The public are being encouraged to have their say on how the building consent system can be improved in New Zealand.

Following consultation last year, the government has developed options to get "a more efficient building consent system, that should minimise unnecessary delays in the building process", says Minister for Building and Construction Megan Woods.

"There are opportunities to improve the system, such as through better delivery of building consent services, removing barriers to alternative products being used.

"Any improvements to the building consent system that increase efficiency and provide greater certainty as to what can be built will help housing affordability, so it's really important that those in the sector and the wider public feedback on what's proposed."

Woods says consultation on the paper is a key milestone in the Government's response to the Commerce Commission's Market Study Into Residential Building Supplies.

She says potential reform options in the paper address several recommendations made by the Commission in its final report.

"Ensuring we enable timely processing of consents will help speed up the delivery of housing and other buildings. It is a critical part of the work we are doing to improve the efficiency of the sector."

The public consultation is now open for eight weeks.

Submissions close at 5pm on August 3.