The services sector encountered regulatory challenges, with sector representatives expressing concerns about the impacts of regulations, compliance burdens, and workforce shortages. They emphasised the necessity for standardised qualifications and sector-wide regulations, particularly in building surveying and project management. Excessive regulations frustrated contractors in civil construction.

Another significant challenge was the shortage of workers due to immigration policies and unclear roles for architectural technologists. Sector representatives stressed the importance of collaborative efforts to address workforce shortages and foster inclusivity. Additionally, sector representatives proposed regulating the pre-purchase inspection sector to improve the quality and reliability of reports for property buyers.

The planning profession also lacked regulation, making it difficult for the public to assess the competence of planners, leading to lower-quality outcomes for planning applications. Sector representatives acknowledged the central government's crucial role in addressing planning sector gaps through regulation and support for professional development.

Furthermore, sector representatives highlighted the need for policies supporting Māori and minority groups in the sector, and they acknowledged organisations providing safe spaces for discussions.

Challenges with immigration settings hindered the recruitment of international talent to address labour shortages, with some qualifications not correctly recognised by immigration authorities. Sector representatives advocated streamlining immigration policies and recognition of qualifications as critical steps to address this issue.

"We have some legislative issues and problems with things like consenting, which are causing massive problems because issues with procurement make it unfair and serve the big established companies, allowing little room for smaller players to emerge."

"We find strength in self-regulation. We ensure that our members meet specific criteria, maintain professional indemnity insurance, and pass ethics model tests every three years. However, some non-registered members lack insurance, impacting their clients when issues arise."

"Increased regulation in our industry, particularly concerning pre-purchase inspections, would significantly improve the confidence and profile of individuals buying houses and properties."

"I've noticed a significant fragmentation in the sector among different organisations, resulting in a lack of understanding of each other's challenges and concerns. To address this, we should advocate for a more cohesive and collaborative approach to tackle sector-wide issues."

"Among the various factors impacting the sector, red tape and changes in regulations related to building consent and code updates are significant. Additionally, the industry is still relatively new to considerations of social impact and inclusive practices."