Watch Your Window Supplier & the Products They're Intending to Install in Your Home

Scams aren't just happening on your phone; they're apparently being built into our houses.

It’s a consumer alert that should have every homeowner paying attention:  the New Zealand market is being flooded with fake, non-compliant windows and glass.

The Window and Glass Association of New Zealand (WGANZ) has sounded the alarm, and it needs to be heard loudly. The Association is reporting an "alarming rise" in building products that don't meet the New Zealand Building Code.

This isn't just shoddy workmanship. This is fraud.

Here’s what the industry is seeing:

• Imported window frames that don't meet New Zealand standards.

• Importers using fake certificates to pass off junk as compliant.

• Even local manufacturers are being caught assembling window systems that fail the Code.

And if you think you’re safe because you paid top dollar, think again. WGANZ confirms that this problem isn't just at the "cheap" end of the market. Even "premium" products are being found to be illegal and unsafe.

Why this isn't just an annoyance - it's a health, safety, and property value threat.

A window that doesn't meet New Zealand's structural or durability standards is a massive liability.

It's a threat to your family's safety in a high-wind event, and it's a threat to the long-term durability of your single most valuable investment: your home.

The Government is Failing to Police the Market

WGANZ has officially raised this with the government (MBIE) as a "systemic failure".

But let's call that what it is: A failure of policing. The system is broken, and consumers are being left to fend for themselves.

How To Protect Yourself (Because No One Else Will):

DEMAND PROOF:  Don't take a supplier's word for it. Ask to see test reports and compliance certification.

CHECK THE LABEL:  Look for the official NZS 4211 compliance label on the frame. This label should show the test standard, the brand, and the wind-zone rating.

THE INSTALLER:  Use a vetted, certified member of the Window & Glass Association. If you're buying from a non-member, you are taking a massive gamble.