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118: Access and facilities for persons with disabilities to and within buildings
or “This law says buildings open to the public must be easy for people with disabilities to use, including getting in, parking, and using the bathroom.”
You could also call this:

“This law explains how buildings should be made easy for everyone to use, including people with disabilities.”

You need to know about a rule that helps make buildings accessible for people with disabilities. This rule is based on a special document called the New Zealand Standard Specification No 4121. This document explains how to design buildings so that people with disabilities can use them easily.

The government can change this document if they need to. They might add new ideas to it or replace it with a better version. When they do this, the new version becomes the rule that everyone should follow.

The Minister, who is an important person in the government, has to look at any changes to this document within 6 months. They then decide if they want to recommend using the new version or not.

There’s a group called the NZ Standards Organisation that makes these documents. If you want to know more about this group, you can look at section 4(1) of the Standards and Accreditation Act 2015.

If the government decides to use a new version of the document, they make an order. This order is a type of law, and you can find out how it’s published by looking at Part 3 of the Legislation Act 2019.

This text is automatically generated. It might be out of date or be missing some parts. Find out more about how we do this.

Next up: 120: Symbols of access must be displayed

or “Buildings that have special features for people with disabilities must show special signs outside”
Next

Part 2 Building
Code compliance certificates, certificates of acceptance, and compliance schedules: Access to buildings by persons with disabilities

119Acceptable solution for requirements of persons with disabilities

  1. This section applies to—

  2. the New Zealand Standard Specification No 4121 (the code of practice for design for access and use of buildings by persons with disabilities), together with any modifications to that standard specification in force immediately before the commencement of this section; or
    1. if an Order in Council is made under subsection (3),—
      1. the standard specification referred to in paragraph (a) incorporating an amendment that is adopted by the order; or
        1. a standard specification that is in substitution for the standard specification referred to in paragraph (a) that is adopted by the order.

        2. A standard specification to which this section applies is to be taken as an acceptable solution.

        3. The Governor-General may, by Order in Council made on the recommendation of the Minister, adopt—

        4. an amendment to the standard specification referred to in subsection (1)(a); or
          1. a standard specification that is in substitution for the standard specification referred to in that subsection.

            1. The Minister must, no later than 6 months after the date on which an amendment or a standard specification is promulgated by the NZ Standards Organisation,—

            2. make a recommendation under subsection (3) in relation to the amendment or standard specification; or
              1. decide not to make a recommendation.

                1. In this section, NZ Standards Organisation has the meaning given to it in section 4(1) of the Standards and Accreditation Act 2015.

                2. An order under this section is secondary legislation (see Part 3 of the Legislation Act 2019 for publication requirements).

                Compare
                  Notes
                  • Section 119 heading: amended, on , by section 26(1) of the Building Amendment Act 2013 (2013 No 100).
                  • Section 119(2): amended, on , by section 26(2) of the Building Amendment Act 2013 (2013 No 100).
                  • Section 119(4): amended, on , by section 45(1) of the Standards and Accreditation Act 2015 (2015 No 91).
                  • Section 119(5): replaced, on , by section 45(1) of the Standards and Accreditation Act 2015 (2015 No 91).
                  • Section 119(6): inserted, on , by section 3 of the Secondary Legislation Act 2021 (2021 No 7).