New Zealand: people and language
Hazardous-area inspections are done by suitably registered inspectors working to AS/NZS 60079.17 and AS/NZS 3000, with a verification dossier and records kept, so documents for any device should be easy to supply.
New Zealand · IECEx
IECEx Smartphone Distributor in New Zealand
The IS-04Z1 is an intrinsically safe handset for people who cross into classified areas in New Zealand every shift: Taranaki gas-field operators, methanol and fertiliser plant crews, dairy-processing engineers managing milk-powder dust risk, and the HSE and telecoms teams who equip them. About 2,600 km of high-pressure gas transmission pipeline runs in the North Island, led by the 307 km Maui pipeline carrying 78% of production; there is no gas transmission in the South Island. Distribution partners for New Zealand are being identified ahead of the Q4 2026 launch of the IS-04Z1.
Pre-launch · certification in progress · Launching Q4 2026
Marking targetEx ib IIC T4Intrinsic safety, Zone 1 / 21 design target · certification in progress
AvailabilityQ4 2026via authorised distributors
Search topicIECEx
DeviceSmartphone
RouteDistribution
WhereNew Zealand
Short answer. New Zealand has no appointed SAMS distributor yet: the IS-04Z1 is pre-launch (certification in progress, no certificate issued, launch planned for Q4 2026), and distributor applications are open.
Where things stand: the IS-04Z1 has not launched, and none of its four certification routes has produced a certificate yet. Operator approval runs on its own timeline. Certification status. Place facts reviewed October 2026.
At a glance · IECEx
Checklist: IECEx smartphone for New Zealand
| Check | What to look for | IS-04Z1 today |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate of conformity | Number checkable on the IECEx online register | In progress; not issued |
| Standards edition | The IEC 60079 edition the certificate cites | Stated on the certificate when issued |
| Schedule of conditions | Limits of use, batteries and accessories | Published with the certificate |
| Where it applies | New Zealand: Marsden Point, Dairy processing sites nationwide, Taranaki | Classified by the site operator |
Product · New Zealand
The product behind this search: the SAMS IS-04Z1.
SAMS IS-04Z1
An intrinsically safe Android smartphone designed for Zone 1 and Zone 21 hazardous areas in New Zealand. It is pre-launch: IECEx, ATEX and NEC 500 certification is in progress ahead of the Q4 2026 launch.
- IP68 sealed
- 4,000 mAh battery
- 50 MP camera
- Android 16
- Zone 1 / Zone 21 design target
The market · New Zealand
Hazardous-area industry in New Zealand
The main operators, industrial areas and sites that the SAMS New Zealand market guide covers.
Operators, EPCs and contractors
- Methanex
- Methanol production at Motunui, Taranaki; the Waitara Valley plant has been idle since 2021
- Todd Energy
- Upstream gas and condensate production in the Taranaki basin
- OMV New Zealand
- Operator of Maui, Pohokura and other Taranaki offshore and onshore fields
- Ballance Agri-Nutrients
- Urea and ammonia production at Kapuni, Taranaki
- Fonterra
- The world’s largest dairy exporter — milk-powder drying and processing nationwide
- Channel Infrastructure
- Operator of the former Marsden Point refinery, now a fuel import terminal
Industrial areas and sites
- Taranaki
- New Zealand’s principal oil, gas and petrochemical region
- Motunui / Waitara Valley
- Methanex methanol production complexes
- Kapuni
- Gas field and Ballance Agri-Nutrients fertiliser plant
- Marsden Point
- Former refinery, now Channel Infrastructure’s import terminal, Northland
- Dairy processing sites nationwide
- Fonterra and other processors’ milk-powder drying towers and storage
Field notes · New Zealand
More about New Zealand that matters for portable equipment
New Zealand: industry on the ground
The Marsden Point refinery operated from 1964 to 2022 and the site now imports refined fuel, about half from South Korea and about a third from Singapore as of 2025, so tank and terminal work continues there.
New Zealand: industry on the ground
Gas-based plants developed from the 1970s included an ammonia-urea plant at Kapuni, methanol at Waitara, synthetic petrol at Motunui and gas-fired power stations at New Plymouth and Huntly; confirm each site's current status.
New Zealand: rules and approvals
AS/NZS 60079 is the Australia and New Zealand adoption of the IEC 60079 series, covering classification, selection, installation, inspection and repair of electrical equipment in explosive atmospheres.
The term · IECEx
What “IECEx” means for a smartphone
IECEx is the international scheme for certifying equipment used in explosive atmospheres. A certificate of conformity is issued by an accredited certification body against a specific edition of the IEC 60079 standards and carries a schedule of conditions of safe use. It is not a legal requirement in most countries on its own, but many national schemes accept it as the technical basis.
The IECEx certificate for the IS-04Z1 is in progress and has not been issued. The marking target is Ex ib IIC T4, the intrinsic safety concept for Zone 1 gas with the hardest gas group (IIC) and a 135 °C temperature class.
In New Zealand. New Zealand's gas and methanol plants include operators with international parents, such as OMV New Zealand, and contractors who work across several countries. IECEx is the shared language for them. Ask for the certificate of conformity with its schedule of conditions to see the exact marking and limits, since no certificate is yet issued for this device.
The route · distribution
Distributing the IS-04Z1 in New Zealand
SAMS is appointing authorised distributors ahead of the Q4 2026 launch. No territory has been granted for New Zealand yet and applications are reviewed company by company. Because a certified Ex device cannot be opened by an ordinary phone workshop without invalidating its certificate, SAMS looks for partners who can provide competent technical support and after-sales service locally.
What SAMS looks for in a partner
- Operator relationships
- Existing supplier registrations or a clear route to them with the main operators and contractors in New Zealand.
- Ex-competent staff
- People who understand zone classification, markings and the conditions of a certificate.
And equally important
- Local-language support
- Documentation, training and helpdesk in the languages the workforce uses.
- Service capability
- Spares, battery replacement and repair routed through SAMS-approved channels.
Questions · New Zealand
Frequently asked questions
Can we buy an IECEx smartphone in New Zealand today?
No. Nothing can be bought or taken into a classified area today: certification is in progress and launch is planned for Q4 2026. What is available now is the datasheet, the written certification schedule and evaluation units for safe-area use.
What does an IECEx smartphone in New Zealand cost?
There is no list price yet. SAMS gives indicative pre-launch pricing in writing, against a stated quantity and site, and does not commit to a lead time before certification completes.
Does the IS-04Z1 hold an IECEx certificate?
No. The IECEx certificate is in progress and has not been issued. SAMS will publish the number when it exists.
Which sites in New Zealand does this cover?
The market guide for New Zealand covers Taranaki, Motunui / Waitara Valley, Kapuni, Marsden Point, among others. Site-level pages are linked below.
How do I become a SAMS distributor for New Zealand?
Apply through the distributor page with your company details and the territory you cover. SAMS reviews applications company by company and has not yet granted a territory for New Zealand.
Which standard governs Ex equipment selection in New Zealand?
Electrical equipment for explosive atmospheres is generally selected and inspected to AS/NZS 60079, the local adoption of the IEC 60079 series, alongside AS/NZS 3000 for installations. IECEx certificates are widely accepted as evidence, but confirm the exact requirement with the site operator or your inspector.
What records does a hazardous-area inspection in New Zealand expect for a handheld device?
Inspectors typically look for equipment marking suited to the zone, the certificate or verification dossier, and a record of inspection under AS/NZS 60079.17. Keep the certificate number, marking photo and any manufacturer instructions with the asset register entry.
Will the 4,000 mAh battery last a full shift?
The battery is sized for a working day of plant rounds, but real life depends on use of camera, GNSS and radio. There is no recharge point inside a classified area, so plan to charge in a safe area. Test the device on your own round before relying on it.
Related guides
Keep exploring
More on New Zealand, and on other places in New Zealand.
Ex-Proof Mobile Phone Supplier in New ZealandSame place, different guide
Industrial Mobile Phone Supplier in New ZealandSame place, different guide
Intrinsically Safe Mobile Phone in New ZealandSame place, different guide
Rugged Mobile Phone in New ZealandSame place, different guide
ATEX and IECEx Mobile Phone Distributor in New ZealandSame place, different guide
Hazardous Area Mobile Phone Supplier in New ZealandSame place, different guide
New Zealand market guideCertification route and regulators
All guides for New ZealandEvery route we cover
Certification statusWhat is in progress
Enquiry · New Zealand
Ask about the IS-04Z1 for New Zealand
Share the site details and quantity. You will get the datasheet and the certification schedule back by email; pricing is indicative only until launch.
Enquiry · New Zealand
Launching Q4 2026
Planning for New Zealand?
Send the zone and gas group of your site and we will reply with the datasheet and schedule.