Summary of the Fencing of Swimming Pools Act 1987*
| * Adapted from Department of Internal Affairs. Guidelines for Territorial Authorities on the Fencing of Swimming Pools Act 1987. Wellington: Department of Internal Affairs, 1990.29 |
| Who does the act apply to? |
| • Pool owners must advise their authority that they have a pool. |
| • Authorities must take all reasonable steps to make sure the act is complied with. |
| What pools need to be fenced? |
| • All private swimming pools and spa pools, unless the maximum depth is 400 mm or less, or the walls are 1.2 m or higher, or the pool is indoors. |
| Where must the fence be situated? |
| • The fence must only surround the pool and the area immediately around the pool. |
| • A boundary fence alone is not sufficient. Buildings can form part of the fence. |
| Can pool owners be exempted from the act? |
| • Authorities can grant exemptions, if they are satisfied the pool does not significantly increase danger to young children. |
| What standard of fencing is required? |
| • The fence must be 1.2 m high. |
| • Any horizontal supports on the outside of the fence must be at least 900 mm apart. |
| • Where fences are made of mesh, holes must be less than 50 mm wide (if holes are between 10 mm and 500 mm wide, the fence must be 1.8 m high). |
| • Gates and doors must be self closing, with a latch. |
| • Latches must be at least 1.2 m above the ground if on the pool side of the fence, or 1.5 m if on the outside. |
| • Where a building forms a part of a fence, the requirements for doors may not apply. |