If you've ever applied for a building consent or dealt with a council inspection, you may have come across the term producer statement. It sounds technical, but understanding what it is — and when you need one — can save you time, money, and headaches on your building project.
What Is a Producer Statement?
A producer statement is a written declaration from a suitably qualified professional — such as an engineer, architect, or specialist contractor — confirming that their design or construction work complies with the NZ Building Code. It is not a guarantee or a warranty, but it is a formal professional opinion that a building consent authority (your local council) can rely on when processing consents or issuing a Code Compliance Certificate (CCC).
Producer statements are recognised under the Building Act 2004 and are a widely accepted tool for demonstrating compliance, particularly for complex or specialist work where the council's own inspectors may not have the technical expertise to verify compliance themselves.
The Four Types of Producer Statements
There are four standard types, each covering a different stage of the building process:
| Type | Code | Who Provides It | When It's Used |
|---|---|---|---|
| Design | PS1 | Engineer or designer | At consent application stage |
| Design Review | PS2 | Independent engineer | Peer review of another's design |
| Construction Review | PS3 | Engineer or specialist | During construction, confirming work matches design |
| Construction | PS4 | Licensed contractor | On completion, confirming work was built to spec |
- PS1 (Design): Submitted with your building consent application. An engineer confirms their design meets the Building Code.
- PS2 (Design Review): An independent professional reviews and confirms another designer's work — often required by councils for high-risk or complex projects.
- PS3 (Construction Review): Issued during or after construction by an engineer who has inspected the work on site.
- PS4 (Construction): Provided by the contractor or specialist who physically did the work, confirming it was built in accordance with the consented design.
When Are Producer Statements Required?
Not every building project needs a producer statement, but they are commonly required for:
- Structural engineering work — foundations, retaining walls, steel or timber framing outside standard NZS 3604 scope
- Geotechnical situations — building on sloped, unstable, or flood-prone land
- Wet area waterproofing — membrane systems in bathrooms and wet areas (relevant to Building Code clause E3)
- Cladding systems — particularly proprietary systems from manufacturers like James Hardie
- Specialist subcontractor work — such as post-tensioned concrete, fire sprinkler systems, or specific façade systems
Your council will usually specify which producer statements they require as part of the consent conditions. Always check your consent documentation carefully.
Who Can Write a Producer Statement?
A producer statement must come from someone with the relevant qualifications and professional standing to back up their opinion. This typically means:
- Chartered Professional Engineers (CPEng) for structural, geotechnical, or civil work
- Licensed Building Practitioners (LBPs) for certain construction-related PS4 statements — check the LBP register to confirm your contractor's licence
- Manufacturer-approved installers for proprietary systems (e.g., specific cladding or waterproofing products)
The person providing the statement takes on professional liability for their opinion, so councils treat them seriously. If the work later fails, the producer statement author can be held accountable.
How Producer Statements Fit Into the Consent Process
Here's a simplified view of how producer statements typically flow through a project:
- Consent application — PS1 submitted with engineering drawings
- Consent granted — council may list required PS3/PS4 statements as conditions
- During construction — engineer carries out site inspections and prepares PS3
- Practical completion — contractor submits PS4 confirming construction
- CCC application — all required producer statements submitted to council
- CCC issued — council accepts the statements as evidence of compliance
Without the required producer statements, your council may refuse to issue a Code Compliance Certificate, which can cause serious problems if you ever sell or refinance your property.
What Producer Statements Are Not
It's worth being clear about what a producer statement does not do:
- It is not a building consent — you still need consent for restricted building work
- It is not a warranty — it doesn't guarantee the work won't fail in future
- It is not a substitute for council inspections — councils may still require their own inspections alongside producer statements
- It is not a sign-off by the council — the council reviews and accepts (or rejects) the statement
BRANZ provides useful technical guidance on building compliance pathways if you want to dig deeper into how compliance is demonstrated under the Building Code.
When to Call a Professional
If your project involves any work outside the standard scope of NZS 3604 (the timber-framed building standard), you will almost certainly need an engineer to provide producer statements. This includes:
- Retaining walls over 1.5 m high
- Foundations on difficult ground
- Large open-plan structures or long spans
- Any work your council flags as requiring engineering sign-off
For restricted building work — which includes structural, weathertight, and certain other elements — you must use a Licensed Building Practitioner. Your LBP may also be the one providing a PS4 on completion.
If you're unsure what's required for your specific project, a qualified local builder or engineer is your best first call. You can find experienced tradespeople in your area through tradedirectory.co.nz.