Give feedback on phase 2 of the recognition of WaterMark certified products

About the consultation

Approved Products Certified Overseas are part of three pathways introduced by the Building Amendment Act 2025. These pathways aim to reduce barriers for using high-quality building products imported from overseas and provide more choices of Building Code compliant products or methods for designers, specifiers and consumers.

Building Amendment Act 2025(external link) - legislation.govt.nz

Under this pathway, MBIE will evaluate building products or methods certified under an overseas product certification scheme for possible recognition by the Chief Executive, provided they meet the criteria set out in regulations.

Recognised products will be deemed to comply with the Building Code and must be accepted by building consent authorities (in a similar way to CodeMark products).

Evaluation and proposed recognition of additional WaterMark products

WaterMark certified products have been prioritised as the first to be evaluated for possible recognition. This is because WaterMark is referred to in New Zealand Building Code compliance documents for plumbing and drainage products, and many products and their materials are tested to joint Australian and New Zealand Standards.

MBIE recently consulted on the first tranche of WaterMark products for recognitions. Approximately 92,500 WaterMark products have now been recognised.

Evaluations on a second tranche of WaterMark products have now been completed. They cover approximately 60,000 WaterMark products certified to Australian standards and WaterMark Technical Specifications (WMTS).

MBIE is proposing to incorporate the relevant product certificates and information into the recognition notices that will be issued for WaterMark products that have been successfully evaluated.

What we’re seeking feedback on

MBIE would like feedback on:

• Do you think the WaterMark certified products shown in the consultation document are suitable for use in New Zealand?
• Do the standards and WaterMark Technical Specifications cited show how WaterMark certified products link to the Building Code?
• Does the WaterMark Schedule of Products explain how each WaterMark certified product should be used?