Printed from https://fyi.org.nz/request/32763-removal-of-prohibition-against-switching-protective-earth-neutral-pen-conductors-from-wiring-rules on May 28, 2026 06:45

We don't know whether the most recent response to this request contains information or not – if you are Aidan Thornton please sign in and let everyone know.

Removal of prohibition against switching protective earth neutral (PEN) conductors from Wiring Rules

Aidan Thornton made this Official Information request to WorkSafe New Zealand

This request has an unknown status. We're waiting for Aidan Thornton to read recent responses and update the status.

From: Aidan Thornton

Background
The Electricity (Safety) Amendment Regulations 2025 (ESAR25) were published 13 October 2025 and the amendments come into effect 13 November 2025.
Note: being an imminent public safety issue an accelerated processing time is requested.

Issue: PEN Conductor Protections Removed
ESAR25 r12 amends Schedule 2 of the Electricity (Safety) Regulations 2010 (ESR).

ESR Schedule 2 is amended to cite AS/NZS 3000:2018 (…Wiring Rules) subject multiple modifications. The issue raised here is the deletion of clauses 2.3.2.1.2 (b) & (c) from the Wiring Rules.

AS/NZS 3000:2018 clauses 2.3.2.1.2 (b) & (c) provide the only prohibitions preventing the extremely unsafe action that is the installation of switches, fuses or circuit breakers within an installation’s Protective Earth Neutral (PEN) conductor.
In the Multiple-Earthed Neutral system used by New Zealand, the neutral conductor of consumer mains is a PEN conductor.
Important note: the presence of fuses or independent switches/breakers in a PEN conductor can render the installation lethal under normal operating conditions (even with no faults present).

Question 1:
Please provide details of the management of change (or equivalent) procedure associated with this regulatory change (allowing a fuse, independent circuit breaker or switch within the PEN conductor), including requirements for:
• initiation of the process
• requirements analysis (ie justification for the proposed change)
• consultation with industry, the public, and other government entities
• due diligence
• review (internal, peer, and expert)
• detailed technical analysis
• risk/reward and benefit-to-cost-ratio analysis
• required signoffs or gating
• other necessary steps

Question 2:
Please provide all documentation associated with this regulatory change, including but not limited to the above items.

Question 3:
During due diligence prior to the release of ESAR25, what overseas jurisdictions were identified that allow the installation of fuses, switches, disconnects, and/or circuit breakers within Consumer Mains Neutral, Protective Earth Neutral, or Protective Earth conductors of equivalent or similar systems of supply?

End.

Link to this

From: Ministerial Services – WorkSafe
WorkSafe New Zealand

Tēnā koe Aidan

Thank you for your Official Information Act request received by WorkSafe New Zealand on 6 November 2025.

We will respond to your request in accordance with the provisions of the Official Information Act as soon as reasonably practicable and not later than 20 working days.

If we need to extend this timeframe, we will let you know before that date with the reasons why.

Please contact [email address] if you have any questions.

Ngā mihi,

Ministerial Services
8 Willis Street
Wellington
W    worksafe.govt.nz

show quoted sections

Link to this

Aidan Thornton left an annotation ()

I believe WorkSafe has merged this request into #32761 https://fyi.org.nz/request/32761-modific...

Link to this

From: Ministerial Services – WorkSafe
WorkSafe New Zealand

Attachment image001.gif
1K Download

Attachment image002.gif
1K Download

Attachment image003.gif
1K Download

Attachment image004.gif
1K Download

Attachment image005.gif
7K Download

Attachment OIA 251173 251174.pdf
118K Download View as HTML

Kia ora Aidan,

 

Please find attached correspondence in relation to your Official
Information Act requests.

 

Ngā mihi

 

Ministerial Services

8 Willis Street

Wellington

W    [1]worksafe.govt.nz

 

[2]facebook-grey  [3]twitter-grey  [4]linkedin-grey  [5]instagram-grey

[6]WSNZ_2769-Maori-email-sign-off-with-twitter-v1-2

[7]www.govt.nz - your guide to finding and using New Zealand government
services

show quoted sections

References

Visible links
1. http://www.worksafe.govt.nz/
2. https://www.facebook.com/nzworksafe
3. https://twitter.com/WorkSafeNZ
4. https://www.linkedin.com/company/worksaf...
5. https://www.instagram.com/worksafe_nz/
7. http://www.govt.nz/

Link to this

From: Ministerial Services – WorkSafe
WorkSafe New Zealand

Attachment image002.gif
0K Download

Attachment image003.gif
0K Download

Attachment image004.gif
0K Download

Attachment image005.gif
0K Download

Attachment image006.gif
7K Download

Attachment OIA 251174 Thornton Decision letter.pdf
120K Download View as HTML

Dear Aidan

 

Please see attached response to your Official Information Act request.

 

Ministerial Services 

8 Willis Street 

Wellington 

W    [1]worksafe.govt.nz 

 

[2]facebook-grey  [3]twitter-grey  [4]linkedin-grey  [5]instagram-grey 

[6]WSNZ_2769-Maori-email-sign-off-with-twitter-v1-2 

 

[7]www.govt.nz - your guide to finding and using New Zealand government
services

show quoted sections

References

Visible links
1. http://www.worksafe.govt.nz/
7. http://www.govt.nz/

Link to this

From: Ministerial Services – WorkSafe
WorkSafe New Zealand

Attachment image001.png
0K Download

Attachment image002.png
0K Download

Attachment image003.png
0K Download

Attachment image004.png
0K Download

Attachment image005.png
7K Download

Attachment OIA 251174 REPLY.pdf
239K Download View as HTML

Attachment User Guide for Worksafe Box External.pdf
792K Download View as HTML

Kia ora Aidan

 

Please see attached the response to your Official Information Act
request. 

 

Due to the file size of the documents being released to you, we have to
share the document through an online system called Box.  

 

You will receive a link shortly via a separate email to access Box.
Guidance on how to use the system is also attached. 

 

Please contact [1][email address] if you have any
questions. 

 

 

Ministerial Services 

8 Willis Street 

Wellington 

W    [2]worksafe.govt.nz 

 

[3][IMG]  [4][IMG]  [5][IMG]  [6][IMG]

[7][IMG]

 

[8]www.govt.nz - your guide to finding and using New Zealand government
services

show quoted sections

References

Visible links
1. mailto:[email address]
2. http://www.worksafe.govt.nz/
3. https://www.facebook.com/nzworksafe
4. https://twitter.com/WorkSafeNZ
5. https://www.linkedin.com/company/3560873
6. https://www.instagram.com/worksafe_nz/
7. https://www.worksafe.govt.nz/
8. http://www.govt.nz/

Link to this

From: Jane McColl

[1]Sign Up
[2]OIA 251174 (Thornton)
Jane McColl
([email address])
invited you to collaborate on:
OIA 251174 (Thornton)
"I'd like to share my files
with you on Box." – Jane
McColl
([email address])
[3]Accept Invite

show quoted sections

Link to this

From: Box

Attachment email verification icon.png
13K Download

Attachment box logo.png
2K Download

Attachment box logo dark.png
1K Download

Almost
there!
Please
verify your
email
address
Welcome to
Box! Please
verify your
email to get
started. The
verification
link will
expire in 15
minutes.
[1]Verify
Email
If you did
not sign up
for Box, or
believe an
unauthorized
person has
signed up
using your
email
address,
please
contact
[2]Box
Support.
© 2026 Box · 900 Jefferson Ave, Redwood City, CA 94063, USA
[3]About Box · [4]Privacy Policy

References

Visible links
1. https://account.box.com/link/?lp=tf-cqOJ.....
2. https://support.box.com/
3. https://www.box.com/about-us
4. https://www.box.com/legal/privacypolicy

Link to this

From: Jane McColl

[1]Sign Up
[2]OIA 251174 (Thornton)
Jane McColl
([email address])
invited you to collaborate on:
OIA 251174 (Thornton)
Reminder: Jane McColl
([email address])
is waiting for your reply.
[3]Accept Invite

show quoted sections

Link to this

From: Jane McColl

[1]Sign Up
[2]OIA 251174 (Thornton)
Jane McColl
([email address])
invited you to collaborate on:
OIA 251174 (Thornton)
Reminder: Jane McColl
([email address])
is waiting for your reply.
[3]Accept Invite

show quoted sections

Link to this

From: Box

Attachment email verification icon.png
13K Download

Attachment box logo.png
2K Download

Attachment box logo dark.png
1K Download

Almost
there!
Please
verify your
email
address
Welcome to
Box! Please
verify your
email to get
started. The
verification
link will
expire in 15
minutes.
[1]Verify
Email
If you did
not sign up
for Box, or
believe an
unauthorized
person has
signed up
using your
email
address,
please
contact
[2]Box
Support.
© 2026 Box · 900 Jefferson Ave, Redwood City, CA 94063, USA
[3]About Box · [4]Privacy Policy

References

Visible links
1. https://account.box.com/link/?lp=v5xgU-I.....
2. https://support.box.com/
3. https://www.box.com/about-us
4. https://www.box.com/legal/privacypolicy

Link to this

From: Box

Attachment email verification icon.png
13K Download

Attachment box logo.png
2K Download

Attachment box logo dark.png
1K Download

Almost
there!
Please
verify your
email
address
Welcome to
Box! Please
verify your
email to get
started. The
verification
link will
expire in 15
minutes.
[1]Verify
Email
If you did
not sign up
for Box, or
believe an
unauthorized
person has
signed up
using your
email
address,
please
contact
[2]Box
Support.
© 2026 Box · 900 Jefferson Ave, Redwood City, CA 94063, USA
[3]About Box · [4]Privacy Policy

References

Visible links
1. https://account.box.com/link/?lp=5hzJLBz.....
2. https://support.box.com/
3. https://www.box.com/about-us
4. https://www.box.com/legal/privacypolicy

Link to this

We don't know whether the most recent response to this request contains information or not – if you are Aidan Thornton please sign in and let everyone know.

Things to do with this request

Anyone:
WorkSafe New Zealand only: