Tap water in New Zealand

Generally safe to drink

The WHO and UNICEF put safely managed drinking water within reach of 100% of people in New Zealand. National figures describe a country, not the tap in front of you.

What the sources say

WHO / UNICEF JMP

100% of the population has safely managed drinking water, meaning it is free from contamination at the point of use.

US CDC Travelers' Health

Advises travellers that tap water is generally safe to drink in New Zealand.

Numbeo

84.13/100 on the water drinkability and accessibility index, which Numbeo reads as “Very high”. This one is crowdsourced from residents rather than measured.

Lonely Planet

Tap water throughout New Zealand is generally safe to drink, and public taps with nondrinkable water tend to be labelled as such. However, water quality has faced pollution challenges in some places. Very occasionally, a warning may be issued that tap water must be boiled – your accommodation should inform you if this happens.

Safe nationally still means ask locally. Older buildings can carry lead or copper pipework, and a single street can differ from the network feeding it. If you are staying somewhere old, ask your host.

What bottled water costs you here

Drinking tap water instead of bottled would save one adult about 803$ a year in New Zealand, and keep several hundred plastic bottles out of circulation.

Work out your own saving

Places in New Zealand

Water quality is local. These places have their own readings.

Elsewhere in Australia