The September 1 transfer of the Electrical Workers Licensing Group to the Department of Building and Housing is the
latest step in strengthening building and housing services to the industry and the public.
The Licensing Group, currently part of the Ministry of Economic
Development, provides registration and complaints assessment
services to the Electrical Workers Registration Board, and is
responsible for certifying the ongoing competency of about 38,000
registered electrical and electronic workers.
“It might have a relatively low profi le, but this is a very signifi cant
organisation playing a very signifi cant role in a large industry,”
Andrew Hearn, General Manager, Building and Housing Sector
Policy, at the Department of Building and Housing, said. He said
EWLG was a “natural fi t” with the Department, complementing
previous realignments such as the integration of Building Industry
Authority staff into the Department, and the development of
occupational licensing for building practitioners.
“The government is essentially bringing together related and linked
responsibilities and tasks,” he said.
John Sickels, Licensing Group Manager, said the fi rst priority was to
achieve a seamless transition.
“There are two key components here,” he said.
“First, we are ensuring that electrical and electronic
workers have their registration licensing processes
continue in exactly the same fashion. Indeed, the
same staff will be processing the same forms in the same way. I
expect it to be a very smooth transition,” Mr Sickels said.
“And secondly, the public will still be able to make complaints about
electricians in exactly the same way as before.”
He said the smoothness of the process was greatly assisted by all
contact details remaining the same.
“We’re changing our home, so to speak, but it is very much
business as usual in terms of what we do and the services we offer,”
he said.
The EWLG has a staff of 14 and an operating budget of
$3.6 million.
The task now is making the move and informing EWLG’s key
stakeholders – the 38,000 workers in the industry and the public.
Andrew Hearn said the shift was occurring at an exciting time in
the whole building and construction sector, of which many electrical
workers are a key part.
“Important initiatives have been announced by the Minister for
Building Issues in recent months, designed to create a better
coordinated, more responsive, more capable sector.
“One key to that is having related tasks and functions aligned within
one department. We are delighted to be welcoming the Electrical
Workers Licensing Group on board,” he said.
John Sickels said there would be real benefi ts for the organisation in
being located within the Department of Building and Housing.
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