The Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) has published the first set of recognition notices confirming that selected plumbing and drainage products certified under the Australian WaterMark scheme, meet specific clauses of the New Zealand Building Code.
The recognition notices can be used from 1 October 2025 in a building consent application.
The recognition notices cover approximately 92,000 WaterMark products from the tapware category (products certified to AS 3718:2021 and other standards) and products conforming to joint AS/NZS standards that have linkages to the AS/NZ 3500 standard series.
These notices provide formal recognition of overseas products, supporting greater clarity and consistency in the building consent process. Building Consent Authorities (BCAs) are required to accept these products when used in accordance with the terms of the notice.
Each notice outlines:
- the relevant product categories and scope of application
- applicable Building Code clauses (for example B2, G12)
- the standard that the product has been certified to, and its link to the AS/NZS 3500 series
- certificate numbers and expiry dates.
This marks the first phase of a broader programme to recognise compliant overseas products. Future tranches will expand the range of WaterMark-certified products available for use in New Zealand.
The recognition programme is designed to streamline consenting, reduce duplication, and improve certainty for designers, specifiers and suppliers. Further updates, training opportunities and guidance will be provided as the programme progresses.
For more information, visit the Building Performance website.
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