Asbestos
A group of naturally occurring fibrous minerals once widely used in New Zealand building materials, now known to cause serious lung diseases and cancer when fibres are inhaled.
What is a Asbestos?
Asbestos was widely used in New Zealand construction from the 1940s through to the mid-1980s. Common uses included roofing, wall cladding (particularly the textured finish known as 'artex' or 'stipple'), floor tiles, pipe lagging, and insulation. If your home was built or renovated before 1990, there's a reasonable chance it contains asbestos-containing materials (ACMs).
Asbestos is not dangerous when it's in good condition and left undisturbed. The risk comes when asbestos materials are damaged, deteriorated, or disturbed during renovation or demolition — releasing microscopic fibres into the air that can cause serious diseases including asbestosis, lung cancer, and mesothelioma.
New Zealand banned the import of raw asbestos in 1984 and most asbestos products by 2002, but a complete ban on all asbestos products wasn't enacted until 2016. The Health and Safety at Work (Asbestos) Regulations 2016 govern how asbestos must be managed and removed.
Why It Matters for Due Diligence
If you're buying a pre-1990 home, assume asbestos may be present until proven otherwise. This is especially important if you plan to renovate, as disturbing asbestos without proper precautions is both dangerous and illegal. Professional asbestos removal is expensive — budget $3,000-$20,000+ depending on the scope.
Get a pre-purchase building inspection that specifically addresses asbestos. If asbestos is found, understand whether it's in good condition (low risk if undisturbed) or deteriorated (needs professional management or removal). Factor removal costs into your purchase price negotiation.
How to Check
A qualified building inspector can identify likely asbestos-containing materials during a pre-purchase inspection. However, definitive identification requires laboratory testing of a sample — this costs around $50-$100 per sample. An asbestos survey by a licensed assessor provides a comprehensive assessment of all ACMs in a building, their condition, and management recommendations.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it safe to live in a house with asbestos?
Yes, if the asbestos-containing materials are in good condition and undisturbed. Intact asbestos materials don't release fibres. The risk arises when materials are damaged, deteriorated, or disturbed. If you have asbestos in good condition, you can manage it in place with regular monitoring. Never sand, drill, cut, or break asbestos materials yourself.
How much does asbestos removal cost in NZ?
Costs vary widely depending on the type and quantity of material. Removing asbestos from a roof might cost $10,000-$25,000. Removing textured ceilings could cost $5,000-$15,000 per room. All asbestos removal over 10 square metres must be done by a licensed removalist. Get multiple quotes and ensure the removalist holds a current WorkSafe licence.
Related Terms
Contaminated Land
GlossaryLand that contains hazardous substances at concentrations that pose a risk to human health or the environment.
LIM Report
GlossaryA Land Information Memorandum — an official council report summarising everything the council knows about a property.
Remediation
GlossaryThe process of repairing, restoring, or cleaning up a building or land to fix defects, remove contamination, or bring it to a safe and compliant standard.
Weathertightness
GlossaryA building's ability to prevent water from entering the structure through its exterior envelope — the roof, walls, windows, and other external elements.
Building Code
GlossaryThe New Zealand Building Code — a set of minimum performance standards that all building work must meet, covering structure, fire safety, moisture, energy efficiency, and accessibility.
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