Archaic standards system 'stifling innovation and growth', engineers say

Kitchens have come a long way since the days of television chef Alison Holst's first cooking shows. (Image: NZ Herald archive)

Maria Slade

Mon, 16 Jun 2025

You don’t need to be an expert to know there have been advances in water and gas plumbing since the 1970s.Back then, we lived in single-storey, three-bedroom houses and our mums thought they were Christmas if they had a microwave.Today’s plumbed fridges, espresso machines, rain showerheads and underfloor heating bear no resemblance to the fixtures of 50 years ago.Yet the design standard for copper tubes for water, gas and sanitation contained in the Building Act has not been updated since 1976.In the third decade of the 21st century...

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