Page 8 - Build 161

We were recently asked why Build always uses the organisation name BRANZ rather than Building Research Association of New Zealand as it is also known. This raised an interesting point, as we recognise there could be some confusion around our name.
A short history lesson may help clarify.
BRANZ Comment BRANZ started in the 1950s as the Building Research Bureau, an industry- owned information service.
Parliament passed the Building Research Levy Act in 1969, and the Building Research Associa- tion of New Zealand Inc was formed. The Asso- ciation was gifted the assets of the Bureau and received on behalf of the sector the Levy collected in accordance with the Act for investment in the
Letters Who is BRANZ?
development of knowledge for, and dissemination of knowledge to, the sector. Initially, the govern- ment provided an annual nancial contribution, but this ceased in the late 1980s.
In the early 2000s, the Board identi ed that there was scope for misunderstanding of the ac- tivities being carried out for ‘industry good’ (and, through that, ‘public good’) and commercial activities carried out for speci c companies in the sector. To strengthen the ‘funder-provider split’: • BRANZ Ltd was created to carry out research,
advice, testing and education activities
• the Building Research Association of New Zealand Inc shortened its operational name to Building Research and had the role of in-
vestor of the Building Research Levy.
In 2008, a revised structure established BRANZ Inc (the steward of the Building Research Levy) and BRANZ Ltd as separate legal entities with well de ned roles within BRANZ Group.
So over time, the Building Research Associa- tion of New Zealand Inc has changed its name to simply BRANZ. It is no longer an acronym al- though clearly it comes from our historical name.
WRITE TO US: Build welcomes letters but reserves the right to select which to publish and to edit letters to t the space available. Send your letters to the Build Editor, Freepost BRANZ, Private Bag 50 908, Porirua City or email [email protected].
6 — August/September 2017 — Build 161