All second-hand electrical appliances sold in New Zealand must be electrically safe. A way of demonstrating this is to have them tested to Australian and New Zealand Electrical Safety Standard (AS/NZS) 5761, or have them disabled and tagged in accordance with AS/NZS 4701.

Buying or selling second-hand appliances

The legal requirements applicable in New Zealand relating to the safety of second-hand appliances offered for sale are contained in regulation 80 of the Electricity (Safety) Regulations 2010(external link). A second-hand electrical appliance cannot be sold or used unless it meets certain fundamental safety requirements.

Some criteria for checking that the appliance you are purchasing properly meets the legal requirements are:

• If it is suitable for use and connection to the power supply it must have successfully been subjected to some safety tests and inspections. It will be fitted with a non-reusable, non-metallic tag which may be of the adhesive-backed variety and will include:
  • The name of the person or company who performed the inspections and tests; and
  • The inspection and test date.

If it is not suitable for use and connection to the power supply, it will have been rendered incapable of being connected to the power supply by removal of the means of connection such as the supply cord or the supply cord and plug, or the electrical appliance inlet or the pins for direct insertion into a socket outlet. It will also be fitted with an appropriate conspicuous warning label.