What's your job about?
HCC promotes the social, economic, environmental, and cultural well-being of Hamiltonians in the present and in the future.
I am in Building Unit.
I review building consent applications whether they are acceptable according to the New Zealand Building Code. I always make sure that the details the customer provided in the application are compliant and if not, I ask them questions with regards to the specific detail that I think it does not comply.
I usually do the Residential-1 consents (i.e., alterations of existing dwelling, retaining walls, new detached dwelling).
I check plans (structural, architectural, drainage, electrical) and documents (product specification, calculations, producer statements) if they comply with the building code.
What's your background?
I grew up in the Philippines and moved to New Zealand in 2019.
I got my civil engineering degree in one of the biggest engineering schools in the Philippines in 2014 and also got my Philippine professional license in the same year. Before deciding to move to New Zealand, I worked as a structural engineer.
I went to an online career expo in 2021, applied online and interviewed in September. I started working in HCC on the 15th of December 2021.
Since I was working with structures before, I selected building controls as one of my choices during the application.
What do you think are the most important characteristics to be successful at HCC and in your role?
Good communication skill because my role involves calling customers and also sending them email to relay some information needed.
What's the coolest thing about your job?
It is when I check plans. As in my previous job as a structural engineer, it is very important to always read through the plans before you pass them and be peer-reviewed by others. Now, I am the one who checks plans and makes sure every information is there.
What are the limitations of your job?
As a building review officer, it is a big responsibility since we are the ones who see those plans and make sure that all of the parts of the structure are compliant with the building code. If one thing is neglected, it might cause some problems in the future for the tenants of the dwelling. We always need to take into account the safety of the people who are living on the structure.
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