Importing building products into New Zealand carries a compliance question that catches importers repeatedly: a product certified in another jurisdiction is not automatically acceptable here, and it is the person relying on it who bears the consequence.
The Building Code is performance-based
New Zealand’s Building Code sets performance requirements rather than prescribing specific products. A building consent authority must be satisfied on reasonable grounds that work will comply.
That means the question is never simply whether a product is good. It is whether there is evidence acceptable to a consent authority that it will perform as required in New Zealand conditions — our wind zones, seismic requirements, weathertightness expectations, and UV exposure.
Routes to demonstrating compliance
- Acceptable Solutions and Verification Methods published by MBIE. Following these is deemed to comply. Many prescribe products meeting particular standards.
- Product certification under the CodeMark scheme, which provides a certificate that consent authorities must accept.
- Appraisals from recognised bodies such as BRANZ, which are widely accepted though not mandatory for a council to accept.
- Alternative Solution — evidence assembled to satisfy the consent authority that the product will perform. This is where imported products without New Zealand recognition end up, and it requires real evidence rather than a manufacturer’s brochure.
The practical consequence: a product with no New Zealand appraisal or certification will generate information requests on every consent application that uses it, which makes designers and builders reluctant to specify it.
Why overseas certification does not transfer
Standards differ. A product tested to a European or North American standard may have been tested for conditions that do not match New Zealand requirements, or may not have been tested for something our Code requires.
Weathertightness is the clearest example. New Zealand’s requirements reflect a specific and expensive history, and cladding systems performing adequately elsewhere have failed here.
Seismic requirements are another. Products for structural or fixing applications need evidence relevant to our seismic conditions.
Product information requirements
Building product information requirements oblige manufacturers, importers and suppliers of designated building products to provide specified information about the product, including how it contributes to Code compliance and its intended use, limitations and maintenance requirements.
For importers this is a direct obligation, not a manufacturer’s problem. Confirm what applies to the products you bring in.
The other border requirements
- Biosecurity. Wood packaging must be ISPM 15 treated and marked, and untreated pallets are a leading cause of holds on consignments that were otherwise fine. Timber products themselves have Import Health Standard requirements.
- Customs classification, determining duty and whether a free trade agreement preference applies.
- Electrical safety requirements for anything with an electrical component.
- Hazardous substances approvals for adhesives, coatings and treatments.
Liability sits with you
Where a product fails, the importer is in the chain. The Consumer Guarantees Act applies to goods supplied to consumers, and business-to-business supply carries contractual obligations and Fair Trading Act exposure for representations about compliance.
Statements that a product “complies with the Building Code” are representations. Making them without reasonable grounds is an unsubstantiated representation and a Fair Trading Act breach independent of whether the product turns out to be adequate.
The Building Act’s long-stop limitation period means claims can arise many years after supply, by which time the overseas manufacturer may be unreachable and the importer is the only party left.
Practical sequence for an importer
- Establish which Code clauses the product must satisfy for its intended use.
- Assess what evidence exists and whether it is relevant to New Zealand conditions.
- Decide the compliance route — appraisal, CodeMark certification, or supporting an Alternative Solution.
- Budget the cost and time of obtaining that evidence, which can be significant.
- Confirm biosecurity, customs and any other border requirements before ordering.
- Put compliance obligations in your supply agreement explicitly.
- Prepare accurate product information for designers, builders and consent authorities.
MBIE publishes the Building Code, Acceptable Solutions and product information requirements free at building.govt.nz, MPI publishes Import Health Standards, and New Zealand Customs publishes tariff guidance.
General information only, not legal advice.
