When choosing tapware, it’s easy to focus on style, finish, and compatibility, but another important factor is often overlooked: water efficiency. In New Zealand, the Water Efficiency Labelling Scheme (WELS) provides a clear guide to how much water different fixtures use, helping homeowners make smarter choices for both the environment and their utility bills.
This blog explains what WELS is, how it applies to bathroom tapware, and why selecting products like Newtech’s Evoke range can make a measurable difference in daily water use.
The Water Efficiency Labelling Scheme (WELS) is a government initiative designed to encourage water conservation. All household water fixtures, including taps, toilets, shower heads, and appliances such as washing machines, must display a WELS label when sold in New Zealand.
The WELS label shows:
For example, a tap with a 5-star WELS rating and a flow rate of 6L/min is significantly more efficient than one with a 3-star rating at 12L/min. Choosing higher-rated products helps conserve water without compromising on performance.
Why WELS Matters in Tapware
Bathroom taps are used dozens of times a day, so even small differences in flow rate add up quickly. A less efficient tap can waste thousands of litres of water each year. Beyond the environmental benefits, efficient taps also reduce household energy use, since less hot water needs to be heated.
For New Zealand households on metered water supply, the savings are twofold: lower water usage and reduced power bills.
All Newtech tapware products carry a WELS rating, clearly listed in the specifications. This allows homeowners and specifiers to quickly compare performance and make informed choices.
Take the Evoke Basin Mixer as an example. This sleek mixer is available in five finishes – Chrome, Brushed Nickel, Black, Gunmetal, and Brushed Brass – and carries a 5-star WELS rating, delivering just 6 litres per minute. With quality fixtures like these, water-saving benefits are gained without sacrificing the strong, consistent water flow or refined, contemporary finish expected from modern tapware.
Other products across the Evoke collection, including 6-Star WELS rated gooseneck sink mixers, bath fillers, and shower heads, are all engineered with the same focus on efficiency. Smart inclusions like Neoperl® aerators, which blend air into the stream to preserve pressure while reducing flow, highlight how every detail is designed to balance everyday practicality and sustainability.
Built for Performance and Compliance
Water efficiency is only part of the picture. Newtech tapware is also WaterMark certified, ensuring compliance with New Zealand’s building code requirements for safety and durability. Products are crafted from 304 stainless steel and low-lead brass, and tested for mains pressure systems to guarantee both efficiency and long-term reliability.
By combining efficient water use with robust performance features like Sedal ceramic cartridges and premium finishes, Newtech ensures its tapware supports both sustainability and everyday usability.
Selecting tapware is about more than looks – it’s also about responsibility. The WELS label makes it easy to understand water efficiency at a glance, and Newtech takes the guesswork out by ensuring its entire Evoke collection meets high standards of performance, style, and efficiency.
For homeowners planning a renovation or new build, choosing efficient products as indicated by their WELS rating means enjoying modern design while reducing environmental impact.
From elegant basin mixers to minimalist bath fillers and shower mixers, Newtech offers solutions that balance style, performance, and water efficiency.
To learn more, explore the full tapware collection, or get in touch with the Newtech team at sales@newtech.co.nz or 0800 728 662 for personalised advice on selecting the right fixtures for your space.
