An independently qualified person (IQP) is a person or firm accepted by a council as qualified to inspect, maintain and report on particular specified systems. IQPs carry out the procedures set by a building's compliance schedule and issue a Form 12A certificate each year, which the owner attaches to the building warrant of fitness.
The legal definition
- Building Act 2004 s 7: an independently qualified person is accepted by a territorial authority as qualified to carry out or supervise some or all inspection, maintenance and reporting procedures for a specified system, and to certify they were fully complied with, and that acceptance has not been withdrawn. (Act version as at 8 October 2026.)[1]
Who approves IQPs
- The council approves IQPs and keeps a register showing which specified systems each IQP is competent to inspect, usually on its website.[2]
- Wellington City Council provides an online 'Find an IQP' search to check registration; complaints about an IQP go to its IQP registration panel.[3]
- Auckland Council runs IQP registration and renewal.[4]
What "independent" means
- MBIE describes 'independent' as having no financial interest in the building.[2]
Owner checks versus IQP inspections
- Owners may do some simpler, more frequent inspection tasks where the compliance schedule allows; IQPs handle the more complex procedures.[2]
- Most systems need at least annual IQP inspection; some need six-monthly or quarterly inspection. Frequencies range from daily owner checks to multi-year tests, depending on the system and what its compliance schedule requires.[5]
Form 12A certificates
- Only an IQP can issue a Form 12A, and cannot issue one if any required procedure was missed.[2]
- One IQP covering all systems may issue a single Form 12A; where several IQPs are involved each issues a Form 12A for the systems they verified. MBIE guidance says the council should check that the IQP who signed each Form 12A is registered for that system.[6]
IQP obligations and offences
- IQPs can recommend amendments to the compliance schedule, and the owner must attach any such recommendation to the BWoF (s 108(3)(d)) and must not state that IMR procedures are complete when they are not (s 108A).[7]
- Section 108A makes it an offence for an IQP to state that procedures were complied with when they were not, with maximum fines of $50,000 for an individual or $150,000 for a body corporate (in force from 26 November 2024).[8]
Questions
Who approves IQPs?
Each territorial authority (council) accepts IQPs and keeps a register of which systems each is qualified for.
Can a building owner be their own IQP?
MBIE says an IQP has no financial interest in the building. Owners may do simpler routine checks only where the compliance schedule allows.
How do I check if someone is a registered IQP?
Search the council's IQP register, usually on its website; Wellington runs a 'Find an IQP' tool.
What happens if an IQP certifies work that wasn't done?
It is an offence under section 108A of the Building Act, with fines up to $50,000 for an individual or $150,000 for a body corporate.
Sources
- Building Act 2004 (s 7 definitions) — Parliamentary Counsel Office (legislation.govt.nz), as at 2026-10-08
- Inspections and maintenance — MBIE (building.govt.nz), 2026-07-13
- Find an IQP — Wellington City Council, 2026-08-28
- Independent Qualified Person (IQP) registration and renewal — Auckland Council
- Managing your BWoF — MBIE (building.govt.nz), 2024-11-26
- Building warrants of fitness (guide for building officials) — MBIE (building.govt.nz), 2024-11-26
- Building warrants of fitness (BWoFs) — Wellington City Council, 2026-09-10
- Building Act 2004 (ss 100, 101, 108, 108A, 168) — NZ Legislation, version as at 8 October 2026
General information only, not legal or engineering advice. Last reviewed 30 October 2026. Spotted something out of date? Let us know.
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