Is It Illegal to Do Your Own Plumbing?

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Given the strong DIY culture in New Zealand, it doesn’t surprise us here at Matthews Plumbing & Gasfitting that so many Auckland residents fancy doing their own plumbing. But if you’re one of them, you might have also heard that it’s against the law. So, is DIY plumbing illegal?

Yes, in most cases in NZ, DIY plumbing is illegal. There are, though, extremely good reasons for this – including the direct impact that a property’s plumbing can have on public health.

The fact is, plumbing isn’t “just another” DIY task, like putting up shelving or painting the front door. Your property is connected to your neighbourhood water supply. So, if you were to try and install your own plumbing and it was incorrectly installed, wastewater could end up running directly into public waterways. That’s a huge health risk to all your neighbours (and a massive headache for you).

So, What Is the Legal Situation Around Plumbing In NZ?

NZ Ministry of Health guidelines license the country’s plumbing trade, to protect public health and safety. These are strict requirements, so other than replacing tap washers, there isn’t a huge amount of “DIY plumbing” that the average NZ resident is allowed to do.

The legislation itself can be confusing, so remember this “golden rule”: any work that involves sanitary plumbing or potable water supply must be undertaken by a licensed plumber.

If, then, you encounter such issues in your property as a lack of hot water, sewerage smells, low hot water pressure throughout the property, burst or frozen pipes, or a blocked drain, it is essential to call a professional.

What DIY Plumbing Tasks Are Kiwis Permitted to Do?

There are still some forms of DIY plumbing that an ordinary NZ resident can do without contacting a licensed plumber. These include:

  • Installing household appliances such as washing machines and dishwashers 

  • Replacing tap washers if the tap is leaking 

  • Fixing a leaking shower head

  • Repairing or replacing ball valves and float valves

You should only do any of these jobs, however, if you genuinely know what you’re doing. Even with legally permitted plumbing DIY tasks, things can still go wrong!

Let us, then, return to the question: “is it illegal to do your own plumbing in NZ?” Yes, it almost always is, but a few exceptions exist. Contact our own licensed plumbers, and you won’t merely be on the right side of the law – you will also benefit from a smoothly operating, trouble-free plumbing system.