Manufacturer and retailer notices

This requirement applies to pools that can be filled with water to a depth of 40cm (400mm) or more.

Pool manufacturers and retailers must display the warning notices with new pools so that consumers:

• are aware that they must restrict access to the pool by unsupervised children under 5 years of age
• can access information that explains the pool barrier requirements, so pools can be used legally and safely.

To help prevent injuries and drownings involving young children, it is crucial that those purchasing pools understand and comply with the pool barrier requirements. The young children most at risk of injury and drowning are the children of pool owners and their visitors.

There are 2 approved warning notices:

• one for pools (including temporary, portable and inflatable pools)
• one for spa pools (including inflatable spa pools and hot tubs).

The relevant notice must be displayed:

• on the packaging (if the pool has packaging), or on the pool (if there is no packaging)
• on all spa pools
• on webpages where pools are advertised, sold or shipped within Aotearoa New Zealand.

Approved Building (Pool Manufacturers and Retailers) Notices

In March 2025, the warning notices were updated from the Building (Pool Manufacturers and Retailers) Notice 2017 to the Building (Pool Manufacturers and Retailers) Notice 2025.

Format of the 2025 warning notices

The format of the Building (Pool Manufacturers and Retailers) Notice 2025 is published in the New Zealand Gazette. Manufacturers and retailers must comply with the prescribed wording and format requirements set out in the Gazette.

The Gazette provides information on:

• the wording that must be used
• fonts, colours and the size and spacing of the text that must be used
• where the notice must be displayed.

This provides clarity and certainty about the content required for the warning notices and helps manufacturers and retailers comply with their duties under the Building Act 2004.

See the requirements in the New Zealand Gazette:

Building (Pool Manufacturers and Retailers) Notice 2025 – gazette.govt.nz

The Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) has created a factsheet that shows how the 2025 warning notice should be set out to support manufacturers and retailers.

Factsheet for the Building (Pool Manufacturers and Retailers) Notice 2025 [PDF 436KB]

MBIE is responsible for ensuring that manufacturers and retailers comply with this requirement. Failure to display the notices is an infringement offence under section 162E(3) and may result in MBIE taking enforcement action by issuing an infringement notice and fee of $500.

Changes to the warning notices

The 2025 notices were introduced in response to feedback that changes were needed to improve their effectiveness in making consumers aware of barrier requirements for residential pools.

The updated notices:

• make the requirements clearer
• better communicate the drowning risks to young children
• require warning notices to be displayed on webpages where the pool is advertised, sold, or shipped within Aotearoa New Zealand.

An 18-month transition period allowed manufacturers and retailers to display either the 2017 or 2025 notices, giving them time to make the necessary changes. 

If you have a question or concern relating to pool warning notices email BSAInvestigations@mbie.govt.nz

For further information see Restricting access to residential pools

If you would like to view the previous warning notice requirements, see the Building (Pool Manufacturers and Retailers) Notice 2017 in the New Zealand Gazette. The 2017 notice is no longer in force and must not be used.

Building (Pool Manufacturers and Retailers) Notice 2017 – gazette.govt.nz