A burst pipe, failed washing machine hose, or sudden leak can dump hundreds of litres of water into your home in minutes. Knowing exactly how to shut off your water supply before it happens could save you thousands in damage. This guide walks you through every shut-off point in a typical New Zealand home so you're ready to act fast.
Understand Your Water Shut-Off Points
Most NZ homes have three main places where you can stop the water flow, from closest to the street to closest to the tap:
- The toby valve (boundary tap) — at the street boundary, usually in a small underground box in the footpath or front lawn
- The internal stop tap — inside the house, often under the kitchen sink, in a cupboard, or near the hot water cylinder
- Individual isolating valves — on specific appliances or fixtures (toilet cisterns, washing machines, under-sink taps)
Knowing all three means you can respond at the right level — isolating just one appliance rather than cutting water to the whole house if that's all that's needed.
How to Find and Use the Toby Valve
The toby valve (also called the boundary stop valve or council tap) is your master shut-off for the entire property. It controls the water coming in from the council main.
- Look for a small rectangular or round plastic cover flush with the ground, usually near your front boundary, driveway edge, or footpath
- Lift the cover — you may need a flat-head screwdriver or a toby key (a long T-bar tool available from Bunnings or Mitre 10 for a few dollars)
- Turn the valve clockwise (right) to close it. Some tobies have a flat slot you turn 90°; others have a round wheel you spin
- If the toby is stiff, corroded, or won't budge, do not force it — call your local council or a plumber immediately
Tip: Locate your toby valve now, on a calm day, and mark it with a small flag or paint so you can find it fast in an emergency.
Finding the Internal Stop Tap
Many homes also have an internal stop tap where the water supply enters the house — this is often easier to reach than the toby, especially at night or in bad weather.
Common locations include:
- Under the kitchen sink
- In the hot water cylinder cupboard
- In a utility room or laundry
- In a basement or sub-floor access hatch
Turn it clockwise to close. If your home doesn't seem to have one, it's worth asking a licensed plumber to install one — it's a straightforward job and well worth it.
Isolating Individual Appliances
If only one fixture is the problem, you may not need to cut water to the whole house. Look for isolating valves (small inline valves with a flat-head slot) on the supply pipes to:
- Toilets — usually on the wall or floor behind the cistern
- Washing machines and dishwashers — on the hose connections at the wall
- Under-sink taps — on the hot and cold pipes below the basin
Turn the slot 90° so it sits across the pipe (perpendicular) to close the valve.
Step-by-Step: Emergency Shut-Off
| Situation | Best action |
|---|---|
| Burst pipe anywhere in the house | Close internal stop tap or toby valve immediately |
| Overflowing toilet | Close isolating valve behind cistern |
| Leaking washing machine hose | Turn off taps at the wall behind the machine |
| Hot water cylinder leaking | Close cold-water inlet valve on the cylinder |
| Toby won't turn / can't find it | Call your council's 24-hour fault line or an emergency plumber |
After You've Shut Off the Water
- Open a tap at the lowest point in the house (e.g. an outside tap) to drain pressure from the pipes
- Turn off your hot water cylinder at the power board if there's any risk of it running dry — a dry element will burn out
- Take photos of any damage for your insurance claim
- Call a licensed plumber to assess and repair the fault before turning the water back on
What About the Water Meter?
In many NZ towns and cities, the water meter sits alongside or near the toby valve. The meter itself is council property — do not tamper with it. The toby valve next to it, however, is what you use to shut off supply. If you're unsure which is which, contact your local council.
When to Call a Professional
Shutting off the water is something any homeowner can and should do. However, repairing pipes, fittings, and most plumbing connections is restricted work under the Plumbers, Gasfitters and Drainlayers Act 2006. Only a licensed plumber may legally carry out this work in New Zealand. Attempting DIY pipe repairs can void your insurance and create health and safety risks.
If your toby valve is seized, your pipes have burst, or your hot water cylinder is failing, call a licensed plumber straight away. You can find qualified local plumbers on tradedirectory.co.nz.
For guidance on what work is restricted, MBIE Building Performance has clear information on licensed and restricted building and plumbing work.
Sources & Further Reading
- Plumbers, Gasfitters and Drainlayers Board (PGDB) — licensing and restricted work
- MBIE Building Performance — NZ Building Code and homeowner guidance
- BRANZ — building research and best practice for NZ homes
- WorkSafe NZ — health and safety in and around the home
- Bunnings NZ — toby keys and isolating valves