See also: Terms and conditions, Privacy policy

Human rights

The New Zealand government ratified (agreed to follow) the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (the UN Disability Convention) on 26 September 2008. This means New Zealand has a legal obligation to respect, promote, and fulfil the rights in the Convention. This is overseen by the Ministry of Social Development (Office for Disability Issues). Among other human rights, the Convention specifically recognizes:

  • the right to accessibility in the built environment (buildings and neighbourhoods), transport, public services, and facilities
  • freedom from degrading treatment which is grossly humiliating and undignified
  • the right to live independently and be included in the community
  • the right to participation in cultural life, recreation, leisure, and sport

People with disability also have rights to be treated with respect, dignity, and equal treatment under the Human Rights Act 1993 and the Bill of Rights Act 1990.

Public safety

The Health and Safety at Work Act 2015 is New Zealand’s key health and safety law. Under the Act, people and organisations conducting a business or undertaking (referred to as PCBUs in the Act) must ensure that conditions are healthy and safe for their workers and members of the public. This means that businesses and local councils must ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, the health and safety of people using public toilets which they operate. This includes risk from biological hazards (such as infection), physical hazards (such as falling), and ergonomic hazards (such as muscle strain).

All equipment provided in a Changing Places bathroom must conform to New Zealand regulations and safety standards. This includes design, maintenance, and testing requirements under the Electricity (Safety) Regulations 2010 for installation of electrical equipment in a wet area. Plug-in electrical equipment must be regularly inspected and certified (called PAT testing) in compliance with AS/NZS 3760:2010 (In-service safety inspection and testing of electrical equipment). The hoist must conform to standard ISO 10535:2006 (Hoists for the transfer of disabled persons). Certain regulations and standards require regular inspection and certification by an Independent Qualified Person (called IQP inspection).

Organisations which build or maintain a Changing Places bathroom should seek further advice to ensure they manage risk appropriately and comply with all relevant safety standards and regulatory requirements.

Toilet accessibility

Councils in New Zealand provide public toilets under the Local Government Act 1974 (Section 596), the Health Act 1956 (Section 23), and the New Zealand Building Code. Businesses and organisations also provide toilets under the New Zealand Building Code. Toilet design is specified by New Zealand Standard NZS 4241:1999 (Public Toilets).

Organisations comply with the requirements for accessible toilets by following the recommendations in Building Code Clause “G1/AS1 Acceptable solutions” (part of the New Zealand Building Code) and New Zealand standard NZS 4121:2001 (Design for Access and Mobility: Buildings and Associated Facilities). Unfortunately, those recommendations for accessible toilets do not actually meet the needs of all users.

You can find guidance on designing and providing fully accessible Changing Places bathrooms in British Standard BS 8300:2009 (Design of Buildings and Their Approaches to Meet the Needs of Disabled People – Code of Practice) and the Changing Places Information Guide and Technical Standard created by Changing Places Australia.



The Changing Places logo is a registered
trademark of Changing Places NZ.

Trademarks and accreditation

The Changing Places name and logo are registered trademarks of Changing Places New Zealand (Changing Places NZ) for use in New Zealand.

A bathroom must be accredited by Changing Places NZ before it can be called a Changing Places bathroom or display the Changing Places logo.

Accreditation is necessary because currently there are no standards or building code requirements in New Zealand to ensure consistency and quality control. Accreditation ensures that every bathroom which displays the Changing Places logo will consistently meet the needs of users and their caregivers.

Contact Changing Places NZ for more information: [email protected]