Kia ora Andrew McGregor,
 
On behalf of the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment I
acknowledge your email of 23/09/2025 requesting, under the Official
Information Act 1982, the following:
 
I am writing to request information regarding the Electrical Workers
Registration Board’s (EWRB) Competence Programme requirements for
Hazardous Area endorsements.
In the Electricity (Prescribed Requirements for Competence Programmes)
Notice 2023 (2023-sl4076), the Competence Programme requirements for
Hazardous Area endorsements reference the following standards:
•       AS/NZS 60079.0
•       AS/NZS 60079.11
•       AS/NZS 60079.14
•       AS/NZS 60079.17
•       AS/NZS 60079.18
•       AS/NZS 60079.29.2
•       AS/NZS 60079.35.1
I seek clarification on the inclusion of some of these standards:
1.      AS/NZS 60079.11 and AS/NZS 60079.18 are manufacturing standards.
They set requirements for the construction of intrinsically safe apparatus
and encapsulated equipment, respectively. These are not standards relating
to installation, inspection, testing, or maintenance, which are the
prescribed electrical work activities relevant to registered electrical
workers.
2.      AS/NZS 60079.35.1 is specifically for battery-operated Caplights
for use in mines susceptible to firedamp. This appears to be outside the
scope of general hazardous area electrical work for two reasons:
•       Mining is a distinct area of practice with its own endorsement.
•       The devices in question are battery-operated Caplights, which are
not considered prescribed electrical work under the Electricity Act, as
they are self-contained battery devices rather than mains or fixed
electrical installations.
Accordingly, my request is as follows:
•       Please provide the reasoning, documentation, or policy basis that
explains why the above standards (AS/NZS 60079.11, AS/NZS 60079.18, and
AS/NZS 60079.35.1) are included in the Competence Programme requirements
for hazardous area endorsements as set out in the 2023-sl4076 Electricity
(Prescribed Requirements for Competence Programmes) Notice 2023.
•       Please advise whether the EWRB has considered limiting the scope
of required standards to those directly relevant to prescribed electrical
work (e.g., installation, inspection, testing, and maintenance), such as
AS/NZS 60079.14 and AS/NZS 60079.17.
•       Please provide any internal guidance, working papers, or
consultation feedback received on this matter.
 
We will endeavour to respond to your request as soon as possible, and no
later than 21/10/2025, being 20 working days after the day your request
was received. If we are unable to respond to your request by then, we will
notify you of an extension of that timeframe. If you have any enquiries
regarding your request feel free to contact us via email to
[1][MBIE request email].
 
Nāku noa, nā
Ministerial Services
Strategy and Assurance
Ministry of Business, Innovation & Employment
15 Stout Street, Wellington 6011 |  P O Box 1473 Wellington 6140

References

Visible links
1. mailto:[MBIE request email]