At first glance, this tidy 1970s home looks like it's had some modern upgrades, but like many New Zealand houses built before the mid-1980s, it still hides several asbestos-containing materials (ACMs) in plain sight, meaning a lot of homeowners and tradespeople don't give it a second thought. Here's where we found them.

On this one home alone, we found asbestos in five common places: the subfloor base boards, the soffits under the eaves, the electrical meter board, the toilet vent pipe and the faux-brick cladding — all typical hiding spots in New Zealand houses from the 1960s to the 1980s.

Full view of a typical 1970s New Zealand home in Whitianga that contains several asbestos materials
A tidy 1970s home in Whitianga — several asbestos-containing materials are hiding in plain sight.

1. Asbestos cement board around the base of the house

The dark, textured panels running along the bottom of the walls are asbestos-cement sheets used to enclose the subfloor. Sitting at ground level, these boards are easily cracked by lawnmowers, line trimmers, or a knock from a wheelbarrow, which can release fibres right where people walk.

Asbestos-cement subfloor base board with a stippled coating and a vent cut into it, 1970s home
The stippled coating on this subfloor board is a common finish from the era, but underneath it is asbestos-cement sheet. Note the vent cut into the board: any cutting or drilling like this creates a disturbance risk.

2. Asbestos soffits

The flat lining under the eaves is asbestos-cement sheet, one of the most common places asbestos turns up in homes from this era. Soffits are often disturbed during re-roofing, gutter replacement, or when drilling in brackets for heat pumps and lighting.

Asbestos-cement soffit lining under the eaves, joined with cover strips and rusted nail fixings
Flat sheets joined with cover strips are a tell-tale sign of asbestos-cement soffit lining. Rust marks around fixings show where nails have been driven straight through the sheet.

3. Asbestos board in the meter box

Behind the power meter sits the black mounting board, which on homes of this age is often made from an asbestos-containing composite. Electricians regularly drill into or replace these boards during meter upgrades.

Asbestos-containing mounting board inside an old power meter box, covered in drill holes
The old drill holes in this meter board show how often it's been worked on over the years. Each new hole is a potential release of asbestos dust.

4. Asbestos cement toilet vent pipe

The pipe poking up through the roofline is the toilet vent, made from asbestos cement. Decades of sun and weather can leave the surface brittle and degraded, and it's often disturbed during roofing or plumbing work.

Original asbestos-cement toilet vent pipe protruding through a re-roofed roof
Even with a fresh coat of paint and a new roof around it, this original asbestos-cement vent pipe has been left in place, and it's easy for roofers to damage when re-flashing.

5. Faux brick panels

These faux brick panels are a classic feature of New Zealand homes from the 1960s to 1980s. They're usually asbestos-cement sheets pressed with a brick-and-mortar pattern and a sand-like texture, then painted, as a cheaper alternative to real brick veneer. Often found around windows, exterior cladding or around fireplaces and log burners due to their heat and fire-resistant properties. You can't confirm asbestos just by looking, though. Some faux brick products from that period were fibre-cement without asbestos, embossed hardboard, or vinyl, so a sample needs to be tested by a lab.

Painted faux brick asbestos-cement cladding panels pressed with a brick-and-mortar pattern on a 1970s NZ home
Faux brick panels are a classic feature of New Zealand homes from the 1960s to 1980s.

What this means for homeowners

Left intact and undisturbed, these materials pose a low risk, but cutting, drilling, sanding, water-blasting, or breaking them can release fibres that cause asbestosis, lung cancer, and mesothelioma. If you're planning renovations, repainting, re-roofing, or electrical work on a pre-1990s home, get an asbestos survey done first. Under WorkSafe rules, removing more than 10m² of non-friable asbestos in one job requires a licensed asbestos removalist.

Frequently asked questions

Does a 1970s New Zealand house contain asbestos?

Very likely. Asbestos was used in New Zealand building products until it was fully banned in 2016, and homes built or renovated before the mid-1980s commonly contain it. A 1970s house will often have asbestos in several places, even after modern upgrades.

Where is asbestos usually found in a 1970s home?

Common spots include subfloor base boards, soffit and eaves linings, the electrical meter board, the toilet vent pipe, textured ceilings, vinyl flooring and faux-brick cladding. Roofing and cladding products such as Fibrolite sheet, Super Six and Decramastic tiles are also common.

How can I tell if a material in my home contains asbestos?

You can't confirm asbestos just by looking, because many asbestos products look identical to non-asbestos ones. The only reliable way is to have a sample tested by an accredited laboratory, usually as part of an asbestos survey before any work starts.

Is it safe to live in a house that contains asbestos?

Generally yes, if the material is in good condition and left undisturbed. Bonded (non-friable) asbestos only releases fibres when it's cut, drilled, sanded, broken or water-blasted. The risk comes during renovations, repairs or DIY — which is when testing and licensed removal matter.

Can I remove asbestos myself in New Zealand?

A homeowner may remove up to 10 square metres of non-friable asbestos, following safe handling and disposal rules. Anything over 10 square metres, or any friable asbestos, must be removed by a WorkSafe-licensed removalist. Most whole-house jobs exceed 10 square metres.