With the growing demand for quick and reliable information, Tauranga City Council has introduced Bob to make building consent information easier to access.
Whether you’re planning a renovation, building a new home, or making changes to your property, Bob is here to help you understand what’s needed and guide you through the process.
Who is Bob?
Bob is an AI agent trained and specialising in all things building. That means Bob can answer your questions on the Building Act 2004 (including Schedule 1 exemptions), the New Zealand Building Code and current building regulations.
As an agent only found on our building pages across the Tauranga City Council website, Bob is available 24/7 to get answers to your building questions when it suits you.
How do I use Bob?
You’ll find Bob in the bottom right corner of building pages across our website. Just click the icon and start chatting. Bob will ask you for your name, email address, and the location of the site-specific works you are enquiring about. This is optional, but in the chance that Bob does get something wrong, it is our way of being able to reach out to you and correct anything that Bob may have gotten confused about.
Bob is smart, but like humans, can also make mistakes. Sometimes the information given may be wrong. Please double-check important details and get in touch with us if you are unsure about anything.
Bob can’t make decisions on your consent application or replace official advice from a member of staff at TCC.
Bob also can’t answer questions not related to building, such as' When do I put my rubbish bin out?’ or ‘When is my dog registration due?’ To answer these questions, please use the search tab at the top of the webpage or call our call centre on 07 577 7000.
Here are some tips for writing good prompts:
- Be specific. Instead of ‘tell me about consents’, try ‘Do I need a building consent to build a 20m2 deck?’ or instead of 'can I build a fence', try 'Can I build a 1.2m high timber fence on my boundary?'
- Include details. Add measurements, location or type of work.
- Is it new work, alterations or a repair?
- Is the project DIY or are you getting a licensed person to carry out the works?
- If it's gas related, say what appliance and who's installing it.
Example prompts:
- I want to add a tiny house on my property. Can I do so?
- I want to move my laundry. Do I need a building consent?
- Do I need a building consent for my garden shed?
- Do I need a building consent to build a deck?
- What are Schedule 1 exemptions?
- Do I need consent to build a 10m2 sleepout with no plumbing?
- Can I install a gas fireplace myself?
- We moved the garage to a new site - what do we need to do?
- How much are the inspection fees for minor dwelling?
- Is a 1.8m fence exempt under Schedule 1?
Your privacy is important
While we will be asking you for a name, email address and site-specific address, this is optional, your information won’t go any further than our building compliance team. Bob also runs in a secure environment with data protection policies, strict access controls and has regular security checks and testing.
FAQs
Anything about building consents, exemptions and building regulations in Tauranga.
Bob is designed to be accurate, but mistakes can happen. Always double check important details and contact our duty building officer at buildingduty@tauranga.govt.nz if you’re unsure.
We collect your name, email and site specific address to meet audit requirements and so we can follow up if your query needs escalation. This is optional.
Up to 12 months, then it’s securely archived or deleted in line with council policy.
Yes. We use strict security controls, encryption, and regular testing to protect your data.
No. You must submit your application through the official channels (Objective Build).
Bob does not use the information you provide to train the AI models and TCC does not store your personal details beyond what’s needed for follow-up and compliance. If you choose to provide any feedback, this may be used to improve the service Bob provides.
Ask to talk to a human. Your query will then be escalated to our Building Services team, and someone will get back to you. Email buildingduty@tauranga.govt.nz if you would like to talk to someone from the team.
While Bob is helpful, there are still some limitations that the AI agent has. Those include:
- Approve or decline building consents. You must still follow the official consent process.
- Provide legal advice. Bob can explain regulations but cannot interpret the law for your specific situation.
- Replace a building support or compliance officer. For complex or unusual cases will still need a human expert.
- Guarantee 100% accuracy. Bob is trained on public information, but you should always verify critical details.
- Handle payments or financial transactions. Bob will never ask for credit card details.