Lead-based paint exposure risk remains highest in older New Zealand dwellings

Posted 3 hours ago by Agnieszka Kowalik-Tait Less than a minute to read

Lead-based paint remains a significant source of non-occupational exposure in New Zealand, particularly in older dwellings where renovation activities or deteriorating paint can generate dust containing lead.

Key findings include:

Nearly half (49%) of dwellings with notifications were built before 1940 (in the very high hazard category).
Notification rates were approximately 16 times higher in pre-1940 dwellings than in dwellings built from 1980 onward.
Most notifications occurred in urban areas (78%), although very high hazard dwellings are also common in rural areas.
Children remain particularly vulnerable, with 71 notifications linked to lead-based paint exposure recorded between 2014 and 2024.

You can access the full report here:
Lead-based paint exposure in New Zealand dwellings

An interactive map is also available to explore dwelling hazard levels across New Zealand:
Potential lead-based paint exposure in NZ dwellings