Our statement on proposed changes to import regulations
Recently, the government publicly raised its proposal to deregulate building industry imports. As the market leader in New Zealand’s window and door manufacturing industry, APL has serious concerns about these changes.
While we support the goal of making housing more accessible for Kiwis, this cannot come at the cost of safety, quality, or long-term performance. At APL, we’re steadfast in our commitment to keeping New Zealand homes safe for the long haul by upholding the rigorous standards, accountability, and resilience that only local manufacturing can ensure.
For decades, New Zealand’s window industry has designed and built joinery to meet one of the toughest climates in the world. Our building standards have been developed through decades of local expertise, rigorous testing, and lessons learned. They exist for one reason: to protect the safety, durability, and comfort of our homes.
These regulatory changes risk opening the door to imported products that may never face our local testing. Offshore standards often don’t account for New Zealand’s unique challenges such as: high wind zones, coastal salt spray, and seismic activity - these conditions can quickly expose weaknesses.
Windows aren’t just another building product, they’re critical to the structural integrity, weathertightness, and safety of every home. When they fail, the consequences aren’t just cosmetic – they’re costly, unsafe, and often irreversible.
APL believe Kiwis deserve: • Proven performance – products tested and verified against our own rigorous standards. • Safety you can trust – compliance that’s more than a tick-box, backed by on-the-ground accountability. • Resilience for generations – homes that stand strong through storms, salt air, and seismic events.
We’ll continue speaking up about quality, safety, and the long-term protection of New Zealand homes. Because NZ-made is about supporting local jobs, while delivering proven, reliable performance where it matters most.
At the end of 2022, we moved from 3 climate zones to 6 to allow a more nuanced approach to climatic factors and window suitability. The zones are numbered from Zone 1 being the warmest climate, to Zone 6 in the coolest climate areas (as indicated on the map). All zones are now required to achieve a minimum R-Value (R0.46 for Zone 1-4, R0.50 for Zone 5-6).
Which products should be used?
Wherever you are in New Zealand, your project will exceed the Building Code requirements when you choose ThermalHeart+®, or Klima® uPVC joinery with The AGP System®.
Installation details for our products are available under the Altherm, First and Vantage brands on EBOSS, an online library of product catalogues from New Zealand's leading product suppliers.
Detailed specification clauses for products are available on the Masterspec website under APL Window Solutions.
Masterspec serves the New Zealand construction industry with a pre-formatted, up-to-date database of specification clauses, using an online interface to structure, edit, add support documentation and output to multiple formats.
We have several resources available to help you quickly and easily understand how the components fit together, including:
Working Spec models: we have interactive animated 3D assembly models available for several key products. Centrafix® Installation Guide: available online and contains the latest product drawings and technical details to support product installation.
At the end of 2022, we moved from 3 climate zones to 6 to allow a more nuanced approach to climatic factors and window suitability. The zones are numbered from Zone 1 being the warmest climate, to Zone 6 in the coolest climate areas (as indicated on the map). All zones are now required to achieve a minimum R-Value (R0.46 for Zone 1-4, R0.50 for Zone 5-6).
