Lead-Free Plumbing Legislation w/ Professor Sally Gaw: 5 May, 2026

Last week, the government announced new rules to transition the country to lead-free plumbing. The new law would ban the use of lead from drinking water pipes in new builds and renovations, and would require all pipes in contact with drinking water to contain less than 0.25% lead. Lead has long been known to be a neurotoxin and have negative effects on human development, and this move has been welcomed by experts as a way of improving New Zealander’s health. 

Wire producer Liam spoke to Professor Sally Gaw from the School of Physical and Chemical Sciences at the University of Canterbury, about the new regulations, what this means for our health, and why a ban on lead drinking water pipes was not implemented sooner.