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BRANZ: Accessibility beyond Building Code minimums
April 2024: Government figures indicate that 24% of New Zealanders have some form of lasting impairment and the total number is growing as the population ages. While many older people remain healthy and mobile, the incidence of impairment nevertheless increases with age – 59% of people 65 or over have some form of disability. In just 5 years, it is estimated that over 1 million Kiwis will be 65 or over. By 2075, when most of the homes we are building today will still be standing, one in four to one in three of us will be 65 or over.
Despite these figures, Building Code requirements for homes make very limited provision for people with disabilities. In clause D1 Access routes, the objective that “people with disabilities are able to enter and carry out normal activities and functions within buildings” does not apply to housing. Similarly with G1 Personal hygiene, the requirement that “people with disabilities are able to carry out normal activities and processes within buildings” does not apply to housing.
Making new homes accessible for people at different stages of life, including old age, is obviously a good idea. It is vastly more cost-effective and less disruptive to design in accessible features at the planning stage than to retrofit after a home is built.
Photo: BRANZ.
Aqualinc: How fit are your consents?
April 2024: Aqualinc's Matt Bubb writes about resource consents in an article published both on Aqualinc's website and in the latest issue of Canturbury Farming. Resource consents play a crucial role in the operation of most farming businesses. "They’re the cornerstone of our operations and enable us to carry out activities to make the most of our land."
"However, it’s common for us to overlook the importance of regularly reviewing our consents. By neglecting to review them we increase the likelihood of non-compliance, we could miss an opportunity to ensure the consents are appropriate for what we want to be doing, as well as potentially missing other opportunities the consents may provide.
"It’s essential to ensure that consents are accurate and up to date. A periodic review of consents will enable an assessment of whether they are still fit for purpose and that there is full compliance. Reviewing consents can reveal potential issues that need to be addressed before they escalate into problems.
"Reviews can identify where there may not be full compliance, allowing corrective action to be taken before regulators intervene. It’s important to understand that consents are not set in stone. Some aspects of them can be amended to better reflect the needs of the farming operation."
Photo: Aqualinc.
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Welcome to the Independent Research Association of New Zealand
IRANZ is an association of independent research organisations. IRANZ represents the collective interests of members by undertaking activities aimed at creating a positive operating environment for Independent Research Organisations in New Zealand.
IRANZ member organisations make vital contributions to a broad range of scientific fields, and offer an important complement to university-based and Crown Research Institute research. Our smaller sizes and greater flexibility provide an environment that is particularly conducive to innovation and end-user engagement.
IRANZ member organisations:
- Are ‘independent’ (non-government owned);
- Carry out high-quality scientific research, development or technology transfer;
- Have strong linkages with end-users;
- Work in a diverse range of settings and subject specialities;
- Derive a significant portion of their work from Government research contracts;
- Collaborate with universities, Crown Research Institutes and research departments of industrial organisations; and
- Having varying governance and ownership arrangements.
Find out more about IRANZ and our members by checking out our News page.