New Zealand's first course to upskill building inspectors may not be expanded next year as hoped.
Last year, Otago Polytechnic won a contract from the Department of Building and Housing to develop a pilot programme for building inspectors.
It was designed to widen their skills and knowledge and came about as a response to public outcries over the leaky homes issue, polytechnic marketing, communication and customer relations general manager Mike Waddell said this week.
Sixteen building inspectors had signed up for two qualifications offered this year, the National Diploma Building Control and Surveying (medium and large buildings) level 6, and the National Diploma Building Control and Surveying (small buildings), level 5.
Both were offered through the polytechnic's Centre for the Assessment of Prior Learning (Capl) - an individualised programme where candidates' existing knowledge is assessed and they are assisted to fill in any gaps.
The polytechnic was hoping to work with partner institutions to expand the courses to more building inspectors next year, but the Government does not intend to put any further money in to help that happen.
A spokeswoman from building and housing minister Maurice Williamson's office said this week the Government "did not intend to help fund the upskilling of building inspectors at this time".
Mr Waddell said he was not surprised by that, as the Government seemed to consider upskilling of building inspectors a personal development issue rather than a building compliance issue.
He said he was not sure if the polytechnic would continue to offer the courses next year as that decision would depend on the financial viability of the courses.
If the courses were offered, building inspectors could meet the cost themselves, or their enrolment fees might be met by their employers, usually local authorities.
