Streamlined Standards: Project Almost Completed
18 October 2008 Landscan Issue 47
LINZ’s Regulatory Group has broken the back of streamlining nearly 300 documents into just 35 standards and guidelines covering topographic, hydrographic and geospatial information, the survey industry, the land title system, Crown property management, valuation and overseas investment.
On the eve of his departure last month, Warwick Quinn, the outgoing LINZ General Manager Regulatory, told Landscan that the mammoth task was about 80 percent complete. About half of the rewritten standards or interventions had been published by mid November and the job is expected to be finished by mid 2009.
The ‘optimal regulation’ project arose from a move within LINZ in 2004 that saw all regulatory functions gathered into one centre of expertise: the Regulatory Group. Warwick said the main thrust of the project has been to strip out the prescriptive ‘how to’ content from standards and guidelines and focus on the outcomes – the ‘what’ (see Landscan September 2007 Issue 42 (pdf 448KB)).
We’ve reviewed all regulatory documents created since LINZ was formed in 1996. In many cases we’ve picked the eyes out of a standard and rewritten it completely. We found that each regulator’s approach had been quite different. Now that we are using a standardised risk framework and drafting template, the new documents are consistent and predictable.”
Warwick said the Frameworks and Processes team within the Regulatory Group used the risk model to identify the appropriate level of intervention needed for each area. “We used to go on gut feeling – now there’s a methodology that ensures we’re being consistent.”
The LINZ optimal regulation project has been in line with the philosophy behind a regulatory review across all of government, aimed at reducing unnecessary regulation and letting industries decide how they’ll achieve the desired outcomes. For example, in the area of land titles, the standard is neutral on whether someone should be using Landonline or a paper-based system.
Before being circulated for consultation, each new standard has been thoroughly ‘road tested’ by an expert committee of key stakeholders drawn from the public and private sectors, users, operators and academia. “We took a hard look at each area to see if we needed a mandatory standard, explanatory guidelines or nothing at all,” Warwick said.
Looking ahead, Warwick said the number of issued standards and guidelines would probably remain stable, with no new documents needed unless there was new legislation to accommodate.
And the Regulatory Group won’t be resting on its laurels. One new initiative is a ‘Survey Strategic Context’ programme, in which LINZ is working with the survey sector with a view to taking relationships and roles to a new level by having a shared vision and objectives. Warwick said land titles would be the next regulatory area to be scrutinised this way.
Another likely shift is in the way standards are written. “In the past we’ve written standards from behind our desks and sent them out for review,” Warwick said. “Rather than writing standards and waiting for comment, they’ll be written with stakeholders. Our relationship has now evolved into more of a partnership.”
Quinn’s new post
After four years as LINZ General Manager Regulatory, Warwick Quinn left last month to take up the role of Chief Executive of the Registered Master Builders’ Federation.
Warwick joined LINZ in 1998 as Valuer-General, following 14 years in the private sector in valuation, banking, local government and insurance.
In addition to the economic conditions affecting the construction sector, he said he’ll be dealing with construction standards, education and training, compliance, environmental and political issues among others.
“My experience in LINZ will be very useful when dealing with and understanding regulatory issues,” he said.
Bill Naik from LINZ Crown Property Management is now Acting General Manager Regulatory Group.
