6 minute read
Updates
NEWS AND INFORMATION FROM AROUND OUR INDUSTRY.
Tapware one of main causes of East Otago lead spikes
Residents of Waikouaiti, Karitane and Hawksbury Village were advised by Dunedin City Council in late July that they are finally safe to use their water again after a five-month ‘do not drink’ notice—as long as they follow Ministry of Health advice on flushing taps.
The announcement followed the release of the Council’s investigative report into the cause of lead spikes in water samples tested between July 2020 and January 2021. Investigations focused on the raw water reservoir and also on the Waikouaiti Golf Club and Karitane Bowling Club, where five samples had been found to be above acceptable lead limits—with one almost 40 times over.
The report concluded that the likely cause was lead from pipes and fittings in private properties, and not from the river or water supply network.
This is grist to the mill for Master Plumbers, which has long been telling the Government to stop ignoring compelling evidence that the health of New Zealanders is at risk as there is no mandatory independent verification of drinking water products sold in New Zealand, making it possible for consumers to buy taps containing dangerously high levels of lead.
We’ll have more on this topic in the next edition.
NEW EMPLOYER ACCREDITATION SCHEME FOR HIRING MIGRANTS
From 1 November, employers will have to be accredited to hire migrant workers on a new Accredited Employer Work Visa. The aim is to simplify the visa application process by replacing six different visas, including the Essential Skills Work Visa, and Long Term Skill Shortage List Work Visa, with a single visa process.
Employers will be able to apply for accreditation from late September. They will need to show they: are a genuine business, registered with IR and holding a
NZ Business Number (NZBN) have no recent history of non-compliance with immigration and employment laws will minimise exploitation risks by: • completing employment modules • providing migrant workers with advice on their rights • paying all recruitment costs inside and outside NZ.
More information is available at www.immigration.govt.nz
FOUR NEW WATER ENTITIES PLANNED
It’s estimated that up to $185 billion will be needed to upgrade and maintain NZ’s water infrastructure over the next 30 years. The Government is proposing to create four large publicly-owned water entities to manage the work, as it says most of the country’s 67 councils can’t shoulder the cost.
“We have seen the effects of a system in crisis: fatalities from bacteria in drinking water, broken sewer pipes, poorly treated wastewater running into streams and rivers, no-swim notices at the beaches, regular boil-water notices, and lead contamination,” said Local Government Minister Nanaia Mahuta in June. Some councils remain opposed to the proposal, despite being offered financial incentives—the latest being a $2.5 billion support package, with an initial $500 million to ensure no council is ‘worse off’ from the reforms.
FUNDING FOR SPECIALIST TRADE BENCHMARKING SCHEME
Plumbing, gas, drainlaying and other specialist trade businesses will be able to receive reports on their business performance and industry trends with the development of a new benchmarking scheme, being funded by the Construction Sector Accord (CSA).
Based on an existing Registered Master Builders scheme for lead contractors, it will enable businesses to upload their financial and operational metrics into the webbased system to receive the reports. The Specialist Trade Contractors Federation is supporting the project delivery, with the development phase due to be completed by November.
Supervision of trainees —as you were
The Plumbers, Gasfitters and Drainlayers Board (PGDB) has resolved not to go ahead with the proposal to remove the requirement for Certifying Plumbers, Gasfitters and Drainlayers to ensure trainees working under their supervision work in their direct presence (or the direct presence of a nominated person) for the first months of holding a Limited Certificate.
PERFECTLY FITTED MASKS SAVE LIVES
LIFE SHAVERS
Shaving your beard could save your life, says WorkSafe in its new Life Shavers campaign. When you’re wearing respiratory protective equipment (RPE) at work, you should be clean shaven to make sure it’s forming a seal and protecting you from breathing in harmful materials. Even a small amount of stubble can prevent RPE forming a correct seal. This can mean that, although you are wearing the appropriate RPE, you’re still inhaling potentially harmful materials which may cause health issues.
Watch WorkSafe’s new Life Shavers video and find more RPE information on the WorkSafe website at www.worksafe.govt.nz/topicand-industry/work-related-health/life-shavers/
We
This edition’s heartwarmers.
Heron Plumbing in Auckland popped the corks in May to celebrate 60 years in business. Current owners Dale and Andrea Lovell say the party at Waitemata Rugby Club was a great way to thank everyone for working hard for them and supporting the business over the last 60 years. Original owner Bryan Heron and his wife Pat were among the 140-plus guests, who also included current and former staff and suppliers. Following drinks and nibbles plus speeches from Dale, Bryan, former Waitākere Mayor Sir Bob Harvey and Waitākere Ward Councillor Hon Linda Cooper, the White Chapel Jak band had everyone dancing the night away.
The 60th birthday cake offered a slice of toilet humour. Palmerston North plumbing apprentice Shaun van Bunnik ran 144km in his gumboots for I AM HOPE’s Gumboot Friday in May, raising an amazing $13,370. Shaun, who is doing his plumbing, gasfitting and drainlaying apprenticeship at Preferred Plumbing, told the Manawatu Guardian the hardest part of his Bridge 2 Bridge Freedom Run was some of the laps after 5am but he was boosted on by his friends. Gumboot Friday’s motto is 100km for $100k—the total fundraising goal—with 100% of all donations going to provide kids with free counselling in a timely manner. Shaun told the newspaper I AM HOPE’s support for young people struggling with their mental health is a cause close to his heart.
Quinn Tupaea discovered he’d been named among four new All Blacks while at training camp in Wellington with the Māori All Blacks. Quinn is the son of Brent and Kelly Tupaea, who run Master Plumbers member business Laser Plumbing Hamilton East. He says he rushed to call them and there were a few tears as they had missed the announcement—but he made a quick trip home for a celebratory dinner before heading to Auckland to join the squad for the July test against Tonga, the first in the 2021 Steinlager Series.
