FINALLY GREAT NEWS :: YEARS IN THE MAKING

Published October 22, 2025

We've got some great news! SEANZ is delighted to confirm a major update for our industry. It's official: the newer versions of most of the standards we all use have been confirmed and will soon be cited, meaning they'll become part of NZ legislation!

SEANZ is delighted to announce a significant regulatory step forward that will affect the entire sustainable energy industry: the later versions of most of the standards used in our sector have received Gazetted confirmation and will be cited into New Zealand legislation.

This change is effective from November 13th, 2025.

To allow the industry time to transition and adopt the new requirements, a 12-month stand-down period is in effect:

  • Transition Period: Either the previous or the newer cited versions of the standards may be used up until November 12th, 2026.

  • Mandatory Compliance: Thereafter, from November 13th, 2026, only the newer cited versions will be legally permissible for use.

This transition period is crucial for all industry participants—including designers, installers, and suppliers—to update their systems and training to meet the new compliance requirements.


Official resources

The Gazette Notice released on October 16th and the full amendments can be accessed via the following links:


Significant changes for SEANZ members

Amendments to Schedule 2

AS/NZS 3000:2007 to 2018 plus 3 amdts with modifications
AS/NZS 5033:2012 to 2021
AS/NZS 3010: 2005 to 2017
AS 4777.1:2005 to AS/NZS 4777.1:2024
Note: Within the amendments they have included AS/NZS 4509.1: 2009 but this did not need amending, since it was already there.

Added to Schedule 4

AS/NZS 4777.2:2020.
Clause 5: Changes to DC Isolator Requirements
Section 17: EV Supply Equipment (EVSE) Multiple IEC standards
Section 18: Lithium Cells in batteries

Notable Omissions

AS/NZS 4509.2
AS/NZS 5139 Please note however, AS/NZS 5139 is referenced in the new Wiring Rules Clause 7.3: Electricity Generating Systems, Section 7.3.2 - 'Batteries' as a 'shall comply with the following standards: AS/NZS 5139 and AS 3011. It is the SEANZ view that it will therefore be mandatory to install to this standard where applicable.

Within the Energy Safety Media Release (released 17th Oct) WorkSafe have stated:

WorkSafe will provide further information about the changes in due course.
We expect the amendments will be incorporated into consolidated regulations in the future.

Grid Voltage Range Expansion - Reg 28

From November 13th 2025 the NZ grid voltage tolerance will be expanded from 230V+/- 6% to 230V +/- 10%

Change of Authority to Update Standards in the Future

It is our understanding that the regulatory changes needed to permit the use of Electrical Safety Instrument (ESI's) by WorkSafe for citing newer versions of future standards have not been made. SEANZ will continue pursuing this shortfall with the necessary regulatory organisations.

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