The Electricity (Safety) Amendment Regulations 2025 — which has been updated to officially cite the more recent version of AS/NZS 3000:2018 standard (including Amendment 3) into law — was gazetted in October 2025 and officially came into force on 13 November 2025.
Under the Electricity (Safety) Regulations, the mandatory citation of AS/NZS 3000:2018 (including Amendment 3) means that creating provision for a dedicated electric vehicle (EV) charging facility is no longer optional for new domestic builds with enclosed garages, in New Zealand.
Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment (EVSE) is the specialized hardware and software system that safely delivers electricity from the power grid to an electric vehicle. Often called a "charging station", EVSE includes the internal safety sensors, power electronics, and the J1772 connector or DC plug needed to facilitate a secure energy transfer between the local electrical source and electric vehicle.
The Regulatory Mechanics
- The Citation Shift: With the standard (2018 version) now directly cited by the New Zealand Government, it shifts from being a "best-practice recommendation" to a legally binding minimum requirement for all new electrical installations.
- The Mode 1 (Trickle Charge) Expiry: Standard 3-pin household plugs (10A domestic sockets used for Mode 1 charging) will no longer be allowed for vehicle charging as they do not provide active communication with the vehicle or safety control boxes. This method is outdated, relatively slow (~1.4 kW to 3 kW), and generally not recommended for modern EVs. The regulation ensures that garages are inherently prepared for safer, faster, and more robust systems.
What This Means for New Domestic Garages
Going forward, ALL fully enclosed domestic garages with a door must be electrically provisioned with one of the following:
- Mode 2 (Occasional Backup) Charging: Requiring a heavy-duty, dedicated final sub-circuit supplying a specialized socket outlet (such as an industrial 16A or 32A single-phase socket). Uses a portable cable plugged into a standard wall socket but features an In-Cable Control and Protection Device (IC-CPD) to prevent overheating. It adds about 12 km to 15 km of range per hour, ideal for emergency top-ups.
- Mode 3 (AC Fast Charging): Requiring dedicated electrical and physical infrastructure for hardwired Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment (EVSE / Wall boxes), which use smart communication networks to manage electrical load dynamically. The standard for daily use. It uses a dedicated AC wall box or charging post (3.7 kW to 22 kW) wired directly to the grid with full safety protocols. It charges a vehicle fully in roughly 4 to 8 hours.
- Mode 4 (DC Fast Charging): Requiring dedicated electrical and physical infrastructure for hardwired Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment (EVSE / Wall boxes), which use smart communication networks to manage electrical load dynamically. High-powered stations (50 kW to 350 kW+) that bypass the car's onboard charger and supply Direct Current (DC) directly to the battery. Designed for road trips, it can restore an EV from 10% to 80% capacity in about 20 to 30 minutes.
Mandatory Installation Safeguards
When installing these compliant facilities, electrical practitioners must strictly satisfy the matching WorkSafe EV Charging Guidelines (refer link to WorkSafe Guidelines) and AS/NZS 3000 rules:
- Dedicated Circuits Only: The EVSE or socket outlet must be supplied via its own dedicated final sub-circuit. Absolutely no other appliances or lighting can share this line.
- Mandatory RCD Protection: Circuits must be protected by a dedicated Residual Current Device (RCD)—typically an RCBO—that disconnects all live conductors (including the neutral) right at the switchboard.
- Load Calculation & SDoC: Electricians must verify that the property's incoming mains won't be overloaded, factoring in the maximum continuous demand of the EV charger at 100% capacity. All permanently connected EV charging stations must carry a formal Supplier Declaration of Conformity (SDoC).
For more information, refer to WorkSafe Guidelines here →
Key Implementation Dates
The transition of these safety regulations involves a multi-stage timeline:
- 13 November 2025 (Effective Date): The amendment regulations officially began. From this date, electrical practitioners were legally allowed to use AS/NZS 3000:2018 standard for new designs and installations.
- 12-Month Transition Window: A formal transition period spans from 13 November 2025 until 12 November 2026. During this year-long window, there is the flexibility to comply with either the old, cited version (AS/NZS 3000:2007) or the newly cited version.
- 13 November 2026 (Mandatory Cut-Off): Once the transition window closes, the old 2007 standard is completely phased out. For any domestic garage build where physical construction begins after 12 November 2026, compliance with the new EV charging provisions becomes mandatory.
Masterspec Specification Work Sections
Masterspec has two sections ready for use that outline the installation standards and compliance rules for electric infrastructure:
7765 Electric Vehicle (EV) Charging Stations
A generic industry master section. It details standard compliance, AS/NZS wiring regulations, and technical baselines for Mode 3 (AC) and Mode 4 (DC) charging installations.
7765EV Schneider Electric EV Charging Solutions
A branded partner work section. It streamlines specifications for Schneider Electric New Zealand commercial or residential hardware ranges, including the Schneider Charge Pro, EVlink Pro AC, and EVlink Pro DC lines.
Selecting Generic or Branded
A design professional (architect, electrical engineer, or services designer) should choose between the generic and branded work sections based on the project's procurement structure, design stage, and integration complexity.
When to consider 7765 Electric Vehicle (EV) Charging Stations (Generic)
- Open Tender Requirements: Ideal for public sector works, council projects, or large commercial developments where procurement rules preclude nominating a proprietary brand — ensuring fair, competitive bidding among contractors.
- Performance-Based Design: Used when the designer wants to specify the required outcomes (e.g., minimum kilowatt output, compliance with AS/NZS 3000:2018, dynamic load balancing capabilities) rather than a specific physical product.
- Future-Proofing Early Stages: Highly useful during the preliminary or developed design phases when the final hardware vendor has not yet been selected by the client.
Why Choose 7765EV Schneider Electric EV Charging Solutions (Branded)
- Pre-Engineered Building Ecosystems: Selected when the project requires immediate, automated integration with an existing building management system (BMS) or energy management system using Schneider ecosystems (such as EcoStruxure).
- Streamlined Procurement: Used when a client or developer has a preferred supply agreement or standardized national fleet contract with Schneider Electric.
- Reduced Design Risk: Eliminates the guesswork of hardware drafting. The designer can specify exact spatial dimensions, structural footings, specific electrical protections, and data connection requirements for units like the EVlink Pro AC.
The Masterspec Q+A pre-editing tool will allow the documentation to be refined to suit the project specific application, refining equipment such as pedestal vs. wall-mounted, or public commercial vs. domestic residential. Critical parameters need to be considered and incorporated by the designer including specific RCD protection types, electrical isolation fields, and open charge point protocol (OCPP) compliance.
Masterspec also have additional work sections that can be used in conjunction as part of an integrated system. This includes: 7717 Photovoltaic Power System and 7700 Electrical.
We are continuing to develop further related sections — watch this space.