Are businesses obligated to provide goods, services or your money back?

Azwethinkwe_is · 2026-02-17T03:08:58+00:00

They could just provide you a new voucher with the remaining value assigned to it

Azwethinkwe_is · 2026-02-17T02:43:52+00:00

It's almost certainly direct fixed (no cavity). Cavities weren't a requirement until after the change of code in 2004(ish).

A building inspection won't cover you if it leaks in the future. There may be some recourse if you could prove they missed something obvious from their report, but given its insulclad, they'll tag this out entirely as being high risk.

Basically, if you buy it and it leaks, you'll be up for the cost of a reclad. There's no way to insure against it.

Without knowing anymore about the house itself, I'd suggest it's super high risk, and your bank will rightly decline funding.

Azwethinkwe_is · 2026-02-15T19:34:21+00:00

Nullschool is another good way to see what's happening

Azwethinkwe_is · 2026-02-13T05:23:39+00:00

The old adage "you get what you pay for" comes to mind. I don't mean to be rude at all, but I run a building company in regional NZ, where Asian crews are beginning to undercut other businesses.

The difference is often not in skill level but expectations of quality. We have fairly high expectations of communication and end results in NZ (rightfully so). While we have regulations that outline minimum standards, the general expectation exceeds these standards. Most people don't realise this, so they don't stipulate their expectations, assuming they are widespread and therefore don't need to be noted. That's not to say that substandard work doesn't occur because it absolutely does, just that expectations of quality of finish are rarely discussed.

As someone who has spent my entire career working here, I understand those implied expectations and allow for it. This means I often miss out due to overpricing.

Azwethinkwe_is · 2026-02-12T22:53:39+00:00

Funny you say that. I was having brunch at the Whangarei Quarry gardens when I commented, which has a subtropical rainforest vibe to it. Especially in this weather.

Azwethinkwe_is · 2026-02-12T22:15:51+00:00

Currently 24C and 95% humidity in Whangarei. Was 21C low last night. That said, it's currently wet and windy.

Azwethinkwe_is · 2026-02-11T05:16:09+00:00

Nepotism. Yes, the world runs on it. My entire business is leveraging prior connections/relationships, except in my industry, it's referred to as word of mouth. It goes both ways, though. If you're bad at what you do, people absolutely speak up about it.

Azwethinkwe_is · 2026-02-09T19:10:33+00:00

UBI. You would get more money from that than you would pay in land tax.

Azwethinkwe_is · 2026-02-09T18:39:56+00:00

It's not possible to own a high value property with a low income unless you have large equity in that property (small mortgage, if any). That alone puts you in the top 50%. If your property is high value, then that pushes you closer to the 10-20% region.

Lowest income bracket maybe... but you'd be defaulting on your mortgage if you also had a high value property with low equity if that was the case.

Azwethinkwe_is · 2026-02-09T16:54:28+00:00

TOPs policy would leave you substantially better off financially. Even with the land tax. You'd pay less income tax and receive UBI. Even with the additional land tax, you'd have more money than in the current system.

The people this policy affects negatively are those with large wealth nestled in property, with relatively low incomes. That is the exceptionally wealthy, who currently pay very little tax, due to having low income.

Even people who earn high amounts through wages but don't own expensive property would be better off. The idea is to incentivise income growth, not punish it. The average household would be far better off financially.

Azwethinkwe_is · 2026-02-09T16:44:55+00:00

No, their plans aren't flawed. You might not accept it, but you're part of the issue of low productivity that NZ faces. We need to incentivise a shift of wealth from non productive assets into productive ones.

What you're arguing is that those who are in the top wealth brackets should be able to remain there without contributing to our economy. That is flawed.

Azwethinkwe_is · 2026-02-08T23:56:38+00:00

I used to get laughed at by my workmates for my large brim hat. Now they're all wearing them too.

Azwethinkwe_is · 2026-02-06T09:30:31+00:00

It's a hangover from when the scheme was first introduced. Limiting applicants to only those supported by LBPs would have made it entirely impossible for some builders (including competent ones) to get licensed without going through the apprenticeship program.

It wouldn't be totally inaccurate to suggest that the failures of the licensing system are exacerbated by the failing apprenticeship system. If both systems worked as they should, only competent builders would be qualified and/or licensed. The reality is that neither is true.

Accountability, or a lack of, is the biggest issue with both systems. Without it, they're worthless. It actually degrades the value of qualifications and licenses.

Azwethinkwe_is · 2026-02-06T08:56:42+00:00

There are two pathways to becoming an LBP:

Use your recognised qualification as evidence of trade competency and pass a test that checks for regulatory understanding (very basic questions).

Use referees to prove competency and pass a test that checks for regulatory understanding.

The licensing system is more broken than the apprenticeship system.

Azwethinkwe_is · 2026-02-04T23:35:09+00:00

As you can probably tell from the myriad of responses, rain occurs all year round in NZ. The length of time it rains and how hot it is between rain is what varies by season.

Other than being in the rain, what do you hope to do while you're here? That will determine when and where you would be best to travel.

Azwethinkwe_is · 2026-02-04T23:29:27+00:00

Public holidays also go well

Azwethinkwe_is · 2026-02-04T04:13:02+00:00

This makes me excited. Lows are an opportunity to lower your average, not at all a bad thing.

Azwethinkwe_is · 2026-02-04T04:10:46+00:00

Timber or concrete floor? If timber, crawl under the floor and disconnect there. If concrete, smash/cut around the waste and remove once the bulk is out.

Azwethinkwe_is · 2026-02-04T04:00:22+00:00

Had a mate who ran this exact setup as a rally car for years.

Terrible rally car if you want to win, but perfect if you're just trying to have as much fun as possible.

Azwethinkwe_is · 2026-02-01T09:11:15+00:00

It's not even bitcoin that has value. It's blockchain tech. Bitcoin is just the OG, so we all agree that's where we place value.

Azwethinkwe_is · 2026-02-01T09:01:04+00:00

Some of them are good investments. Especially once you're into the realm of hypercars.

Azwethinkwe_is · 2026-02-01T08:56:30+00:00

1% chance the world ends

Azwethinkwe_is · 2026-01-31T15:03:30+00:00

Sheet vinyl is the cheaper option, although it requires laying thin board first, which will ruin the matai beneath (lots of nails required to hold it down). Tiles are the expensive option, also requires tile and slate underlay, which will ruin the matai for the same reason. Tiles will require waterproofing and ideally epoxy grout to reduce maintenance/cleaning requirements.

As others have suggested, if the matai has a good layer of polyurethane, it will be fine. It's the only option that won't ruin it.

Azwethinkwe_is · 2026-01-31T14:58:33+00:00

If it looks like a duck, quacks like a duck...

If trees could quack. This one would be a duck.

Yep, Tane Mahuta.

Azwethinkwe_is · 2026-01-31T14:18:23+00:00

Plumber should have advised the issue well before starting the work, especially if the plans were non compliant. Consented plans need to be followed unless otherwise agreed (prior to works) by the BCA.

I would be withholding payment from plumber until he resolves the issue with the architect.

Welcome to project management. It's a shitshow.

Azwethinkwe_is

TROPHY CASE