Fire and Emergency New Zealand is updating the Code of Practice for Firefighting Water Supplies (the Code), and we are inviting feedback from the public and interested organisations.
The Code provides guidance on the water needed to support firefighting in both urban and rural communities. It is commonly used by councils, water suppliers, engineers, developers, and other organisations involved in planning and designing buildings, subdivisions, and water infrastructure.
New Zealand’s communities and infrastructure have changed significantly since the last version of the Code was developed. The updated draft aims to ensure that the guidance remains clear, practical, and appropriate for modern conditions, including growing towns and cities, rural and unreticulated communities, and changes in water services and development patterns.
What’s included in the Draft Code
The consultation material includes:
- the draft updated Code
- a summary of key changes
- information about how the Code is intended to be used
- areas where changes may affect councils, water services, developers, and other organisations.
How to take part
Public consultation is being run through the Standards New Zealand website, where you can read the draft and make a submission.
You can also find supporting information on this page to help you understand the purpose of the Code, the reasons for the update, and how the proposed changes may affect your community or organisation.
We welcome your feedback and appreciate your time in helping shape this important national guidance.
How the Firefighting Water Supplies Code of Practice Is intended to be used
The Code of Practice for Firefighting Water Supplies (the Code) provides national guidance on the level of water required to support safe and effective firefighting. It is used across New Zealand by councils, Water Services Entities, developers, engineers, government agencies, and Fire and Emergency staff.
The Code helps different users understand what level of firefighting water is appropriate in urban, rural, and small community settings, and how to plan, design, or assess water supplies so communities remain safe and resilient.
Fire and Emergency is legally required under section 73 of the Fire and Emergency New Zealand Act 2017 to develop, consult on, publish, and regularly review this Code.
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Overall purpose of the Code
The Code is intended to:
• provide clear national guidance on the firefighting water needed in different types of communities
• support planning, design, and decisionmaking for water infrastructure
• help ensure new developments and existing areas have an appropriate level of firefighting water.
• improve national consistency in how firefighting water needs are understood and applied
• support longterm resilience, especially where water networks are constrained or communities rely on local storage solutions.
Although the Code is guidance, not regulation, it is widely incorporated into:
• district plans
• engineering standards
• subdivision and resource consent processes
• water infrastructure planning
• design work by consultants
• Fire and Emergency risk reduction and operational planning.
Local Authorities – how the Code is intended to be used
Local authorities may use the Code to:
- inform district plans, engineering standards, and development conditions
- guide subdivision and consent assessments
- clarify expectations for onsite water supply where reticulated supply is limited
- support discussions with developers, engineers, and Water Services Entities
- assist longterm planning for growth, resilience, and investment
- assist or inform how fire as a natural hazard is mitigated or its impacts reduced under the Resource Management Act, including when making planning, consenting, and policy decisions.
The Code helps councils ensure that new developments and existing areas have appropriate firefighting water, supporting community safety, risk reduction, and efficient consenting processes.
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Water Services Entities – How the Code is intended to be used
Water Services Entities may use the Code to:
- plan and design water networks to meet firefighting water needs
- assess system capability and identify areas requiring upgrades
- inform long-term asset management and investment planning
- support discussions with councils, developers, and Fire and Emergency
- plan for resilience and redundancy during outages, drought, or network stress.
The Code gives WSEs a national reference point for designing and operating water systems that support firefighting.
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Developers and Engineers – how the code is intended to be used
Developers, planners, and engineering designers may use the Code to:
- understand expected firefighting water levels for different types of development
- design hydrant layouts, water mains, tanks, and onsite supply solutions
- identify appropriate options in rural and unreticulated areas
- reduce ambiguity in consent processes and avoid redesign delays
- ensure development proposals align with council and Water Services Entity expectations.
The Code provides a clear, nationally consistent foundation for planning and designing firefighting water supplies.
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Government Agencies – how the code is intended to be used
Government agencies may use the Code to:
- consider interactions between the Code and planning, building, water services, and environmental regulation
- understand how firefighting water guidance supports national resilience objectives
- inform policy development and crosssystem alignment
- support coordinated updates across the planning and water services systems.
The Code provides a stable reference for agencies whose work intersects with land use, water management, and community safety.
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Industry and Professional Bodies – how the code is intended to be used
Professional bodies, industry groups, and product suppliers may use the Code to:
- understand performance expectations for firefighting water systems
- align training, professional standards, and technical guidance
- anticipate demand for certain products (e.g., tanks, fittings, pumps, hydrants)
- support members in designing, installing, or maintaining compliant systems
- ensure products and practices reflect current national guidance.
The Code helps industry sectors align with consistent expectations across New Zealand.
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Rural and Small Communities – how the code is intended to be used
Rural and small communities may use the Code to:
- understand what firefighting water levels are appropriate for local conditions
- plan for onsite storage tanks or alternative water sources
- identify ways to improve resilience when reticulated supply is limited
- support community resilience planning alongside Fire and Emergency
- make informed decisions about property risk and preparedness.
The Code aims to reflect the realities of rural and remote communities and to support achievable, practical solutions.
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Fire and Emergency personnel – how the code is intended to be used
Fire and Emergency personnel may use the Code to:
- provide consistent advice to councils, WSEs, developers, and communities
- support local planning, risk reduction, and operational assessments
- guide pre-incident planning and understanding of available water
- engage with stakeholders using nationally consistent expectations
- ensure alignment across regions and service delivery functions.
The Code helps Fire and Emergency provide clear, evidencebased advice and support to partners across the country.
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