NZS 4411 Environmental standard for drilling of soil and rock

Overview

Overview

We are consulting on the draft DZ 4411 Environmental standard for drilling of soil and rock.

What is NZS 4411about? 

The objective of NZS 4411 is to protect groundwater resources and preserve water quality, thereby safeguarding groundwater from potential contamination associated with drilling activities.

The standard aims to provide: 

  1. A comprehensive framework for ensuring drilling activities are conducted in a manner that minimises risk to groundwater resources; 

  1. Information to bore owners, drilling contractors, regulatory authorities and any others who may be involved in the drilling, construction, maintenance, and decommissioning of bores. 

The standard sets the minimum environmental requirements and applies to all activities involving the drilling of soil and rock, except those identified as out of scope. To address the inherent natural variability of lithology and hydrogeology across New Zealand, the standard is performance-based to provide a degree of flexibility as to how the minimum requirements can be met. This includes identifying how these requirements may be applied to drilling activities that are short term (temporary) and long term (permanent) in application. 

A note from P4411 committee

  •  NZS 4411 commitee is seeking feedback for the standard as a whole but would like to stress the importance of feedback for Section 4.2.2 Minimum requirements for bore design to ensure these requirements are achievable given the wide range of lithology in Aotearoa New Zealand.

Consultation draft

Please find below the consultation document for you to view or download. 

Important to note

All submissions need to go through this portal. There is no option to upload separate files during the submission process. Documents with submissions sent to Standards New Zealand separately will not be considered by the committee.  

DZ 4411 consultation draft

Provide your feedback here

Closes 7 Apr 2026

Opened 11 Feb 2026

Audiences

  • Environment