From 2 May 2026, new lead-free requirements apply to plumbing products that come into contact with drinking water in New Zealand. If you specify, install or simply live with tapware, here's the short version: the rules are about healthier water in our homes, and Newtech's tapware ranges already meet them. No scrambling, no last-minute swaps.
Below we explain what's changing, which products are affected, and why you can keep specifying our tapware with confidence.
What's actually changing
The new requirements limit how much lead is allowed in products that carry or dispense water meant for drinking. The goal is straightforward: safer, healthier water at the tap.
Under the New Zealand Building Code, a product counts as lead-free when it has a weighted average lead content of no more than 0.25% across its wetted surfaces (the parts the water actually touches). The rules apply only to products that form part of the drinking water pathway, so not every fitting in a bathroom or kitchen is caught by them.
For the technical detail, the relevant reference is NZ Building Code Clause G12/AS1.
Which products are covered
The lead-free requirements apply to products that come into contact with drinking water, including:
Which products are not covered
Products that don't form part of the drinking water pathway sit outside these requirements, including:
Where Newtech stands
Here's the reassuring part. Our tapware ranges were already manufactured to meet these requirements, so nothing about our products needed to change to comply.
Evoke and Motivo
Quadro
The standards behind our tapware
Our tapware is manufactured in line with the applicable industry standards, including:
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to replace existing products?
No. Newtech tapware ranges were already manufactured to meet the lead-free regulations, so no product changes were required on our end.
Do shower products need to be lead-free?
No. Products such as slide showers, slide rails, hand showers, rain heads and shower hoses aren't typically considered part of the drinking water pathway, so they aren't subject to the lead-free requirements.
Which of your ranges meet the lead-free requirements?
Our Evoke, Motivo and Quadro tapware ranges have all been designed to meet New Zealand's lead-free requirements.
Specify with confidence
The 2 May 2026 changes are good news for healthier homes, and they don't add complexity to your next project. With Newtech, the tapware you specify already meets the standard, so you can focus on the design rather than the compliance.
Have a question about a specific product or range? Get in touch with the team and we'll point you to the right certification detail.
