MINUTES OF CANTERBURY WESTLAND BRANCH TRAINING AND NETWORKING EVENT
Time & Date: 24 February 2026
Location: Teams - Online Presentation
Welcome:
The Branch Chair Jenny Lilley opened the meeting and welcomed members and guests.
Attendance:
Guests -Fraser Pearce, Justine Angell, Karel Boakes
Members – attached list
Apologies:
John Blanken, Kathy Stubbs, Les Frost, Brendan Townsend, Liz Ashwin
Previous Minutes: 25/11/2025
Motion: That the branch approves the minutes of the previous meeting(s)
Mover: ___Jenny Lilley________ Seconder: ___Barb Dillon_______ Carried
Matters Arising:
Action: None
Decision: None
New Members:
Welcome to our new members
Rick Barry – Buller DC
Scott Whittaker – Buller DC
Kelsey Leatham – Kaikoura DC
Diya Thottahil Pradeep – Diya Pradeep
General Business:
Jenny thanked and acknowledged Liz Ashwins for 6 years service as Branch Secretary, and her continued support on the Branch Executive she's left some big shoes to fill.
Jenny welcomed Barb Dillon as the branch’s new secretary, and Karel Boakes, BOINZ President to the meeting
Board Representative Update: Karel provided a board update and presentation as outlined below and attached.
Correspondence In/Out:
• new members
• new membership relations coordinator Sania Shueb membership@boinz.org.nz or call on 04 473 6002
Building Code Issues:
Action: None Raised
Decision: n/a
Guest Presentation(s):
Guest Presentation 1: Granny Flat Exemptions, Fraser Pearce, Principal Policy Advisor, Building Performance and Resilience, MBIE. Supported by Justine Angell answering questions in the chat during the presentation. PDF of the presentation attached.
Frasers presentation covered the background surrounding the Granny flat exemption from the government coalition commitment, through consultation, reading of the Bill, select committee and royal ascent to enactment on 15th January 2026. He talked to the 3 Conditions – 1. Simple design, 2. Authorised professionals, 3. Council notification prior to and at completion of the building work. He then talked through the expected timeline and the additional forms added to the Building Regulations(Forms). Fraser touched on the RMA requirements but advised that any questions in this area should be directed to the MfE.
Questions raised via the chat during the session included completion & enforcement requirements, building work added to non consented buildings
Guest Presentation 2. Karel Boakes, BOINZ President, presentation on BOINZ and Board activities. Karel provided a brief overview of her background and experience. She talked about the current national membership at approx. 1200 members, Branch meeting numbers are currently up, the board’s financial situation is currently strong.
The board has been busy with submissions on the many changes being made, and related press releases. She provided an up date on the success of the Women’s forum last year and currently working through the process of aligning with WICEP as an international chapter. BOINZ continues to provide consistency/ ethics and independent opinions for the industry -general election this year, 7th of November, we're working on three to five election calls, which we're going to work on to inform various political parties of what best practise should look like. With these as well as training, code talk, Straight up magazine, Hard hat and the annual Symposium to which the Minister Chris Penk has committed to attending in person in Auckland in May.
Karel provided a reminder that Board elections open on 13th March 2026, and the AGM on April 22nd 2026 and encourages all members to vote.
Attachments:
Granny Flat Exemption Presentation
Next Branch Training and Networking Event: scheduled for 31/03/2026 at Winstone Wallboards, Christchurch – numbers will be limited
Special thank you to: Liz Ashwin for arranging with Fraser and Justine to present to us today.
Jenny Lilley closed the meeting at 5.40pm
Barb Dillon
Canterbury Westland Branch Secretary
