Be Safe this Christmas - Media Statement
[ Last Updated 7 June 2007 ]
At this time of year a number of electrical products, such as Christmas tree lights, arrive from overseas on the New Zealand market. A small number are potentially hazardousand could cause electric shock or a fire.
Graham Boxall, Manager Operations, from the Ministry of Consumer Affairs Energy Safety Service, advises that consumers look out for the following when using or purchasing Christmas tree lights.
"Consumers should not purchase or use products if the plug is not designed for use in New Zealand. Some look similar but have important differences. Don’t use products that do not have the normal plug you would use at home, plugs that you cannot plug
straight into a socket outlet, or plugs that need a separate adaptor to fit into the socket outlet. Also the cord of any electrical appliance should not face upwards," said Mr Boxall.
"Consumers should not use, or purchase, any electrical product marked with a voltage rating that is not used in New Zealand. The voltage rating generally used in New Zealand is 230 volts or within the range of 230-250 volts.
"Consumers should also not use or purchase electrical products which do not have the manufacturer's name marked clearly on the box or the product," said Mr Boxall.
If the products consumers are using, or wish to use, have these characteristics they are unlikely to be suitable for use in New Zealand.
"We advise that if consumers own, or have recently purchased such products, they should either return them to the retailer they purchased them from and ask for a refund, or simply throw them away," said Mr Boxall.
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