Required certification · New Zealand
PGDB (Plumbers, Gasfitters and Drainlayers Board)
New Zealand's registration and licensing board for plumbers, gasfitters and drainlayers
Market position
The Plumbers, Gasfitters and Drainlayers Board (PGDB) registers and licenses plumbers, gasfitters and drainlayers in New Zealand under the Plumbers, Gasfitters, and Drainlayers Act 2006, sets minimum competence standards, and handles complaints, discipline and court prosecutions of people doing unauthorised work. The Board says it is a not-for-profit body funded by fees, with ten ministerially appointed members representing the trade and the public. Registration classes include certifying, plumber, gasfitter or drainlayer, and restricted, plus limited certificates for trainees.
New Zealand-specific note
Customers can check a tradesperson's licence on the PGDB public register, and practitioners can show their licence in the PGDB app or on a physical card. Homeowners may only do limited DIY work, such as replacing taps or clearing a blocked drain without altering pipes. From 7 September 2026, certifying plumbers and drainlayers with a self-certification endorsement can sign off their own consented work instead of an inspection by the building consent authority.
Pros
- + Public register lets customers check a tradesperson's licence
- + Published fees: $100 annual licence plus a $275 levy, incl GST
- + One board covers plumbing, gasfitting and drainlaying
- + Self-certification endorsement from September 2026 lets endorsed certifying practitioners sign off their own work
Cons
- − The $275 disciplinary and prosecution levy is paid every year on top of the licence
- − Renewal each year requires completed CPD
- − Board exams cost $330 each ($410 for certifying)
- − Self-certification endorsement costs $2,260 for 3 years
Typical New Zealand pricing
Official PGDB fees from 1 April 2026, incl GST: registration $350; annual practising licence $100 per licence; disciplinary and prosecution levy $275 per person per year (one licence $375, two $475, three $575 a year in total); first registration $725 in total; trade exam $330; certifying exam $410; self-certification endorsement $2,260 for 3 years
Why this matters for New Zealand trades
Only EWRB-registered and licensed workers can carry out or supervise prescribed electrical work, with the practising licence renewed every 2 years; the PGDB registers and licenses plumbers, gasfitters and drainlayers and prosecutes unauthorised work; and Restricted Building Work on homes must be done or supervised by a Licensed Building Practitioner. WorkSafe enforces the Health and Safety at Work Act 2015 and says amendments take effect on 1 April 2027. The payroll tools listed here file payday information with Inland Revenue, and some act as PAYE intermediaries that pay PAYE to Inland Revenue for you. Master Builders and Master Plumbers membership is voluntary and does not replace licensing.
New Zealand trades vendor selection is shaped by registration and licensing (the EWRB for electrical workers, the PGDB for plumbers, gasfitters and drainlayers, and the LBP scheme for Restricted Building Work on homes), payday filing with Inland Revenue, KiwiSaver deductions, Holidays Act leave calculations, 15% GST, and health and safety duties under the Health and Safety at Work Act 2015.
Frequently asked
Is PGDB (Plumbers, Gasfitters and Drainlayers Board) a good fit for New Zealand trades?
The Plumbers, Gasfitters and Drainlayers Board (PGDB) registers and licenses plumbers, gasfitters and drainlayers in New Zealand under the Plumbers, Gasfitters, and Drainlayers Act 2006, sets minimum competence standards, and handles complaints, discipline and court prosecutions of people doing unauthorised work. The Board says it is a not-for-profit body funded by fees, with ten ministerially appointed members representing the trade and the public. Registration classes include certifying, plumber, gasfitter or drainlayer, and restricted, plus limited certificates for trainees. Customers can check a tradesperson's licence on the PGDB public register, and practitioners can show their licence in the PGDB app or on a physical card. Homeowners may only do limited DIY work, such as replacing taps or clearing a blocked drain without altering pipes. From 7 September 2026, certifying plumbers and drainlayers with a self-certification endorsement can sign off their own consented work instead of an inspection by the building consent authority.
What does PGDB (Plumbers, Gasfitters and Drainlayers Board) cost in New Zealand?
Official PGDB fees from 1 April 2026, incl GST: registration $350; annual practising licence $100 per licence; disciplinary and prosecution levy $275 per person per year (one licence $375, two $475, three $575 a year in total); first registration $725 in total; trade exam $330; certifying exam $410; self-certification endorsement $2,260 for 3 years. Pricing and availability can change by region; confirm current New Zealand pricing on the vendor's site before committing.
Other New Zealand vendors
EWRB (Electrical Workers Registration Board)
Required certification
LBP (Licensed Building Practitioners)
Required certification
WorkSafe New Zealand
Required certification
Registered Master Builders Association
Required certification
Master Plumbers, Gasfitters & Drainlayers NZ
Required certification
Fergus
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