Christchurch City Council issued a boil water notice on 14 February 2026.
Current situation: The boil water notice affects the Rāwhiti water supply zone, covering New BrighChristchurch City Council issued a boil water notice on 14 February, 2026. Current situation: The boil water notice affects the Rāwhiti water supply zone, covering New Brighton, Burwood, Wainoni, Aranui, and Southshore. All water, including filtered water, must be continuously boiled for at least one minute.
The notice will remain until the council can provide confidence to Taumata Arowai that the water is safe to drink, which requires at least three days of clear test results.
Impact for food businesses
Under the Food Act 2014, food businesses are required to use potable (safe) water at all times. A boil water notice directly triggers obligations under your Food Control Plan (FCP) or National Programme. Your plan requires you to follow any instructions from your water supplier if your water supply becomes unsafe.
Specific steps for hospitality businesses
Water for food preparation and cooking
Boil all water for drinking, making up juices and ice, washing fruits and vegetables, and using for cooking needs. All water — including filtered — must be continuously boiled for at least one minute. Note that “instant boil” systems do not boil water sufficiently and should not be relied upon.
Ice machines
Ice machines must be turned off and not used, as they cannot produce safe ice during a boil notice. Use only commercially purchased bottled water to make ice manually if needed. Turn off post-mix and slushy machines until the “boil water” notice has been lifted.
Coffee machines and water dispensers
Most coffee machines only heat water to 80–85°C, so these machines need to be supplied with pre-boiled water. Plumbedin machines should not be used.
Appliances such as coffee machines and water dispensers that are connected to the water supply must be flushed once the notice is lifted.
Toilets / Handwashing
Make sure toilets for staff and customers are in working order. Staff should wash hands using cooled boiled water or water treated with bleach or chlorine (5 drops of bleach to 1 litre of water); then use a hand sanitiser. Have hand wipes and hand sanitisers available for customer hygiene.
Dishwashers
Commercial dishwashers that reach sufficient sanitising temperatures (typically 83°C or above) are generally considered safe to use, as the heat itself is sufficient to kill bacteria. Check your specific machine’s operating temperature and document this in your Food Control Plan records.
Informing customers
Inform customers of any changes to their water-related offerings (e.g., tap water not being served, ice unavailable) and display notices where appropriate.
Your Food Control Plan obligations
Your FCP requires you to clearly mark any water that is not suitable for use in food production, including water for handwashing and surface cleaning, and to follow instructions from your water supplier. You should document the steps you are taking in your FCP records — this is important for demonstrating compliance if a verifier visits.
Key contacts and sources
- Christchurch City Council – check ccc.govt.nz for the latest updates on the notice area and lifting of the notice. The council’s Environmental Health team can advise food businesses directly.
- MPI (New Zealand Food Safety) – mpi.govt.nz/food-business for Food Control Plan obligations.
- Taumata Arowai (Water Services Authority) – taumataarowai.govt.nz for official notice guidance.
When the notice is lifted
Once the notice is lifted, run all cold taps for five minutes, flush appliances like coffee machines, water dispensers, and ice makers connected to the water supply, and check whether hot water cylinders or header tanks need to be drained and refilled. Update your FCP records to reflect the return to normal operations.
If you’re unsure about any specific situation in your business, contacting Christchurch City Council’s Environmental Health team directly is the best course of action — they are the verifiers for most food businesses in the city.