Give feedback on 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.

Building Amendment Act 2025(external link) - New Zealand legislation

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.

Under this new 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 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. The first phase of evaluations of WaterMark products has been completed.

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

What we’re seeking feedback on

• Do you think the WaterMark certified products shown in the consultation document are suitable for use in New Zealand?
• Do the standards 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?

Relevant documents