin pot organisation whom may pretend to represent the hard workers in this industry.
Thank you.
-
Thanks Wal - excellent letter - let's hope it has the desired effect. Of course a little extra incentive from voters in each electorate wouldn't go amiss. It appears Mr Williamson has been "lobbying" MP's around the Amendment Bill - c'mon guys - give your MP a gentle reminder - email him/her and ask them to support the ordinary working people of this world - and not to condone or legislate the wrongdoings of this Board.
-
i did that Jax, got no response ,must be out for dinner
-
What's the dates now for this Bill, where and how do they progress, etc.
What day and time can I catch this on the parliament channel and perhaps we could we get/publish any transcripts from the select committee.
I want to see democracy at work 8)....or not at work :'(.
-
OOOPSIE...... 8)
Committee fails to back plumbers' levy law change
Radio New Zealand
The legislation would retrospectively allow the industry regulator, the Plumbers Gasfitters and Drainlayers Board to collect levies to chase and prosecute ...
-
Fingers crossed for the second reading.........And then next the charities commission and regulation review committee, the trifecta...... go, you good thing.
I wonder if they will blame the Feds for pointing out their illegalities...........bit like a burglar blaming the witness that saw him climbing over someone's back fence with a TV, for his getting caught.........here's an idea....don't do it in the first place and abide by the law.
-
http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/political/132048/committee-fails-to-back-plumbers'-levy-law-change
:-[
-
hi guys/Badger, now we all need to make sure that all members of parliment know the facts of what the Board has been doing over the last 10/12 years so that they can make an informed vote and not just a party vote because they can`t be bothered to research the problems and speak against it. We all need to email our local M.P. and even go to their office to spell it out or williamson may just win, cheers
-
totally agree mate, check out the 3rd open letter to Williamson