Man Fined $8,000 For Illegal Plumbing And Drainlaying At Five Wānaka And Cromwell Properties
by Plumbers Gasfitters and Drainlayers Board · SCOOP- Ben DeClifford sentenced for illegal plumbing and drainlaying work
- Pleaded guilty to eight charges under the Plumbers, Gasfitters and Drainlayers Act 2006
- Ordered to pay a fine of $8,000
Ben DeClifford was sentenced in the Invercargill District Court on 31 March 2026 after pleading guilty to eight charges for completing illegal plumbing and drainlaying work on five properties in Wānaka and Cromwell. He did not appear for sentencing and received an $8,000 fine.
The charges followed complaints about plumbing and drainlaying work carried out between 2023 and 2025. The work included the installation of sewerage and stormwater drains, potable water pipes, sanitary plumbing systems, and a hot water cylinder.
At the time the work was carried out, Mr DeClifford did not hold an authorisation to carry out restricted sanitary plumbing or restricted drainlaying work. While he had previously held an exemption to carry out restricted drainlaying work under supervision intermittently between December 2015 and March 2020, and a trainee authorisation for sanitary plumbing from November 2015 to March 2021, he never held a registration or a practising licence.
A technical review found the work was non-compliant with the New Zealand Building Code and posed a moderate risk to public health and safety. Issues included incorrectly sized drainage pipes, unsafe proximity between potable water and wastewater pipes, and pipework installed beneath concrete slabs without accessible ducts.
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Mr DeClifford was charged with falsely representing himself as a licensed practitioner, including signing a producer statement using another practitioner’s registration number. The practitioner concerned was unaware Mr DeClifford was using his details on council documents.
The Plumbers, Gasfitters and Drainlayers Board said the case highlights the serious risks that can arise when restricted work is carried out by unauthorised people.
“The water pipes installed below the slab would have likely failed before the durability period of 50 years. The work also presented a potential for sewer blockages.”
“Restricted plumbing and drainlaying work can only be carried out by licensed or authorised people. These requirements are in place to protect public health and safety. When unlicensed work is carried out, there is a higher risk of non-compliance and potential harm.”
“This outcome reflects the importance of maintaining standards and ensuring only authorised practitioners carry out restricted work.”
The Board urges property owners to check the public register at www.pgdb.co.nz to make sure a practitioner is licensed to do the work.
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