Building Act Changes: Why Cheaper Imported Joinery Could Cost You

What the Proposed Building Act Changes Could Mean for Kiwi Homes — and Why Quality Joinery Matters

New rules are coming into effect under the Building Act. While they’re designed to make construction easier and cheaper, they also raise important questions about long-term quality, performance, and trust in the products going into Kiwi homes.

The Government has passed legislation allowing overseas building products to be used more easily in New Zealand. The idea is to encourage competition and lower costs. Sounds good in theory right? But here’s the catch: not every product designed overseas is made for New Zealand’s unique climate. And when it comes to your home, that difference matters more than you might think.

Why the Changes Raise Concern

Loosening the rules could make it easier for lower-quality, non-compliant products to enter the NZ market. That could mean:

Homes that aren’t built to last – Products not tested for New Zealand’s sun, wind, or moisture may deteriorate quickly.
A higher risk of failures – Water leaks, corrosion, and failing windows or doors could become more common.
Less accountability – Offshore products may not meet our standards, and if something goes wrong, there’s often no local supplier to turn to.

With more overseas products expected on the market, homeowners will see cheaper alternatives—but lower cost comes with trade-offs. Cutting corners on quality can lead to serious long-term issues: leaks, poor energy efficiency, and materials that simply don’t stand up to our harsh climate.

Real Examples from Imported Joinery

We recently recovered a set of imported windows failed, which had failed after only four months of installation, leading to damage within the property. The findings highlight the importance of using joinery specifically designed for New Zealand’s unique conditions. Among the key issues identified were:

Water Ingress Due to Poor Sealing

Corners were covered in messy, low quality oversealing, and miters had no small joint sealers. Water was creeping in, causing corrosion and potential structural damage.

Slider Tracks That Let Water In

The flat slider track design allowed rain to blow straight into the house. This allowed for water damage to the interior of the house and flooring (rotten floor-boards, soaked bottom plates etc.)

Powdercoat Wear and Corrosion Risk

The powdercoat on the top slider track was rubbing off, revealing a chromate pretreatment. In New Zealand’s UV-heavy and coastal environments, this leads to early corrosion and shortens the lifespan of the system.

Inconsistent Glazing Quality

Some units were pre-glazed overseas with lower-quality glass, while others were site-glazed locally. Poor glazing affects thermal performance, soundproofing, and even safety.

Supply Chain Challenges

When defects occur, imported systems can take weeks—or even months—to replace, leaving homeowners and builders stranded and disrupting project timelines.

These examples show that even seemingly sophisticated imported systems can struggle if they’re not designed for New Zealand conditions or aligned with our building standards.

Why Local Joinery Matters

At Omega, we believe every Kiwi home deserves materials and joinery that are:

Made for New Zealand conditions – tested against rain, wind, UV, and coastal exposure.
Built to last – with effective, tested seals, durable finish options, and reliable glazing.
Supported by dependable supply chains – so problems can be addressed quickly, locally and without leaving homeowners stranded.

Choosing joinery isn’t just about style or upfront cost—it’s about long-term performance, durability, and peace of mind. Investing in high-quality, locally made joinery ensures doors and windows that truly stand the test of time, keeping your home safe, comfortable, and beautiful for years to come.

There’s nothing more expensive than cheap joinery (in the long run…).