Corded blinds to be made safer for children

The Government is moving to protect young children by making it mandatory for new corded blinds sold in New Zealand to meet recognised safety standards, Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Cameron Brewer says.

"Since 2008, eight young children have died in New Zealand after becoming entangled in the cords of window coverings. It's a parent's worst nightmare, and behind every one of those numbers is a family that lost a child to something preventable. New Zealand families deserve to know the products they buy for their homes are safe," Mr Brewer says.

"Between 2021 and 2026, three coroners recommended improvements to the safety of corded blinds. 

"That's why we are making it mandatory for new corded window coverings to meet internationally recognised safety standards, including those used in Australia, Canada, Europe and the United States. It's a practical, sensible fix that brings us into line with international best practice and makes these products safer for children."

Once the standards are in place, new corded blinds will need to remove or reduce cord hazards through shorter cords, clearer warning labels, or safety devices supplied with the item so parents can fix loose cords out of a child's reach.

"Many corded blinds sold here, particularly pre-made products from major retailers, already meet a safety standard. So this targets the higher-risk products that don't, while keeping compliance costs limited for businesses already doing the right thing," Mr Brewer says.

"New standards only apply to new products, so for the blinds already in homes, awareness matters just as much. I'd urge any parent with corded window coverings to visit MBIE's Product Safety website for advice on replacing them or keeping cords out of reach.

"As a parent myself, I want every mum and dad to have confidence that their home is a safe place for their kids. No family should lose a child to something this preventable, and putting these standards in place is the right thing to do." ...