Issue 86 September - October 2011

The arrival of the Internet has been a huge benefit to the electrical industry making large amounts of product, technical and problem solving information instantly available from around the world.
Hot on the heels of this information explosion has been the rapid expansion of on-line ordering and, more recently, the rise of on-line trading.

Changes to fix some of the more contentious regulations that came into effect on 1 April last year are nearing completion and are hoped to be introduced by the end of October to take effect in November. These amendments are designed to clarify compliance issues in areas such as mains work, the difference between connection and livening, checking requirements prior to connection, the use of 10mA RCDs and the scope of prescribed electrical work.

Treasury’s escalating forecast of the number of Christchurch homes requiring more than $100,000 in remedial repairs has created further angst that New Zealand won’t have sufficient trade skills to cope with demand when the Canterbury re-build begins.