(1)  A permit authority means –

(a) a person appointed under subsection (2) or subsection (5)(a) for a municipal area; and

(b) if the Minister has published a notice under subsection (6) , the Director of Building Control.

(2)  The general manager of a council must appoint a person as a permit authority for the municipal area of that council.

(3)  Nothing in subsection (2) prevents a general manager of a council from appointing a person under that subsection who –

(a) is an employee of another council; or

(b) is the permit authority for the municipal area of another council.

(4)  The general manager may only appoint a person as a permit authority under subsection (2) if the person holds a licence under the Occupational Licensing Act 2005 that authorises the person to perform the functions and exercise the powers of a permit authority.

(5)  If the general manager of a council does not appoint a person as a permit authority under subsection (2) for the municipal area of that council –

(a) the Director of Building Control may appoint a person as the permit authority, for that municipal area, on the terms and conditions that are specified in the instrument of appointment; and

(b) the council is liable for any reasonable costs that are incurred as a result of the appointment under paragraph (a) unless the Director of Building Control otherwise determines.

(6)  The Minister may, by notice in the Gazette , appoint the Director of Building Control as a permit authority on the terms and conditions specified in the notice, including which functions or powers of a permit authority they are appointed to perform or exercise.