New Zealand plumbers and builders have gained access to a substantially larger range of plumbing and drainage products following a Government initiative to recognise overseas product certifications without requiring individual compliance assessments. The Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) has issued 54 recognition notices covering approximately 38,000 plumbing and drainage products, predominantly WaterMark-certified items from Australia’s certification scheme.
This follows the first tranche of product recognition in October 2025, which opened access to more than 90,000 WaterMark products across tapware, water service fittings, sanitary drainage, and stormwater items. Together, the two tranches represent a major expansion of the products that can be specified and installed in New Zealand buildings without the delay and cost of individual compliance documentation.
What This Changes in Practice
Previously, a WaterMark-certified plumbing product — which has already passed rigorous Australian certification testing — still required individual Building Code compliance documentation before it could be used in New Zealand. That process added cost, time, and administrative burden to projects, often without adding any meaningful safety assurance beyond what the overseas certification had already provided.
Under the new recognition framework, WaterMark-certified products in the covered categories can be specified and installed directly. For plumbers and builders who work with a broad range of product suppliers, including offshore sources, the change removes a friction point that has made New Zealand’s building product market more constrained than it needs to be.
Building Minister Chris Penk described the initiative as reducing bureaucracy, decreasing costs, and eliminating unnecessary delays for builders and homeowners.
What Comes Next
MBIE has indicated that further product recognition approvals are planned, with plasterboard, cladding systems, windows, and doors among the categories under consideration. These categories have been among the most significant sources of supply constraint and pricing pressure in the residential construction market in recent years, and recognition of overseas-certified alternatives would provide meaningful relief.
Explore more regulatory and compliance updates from New Zealand’s building sector, or connect with plumbing suppliers and industry bodies active in your region.
