Before any bricklayer sets foot on your property, it pays to check their insurance cover. While New Zealand doesn't have a single law that forces all bricklayers to hold specific insurance, the right policies protect you from potentially costly claims if something goes wrong — whether that's damage to your home, an injury on site, or defective workmanship discovered later.
Why Insurance Matters for Bricklaying Work
Bricklaying involves heavy materials, scaffolding, and work that becomes a permanent part of your building's structure. A mistake — a wall out of plumb, mortar that fails, or a brick dropped through a window — can be expensive to fix. Without adequate insurance, you could find yourself footing the bill or locked in a dispute with a tradesperson who has no financial backing to cover the loss.
Always ask to see proof of insurance before signing any contract and before work begins.
Public Liability Insurance
Public liability insurance is the most important policy to check for. It covers third-party property damage and personal injury claims that arise from the tradesperson's work. For example, if a bricklayer accidentally damages your fence, cracks a water pipe, or a brick falls and injures someone on your property, public liability insurance is what pays out.
As a guide, most reputable NZ tradespeople carry a minimum of $1 million in public liability cover, though $2 million or more is common for larger or more complex jobs. Ask the bricklayer for a current certificate of currency — a one-page document from their insurer confirming the policy is active and showing the level of cover.
Professional Indemnity Insurance
Professional indemnity (PI) insurance covers claims arising from errors in advice, design input, or professional judgement. For a bricklayer who is also advising on structural matters — such as retaining walls or load-bearing brickwork — PI cover is worth asking about. It's less universally held than public liability, but it's increasingly common among experienced tradespeople who take on design-and-build or project management roles.
ACC — New Zealand's Accident Compensation Scheme
All workers in New Zealand are covered by the Accident Compensation Corporation (ACC) for personal injury caused by accident. This means if the bricklayer is injured on your site, ACC will cover their medical costs and a portion of lost income — you won't generally be liable for that. However, ACC does not cover property damage or consequential losses, which is why public liability insurance remains essential.
Self-employed bricklayers pay ACC levies themselves. It's worth confirming they are operating as a legitimate business (with an NZBN or GST registration) rather than as a cash-in-hand operator, as this affects their ACC status and your protections.
Builders' Contract Works Insurance
For larger bricklaying projects — such as a new brick home, a substantial retaining wall, or a major renovation — contract works insurance (sometimes called construction insurance) may also be relevant. This covers the work in progress against risks like fire, storm, theft, or accidental damage during construction. On bigger jobs, check whether your homeowner's insurance extends to cover works under construction, or whether the builder/bricklayer is expected to hold this policy. Speak to your own insurer before work begins.
Licensed Building Practitioners (LBP)
Bricklaying that forms part of the weathertight envelope or structural elements of a building is restricted building work (RBW) under the NZ Building Act. This work must be carried out or supervised by a Licensed Building Practitioner (LBP) with the relevant licence class (typically Bricklaying and Blocklaying — confirm the exact licence class name with the LBP scheme at lbp.govt.nz). LBPs are required to meet competency standards and are accountable to the LBP scheme — which adds a layer of consumer protection beyond insurance alone.
Always check your bricklayer's LBP licence on the public register at lbp.govt.nz if the work involves restricted building work. Your local council can confirm whether a building consent is required and whether the work qualifies as RBW.
What to Ask Before Signing a Contract
Here's a quick checklist to run through with any bricklayer before work starts:
| What to Check | Why It Matters |
|---|---|
| Certificate of currency (public liability) | Confirms active cover and amount |
| Policy expiry date | Cover must be valid for the full job duration |
| Level of cover (minimum $1–2 million) | Adequate for most residential jobs |
| LBP licence (if RBW is involved) | Legal requirement for restricted work |
| GST registration / NZBN | Confirms legitimate business status |
| Contract works insurance (larger jobs) | Covers the build itself during construction |
A reputable bricklayer will have no hesitation providing this information. If they're reluctant or vague, treat that as a red flag.
When to Call a Professional
Any bricklaying that forms part of your home's structure or weathertight envelope — including brick veneer cladding, load-bearing brick walls, and retaining walls over certain heights — requires a licensed professional and likely a building consent. Check with your local council before work begins. For guidance on the NZ Building Code and consent requirements, MBIE Building Performance is an excellent starting point. BRANZ also publishes technical guidance on masonry construction standards.
You can find qualified, insured local bricklayers on tradedirectory.co.nz — always ask for references and proof of insurance before committing.
Licensed Building Practitioner (LBP)
