Hamilton City Council

Menu≡

  1. Home

  2. Our Services

    Our Services

    1. A-Z services (and key info)
    2. Alcohol licensing
    3. Animal education and control
    4. Building consents and information
    5. Cemeteries
    6. Civil Defence & Emergency Management
    7. Do It Online
    8. Environment and health
    9. Fees and charges
    10. Food safety and public health
    1. IQP - Independent Qualified Persons
    2. Libraries
    3. My Property
    4. Parking
    5. Planning Guidance & Resource Consents
    6. Property & Rates
    7. Public places permits
    8. Rubbish & Recycling
    9. Transport
    10. Water services

    A-Z services (and key info)

    An alphabetical list of services and council business.

    Building consents and information

    Build Hamilton, PIM applications, earthquake register and more building information.

  3. Our City

    Our City

    1. About Hamilton
    2. Arts and culture
    3. City events
    4. Creative Waikato (art funding, resources, support)
    5. City News
    6. City Safe
    7. Community development
    8. Community facilities (including bookings)
    9. Community funding and advisory services
    10. Dogs in parks (pooches and parks) - maps
    1. Economic development
    2. Facilities
    3. Hamilton city libraries
    4. Hamilton city residents' survey
    5. Hamilton Urban Growth Strategy
    6. Parks and open spaces
    7. Parks and reserves (including bookings)
    8. Regional alliances
    9. Victoria on the River
    10. City Development

    Arts and culture

    Arts events, public & performing art, artist support, Arts Agenda and more.

    Community development

    Community development funding, support, advisory services, profiles, bookable facilities and more.

  4. Our Council

    Our Council

    1. 10-Year Plan
    2. About Council
    3. Careers
    4. Consultation and public notices
    5. Council publications
    6. Council's technical manual
    7. Council, Meetings, and Public Information
    8. East Ward By-Election 2018
    9. Fees and charges
    10. Health and Safety
    1. Integrated Catchment Management Plan
    2. Mayor and Councillors
    3. News
    4. Policies, Bylaws and legislation
    5. Strategies and plans
    6. Tenders: current list/register for new tender alerts

    Careers

    Current vacancies, how to apply, information for recruitment agencies and our Vision.

    Consultation & Public Notices

    Have your say, Community Outcomes, Council submissions, public notices and more.

  5. Our Partner Projects

    Our Partner Projects

    1. Our Partner Projects
    2. Hamilton Gardens Development Project
    3. The River Plan
    4. Playgrounds of the Future
    5. Hamilton Biking Plan
    6. Central City Transformation Plan
    7. Frankton Plan
    8. Housing Infrastructure Fund
    9. Proposed New Performing Arts Theatre
    10. Smart Hamilton

    Hamilton Gardens Development Project

    Hamilton Gardens is one of our city’s biggest success stories - read about what's coming next.

    The River Plan

    Hamiltonians are passionate about the Waikato River – read about what's planned for its future.

Our Services
Building consents and information
Build Hamilton
Building over Pipes
Eco Design
Industry Response Team
Plumbing and Drainage
Swimming pool fencing
Dangerous-and-insanitary-buildings

Swimming pool fencing

New rules for swimming and spa pool fencing have been put in place by the Government and are effective from 1 January 2017. The new rules are aimed at reducing the number of children drowning in pools. It also provides consistent rules for the whole country. The rules are now part of the Building Act 2004, the Fencing of Swimming Pools Act 1987 is no longer applicable.

There are some important changes for pool owners to be aware of as you may need to build a new/additional fence, adjust a current fence or have a lockable cover. In addition, all pools in New Zealand will now need to be inspected every three years by the local Council to proactively make sure safety measure s are correctly in place.

Swimming pool fencing guidelines

  • All materials and components of a fence should be of a durable nature and constructed so as to prevent a child from climbing over or crawling under the fen ce from the outside.
  • Fences shall extend a minimum of 1.2m above the ground around the pool and any pool projections.
  • If a fence is to be constructed of perforated material, netting or mesh which has a dimension greater than 10mm, the fence shall extend 1.8m above ground level or pool projections. The maximum size opening of any perforated material, netting or mesh, excluding circumference or perimeter is 50mm.
  • This will include diagonal measurements. Pool projections also mean objects permanently placed on the ground within 1.2m of the fence, and includes trees etc.
  • Such materials must be fixed at the top and bottom, or be of such a nature, that the fence cannot be readily crossed by children under the age of six years.
  • Any clearance between the bottom of the fence and gate and ground level shall not exceed 100mm.
  • The spacing between adjacent vertical poles, panels or other posts shall not exceed 100mm at any point. All fencing supports, nails, rods, wires, bracing or other similar posts shall be on the inside of the fence and be inaccessible for use for climbing from the outside. Horizontal rails should be at least 900mm apart.
  • Gates shall not open into the pool area, and must be fitted with an automatic closer capable of returning the gate to the closed position and operating a child proof latching device. The latching device should be mounted on the inside of the gate at a height of 1.2m above ground level or on the outside of the gate at a height of 1.5m above ground level.
  • Where a building forms part of a fence and the pool is not contained within the building, any door that gives access to the immediate pool area will be required to be fitted with a locking device that when property operated, prevents the door from being readily opened by a child under the age of six years.
  • This also applies to an opening window if any part of the sash is within 1.2m of the floor, and must be fitted with a window restrictor so that it cannot open more than 100mm or be lockable. The immediate pool area must not contain vegetable gardens, clotheslines, children's sand pits, slides, swings etc.
     
  • The fence should also be situated to prevent children moving directly to the pool from the house.

This is only a guide to the fencing requirements and does not cover all situations or aspects of the fencing requirements. 

Click here to read the swimming pool fence FAQs ​

Click here to read the technical​ swimming pool fence  FAQs ​​

​

Technical / further information

Click here to see the full copy of the new legislation with the fencing requirements and specifications. 


Page reviewed: 22 Feb 2017 10:18am
© 2013 Hamilton City Council. All rights reserved
  • Mail1: Hamilton City Council, Private Bag 3010,
  • Mail2: Hamilton, 3240, New Zealand
  • Email: info@hcc.govt.nz
  • Phone: +64 7 838 6699
  • Fax: +64 7 838 6599
  • Office: Monday to Friday 7.45am to 5.00pm
  • Call: Call Centre open 24/7